This past week, a barrister was sentenced after breaching court orders, a national firm unveiled a new leadership trio, and a latest cache of Epstein files revealed correspondence in which the convicted sex offender offered advice to someone seeking employment at a Sydney-based law firm. Here is your weekly round-up of the biggest stories for Australia’s legal profession.
For the week from 2 to 6 February, these were the 10 most-read stories on Lawyers Weekly (in case you missed them):
1. Strike off recommended for lawyer who ‘opted out’ of professional responsibilities
For ignoring notices related to complaints made by four separate clients, a Queensland lawyer was hit with a recommendation that his name be removed from the roll of solicitors.
2. In-house lawyer suspended for lying to cover family member’s offence
A Queensland legal practitioner has been reprimanded and suspended for swearing a false declaration in an attempt to claim a family member’s traffic infringement as his own.
3. Law grad denied admission following shocking ‘kill yourself’ comment to royal commission officer
CONTENT WARNING: A law graduate has been barred from practising by the ACT Supreme Court after a pattern of reckless and troubling behaviour, including telling a royal commission officer that “the world would be a better place” if they took their own life.
4. Sydney barrister sentenced for harassing calls and texts despite court order
A prominent Sydney barrister has been sentenced after breaching court orders by repeatedly sending menacing texts and Instagram messages over New Year’s Eve.
5. RBA makes first cash rate call for 2026
In this special announcement, brought to you by Legal Home Loans, find out if the Reserve Bank has lifted interest rates for the first time in more than two years.
6. ‘Dearest Jeffrey’: Epstein linked to Sydney law firm job hunt
Among the newly released cache of files linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is an email exchange that suggested he assisted someone seeking employment at an Australian law firm.
7. Accused ‘shadow director’ of failed legal, accounting firms to fight ASIC over ban
Five legal practices and a solicitor were ordered to hand over material to a man accused of acting as the “shadow director” of several law and accounting firms that all went under within the span of five months.
8. Tribunal penalises ‘petty’ lawyer for slow compliance
A principal lawyer has been reprimanded for his “petty” and unsatisfactory refusal to hand over client documents.
9. Bartier Perry takes commercial disputes team from Hicksons Hunt & Hunt
BigLaw firm Bartier Perry has poached a commercial disputes team from Hicksons | Hunt & Hunt and Holman Webb Lawyers, which comprises two partners and three lawyers.
10. Piper Alderman names new managing partner, deputies
National law firm Piper Alderman has unveiled a new leadership trio, as the BigLaw player positions itself as the “firm of choice by the next generation of technology-driven companies”.
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of professional services (including Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times). He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at:
