Legal Services Commission obtains Supreme Court injunction against fake barrister Joel Stansfield

A Townsville man who claimed to be a barrister with an “honest and no bulls--t approach” has been banned from engaging in legal practice.

A Supreme Court injunction was obtained by the Legal Services Commission Queensland against Townsville man Joel Stansfield, who claimed he was a barrister.

A Townsville man who claimed to be a barrister has been banned from engaging in legal practice.

Joel Stansfield was hit with a Supreme Court injunction in mid September by the Legal Services Commission Queensland.

The LSC in a statement said that between 2019 and 2022, Stansfield claimed he was a duty lawyer, called himself a barrister, drafted legal documents and performed tasks “restricted to legal practitioners”.

Mr Stansfield was said to have done so despite never holding legal qualifications.

Mr Stansfield’s LinkedIn profile lists his current role as “Owner, family consigliore, Senior Director and Principal Legal Adviser” at Joel Stansfield Pty Ltd.

A previous job title of “stand-up comedian” is also listed.

A Supreme Court injunction was obtained by the Legal Services Commission Queensland against Townsville man Joel Stansfield, who claimed he was a barrister.

“I offer an honest and no bulls--t approach to explaining and helping understand the finer points of law and its many confusing attributes,” the about section in Mr Stansfield’s profile read.

His most recent post from four months ago directs users to the ‘Stansfield Barristers Chambers’ website with the tagline of “Legal expertise you can rely on”.

The website – which is still active – states Mr Stansfield’s practice areas include personal injury, environmental and business litigation, workplace harassment and even wrongful death.

The site lists multiple testimonials and “success stories” from clients.

Joel Stansfield never obtained a law degree from Southern Cross University, despite his claims to the contrary.

In a statement the LSC said Mr Stansfield was restrained from both representing or advertising an entitlement to engage in legal practice, and from engaging in legal practice.

Red flags began to surface in 2019 after Mr Stansfield was seen in a Townsville courtroom wearing a suit and running shoes.

It was understood at that time that several people had appeared in court with paperwork prepared by Mr Stansfield.

In earlier reports, Mr Stansfield insisted he had completed a Bachelor of Law through Southern Cross University, but a spokeswoman for the university said no record of Mr Stansfield existed on their database.

When questioned by the Bulletin in 2019 Mr Stansfield said he was not a barrister, but didn’t believe he was doing anything illegal by portraying himself to be so on social media.

Mr Stansfield told the Bulletin he had in 2010 been sentenced to five years jail for trafficking dangerous drugs – but was appealing the matter.

It is not known whether Mr Stansfield pursued with an appeal.

Following a Bulletin investigation, Mr Stansfield featured on an A Current Affair expose over his claims.

Originally published as Legal Services Commission obtains Supreme Court injunction against fake barrister Joel Stansfield