Picos v Council of the New South Wales Bar Association [2023] NSWCA 218

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Picos v Council of the New South Wales Bar Association [2023] NSWCA 218 Hearing dates: 29 August 2023 Date of orders: 13 September 2023 Decision date: 13 September 2023 Before: Gleeson JA at [1] Leeming JA at [117] Payne JA at [118] Decision: 2023/132537 (Leave to appeal) (1) Extend the time for filing of the summons seeking leave to appeal to 26 April 2023. (2) Refuse leave to appeal. (3) Summons filed 26 April 2023 is dismissed with costs. 2023/132560 (Summons) (4) Extend the time for filing of the summons to 26 April 2023. (5) Amended summons filed 24 May 2023 is dismissed with costs. 2015/291241 (s 46(4) – Review application) (6) Prayers 1, 2 and 7 of the applicant's notice of motion filed 1 August 2022 are dismissed with costs. Catchwords: OCCUPATIONS — Legal practitioners — Barristers — Qualifications and admission — Refusal of grant of practising certificate as a barrister — Where Bar Council determined applicant not fit and proper person to hold practising certificate — Where applicant held practising certificate as a solicitor — Whether Bar Council bound by Law Society Council's determination that applicant was fit and proper person — Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 44(1) and 45(2) APPEALS — Leave to appeal — Challenge to striking out summons seeking declaratory relief that applicant fit and proper person to hold Australian practising certificate — Where Bar Council refused to grant practising certificate — Where right of appeal from Bar Council's decision on merits not exercised — Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), s 100(1) — Whether issue of principle, general public importance or relevant injustice ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Whether reviewable error of law — Application for judicial review of Bar Council's decision to refuse to grant practising certificate — Whether jurisdictional error or error of law on face of the record — Whether failure to accord applicant procedural fairness CIVIL PROCEDURE — Court of Appeal — Review of orders of judge of appeal — Where judge of appeal dismissed contempt charges and challenge to registrar's orders — Whether applicant demonstrated error of principle or decision was plainly wrong — Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 46(4) Legislation Cited: Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 5, 9 Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), ss 6, 43, 44, 45, 95, 99, 100, 416 Legal Profession Uniform General Rules 2015 (NSW), r 13 Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW), ss 3, 11, 29, 31 Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cth), ss 16, 39 Mutual Recognition (New South Wales) Act 1992 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 46, 51, 63, 69 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 6.29, 42.1 Cases Cited: Adam P Brown Male Fashions Pty Ltd v Philip Morris Inc (1981) 148 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 39 Ainsworth v Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 Buckley v Council of Law Society of New South Wales [2022] NSWSC 328 Cheng v Motor Yacht Sales Australia Pty Ltd t/as the Boutique Boat Company (2022) 108 NSWLR 342; [2022] NSWCA 118 Christian Community Ministries Ltd v Minister for Early Education and Early Learning [2023] NSWSC 272 Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council v Lynwood [2017] NSWCA 317 Collier v Lancer [2013] NSWCA 185 Commissioner of Taxation v Futuris Corporation Limited (2008) 237 CLR 146; [2008] HCA 32 Craig v South Australia (1995) 184 CLR 163; [1995] HCA 58 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 12 Hossain v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2018) 264 CLR 123; [2018] HCA 34 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 In re the Will of Gilbert (1946) 46 SR (NSW) 318 Jaffari v Grabowski [2013] NSWCA 114 Kioa v West (1985) 159 CLR 550; [1985] HCA 81 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZMTA (2019) 264 CLR 421; [2019] HCA 3 Patrick v Howorth [2002] NSWCA 285 Penson v Titan National Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 404 Picos v HealthEngine Pty Ltd [2015] FCCA 1983 Picos v The Council of NSW Bar Association [2019] NSWSC 1382 Picos v Council of the New South Wales Bar Association [2019] NSWSC 1851 Reinhart v Welker (2011) 93 NSWLR 311; [2011] NSWCA 403 Re Refugee Tribunal; Ex parte HB [2001] HCA 34; (2001) 179 ALR 513 R v Toohey; Ex parte Northern Land Council (1981) 151 CLR 170; [1981] HCA 74 Tomko v Palasty (No 2) (2007) 71 NSWLR 61; [2007] NSWCA 369 Transglobal Capital Pty Ltd v Yolarno Pty Ltd 60 NSWLR 143; [2004] NSWCA 136 Victorian Building Authority v Andriotis (2019) 268 CLR 168; [2019] HCA 22 Wentworth v Wentworth (1994) 35 NSWLR 726 Z v Mental Health Review Tribunal [2015] NSWCA 373 Z v Mental Health Review Tribunal (No 2) [2022] NSWCA 131 Z v Mental Health Review Tribunal (No 3) [2023] NSWCA 38 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Connie Louise Picos (Applicant) Council of the New South Wales Bar Association (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms C L Picos (Self-represented – Applicant) Ms K C Morgan SC / Ms M Kearney (Respondent)