Can Lawyers Have a Side Hustle? One Solicitor Just Lost His Career Over His

Side hustles have become increasingly normal across professional life.

But for lawyers, running a second business or earning money outside the firm can carry consequences that extend well beyond an employment contract.

A UK employment solicitor has been struck off after secretly earning substantial sums providing legal answers online while employed by a law firm, and then lying to his employer when questioned about it.

Matthew Moss worked for Optimal Solicitors while also providing legal advice through US-based platform JustAnswer.

According to proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Moss received around £81,000 from the platform between October 2022 and June 2024, compared with approximately £45,000 from his law firm employment during the same period.

His employment contract required disclosure of outside employment and permission for work that could interfere with his duties or conflict with the firm's interests.

He hadn't disclosed it.

But it was what happened next that ultimately proved far more serious.

When his employer questioned him about payments from JustAnswer, Moss denied doing the work and claimed the money related to work performed by his brother. He later admitted those explanations were false.

The tribunal concluded that his dishonesty represented a serious departure from the standards expected of a solicitor and struck him from the roll.

What would happen in Australia?

Australian lawyers should pay attention.

There is no blanket rule preventing a solicitor from having another business or source of income. However, lawyers remain subject to professional obligations around conflicts, confidentiality, independence and integrity.

In NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, the Uniform Legal Practice Rules specifically regulate solicitors who concurrently conduct another business, including requirements designed to prevent conflicts with duties owed to clients.

More importantly, the Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules extend beyond what happens inside the office.

A solicitor must not engage in conduct, in legal practice or otherwise, that demonstrates they are not fit and proper to practise or that could materially bring the profession into disrepute.

LawUno Insight

The lesson isn't that lawyers shouldn't have side hustles.

As lawyers build businesses, create content, consult and develop additional income streams, outside interests will increasingly become part of modern legal careers.

But being a lawyer comes with obligations that don't necessarily end when you log off from your day job.

The side hustle wasn't ultimately the biggest problem here. The dishonesty was.