Prothonotary of the Supreme Court v P (2003) NSWCA 320

In this matter Greg Walsh represented the respondent, a solicitor, in respect of an application by the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court seeking a declaration that the name of the solicitor be struck off the Role of Solicitors. The solicitor had pleaded guilty to importing a practicable quantity of cocaine and served a sentence of imprisonment. The Prothonotary applied to have her name removed from the Roll of Legal Practitioners on the grounds that a conviction constituted professional misconduct within the meaning of s127(1)(b) of the Legal Profession Act and that she was not a fit and proper person to remain on the roll. The Court found that the solicitor had been drug free for almost 5 years and that the factual matrix of the case was such that the solicitor was not at risk to the public. The application was dismissed for costs.