Criminal Justice System Struggles to Deal with Mentally Ill
The US Supreme Court’s recent ruling that an inmate on death row has the right to a hearing to determine whether he is “mentally ill” and should not therefore be executed raises questions about how we treat those with mental...
Top 10 Australian Prison Escapes
Since Australia’s colonial days, convicts have been escaping from custody using ingenious and risky methods – and despite heightened security measures in prisons these days, prison breaks certainly still occur. Great Escapes From a woman who commandeered a helicopter to...
Law Firm Asks Graduates to Pay for Job
It’s well known that the job market for young law graduates is tough right now. You finish what seems like endless years of study, unpaid internships, and accrue a hefty HECS debt - all to find graduate lawyer jobs few...
Should Families of Dead Terrorists be Allowed Back to Australia?
The following is a text message received by Australian grandmother Karen Nettleton from her 14-year-old granddaughter Zaynab, a child bride whose husband was killed fighting for a terrorist organisation in Syria: “Hello Nana, how are you? My husband got hit...
Should Toy Guns Be Banned?
In response to gun-related crimes such as the Lindt Café siege, there has been ongoing discussion about firearms regulation, with NSW politicians promising to crack down on gun crime in Sydney. Recently, the NSW Police Force announced the establishment of...
The Keys to Becoming a Good Lawyer
First of all, SCL would like to congratulate three of our law clerks who were admitted as lawyers yesterday. Welcome to the profession and here’s to a long and rewarding career. Our three bright sparks have finally made it after...
Should Welfare Recipients Get Cashless Cards?
There has been much discussion in the media about how to effectively manage welfare payments, with conservative columnists and radio-hosts accusing welfare recipients of ‘blowing money on alcohol, drugs and gambling.’ Those personalities will be happy to hear that the...
Prison Riots Over Smoking Ban in Victoria
In February, we wrote about the upcoming ban on smoking in NSW prisons which is scheduled to take place on August 10. But just days ago, a smoking ban was implemented in Victorian prisons. Many social commentators predicted that unrest...
Parents Behaving Badly: the ‘Ugly Parent Syndrome’
The term ‘Ugly Parent Syndrome’ is used to describe parents who are verbally and/or physically abusive while supervising children. It is most often witnessed at children’s sports events. Parents yelling at their kids, swearing at referees, and abusing other participants...
Criminal Lawyer Facing Drug Charges
We might count on criminal defence lawyers to get us out of sticky situations every now and then, but as one criminal lawyer in Sydney recently found out, being a lawyer does not mean that you are immune from criminal...
