Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW v Alcorn

The Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales brought proceedings against Mr Alcorn, a solicitor, alleging professional misconduct. The dispute concerned Mr Alcorn's conduct, which included criminal offences and deceptive behaviour towards his partners and investigators, ultimately leading to allegations that he was not a person of good fame and character and was not a fit and proper person to remain on the Local Roll of Solicitors. The matter was heard by Beazley JA, McColl JA, and Hoeben J in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

The court was required to determine whether Mr Alcorn's conduct constituted professional misconduct, whether he was a person of good fame and character, and consequently, whether he was a fit and proper person to remain on the Local Roll of Solicitors.

The court found that Mr Alcorn's actions, including deception and criminal offences, amounted to professional misconduct. Applying the principles of legal professional regulation, the court concluded that such conduct demonstrated a lack of good fame and character, rendering him unfit to continue as a solicitor. Consequently, the court declared that Mr Alcorn was guilty of professional misconduct, was not a person of good fame and character, and was not a fit and proper person to remain on the Local Roll of Lawyers. The court ordered that Mr Alcorn's name be removed from the Local Roll of Lawyers of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.