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Fake lawyer Matthew Laba to appeal sentence

A Sydney man who pretended to be a criminal lawyer and represented multiple clients in a scandal reminiscent of the TV series Suits will appeal his sentence.

Matthew Laba at Sutherland Local Court.
Matthew Laba at Sutherland Local Court.

A Sydney man who admitted to impersonating a lawyer for multiple clients while he was not entitled to practice will appeal his sentence in the District Court.

During his employment at a Sydney law firm Matthew Laba, 29, represented a speeding driver, a woman accused of animal abuse and a well-known health cafe owner facing domestic violence allegations.

But in a bizarre situation reminiscent of American hit TV series Suits – Laba was never admitted to practice law in NSW or elsewhere in Australia.

The ruse was uncovered halfway through a hearing for Bondi cafe owner and influencer Lucas Azzopardi, whom Laba was representing as he defended domestic violence charges.

A prosecutor made the shock accusation Laba was not qualified to practice law, bringing the hearing to a grinding halt, before Laba was charged by the NSW Law Society.

The charges against Azzopardi were later dropped and it is not suggested he knew his lawyer was unqualified.

Matthew Laba.
Matthew Laba.

Laba pleaded guilty to four counts of engaging in legal practice when not qualified and two counts of being an unqualified entity advertising that they can engage in legal practice.

He was sentenced by Magistrate Daniel Covington to a nine-month intensive correction order and $16,000 in fines.

Laba is now appealing the sentence’s severity in the NSW District Court, and on Monday a hearing was set for September 6.

In January, the Law Society of NSW confirmed Laba did “not hold a current NSW practising certificate granted by the Law Society Council”.

Court documents previously revealed he had “never been admitted to the Australian legal profession in NSW or in any other jurisdiction” and at the time of his offending, Laba “was not an ‘Australian lawyer’ an ‘Australian legal practitioner’ or a ‘qualified entity”.

The offending took place on four different occasions at local courts across Sydney, including Liverpool, Sutherland and the Downing Centre in Sydney’s CBD.

On each occasion, documents reveal he did not seek leave to appear before the court.

Law Society of NSW president Cassandra Banks said Laba had never held a practising certificate in an Australian jurisdiction.

“People in need of legal advice and advocacy have a right to expect that the person they have retained to provide these services is qualified to do so,” she said.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-sydney/fake-lawyer-matthew-laba-to-appeal-sentence/news-story/8878a234fcf010d63f4d65e24d6daf26