Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Julian Webb

@julianinoz.bsky.social

730 followers 580 following 320 posts

Law prof at UniMelb; lawyers/legal ethics, digital tech/reg, civil justice, empirical research. HREC Chair, Grampians Health. Recovering legal education geek.Trainee lavender grower, 💙art and books. Dja Dja Wurrung country #firstgen

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Jan 30

"Informative, inspiring and ambitious, Leading Works is a landmark work in legal ethics... The wide-ranging and thought-provoking territory that the book covers make it an invaluable resource..."

- Amy Salyzyn, JOTWELL (Jan. 29, 2025) (reviewing Webb (ed), Leading Works in Legal Ethics, Routledge).

Three copies of a book, 'Leading Works in Legal Ethics' fanned out on a wooden table

1 3

Reposted by Julian Webb

Shahrzad Shams @shahrzadshams.bsky.social · 2d

Important piece by @lookheron.bsky.social tracing how the steady neoliberalization of higher education has sowed fertile ground for its takeover by authoritarians

LPE Blog @lpeblog.bsky.social · 2d

Today, @lookheron.bsky.social argues that, for higher education, it's been one battle after another: how the neoliberal era laid the groundwork for the recent authoritarian turn.

The Neoliberal Foundation of the Authoritarian Turn in Higher Education

Recent authoritarian attacks on higher education mark a significant shift from the neoliberal era, which celebrated institutional independence from the state, the role of education in boosting worker…

lpeproject.org

11 20

Reposted by Julian Webb

dag @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 7d

This is the judgment on the PPE/Medpro claim.

A cracking £122m win for the Government Legal Service

And is wonderful to see the government bringing a claim in contract against a shoddy supplier.

This does not happen often, and it should happen far more.

www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...

www.judiciary.uk

62 300 1.1K

Reposted by Julian Webb

Orin Kerr @orinkerr.bsky.social · 13d

"Trial Separation: Courtroom Lawyers Are Breaking Up With Big Law," a very interesting WSJ story on prominent biglaw litigation partners starting boutique firms. Gift link:
www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...

Trial Separation: Courtroom Lawyers Are Breaking Up With Big Law

Top litigators are leaving elite firms to start boutique firms, a trend that is accelerating in the Trump era.

www.wsj.com

1 21

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · 16d

Looking forward to discussing Legora over dinner this week with my MLS colleague Jeannie Paterson, Minter Ellison's Jack Stoneman and Legora's Heather Paterson

The Legal Wire @legalwire.bsky.social · 16d

Linklaters announces firmwide roll-out of Legora’s Generative AI platform - The Legal Wire

London, 22nd September 2025 – Linklaters has today announced the firmwide implementation of Legora, a market-leading Generative AI platform tailored for legal professionals. Embedding Legora across all 30 offices is the latest step in Linklaters’ strategy to support the world’s leading corporates, banks, funds and financial sponsors on their most complex, cross-border mandates. Legora is designed to

thelegalwire.ai

Reposted by Julian Webb

RanTLaw @rantlaw.bsky.social · 18d

I don’t think Ben realises how funny this quote is

10 11 74

Reposted by Julian Webb

Lawrence Solum @lsolum.bsky.social · 19d

Rapoport on Law Firm Responses to Targeting by Executive Order, buff.ly/2Pw8AmC -Nancy B. Rapoport (University of Nevada, William S. Boyd School of Law) has posted Scrappy or Strategic? Law Firm Decision-Making in Light of Executive Orders (Vol 13, Emory Corp. Gov. & Account. Rev. (2026)) on SSRN.

Rapoport on Law Firm Responses to Targeting by Executive Order

Nancy B. Rapoport (University of Nevada, Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law) has posted Scrappy or Strategic? Law Firm Decision-Making in Light of Executive Orders (Vol 13, Emory Corp. Gov. &…

buff.ly

1 1

Reposted by Julian Webb

6 News Australia @6newsau.bsky.social · 21d

NEW: The ACT Legislative Assembly has today moved to enshrine access to adequate housing as a human right, in an Australian-first decision that passed with bipartisan support

WATCH: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP4-...

ACT makes housing a human right in Australian-first move

YouTube video by SIX News Australia

www.youtube.com

5 62 200

Reposted by Julian Webb

Greg Jericho @grogsgamut.bsky.social · 27d

Meanjin absolutely must be surrendered and allowed to survive.

Laura @lucytartan.bsky.social · 27d

Big turnout at this morning’s rally against @mupublishing.bsky.social vandalism of Meanjin. @beneltham.bsky.social called for Meanjin’s name and archive to be surrendered so the magazine can be published by someone who deserves to and appreciates the honour

Protesters gathered outside Melbourne University Publishing office at 715 Swanston St

3 49 200

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · 27d

A start, but so much damage seems to have already been done.... www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Embattled ANU vice chancellor resigns amid staff fury

The university’s chancellor, Julie Bishop, announced the move in a short statement posted to the institution’s website on Thursday.

www.smh.com.au

Reposted by Julian Webb

Legal Futures @legalfutures.bsky.social · 28d

Fascinating ruling about a couple who 'gifted' their third child to the wife's childless sister. "It will surprise no one reading this that within a very short space of time the decision began to create distortions in the fabric of the families lives". Judge asked to rule on adoption zurl.co/s6KQ7

IN & Anor v RL & Ors [2024] EWCC 27 (08 August 2024)

zurl.co

Reposted by Julian Webb

Ben Eltham @beneltham.bsky.social · 28d

Rally to save Meanjin magazine
Thursday 11 Sept 9am
715 Swanston St Carlton

A number of Australian writers, editors and academics will speak in support of this vital cultural institution

63 120

Reposted by Julian Webb

CAMERON WILSON @cameronwilson.bsky.social · 28d

another day, another judgment featuring an AI fuck up. This time: ChatGPT gave someone bad advice, but also told them to speak to a lawyer or union. Naturally, the user didn't and just turned in excerpts from their conversation with the bot.

4 11 52

Reposted by Julian Webb

Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · Sep 6

Academic authors, here's a peek into the black box of journal publishing from an journal editor if you can bear it:

18 480 1K

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Sep 6

MI5? ASIS? CIA? 😉

Reposted by Julian Webb

Shannon Vallor @shannonvallor.bsky.social · Sep 5

Since surely we are taking an evidence-based approach to assessing AI’s value, and in light of last week’s MIT study showing similar results for businesses, we will now be halting the ‘put AI into everything everywhere always’ campaign?

*listens in earpiece* oh no

M365 Copilot fails to up productivity in UK government trial

: AI tech shows promise writing emails or summarizing meetings. Don't bother with anything more complex

www.theregister.com

1 13 31

Reposted by Julian Webb

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · Sep 4

"Regional Victoria is the canary in the coalmine here. As soon as it becomes unprofitable gas companies cut and run...this will keep happening"

During a death spiral, people get hurt - and gas companies want to make sure it isn't them. Great piece by @envirovic.bsky.social -->>>

Putting gas companies in charge leaves communities unprepared

This week, 10 small towns around regional Victoria, including Swan Hill, Lakes Entrance and Marong, received the news that their gas company, Solstice Energy, would be cutting them off some time next ...

environmentvictoria.org.au

22 59

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Sep 3

First disciplinary sanction in Australia for lawyer misusing AI: "The lawyer will undertake supervised legal practice for a period of two years, with the lawyer and his supervisor reporting to the board on a quarterly basis in that time." www.theguardian.com/law/2025/sep...

Lawyer caught using AI-generated false citations in court case penalised in Australian first

Victorian solicitor stripped of his ability to practise as a principal lawyer after acknowledging he did not verify case list

www.theguardian.com

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Aug 29

Wow

Tanay Katiyar @adigitaltanay.bsky.social · Aug 29

On Prolific, "we estimate that about 34% of online study participants use LLMs to answer open-ended questions atleast some of the time..."

Seems like a very timely paper for behavioural scientists using online samples: osf.io/preprints/so... ;

We really need more papers on this issue

Reposted by Julian Webb

RanTLaw @rantlaw.bsky.social · Aug 26

Shooting at Porepunkah the day after the gun lobby beats its chest and day the Minns government supports the gun lobby's party's bill. Nice timing.

1 10 41

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Aug 26

So here's a #legalethics gem, should you appear pro bono for a client while waiting on the same court to hear drug-driving charges brought against you?! Unsurprisingly QCAT says no, but impressive chutzpah from the lawyer for arguing this: www.lawyersweekly.com.au/sme-law/4283...

Disciplined solicitor says misconduct was ‘commendable’

A Queensland solicitor punished for representing a man just moments before she appeared as the defendant in her own criminal proceedings said the misconduct should have been seen as commendable.

www.lawyersweekly.com.au

Reposted by Julian Webb

David Pocock @davidpocock.bsky.social · Aug 22

This is how broken our lobbying laws are.

Every resources minister since 2001 went on to work for fossil fuel companies & 8 ex-ministers & senior advisers now lobby for gambling💰

It's time for complete reform of lobbying rules + independent watchdog.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

'Revolving door' between politics and lobbying rings transparency alarm bell

Lobbying has become big business, with around 727 lobbyists registered in the national capital, more than three times the number of elected officials sitting in parliament.

www.abc.net.au

18 210 490

Reposted by Julian Webb

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · Aug 22

HEY friends: recently seen heaps of "disclosures" from AI companies of the energy cost per question you type into chatbots (most recently from Google)?

Presenting per-query 'efficiency' is part of big tech's efforts to hide its extremely real and happening-right-now climate impacts!

NEW POST -->>>

Big tech’s selective disclosure masks AI’s real climate impact

Google claims to have disclosed new information proving its own efficiency. But it has hidden the bigger picture. Guess what: I’ve got the bigger picture for you right here in this big old po…

ketanjoshi.co

37 410 850

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Aug 21

As a non-admitted person I'm not so ethically constrained, but I'll (reluctantly) limit myself to an observation on the apparent merits, as presented. In short it really was as poor as it looks.

Reposted by Julian Webb

Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · Aug 21

Absolutely disgraceful and despicable. If you are a partner at Paul Weiss or Kirkland & Ellis you should be ashamed of yourself -- that is, if you had any shame left.

570 4.5K 14K

Julian Webb @julianinoz.bsky.social · Aug 20

This is why I like evidence-based policy...

The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · Aug 20

"People kind of think of centrism as evidence-based policy. 'We'll be sensible and we'll follow the evidence.’

"I hate to break it to you, evidence is often quite radical."

Catch Richard Denniss on his tour for his new Vantage Point essay Dead Centre!

@richarddenniss.bsky.social #auspol