THE fallout from a lawyer being found guilty of stealing about $11,000 was taking effect yesterday after his ability to practise was suspended and clients turned up at court unrepresented.
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A jury found Newnham man Adrian John Hall, 39, guilty of four counts of stealing in the Supreme Court in Launceston on Thursday.
Between August 2010 and July 2012 Hall pocketed cash payments from clients, totalling about $10,780, while he worked for Launceston barrister and solicitor Grant Tucker .
Yesterday morning, the Legal Profession Board of Tasmania met and directed the Law Society of Tasmania to suspend Hall’s practising certificate until June 30, 2015.
The Law Society confirmed yesterday afternoon that it had complied with this direction.
Legal Profession Board chief executive Frank Ederle said the board was fulfilling its obligations to protect the public from misconduct by legal practitioners.
Mr Ederle said the board would continue to monitor developments and take the appropriate steps.
Law Society president Matthew Verney said that the public was entitled to expect ethical and legal behaviour from lawyers.
‘‘When it comes to charging for the services that we provide, the public need to have confidence that we are transparent, issue involves, properly receipt money and deposit funds in our trust accounts,’’ Mr Verney said.
In the Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday, one of Hall’s clients turned up unrepresented for a decision on alleged breaches of a police family violence order.
The magistrate adjourned his decision to mid-December to allow the man to instruct a new lawyer.
The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania is expected to pick up the bulk of Hall’s clients who receive legal aid, while private clients will instruct new solicitors.
Hall has the option to appeal against the jury’s verdicts, his coming sentence and the board’s suspension of his practising certificate.
His sentencing date will be decided in Hobart on Friday.