Alexander Pinnock, Alec Stuart charged with pretending to be a lawyer
A man has been charged after he allegedly represented a defendant in court and falsified a NSW practising certificate – when he has never been qualified or admitted as a lawyer.
Illawarra Star
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An Illawarra man who describes himself as a “criminal and civil litigation professional” online has been charged after he allegedly represented someone in a NSW court when he is not and has never been admitted as a lawyer.
The Law Society of NSW says Alexander Pinnock – also known as Alec Stuart and Alec Anton Stuart – has repeatedly presented himself as a lawyer in court, online and in communications with other law societies.
But the society alleges Pinnock is not, and has never been, qualified or admitted as a solicitor anywhere in Australia.
Pinnock, 33, faced Downing Centre Local Court on February 27 charged with five counts of being an unqualified entity who advertised they could engage in legal practice and one count of engaging in legal practice as an unqualified entity.
Documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court allege the Woonona man appeared for a defendant at Coffs Harbour Local Court on May 17.
“The defendant made an appearance in the manner customary for a solicitor appearing in the Local Court, including by entering a plea of not guilty on behalf of (the defendant),” the court documents allege.
“The defendant introduced himself to the police prosecutor and handed her a business card describing him as Alec Stuart, principal of Sydney Lawyers.”
The first allegation Stuart advertised himself as someone qualified to engage in legal practice pertains to a website where he describes himself as “Alec Anton Stuart LL. B, South Australian Criminal and Civil Lawyer”.
The website – which remains live – states “Alec Stuart is not your typical solicitor”.
“Alec enrolled in his Bachelor of Laws in the United States and now practices in his Adelaide office around Australia via video link and in person,” the website states.
The second allegation pertains to a Facebook page in which Pinnock allegedly described himself as “Alec Anton Stuart, partner at Sydney Lawyers”.
Pinnock is further alleged to have emailed the Queensland Law Society an application to be an associate member in which he stated he was an Australian lawyer.
He is then alleged to have sought a practising certificate from the Queensland Law Society by providing a falsified NSW practising certificate and certificate of fitness.
Pinnock is also alleged to have sought an identification card from the NSW Law Society after making a declaration he held a current NSW practising certificate.
“At all material times, the defendant was not an Australian lawyer within the meaning of (the law) because the defendant has never been admitted to the Australian legal profession in NSW or any other jurisdiction,” the court documents allege.
“The defendant was not an Australian legal practitioner because the defendant has never held an Australian practising certificate.”
In court, Pinnock told Magistrate Theo Tsavridis he intends to defend the charges and wishes to be prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions instead of the Law Society of NSW.
The matter has been adjourned to March 20 for plea and mention.
A Law Society of NSW spokesman said: “While this matter is before the court it is inappropriate to comment.”
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