This past week, as Lawyers Weekly hosted the 25th annual Australian Law Awards, the RBA cut the cash rate, and the High Court issued a handful of significant judgments. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 11 to 15 August, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. NSW solicitor tries to have previous workplace wound up
In the five years since he was escorted by police out of a Parramatta law firm, a solicitor has launched proceeding after proceeding but has consistently come up short. His latest attempt to have the legal practice wound up was just tossed by the Federal Court.
2. Ex-judge faces court on child abuse material charges
A former judge and Melbourne legal academic charged with allegedly revealing child abuse material during a class has faced the Magistrates Court with an application to green light his Europe trip.
3. RBA reveals August 2025 cash rate call
Following last month’s shock hold, find out, in this special announcement from Legal Home Loans, if the Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to raise, hold, or cut interest rates at its second meeting of the new financial year.
4. High Court’s contingency fee decision a blow for jurisdictional equality
The recent High Court decision to toss a solicitor’s common fund orders will apply to every jurisdiction outside of Victoria, which lawyers have warned could place greater pressure on the one state and be harmful to applicants across the rest of Australia.
5. Macpherson Kelley expands into SA with new acquisition
National law firm Macpherson Kelley has expanded into South Australia with the acquisition of an Adelaide commercial law firm.
6. ‘Series of unfortunate events’: Convictions scrapped for man accused of engaging in legal practice
A man accused of undertaking legal work despite not being a practitioner has had convictions set aside because the circumstances behind his sentencing were found to be a miscarriage of justice.
7. 3 lawyers avoid complaint referral amid jurisdictional debate
If not for a jurisdictional issue, a man would have continued to press his serious allegations of professional misconduct by three lawyers.
8. Judge laments HWL Ebsworth’s lengthy fight with client
Clearly fed up with the lengthy proceedings, a Supreme Court judge has said there appeared to be no end in sight to the fight between HWL Ebsworth and a client it had negligently represented two decades ago.
9. Insurance company tries to escape Law Society costs after professional indemnity loss
ABC Insurance, the company that tried and failed to push professional indemnity insurance past the Law Society of NSW, attempted to convince a court to toss or vary a costs order.
10. SA Chief Justice names 6 new senior counsel
Chief Justice Chris Kourakis of the South Australian Supreme Court has announced the appointment of six new senior counsel.
