Lawyer certificate cancelled
Praljak ‘solicitor’ description may raise eyebrows
A FORMER Gold Coast solicitor could face hefty fines and jail time after claiming to be a lawyer when he had in fact surrendered his certificate.
On Wednesday, former solicitor Adrian Praljak pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court to sending hundreds of creepy texts and emails for two years to a law student he had been dating for two weeks.
Between September 2015 and July 30, 2016, Paljak sent alternating text messages proclaiming his love for the woman and also accusations she was cheating on him.
Police prosecutor Jay Merchant said Praljak had also sent an email from his former firm, Gold Coast Legal Exchange, threatening to block the woman from practising law.
Defence lawyer Danielle Hurda, of Bamberry Lawyers, told the court Praljak was a lawyer on a restricted practising certificate, however further inquiries by the Bulletin have uncovered Praljak surrendered his certificate more than a week ago.
A spokesman for the Queensland Law Society confirmed Praljak had cancelled his certificate on May 9.
“He has no right to work as a solicitor in Queensland,” the spokesman said.
Solicitors need to apply for a practising certificate each year and anyone found guilty of falsely claiming to be a solicitor could face fines up to 300 penalty units (currently $37,845) under the Legal Profession Act 2007.
They can also face up to two year’s imprisonment.
Praljak’s current employer, local law firm James McConvill and Associates, confirmed Praljak was still employed.
Principal lawyer James McConvill said he was on unpaid leave and was unable to practise law until the QLS permitted him to practise as a lawyer or paralegal.
“At the moment, he can’t do either,” Mr McConvill said yesterday. “We became aware of that (the surrender of his certificate) today. He had a copy effective until June, but he surrendered it last week ... My duty was to make sure the firm was not in breach of the Legal Profession Act.
“As for Adrian Praljak’s conduct and conviction, I think it’s a personal matter ...”
Solicitor Bill Potts of Potts Lawyers said it was up to the Legal Services Commission to look into his use of the term solicitor during court.
“They can pursue claim," he said. that