Melbourne Law Firm Fined $50,000 for Exploiting Junior Lawyer

Melbourne-based law firm Erudite Legal has been fined over $50,000 after a court found it exploited a junior lawyer by forcing her to work excessively long hours, including multiple 24-hour shifts and 79-hour work weeks, and to endure a 'repugnant' working environment. The court heard that the lawyer was underpaid by $8,000 during her three-week employment, required to share a bed with the office manager, and made to watch an ice hockey movie late at night to understand her boss's philosophical views. Her boss, Shivesh Kuksal, also subjected her to lengthy lectures and demanded she work during significant personal hardships, such as her ex-partner’s funeral and caring for her ill mother. Magistrate Kathryn Fawcett described the firm's conduct as egregious and noted that Erudite Legal did not defend the case or comply with orders to rectify underpayments. The ruling highlights rare enforcement of workplace laws regarding excessive hours in the legal industry. The firm is now deregistered and was found to have shown a striking lack of contrition.