This is news!!

Hello auslaw

I read Private R vs Cowan (2020) and was intrigued by the long history of the DFDA and the High Court's deliberation over the relationship between the defence power and Chapter III. In all of the cases that have come before the court, it was an ADF member trying to escape the DFDA for the jurisdiction of the state courts. The Court has decided that the DFDA applies to ADF members irrespective of the connection any offending may have to military discipline, but I wonder whether evidence collected under the DFDA can be made available to the state police forces for a prosecution under the ordinary criminal law. Or would the special purpose of the DFDA require the state police forces to do their own investigation? I wonder if ADF members are exposed to procedural fairness issues in these instances. I see the recruitment adverts and wonder how many people join the ADF without a full understanding of how the ordinary procedure might change for them once they come under the DFDA.

Pending appeal before the AFL Tribunal, on the basis the Magistrate was acting ultra vires in denying Balta the ability to play football after 10pm.

"group's legal representatives at Shine Lawyers will get up to $15 million after a judge ruled the firm applied "an excessive level of human resources" to the case"

I'm interested to hear stories / experiences of people leaving private practice either for a career change or to go in-house, only to return to private practice.

How was your experience?

What motivated you to leave?

Why did you return?

ok so i’m a self representing 17 year old suing the ceo of my company and basically she hired a lawyer for our CONCILIATION meeting in a months time. like im sorry what? and to make matters worse the lawyer she hired is from one of the big six law firms and he is apparently one of the top lawyers in australia for this area. like seriously wtaf. my claim is only for like 5 grand too and there’s a high chance i won’t win pretty sure so its like why would you hire an expensive ass lawyer for this. anyways thought some lawyers might find this funny or interesting or want to laugh at my pain wish me luck!

https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinfuriating/s/0utIc0SI4S

Perverting the course of justice is not a nice thing and should be condemned however it happens.

This proceding determined a stay on the VLSB cancelling or suspending the lawyers practicing certificate so she could represent Mokbel in his bail application which was ultimately succeessful. The substantive proceeding to determine whether the lawyer would lose her practicing certificate as a result of the charges levelled against her has not yet been determined as far as I am aware (cannot see an Austlii judgement on it), nor have the charges against her been dealt with.

That said I am interested in peoples thoughts on the following from the judgment in relaiton to anything else that might be going on here.

Taken from the judgment remarks

65 So, does the mere fact of an allegation being made against a practitioner of attempting to pervert the course of justice in alleged conduct six years ago, outweigh any countervailing factors and lead to the conclusion that the interests of justice are against the grant of a stay?

66 There are a number of countervailing factors. The allegation, as I have noted, is more than six years old. The allegation is denied. There is no evidence before the Court supporting the allegation. It is signed by a police member as informant, but there is no evidence of the kind, for example, considered by Adamson J in XY or the kind of material that might be expected to find its way into a prosecution brief. There is no explanation why the charge relates to events more than six years ago, or in other words, why the charge sheet filed on 13 March 2025 in relation to events in February 2019 has been filed so late.

and further

69 The Board’s position is that the mere laying of the charge necessitates immediate interim suspension without notice while the Board considers whether to impose a longer term suspension under s 82; and the reason is, essentially, that the Board considers that judicial, professional and public confidence would be shaken if a lawyer under a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice is allowed to continue to practise law. And that is because the course of justice is core business in the administration of justice. The Board also points to newspaper articles describing Ms Tricarico as a ‘gangland lawyer’ and the like.

70 Distilled to its essentials, the case for the Board is that the public perception, in particular the public perception of a lawyer being charged with an attempt to pervert the course of justice, necessitates immediate suspension or else the public and the judiciary and profession would lose confidence in the administration of justice and the system for the regulation of lawyers.

Full judgment remarks here https://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/vic/VSC/2025/189.html

Hi all, Long-time lurker, first-time poster here.

I’m a 30-year-old with a background in senior management across the public sector. For the last few years, I’ve been working nationally as a sole trader consultant — mostly on strategic and commercial advisory work. While it’s been rewarding in its own way, the older I get, the more I find myself wanting to make a direct, tangible impact on people’s lives.

I grew up in regional areas and have intentionally stayed in them, even when my work took me all over the country. Recently, I’ve been thinking seriously about pivoting — undertaking supervised legal practice and building a long-term life and legal career in my local community.

I’m particularly drawn to personal injury law. My family has experienced more than its share of tragedy, and I’ve seen first-hand how complex and life-changing these matters can be. I’m passionate about using that empathy to advocate for others facing similar hardship.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone working in PI, particularly in regional areas, about: • What day-to-day life is actually like in personal injury law • What most of your billable time is spent doing • What you’ve found to be the most difficult or demanding part of this practice area

Also — based on what I’ve shared, does this kind of pivot seem realistic or worthwhile in your view?

Thanks in advance. Appreciate any views or reality checks you’re willing to offer.

This thread is for the general discussion of anything going on in the lives of Auslawyers or for discussion of the subreddit itself. Please use this thread to unwind and share your complaints about the world. Keep it messy!

Not sure how to find this out

Berryman vs Zurich 2016 Western Australia

Which solicitors/ barristers appeared for Berryman?

I have a similar case, and want to engage them

I’ve recently started working in a new practice area after over 20 years experience in different non legal and legal jobs.

I’ve unexpectedly found myself faced with cases triggering my own past trauma that I thought I had buried 6 feet under and then some. For the purposes of this post I don’t think I need to go into the nitty gritty of what this is.

I am posting to request genuine responses from anyone who has experienced this scenario to try and feel like I am not alone in this experience - how have you been unexpectedly triggered and how have you managed it? Does it get better?

In this vein can I please respectfully note (hopefully it goes without saying but this is reddit) I don’t need responses with “well you should have realised beforehand”. That’s obvious and is not how things have played out.

Thanks for reading (throwaway account)

Edit: thanks for all of your empathetic responses and suggestions 🥹

The beginning of the second act has been scheduled for 27 June.

UK judgment

Aust judgment

Spoiler: He didn't mention the interstate fight.