According to media reports, Nguyen started her fraudulent activity after only five months with the firm, duping clients into depositing $116,483 - which was owed to the firm - into a private account between July 2007 and September 2008.

Nguyen, who claimed she was suffering depression at the time, sought a self-exclusion order at Melbourne's Crown Casino in an attempt to curtail her spending and last month pleaded guilty to charges of theft and falsifying documents.

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Judge Christine Thornton of Victoria's County Court handed down Nguyen's sentence, noting in her sentencing remarks: "Your offending is serious, particularly aggravated by the fact that you were employed as a solicitor and that you breached not only the trust of your clients, but also your employer and the Law Institute of Victoria."

Nguyen has also been ordered to refund around $60,000 of the misappropriated funds to her former employer, from whom Lawyers Weekly is awaiting comment.