Finding
Unsatisfactory professional conduct under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Vic)
Penalty
The Tribunal finds that Patrick Lennon engaged in professional misconduct within the meaning of section 297(1)(b) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria) ('Uniform Law') in that on or about 10 July 2020 Mr Lennon in the course of his legal practice sent the Text Messages (extracted in paragraph 1 of the Reasons) to Dimitrios Podaridis and thereby threatened a proposed witness for the defendant in a County Court proceeding and in so doing sought to have Mr Podaridis change or refrain from giving his evidence. 1. Under ss 299(1)(b) and 302(1) of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria) ('Uniform Law') Patrick Lennon is reprimanded. 2 Under s 302(1)(f) of the Uniform Law the Tribunal recommends that the Supreme Court remove Patrick Lennon's name from the roll of lawyers maintained by the Court. 3 Under s 303(1) of the Uniform Law Patrick Lennon must pay the Commissioner's costs of the proceeding in an amount to be assessed by the Costs Court on a standard basis pursuant to the County Court costs scale as defined in Rule 1.13 of Chapter I of the Rules of the County Court as in force on 31 December 2024.