McGirr & Anor v The Council of the Law Society of NSW [2014] NSWCATOD 154

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: McGirr & Anor v The Council of the Law Society of NSW [2014] NSWCATOD 154 Hearing dates: 1 August 2014, 15 August 2014 (submissions)1 December 2014 (further submissions) Decision date: 23 December 2014 Jurisdiction: Occupational Division Before: J Wakefield, Senior Member S Hale, Senior Member Prof R Fitzgerald, General Member Decision: The Tribunal orders that: 1. Pursuant to s 17(1) of the Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Matthew Thomas McGirr is approved to be a lay associate of law practice, Gilbert & Tobin Lawyers. 2. The order made on 1 August 2014 pursuant to s 64 of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) is discharged. Catchwords: Administrative Law - Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NSW) - Occupational Division - application for approval to be a lay associate - protection of the public - integrity of the legal profession - whether fit and proper - character insight - contrition - rehabilitation - view of the Council of the Law Society - application approved Legislation Cited: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) Cases Cited: Boyland, Ex-parte; Re Rule 19 of Solicitors' Practices Rules (1962) 80 WN (NSW) 943 Camille Eduoard Dezarnaulds and Stephen Wawn v The Law Society of New South Wales (unreported Supreme Court 27 June 1995) Dawson v Law Society (No 590 of 1988) 21/12/89 Double Bay Law Pty Ltd t/a & Legal v Council of the Law Society of NSW [2013] NSWADT 182 Hegney v Law Society of New South Wales [2008] NSWADT 150 In the matter of Iverson (unreported 26 July 1996, No 30 of 1995) Kocic v Commissioner of Police NSW Police Force [2014] NSWCA 368 (29 October 2014) La Fontaine v Law Society [2006] NSWADT 244 Law Society v Bannister [1993] 4 LPDR 24 McCowan v Council of the Law Society of NSW [2014] NSWCATOD 44 Michael John Charles Caiger (1994) 1 LPDR 32 Miedzinski v Council of the Law Society of NSW [2007] NSWADT 268 Re Clayton [1962] SR (NSW) 132 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Thomas McGirr (Applicant) The Council of the Law Society of NSW (Respondent) Representation: S Glass (Applicant) L Pierotti (Respondent) File Number(s): 1420235