Perth solicitor struck off for trust account misconduct

The first five counts concerned the withdrawal of $160,000 from Naumovski Legal’s general trust account without authorisation, and then a failure to issue various trust account statements.

When an external examiner and investigator were appointed, Krstic gave false and misleading material, including backdated invoices.

The next five arose from Krstic acting for clients under grants of legal aid, despite not being a member of a specified panel.

Krstic also sent emails to Legal Aid that were “recklessly indifferent” as to whether they were false or misleading, including one that confirmed she had acted for five clients but failed to disclose she was also briefed to assist a further 11 under the grants.

The last charge concerned Krstic’s response to the tribunal, which was false and intended to mislead both the tribunal and Western Australia’s Legal Services and Complaints Committee.

Krstic accepted that the behaviour warranted the removal order.

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In their written decision, Justices Marcus Solomon, Alain Musikanth, and Terence Palmer said Krstic was not a fit and proper person to practise as a legal practitioner in the state.

While Krstic belatedly demonstrated insight into her misconduct, Justices Solomon, Musikanth, and Palmer said that “her persistent and extensive dishonesty reveal[s] an absence of the integrity and honesty that are essential qualities of a legal practitioner”.

“In our view, the removal of Krstic’s name from the roll is necessary to protect the public and to maintain the reputation and standards of the legal profession,” Justices Solomon, Musikanth, and Palmer said.

Citation: Legal Practice Board v Krstic formerly Naumovski [2026] WASC 183.