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Broken promises and a paralegal’s national record: What’s hot in law this week (9–13 June)
This week, Lawyers Weekly hosted the 10th annual Partner of the Year Awards, and BigLaw firms continued to name a swathe of new partners. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
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For the week from 9 to 13 June, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Barrister leaves profession following disciplinary action on broken promises
A barrister was reprimanded and barred from working in the profession for a year after he failed to carry out a brief despite giving the firm that retained him multiple assurances that he would do so.
2. Principal solicitor faces disciplinary action over supervision denials
In an “extraordinary” and contradictory email, the principal solicitor of a Brisbane firm made a false claim about a law clerk’s supervision and refused to sign a form that was essential for her admission as a lawyer, the Queensland Legal Services Commissioner has alleged.
3. Barrister’s practising certificate bid objected by opposing client
A barrister who appeared in court without a practising certificate applied to have one retrospectively applied, but the opposing party in her former client’s matter has sought to prevent that from happening.
4. Corrs names 12 new partners
National law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has added a dozen lawyers to its partnership, 11 of whom are internal promotions, with the final new partner having come across from a BigLaw rival.
5. BigLaw paralegal sets new Australian powerlifting record
A part-time paralegal at the international firm Wotton Kearney has set a new Australian powerlifting record by bench pressing 193 kilograms. Here, he shares insights into how he balances these two demanding and time-intensive pursuits, managing the challenges of both with dedication and discipline.
6. Plaintiffs face ‘all-or-nothing gamble’ in Aussie Home Loans class action
An interlocutory hearing recently took place in the Aussie Home Loans class action, with the lender attempting to declass the case – a move that could derail any attempt at compensation for affected customers.
7. Court shuts down resentful lawyer’s racism claims against Law Society
The Federal Court sent a strong message to a lawyer who has spent the last 17 years relentlessly pursuing the ACT Law Society and a former president over unfounded allegations of racial discrimination.
8. iPhone will case likely sees lawyer at risk
The factual matrix involving Colin Peek is another of the ever-increasing number of cases concerning “informal wills”. That is, statements of testamentary intention that do not meet formal legal requirements to be a valid will, writes Matthew Burgess.
9. G+T names 3 new partners, 10 new special counsel
National law firm Gilbert + Tobin has unveiled its mid-year promotions round, with three being elevated to the partnership.
10. Managing director reprimanded over barrister fee mishap
A Perth lawyer agreed to a public reprimand and a fine for his failure to get written confirmation that a barrister would waive part of his $200,000 legal bill amid a contentious fee dispute.