The hand that signed the paper may soon be the right hand of the law, with the news that one of Australia’s greatest literary hoaxers, Helen Demidenko/Darville/Dale, is about to be appointed Associate to Rockhampton Supreme Court Justice Peter Dutney.

Ms Dale – as she is now known – won literary accolades and the prestigious Miles Franklin Award 10 years ago for her novel The Hand That Signed the Paper, written under the name Helen Demidenko. But she was later found to have invented her name (she was really Helen Darville) and the Ukrainian background on which the novel was based. Now, in her final semester of a Law degree at the University of Queensland, she’s set to get a job in Queensland’s highest court, as the Courier-Mail reported last Saturday.

Apparently it’s up to a judge to decide whether a person is fit to be his or her associate. But what happens if a known literary fraudster wants to practice law? The Queensland Law Society told us that after Dale completes her articles, or an equivalent course, it would be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether she was of fit and proper character to go on a roll of solicitors. After this, Dale would have to get approval from the QLS for a practising certificate.

So does the Society believe Dale/Darville/Demidenko’s history might prove a stumbling block for a career in the gentlemanly practice of the law? Not really, said a QLS spokesman. After all, said the spokesman, it’s not as if she committed a crime.