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The Rakes You Love to Hate: Top 10 Wicked Lawyers

Published:
18 Jul 2023
News

Wenee Yap

Legal Features Writer for the College of Law
The Rakes You Love to Hate: Top 10 Wicked Lawyers

Don’t we all just love to watch those onscreen lawyers who thrive on flexible ethics, infuriating tactics, and an unorthodox knowledge of the law? They may even remind us of an adversary or two... The College of Law rounds up the top 10 lawyers you love to hate - if they weren’t so delightfully hilarious or doomed. Machiavellian from start to finish, you'll be hard-pressed to find a redeemable quality amongst them - which is also why we love to watch them. 

 

Louis Canning

1. Louis Canning foils every Good Fight (and Good Wife)
 

In The Good Fight, Michael J. Fox reprised his role as the reprehensible Louis Canning made famous in The Good Wife. Canning is a cunning lawyer who lives with tardive dyskinesia, a neurological condition which causes erratic body movements. Playing against audience expectations of a ‘perfect victim’, Canning routinely exploits his condition - dropping canes from courtroom tables, for example - to blindside opposing counsel and win the sympathies of juries and judges alike. Other than his courtroom tactics and constant double-crossing, Canning often turns up to defend the most absurd claims from cashed up clients - such as refusing to recognise the authority of a federal court judge and appearing when subpoenaed. This is an intentional echo of the worst of populist politics, an indictment of lawyers fully aware of the law, willing to push - or even ignore - the limits of the law for a client willing to pay them to do so. 



Chuck Rhoades

2. Chuck Rhoades hates your Billions 

Crossing the floor to controversial public prosecutors, we arrive at U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades from Billions. Rhoades is the pop cultural embodiment of every cautionary tale told of overzealous prosecutors… dialled up to 11. He prides himself as a ruthless hunter of Wall Street billionaires - and his kill streak is formidable. Of the 81 insider trading cases he’s prosecuted, he’s lost zero. It’s what makes him the perfect brick wall for newly minted wunderkind Bobby Axelrod, as the show pits two opposing ideologies against each other in a UFC-worthy fight for the ages. Drowning in daddy issues, Chuck Rhoades’ own wealth is buoyed by his abusive father’s successes in property and trading. Plus, his wife works for his nemesis, Bobby. If that’s not a recipe for drama, who knows what is?


Fisk

3. Fisk doesn’t give a f…toss 

Probate specialist Helen Tudor-Fisk is the opposite of an inspiring lawyer. Plying her trade in the forgotten suburbs of Melbourne, she’s the every-lawyer - indeed, 84% of Australia’s legal practitioners are sole practitioners, and only 1% of Australian law firms feature more than 21 principals. In this gently hilarious ABC comedy, Fisk washes up in Melbourne after the demise of her marriage in Sydney, joining a classic suburban firm run by a brother and sister. Famous for her shapeless brown suit and no-nonsense approach to client work, Fisk gets the job done - without a smile, and without ever getting too invested in any particular matter. She lives rent-free in her retired father’s granny flat; her father was a judge with echoes of Michael Kirby AC CMG, complete with an exasperated life partner who is perpetually on a mission to evict Fisk. Arguably, she’s living the dream. But she’d never say so.


Rake Cleaver Green

4. The Rake you love and hate 

In many ways, Cleaver Greene is classic Sydney. He’s a brilliantly self-destructive charm offensive wrapped up in a good suit. A witty iconoclast, Cleaver spends his time wrangling a bafflingly successful career in between a slew of his favourite diversions: women, drugs and gambling. One thing’s for sure: he is 100% Big Sydney Energy, a handsome mess of good intentions, unhelpful addictions, and devastating observations. 

Like all Australian greats, Cleaver Greene became so deliciously rake-ish that Americans felt the need to do their own version - with a mild name change, the protagonist was ‘Keegan Deane.’ Never heard of it? Neither had we.


Petty Hewes

5. Fired up and ready to do some Damages 

As a career, becoming a class action litigator lives in the Venn diagram overlap of dreams: you can become a freshly minted millionaire and champion clients who might otherwise be priced out of excellent legal counsel. That’s exactly how graduate lawyer Ellen Parsons in Damages feels when she’s offered a job at Hewes & Associates, serving the formidable, frequently unethical, Patty Hewes. Patty is played to ice-queen-perfection by Glenn Close, as she schools her protégé in her ruthless tradecraft. Buoyed by her brand new six figure salary, Ellen soon realises that Patty hired her for her personal connection to the firm’s major class action - but by this point, she’s already in too deep.


Tanner Bolt

6. Behind every Gone Girl is a great lawyer 

That old chestnut... Boy meets girl at a painfully cool party in New York. He’s a writer for a men’s magazine; she’s a crossword puzzler with a fancy degree and fancy trust fund. With all the money in the world, they fall in love. Until an economic catastrophe hits, and they move to the deeply suburban Midwest.

With none of the money in the world, they fall out of love. Boy finds a new cool girl. And when his original girl disappears, detectives follow a series of extremely convenient clues that lead them to... Nick Dunne, the cheating husband with a missing wife.  

Enter Tanner Bolt. Saviour of society’s latest pariahs, the remorseful husband, Tanner is a smooth-talking defence attorney also known as a ‘patron saint to wife killers everywhere’. So when Nick Dunne turns up at Tanner’s marble-floored lobby, Tanner delivers a pitch perfect offer: “You came to the right guy. This is what I do, Nick. This is why I have a $100,000 retainer. I win the unwinnable cases. We’ll give you a special ‘my wife is skilled in the art of vengeance’ rate.” 

Tanner understands the law is as much about optics and storytelling as it is about justice. And when the case is wrapped up, Tanner departs, declaring the whole affair as a ‘Miracle of the Mississippi.’ 

 

Billy Flynn

7. Billy Flynn, king of the Chicago Razzle Dazzle 

Self-proclaimed “silver tongued prince of the courtroom”, Billy Flynn is arguably the godfather of well-heeled criminal lawyers. The undisputed master of ‘Razzle Dazzle’, his own personal term for his personal twist on courtroom stagecraft, Billy Flynn is willing to do whatever it takes to sway juries and judges alike. As he (literally) tap dances his way through half-truths and full-blown lies, puppeteering witnesses and clients to say exactly what he wants, for example, “we both reached for the gun”. In a world as celebrity-obsessed as Chicago, Flynn’s amorality is richly rewarded. After all, as Flynn would say, “how can you hear the truth above the roar?” 


Aaron Burr

8. Aaron Burr, Sir 

Aaron Burr, a.k.a. the man who will be remembered in infamy as the lawyer who murdered fellow lawyer and American founding father Alexander Hamilton. This is potentially a controversial entry about a controversial historical figure. If Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hip hop masterpiece Hamilton is to be believed, Aaron Burr harboured a feud many may empathise with - his rival, a come-from-nothing immigrant whose talent constantly eclipsed his own ambition at every critical turn. This is ultimately a cautionary tale - a lawyer who let a petty, life-defining-rivalry escalate into a career-spanning-feud that proved fatal. 


Louis Litt

9. Suit up and Litt up! 

Everyone has met a Louis Litt in their lifetime. Maybe you’ve met three. The primary antagonist to hero Harvey Specter in Suits, Louis Litt is a corporate attorney with the highest billables in the firm - and an ego to match. In between scheming, double-crossing and some light embezzlement, he is most well-known for coining his own catchphrase: “You just got Litt up!” (His version of “You got served!”). 

Ever the humble partner, he even finds the time to emblazon his motto onto company promo material.


Saul Goodman

10. It’s all good, man (with Saul Goodman) 

We finish with the gold standard of dodgy lawyers, Better Call Saul. A lawyer so dodgy he changed his name from Jimmy to Saul Goodman, because he felt it sounded like “It’s all good, man!” His wily ways and willingness to skirt the sharpest edges of the law have won him a very specific kind of clientele - and one he is more than happy to represent.

Exiled from his brother’s reputable law firm, Saul strikes out on his own. His firm features gaudy Grecian pillars reminiscent of the Acropolis and he has a framed inscription of the U.S. Constitution plastered on the wall behind his desk. Running TV ads – that would be prohibited in Australia under the strict marketing guidelines governing local lawyers – icons like the Statue of Liberty and the American flag are used as backdrops for Saul’s call to viewers that they have ‘Rights’, which he is happy to defend.  

The best way to think of Saul Goodman is through the eyes of his clients, like street-level drug dealer, Jesse Pinkman. When Jesse connects Breaking Bad protagonist Walter White to Saul, he does so with the introduction: “You don’t want a criminal lawyer. You want a criminal lawyer.”   

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Your Guide to a Career in Legal Operations

In Australia, the legal profession is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements and complex demands from clients and employers. Legal operations professionals, not necessarily with legal backgrounds, are pivotal in integrating new technologies, project management, and process improvements to meet modern market needs.

Nationally Accredited Mediator Training Course Guide

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Nationally Accredited Mediator Training Course Guide

Download our Nationally Accredited Mediator Training handbook, if you are considering adding mediation to your skill set. Inside you'll find everything you need to know about the course.

Vale Kay Smith

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Vale Kay Smith

On Monday 15 August 2016, Kay Smith, one of The College of Law’s longest serving and most respected people died after a short illness.

Kay’s legal career began when she gained her qualification in Law through the NSW Legal Practitioners Admission Board. Kay then obtained a position as an articled clerk with a city firm at a time when there were very few openings for women in the legal profession. She was admitted as a solicitor and established a legal career. She moved from private practice to the College of Law in 1983 – the start of a 30 year career at the College.

Dispute Resolution Postgraduate Programs Course Guide

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Dispute Resolution Postgraduate Programs Course Guide

Download the Dispute Resolution Postgraduate Course Guide to learn how our program can equip you with essential skills to resolve conflicts effectively and build a rewarding career in this growing field.

Assessing Mental Capacity: A Guide from the Law Council of Australia

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Assessing Mental Capacity: A Guide from the Law Council of Australia

For legal practitioners in Wills & Estates, finding clear ways to consider and assess mental capacity in a variety of situations is crucial. We spoke to College of Law Lecturer Josephine Pignataro, Special Counsel at HWL Ebsworth, and Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates. Josephine shares key elements from the Law Council of Australia’s Best Practice Guide for Legal Practitioners on Assessing Mental Capacity or ‘the BPG’.

Graduate Certificate in Applied Law Guide

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Graduate Certificate in Applied Law Guide

Looking to boost your legal career but not ready to dive into a Master of Laws (LLM)?
 
The Graduate Certificate in Applied Law might be the answer.
 
Offering a flexible and affordable way to upskill, the Graduate Certificate is a popular option for busy legal professionals looking to sharpen their skills or master a particular field.
 
Download this course guide to receive more information. 
Dress for success: How clothes impact your performance and power

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Dress for success: How clothes impact your performance and power

What you wear has been proven to impact how you feel and perform, it has also been shown to influence how others perceive and respond to you. Given these findings what you wear to the office, a client meeting, to court, or even a job interview, matters. Experienced style expert and author, Dijanna Mulhearn, provides her expert tips on how lawyers can take their look and feel to the next level and dress for success at work.

Defining success in life and law

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Defining success in life and law

What does it mean to be successful? Her Honour Magistrate Michelle Harries, former Assistant Director and lecturer at the College of Law WA, shares her insights at the PLT Excellence Awards Evening. The following is an extract from Her Honour’s speech.

What’s so special about specialising? The ins and outs of becoming a specialist lawyer

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What’s so special about specialising? The ins and outs of becoming a specialist lawyer

Becoming a specialist can be a smart career move. It’s a pathway to new knowledge, opportunities and challenges. But it’s also a commitment. So is specialising the right move for you? Learn the ins, outs, and must-knows of specialising – and what you need to know before you take the leap.

Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration Practice Course Guide

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Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration Practice Course Guide

Download the Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration Practice Course Guide and unlock the skills needed to navigate complex, cross-border legal disputes with confidence and efficiency.

Property Law Postgraduate Programs Course Guide

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Property Law Postgraduate Programs Course Guide

Download the Property Law Postgraduate Course Guide and discover how our specialised program can help you build expertise and thrive in this dynamic field.

How to break into family law with Jo Bragg

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How to break into family law with Jo Bragg

Jo Bragg, a solicitor in regional Tasmania, started as a generalist lawyer. Her personal experience of separation, along with increasing client demand, prompted her to move into family law. Insights spoke to Jo about what attracted her to family law, what her day-to-day life looks like in practice, and her advice for lawyers looking to move into the area.

How ESG will impact your area of practice in law

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How ESG will impact your area of practice in law

Four years ago, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles barely registered, even today many people are left asking – “what is ESG?”. In a nutshell ESG is a framework that is used to assess a businesses’ sustainability and ethical performance. ESG principles are an ever-growing part of doing business today. For those wanting to know more about ESG the College of Law will be holding a free ESG in Australia seminar Thursday 18th of May onsite at the College headquarters in Sydney and online. 

The future has never looked brighter: words from our CEO on the College’s big move

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The future has never looked brighter: words from our CEO on the College’s big move

After more than 50 years at St Leonards, The College of Law is moving into the heart of Sydney’s CBD in early 2022.

A Lawyer's Guide to Getting Published

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A Lawyer's Guide to Getting Published

Looking to enhance your area of legal expertise via publication? Academic journals have long been a popular option for lawyers to establish a strong reputation in their practice area.

Navigating Age Discrimination In The Law With Tile Imo

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Navigating Age Discrimination In The Law With Tile Imo

Bias and age-based discrimination remains an issue in the workforce, despite legal protections. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of age bias claims with Tilé Imo, Associate Director of Caxton Legal Centre. We explore the evolving legal landscape, effective strategies for litigating age discrimination cases, and the emerging trends that lawyers need to be aware of to best serve their clients.

Self-awareness: The surprising foundation to a thriving legal career

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Self-awareness: The surprising foundation to a thriving legal career

There’s no doubt the legal sector can be an intense work environment. Thanks to heavy caseloads and fierce competition, lawyers and other legal professionals are facing stress, anxiety and burnout on a concerning scale. But according to executive transition coach and CEO at Lucent Global, Ellie Scarf, it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s one tool that can help you manage a plethora of professional challenges. That tool? Self-awareness.

5 tips on how to avoid common ethical breaches for lawyers with Athol Opas

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5 tips on how to avoid common ethical breaches for lawyers with Athol Opas

The law is a complex field heavily reliant on knowledge, interpretation and advice. This makes for a profession that can have far reaching consequences and, as a result, lawyers are held to high standards. Athol Opas presents annual ethics updates to firms to keep them abreast of recent cases of misconduct and/or common ethical breaches. We spoke to Athol to find out about the most common ethical breaches lawyers should be mindful of and to gain his top tips on complying within ethical obligations. 

What are the top negligence claims facing lawyers today?

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What are the top negligence claims facing lawyers today?

The College of Law investigates which legal practice areas are most at risk of negligence claims and why. We spoke to Lawcover’s Legal Risk Manager Glenda Carry about the practice areas most affected by negligence claims, what behaviours can lead to adverse claims by clients, and what risk mitigation strategies law practices can put in place.

From LLB to Parliament – Australia’s Politicians-Turned-Lawyers

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From LLB to Parliament – Australia’s Politicians-Turned-Lawyers

Australia’s recent change in leadership has set the nation’s eyes on Malcolm Turnbull. Over the coming weeks and months, the newly appointed 29th Prime Minister will reveal his mettle as a national leader.

From ballroom dancing to the law: Meet PLT alum Helena Angela Hanna

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From ballroom dancing to the law: Meet PLT alum Helena Angela Hanna

While completing her law degree and Practical Legal Training with the College of Law, Helena Hanna also kept up with her interests outside of studies. Learn more about Helena and her law degree experience.

How to merge your love of music with your legal career: Chelsea's story

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How to merge your love of music with your legal career: Chelsea's story

Learn how Chelsea Donoghue merged her lot of arts and law: How she managed her study while on world tours, what she loves most about her work at Sanicki Lawyers, and what’s next.

Graduates and prize winners recognised in June ceremony

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Graduates and prize winners recognised in June ceremony

Graduates and prize winners celebrated their achievements, received their awards and honours remotely due to continuing COVID-19 restrictions.

How AI is being used in Family Law

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How AI is being used in Family Law

To understand where legal AI use cases are showing up within family law, the College spoke with two highly experienced practitioners who have incorporated AI into their legal practice in different ways. Fiona Kirkman, principal at Kirkman Family Law, embraced ChatGPT early on in her practice, while Jenna Downy, solicitor at Family Law Matters, helped train LawY, an AI legal research assistant.

How to exit your job gracefully in law

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How to exit your job gracefully in law

For the 1 in 4 Australian lawyers considering leaving their job, the current job market is tipped in their favour. However, Australia’s legal profession is tight-knit and relatively small, so reputation matters. If you are leaving your role for fresh challenges, here are our top tips on how to exit your job gracefully in law, from the College of Law’s National Careers Advisors Ruth Beran and Susan Pincus.

Juggling full-time work, parenting and PLT possible through the College of Law, says Kerala Drew

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Juggling full-time work, parenting and PLT possible through the College of Law, says Kerala Drew

Kerala Drew found the path to qualifying as an Australian lawyer fraught with roadblocks. Learn how she landed her first job in law, what set her College of Law PLT experience apart from prior study, and what advice she might have for lawyers looking to join the Australian legal profession.

The legal ramifications of the Queen’s death are surprisingly small

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The legal ramifications of the Queen’s death are surprisingly small

We talk to the College of Law’s Adrian Deans, Academic Policy & Quality, James Crittenden, Head of Short Courses and CPD, and Lewis Patrick, Chief Academic Officer, about some of the pragmatic impacts of the Queen’s passing on the law and Australian legal profession.

3 Key Insights from the State of Separation Impact Report: Making Separation Simpler

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3 Key Insights from the State of Separation Impact Report: Making Separation Simpler

Parting ways in a relationship is never easy, and family lawyers are generally the first professional separating couples encounter when they end a relationship. For all of these reasons Angela Harbinson created The Separation Guide, which aims to make separation and divorce simpler, more manageable and less stressful.

Kyiesha Faulkner: How the Indigenous Business Handbook is transforming lives

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Kyiesha Faulkner: How the Indigenous Business Handbook is transforming lives

Starting a business is never easy. What step should you take first? How do you negotiate the ins and outs of your legal requirements if you’re not a lawyer? Even for a seasoned lawyer these steps are complicated…And what if you also face unique cultural considerations and complexities?

Your Guide to a Career in Property Law

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Your Guide to a Career in Property Law

Download your guide to a career in property law for everything you need to know about property law in a nutshell, the personal strengths of a property lawyer, the core expertise of a property lawyer, related areas of expertise, and the career prospects in property law.

How to Become a Partner Guide

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How to Become a Partner Guide

This guide will help you navigate the first steps towards becoming a partner. It will help you reflect on your own motivations, assess your skill set, and determine the best path forward in your career.

New Resolution Institute and The College of Law partnership to maximise skills and experience

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New Resolution Institute and The College of Law partnership to maximise skills and experience

Resolution Institute and The College of Law are pleased to announce an exciting new partnership aimed at establishing a symbiotic cooperation which will maximise the resources of both organisations through mutual collaboration and the sharing of expertise and efforts in education and training.

How to get into Wills & Estates with Rick Christie

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How to get into Wills & Estates with Rick Christie

Rick Christie, owner of ChristieLaw and committee member of STEP NSW, had always been attracted to the personal side of wills and estates. Insights spoke to Rick about how he came to specialise in wills and estates, what advice he might have for lawyers looking to move into the area, and what role industry organisation STEP can play for lawyers keen to become specialists.

Major changes ahead with the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 in progress

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Major changes ahead with the Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 in progress

Major changes are coming that will impact the family law system and the way practitioners operate in Australia. The Family Law Amendment Bill 2023 is currently under debate in parliament and after its third reading, it is now under review with the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee. The College of Law will provide legal training support when the Family Law Amendment Bill commences, but in the meantime, we spoke with College of Law adjunct lecturer Kathryn Kearley to find out about the most important changes.  

Graduates, prize winners honoured at the Winter 2022 Academic Awards Ceremony

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Graduates, prize winners honoured at the Winter 2022 Academic Awards Ceremony

The College of Law recognised over 200 graduates of its Postgraduate Specialisation Programs at the 2022 Academic Awards Ceremony on 1 August. These awards included the Master of Laws (Applied Law), Master of Applied Law (Family Law), Graduate Diplomas of Applied Law and Graduate Diploma of Family Dispute Resolution Practice (FDRP).

When commercial acumen meets common courtesy: Ankurpreet’s LPMC story

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When commercial acumen meets common courtesy: Ankurpreet’s LPMC story

Ankurpreet Singh was thrust into a costly commercial conflict, which made him determine to pursue a legal career. To make his dream a reality, he enrolled in the College of Law’s LPMC – where he bolstered his business competence and confidence.

How to get a government job in law: everything you need to know

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How to get a government job in law: everything you need to know

Embarking on a legal career in local, state, or federal government can be an exciting move. There are many pathways for development, a broad range of practice areas, and often a healthy work-life balance. These roles are highly rewarding, and highly competitive, the College of Law tells you everything you need to know about landing a government job in law.

Legal Practice Management Course Queensland - Course Guide

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Legal Practice Management Course Queensland - Course Guide

Download the QLD Legal Practice Management Course Guide to learn how our program can prepare you to manage a law firm or take on a leadership role within an established practice.

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