Law students should be taking the opportunity to engage in protests while at university where being a “troublemaker” could lead to social change and righting the harsh truths in existing laws, former High Court justice Michael Kirby told Lawyers Weekly.
The widely criticised Religious Discrimination Bill has been rejected for many reasons, but a law professor has taken particular issue with clause 42, which permits someone to bypass federal, state and territory anti-discrimination laws.
Budding and soon-to-be lawyers should pursue their individual passions within the law to build on their studies and experience prior to beginning their careers, which was the inspiration behind one law student putting her Australian courses on hold.
If the updated Religious Discrimination Bill is passed in its current form, clients and barristers could be free to say they prefer male solicitors to females based on religious beliefs, according to Australian Women Lawyers.
The Legal Services Council has put out new recommendations for Uniform Law in 2020 which may see new changes to the legal profession.
Young lawyers are the future talent of our profession and, as a cohort, face demanding conditions, writes Dan Trevanion.
Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy has hailed the influence of victims’ families ahead of the introduction of a new “homicide by firearm” manslaughter offence in the state.
While simultaneously representing clients and then informing on them to police, barrister Nicola Gobbo said she was told by Victoria Police that they would do everything to ensure her informant role was never revealed, but at the same time joked about the possibility of the royal commission she is currently sitting before.
Legal professionals face the constant ethical dilemma of trying to reconcile their compliance with the law with that of the conscious of society, the clients and businesses they represent, and their own moral take on justice.
If the second exposure draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill goes through, members of legal associations will have protection for their religious beliefs and activities. What do Australia’s law societies and bar associations think about this?
