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This week, legal salaries were set to soar at HWL Ebsworth, Ashurst shut its Canberra office, and the RBA cut rates for the second time this year. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 19 to 23 May, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
Following years of having one of the lowest billable hours across the industry, HWL Ebsworth has increased its quota for all legal staff.
2. Thomson Geer acquires entire Ashurst Canberra office, including 7 partners, 50+ staff
Global law firm Ashurst is shutting down operations in Canberra and winding down its Commonwealth government practice, with Thomson Geer to take over operations and acquire at least 50 staff.
3. Woman accused of forgery drops attempt to join legal profession
A woman’s admission into the legal profession was strongly objected to by a law society that considered her alleged misconduct during university meant she was a “not fit and proper person” to practise.
4. RBA reveals May 2025 cash rate call
At the beginning of this year, the Reserve Bank cut rates for the first time since November 2020. In this special announcement, brought to you by Legal Home Loans, find out if the RBA has decided to hold or cut the cash rate.
5. Solicitor penalised for sending threatening letter to minor
A regional solicitor was reprimanded and fined for sending a threatening letter to a minor to commence proceedings.
6. Court fed up with ‘manipulative’ conduct, YouTube skits
A boutique firm has finally been freed from purposefully drawn-out proceedings brought by a former client who was found to have used the courtroom for an “ulterior abusive purpose”, including for content on his YouTube channel where he spouts claims against judges.
7. Sofronoff faces hurdle in fight to toss out damning report
Former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff KC has objected to there being parliamentary privilege over a report that concluded he engaged in serious corrupt conduct in connection with an inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann’s abandoned criminal proceedings.
8. Best advice for new partners in FY25–26
Here, partners from eight different BigLaw firms – all of whom are relatively new to the partnership – impart their wisdom for those who have just been promoted to such senior roles.
9. Judge steps away from case involving controversial Victorian firm
A Federal Court judge has recused herself from a matter brought by the three people behind the controversial firm Erudite Legal after they flagged that they were speaking to a “community” of disciplined lawyers about giving evidence against the disciplinary board.
10. Ben Roberts-Smith fails to overturn defamation decision
Despite convincing the court to hear explosive new evidence, Ben Roberts-Smith’s appeal of his defamation action has fallen short.
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