Paula Piccinini’s righteous anger at the ALP is fairly on the mark, but
it
still brings a wry smile. It is true that barristers are not allowed to
refuse
a paying brief. That certainly does not mean they all abide by this
rule. It is
common for a barrister’s clerk to enquire about the details of a case and
‘consult’
before determining that said barrister will be unavailable. And it is
common
knowledge that you wouldn’t ask some barristers to do some jobs – they
would
always be ‘unavailable’.

The more amusing insight was almost incidental. Barristers are prohibited
from
refusing a PAYING brief. Every man is innocent until proven bankrupt. The
law,
in its majestic equality, forbids the rich and poor alike from stealing
food.
Not, mind you, that I am asking my learned friends to work for free.
Just
please don’t expect the rest of us to have much sympathy for the
welfare and
dignity of a hired gun.