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GCs ‘no longer the department of no’

Three experts have provided insight into the changing role of general counsel, including how the function of a legal team has become less about saying “no” and more about becoming an integrated part of each business’ core operations.

12 November 2019
By Emma Musgrave
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Legal teams brace for more insolvencies

New figures have pinpointed a 20 per cent jump in the number of business insolvencies in Australia, with payment defaults also rising by double-digit figures. 

12 November 2019
By Reporter
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Almost 2 in 5 Australians think lawyers are unethical

New findings from the Governance Institute of Australia offer an insight into the extent to which legal professionals are perceived by the general public to be either ethical or unethical.

12 November 2019
By Jerome Doraisamy
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Mental illness does not preclude success in law

There is no reason why legal professionals cannot achieve their goals if they experience struggles with their emotional and psychological wellbeing, argues David Westgate.

12 November 2019
By Jerome Doraisamy
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Split execution and electronic signatures: Unresolved and untested

A recent judgment has posed questions about what constitutes a valid execution of a contract, write three MinterEllison lawyers.

12 November 2019
By Mike Hales, James Barrett and Dylan Hoyne
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Implementing recommendations for personal drug use ‘will save lives’

Criminal and law enforcement responses to the use of illicit drugs have not worked, and a revamp of the system – in accordance with coronial recommendations – is needed to reduce the number of deaths, argues one legal advocacy group.

12 November 2019
By Jerome Doraisamy
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65-plus legal bodies reject plan to merge family law system in open letter

The government’s proposal to merge the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia into a single generalised court has been rejected by over 65 law groups and governing bodies in an open letter to the Attorney-General.

11 November 2019
By Naomi Neilson
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NSW Bar Association welcomes $88m injection but says more needs to be done

Although welcoming the $88 million legal aid injection for the “chronically underfunded” system as a step in the right direction, the NSW Bar Association said the government should consider further funding to improve justice.

11 November 2019
By Naomi Neilson
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Business confidence for law firms is on the decline

Profit growth expectations of Australian law firms have diminished, with businesses pushing into non-legal services to meet evolving client demand, according to Commonwealth Bank.

11 November 2019
By Jerome Doraisamy
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Victoria pays compensation to clients of dishonest lawyers

Victoria’s legal professional board reported more than $5 million in compensation was paid to clients of dishonest lawyers, as five practices are appointed managers in order to ensure trust account compliance and a further 14 are referred to police.

11 November 2019
By Naomi Neilson