The rule of law, and the legal profession itself, are at risk of losing its humanity, but there are ways to salvage it, argue two professionals.
The #MeToo movement has spawned meaningful conversations about needed changes to the workplace environment, and – for young lawyers coming through the ranks – it’s a great time to make a positive contribution, particularly in the area of workplace relations, says one practitioner.
Working with The Wiggles is a huge personal thrill for Nina Stamell, but as she explains, the breadth of cross-jurisdictional, streaming and privacy considerations means that life in-house in the entertainment world is no walk in the park.
Attorney-General John Quigley has appointed the new Chief Judge of the District Court of Western Australia.
NSW has a “serious and complex” problem with drug usage, leading to a number of young deaths at music festivals and a severe dependency from vulnerable communities – and yet, despite promising to address the issue, the state’s government has rejected major recommendations from its own inquiry.
The Law Council of Australia has welcomed new funding for legal representation so that victims of family violence are not cross-examined by their alleged abusers, but warned that urgent action is needed to fix the broader Family Court funding crisis.
Australian laws that allow 10-year-olds to be arrested, charged, held before the courts and locked away are “out of step” with human rights policies.
Prosecutors have rejected the argument from George Pell’s lawyers that the jury from the first appeal trial should not have watched recorded evidence in their reply submission, adding there are no errors in the Victorian Court of Appeal majority’s judicial method.
A man accused of aggravated assault has been granted a retrial due to the trial judge’s failure to appropriately disclose directions to the jury post-empanelment.
Significant changes to legislation across some Australian states will allow jurors to be informed about a sexual offender’s prior convictions in child sexual abuse trials.
