But the prize for the most diverse platform would have to go to Marianna Leishman, a former Allens lawyer and dedicated pole dancer who is running for the Australian Sex Party under the assumed name of Zahra Stardust.

Meanwhile, also representing the lawyer is the Liberal Party candidate, Paul Fletcher, who is running for the former seat of Dr Brendan Nelson in Bradfield. He was previously the former regulatory affairs chief at Optus, and once worked for Mallesons as a banking and finance lawyer.

Competition was fierce during the Liberal pre-selection, with Fletcher having to edge out barrister Sophie York to put his name to the seat.

Over in Peter Costello's Melbourne seat of Higgins, former Freehills lawyer and Costello staffer Kelly O'Dwyer is running for the Liberal Party and is also expected to win.

Peter Brohier, who is running as an Independent in the Higgins seat, is also a lawyer.

The by-elections come at the end of a turbulent week in politics, where both the Federal Liberal leader and former lawyer, Malcolm Turnbull, and NSW Labor Premier, Nathan Rees, felt the brunt of internal party conflicts and were ousted -- leading to Slater & Gordon's Sydney litigation head, Steven Lewis, announcing his intentions to run as the Labor candidate for Turnbull's marginal seat of Wentworth.