Real-life ‘Rake’ lawyer given one year to shape up

Sydney: A well-known barrister, Charles Waterstreet, is in hot water after being banned from practicing law for a year. This comes after he was found guilty of sexually harassing three women.

Back in April, the tribunal found that he had crossed the line with his behavior towards female staff members. The ruling means he can only reapply to practice law after a year of reflection.

Waterstreet, who’s 75, had some pretty shocking incidents come to light. He showed nude photos of himself to a female employee and made crude comments. It’s hard to believe someone would think that’s okay.

One of the women he harassed was just 24 at the time. He made some really inappropriate remarks about a client’s partner, which is just unacceptable.

He’s known for his quirky style, much like the character from the TV show “Rake,” but this behavior is a whole different level. Waterstreet admitted that a bipolar disorder diagnosis helped him see why he acted out, but it’s still no excuse.

During the tribunal, he expressed embarrassment and shame over his actions. He thought his jokes were harmless, but clearly, they weren’t received that way.

In a podcast, he even described himself as “politically incorrect,” which shows he might not fully grasp the seriousness of his actions yet. The tribunal noted that he still has a long way to go in taking responsibility.

Interestingly, he had a section on his website saying he was “on sabbatical,” which he later admitted could be misleading. He’s been through some tough times financially too, declaring bankruptcy in 2018 over unpaid taxes.

Now, he’s living in his own apartment after a stint in a backpackers hostel. The tribunal also ordered him to cover the costs for the proceedings against him. It’s a tough lesson, but hopefully, he’ll take this time to really reflect and change.