Here, Lawyers Weekly takes a look back at the top 10 articles that featured in our Wig & Chamber news bulletin.
Lawyers Weekly’s special news bulletin, Wig & Chamber, delivered a number of important updates about the bench, the courtroom, and those who keep it all running.
Over the last 12 months, the stories that stood out most to readers involved disciplinary action taken against barristers and criticisms made of magistrates and judges.
Here are the top 10 Wig & Chamber stories of 2025:
1. ‘Whoop-de-do’: Court says federal judge made inappropriate comments
A federal court judge made several inappropriate comments during her questioning of a party, including “whoop-de-do” and “what happens at mother’s group stays at mother’s group”.
2. Barrister will ace strike-off for preparation blunders
A recommendation has been made to remove a barrister whose conduct during a District Court matter was so egregious that the judge felt compelled to refer the matter to the Legal Services Commissioner.
3. 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.
4. ACT barrister struck off after throwing lawyers under the bus
The ACT Supreme Court found there was a “solid foundation” to remove a barrister and solicitor from the roll, including for his unfounded willingness to shift blame onto other practitioners.
5. Barrister’s admin error serves as warning to others, court says
Disciplinary action taken against a family law barrister who failed to properly renew her practising certificate should serve as a reminder that legal professionals must stay on top of their practice management responsibilities, a Supreme Court has said.
6. Barrister penalised for ‘sexual touching’ of solicitor
A barrister has been ordered to apologise to a woman he touched without consent during a work Christmas event.
7. Judge disqualified for unusual conflict prior to bench
A Federal Court judge has disqualified himself from presiding over a proceeding he was recently involved in as senior counsel.
8. Magistrate on hook for costs after challenging move out of Children’s Court
A West Australian judge, who strongly objected to her move from the Children’s Court to the Magistrates Court, was ordered to pay the costs of her attempts to overturn the decision.
9. Judge recuses herself as result of Qld Law Society membership
A solicitor who brought proceedings against the Queensland Law Society over an article in which she was named has convinced a judge she needs to recuse herself due to her “honorary membership”.
10. Counsel sends court on ‘wild goose chase’ in vaccine class action
A court has criticised the work of a senior counsel and two junior counsel for material submitted in a vaccine class action, particularly the 812-page statement of claim that had the reader “running around in circles” while they looked for a “needle in a haystack”.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
