Matthew Laba admits to impersonating lawyer in Sydney courtrooms on multiple occasions

A Sydney man has admitted to impersonating a lawyer in courtrooms across Sydney where he represented four people in separate criminal proceedings.

Matthew Laba leaving Sutherland Local Court with Michelle Manousis. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Sydney man has admitted to impersonating a lawyer in courtrooms across Sydney where he represented four people in separate criminal proceedings.

Matthew Laba, 29, did not appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday where his lawyer entered guilty pleas to four counts of entity engage in legal practice when not qualified entity and two counts of unqualified entity advertise can engage in legal practice.

Similar to scenes from hit American television show Suits, Laba was accused in January of being unlicensed to practice law while representing Bondi cafe owner and influencer Lucas Azzopardi in a court hearing.

The matter was later withdrawn and dismissed in July and this publication does not suggest Azzopardi knew Laba was unlicensed.

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

Lucas Azzopardi speaking outside Downing Centre with lawyer Matthew Laba in January.

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.

Mr O’Connell on Monday asked Magistrate Clare Farnan for the matter to be adjourned for sentence next month, saying there were “some discussions” to be had “in relation to the facts”.

It prompted Ms Farnan to question whether the facts would be disputed, however, the court heard there was “likely to be changes”.

Mr O’Connell said the sentence was expected to take roughly one hour and requested for “both parties” to file written submissions.

It was ultimately agreed for all material, including the facts, to be served by December 11 with Laba to be sentenced two days later on December 13.

In wake of Laba’s pleas, Law Society of NSW president Cassandra Banks again confirmed Laba “does not hold, and has never held, a practising certificate issued by the Council of the Law Society of NSW”.

“Nor by any other issuing authority in any Australian jurisdiction,” she continued.

“As a co-regulator of the state’s solicitor profession, the Law Society … has a responsibility to help maintain public confidence in the integrity of the legal profession and to protect the public and clients of law practices from unqualified people … purporting to be lawyers.”

Ms Banks said those needing legal advice and advocacy “have a right to expect” the person acting as their representative “is qualified to do so”.

She said NSW lawyers were subject to stringent ethical obligations and were required to “maintain the highest standards of integrity, honesty and fairness”.

“The Law Society of NSW will act wherever necessary in order to protect the public and clients of legal practices from conduct that undermines confidence in the law and legal process,” she said.