Bowers v The Law Society of New South Wales [2021] NSWCA 270

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Bowers v The Law Society of New South Wales [2021] NSWCA 270 Hearing dates: 29 July 2021 Decision date: 05 November 2021 Before: Brereton JA, McCallum JA, Emmett AJA. Decision: 1. Leave to appeal refused. 2. Solicitor to pay the costs of the other parties to the appeal. Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE — Court of Appeal — Leave to appeal — Final or interlocutory order — Appeal from determination concerning constructive refusal of application to vary legal practising certificate — where practising certificate in question since expired — No utility in granting leave Legislation Cited: Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) ss 100, 464 Cases Cited: Be Financial Pty Limited as Trustee for Be Financial Operations Trust v DAS [2012] NSWCA 164 Bowers v The Law Society of New South Wales (No 7) [2021] NSWSC 611 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Montenegro [2016] NSWCA 211 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Montenegro [2016] NSWCA 211 PQ (a pseudonym) v The Law Society of New South Wales (No 3) [2021] NSWSC 420 PQ (a pseudonym) v The Law Society of New South Wales (No 4) [2021] NSWSC 459 PQ (a pseudonym) v The Law Society of New South Wales (No 5) [2021] NSWSC 463 PQ (a pseudonym) v The Law Society of New South Wales (No 6) 496 [2021] NSWSC 496 PQ (a pseudonym) v The Law Society of New South Wales [2021] NSWSC 258 The Age Company Ltd v Liu (2013) 82 NSWLR 268; [2013] NSWCA 26 Category: Principal judgment Parties: James Bowers (App) The Law Society of New South Wales (1st Resp) The College of Law (2nd Resp) New South Wales Legal Services Commissioner (3rd Resp) Representation: Counsel: J Bowers (App) (Self Rep) T L Wong with J K S Entwistle (1st Resp) J Curtin (2nd Resp) R Withana (3rd Resp)