Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Li [2024] NSWCA 218

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Li [2024] NSWCA 218 Hearing dates: On the papers Date of orders: 09 September 2024 Decision date: 09 September 2024 Before: Bell CJ at [1]; Kirk JA at [26]; Stern JA at [27] Decision: 1. Declare that Gen (James) Li is not a fit and proper person to remain on the Roll of Australian Lawyers maintained by the Court under s 22 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) (the Roll); 2. Order that the name Gen (James) Li be removed from the Roll; and 3. Order that Gen (James) Li pay the Council of the Law Society of New South Wales' costs of (and incidental to) the proceedings. Catchwords: LEGAL PRACTITIONERS — Disciplinary proceedings — Misappropriation of trust accounts — Practitioner convicted of three offences under s 192E(1)(b) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) —Declaration that the practitioner is not a fit and proper person to remain on the Roll of Australian Lawyers Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 192E(1)(b) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 91 Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) ss 22, 23, 77, 83, 154, 165, 264 Cases Cited: Barwick v Council of the Law Society of New South Wales [2004] NSWCA 32 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Clarke [2022] NSWCA 57 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Croke [2024] NSWCA 195 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Duncan [2024] NSWCA 147 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Green [2022] NSWCA 257 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Karimjee [2021] NSWCA 179 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Yoon [2020] NSWCA 141 Council of the New South Wales Bar Association v Einfeld (2009) 258 ALR 768; [2009] NSWCA 255 Hilton v Legal Profession Admission Board [2017] NSWCA 232 New South Wales Bar Association v Cummins (2001) 52 NSWLR 279; [2001] NSWCA 284 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Dimitrious [2015] NSWCA 258 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Council of the Law Society of New South Wales (Applicant) Gen (James) Li (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Webster SC (Applicant)