“You’re Redundant, Not Pregnant” A Fired Lawyer’s $230K Claim Raises Eyebrows “You’re Redundant, Not Pregnant” A Fired Lawyer’s $230K Claim Raises Eyebrows –

Summer Irvin, once on First Dates, now finds herself in a legal showdown with her former employer over claims of unfair dismissal after disclosing her pregnancy. The $230K lawsuit highlights workplace discrimination concerns in Australia’s legal sector.

A young lawyer who once charmed viewers on First Dates is now centre stage in a legal drama of her own—this time off-camera and in the Federal Circuit Court.

Summer Irvin, former legal professional and reality TV star, has launched a $230,000 lawsuit against a Queensland-based law firm, alleging she was dismissed after informing them of her pregnancy.

Irvin claims she told her employer on October 9 she was seven weeks along. By October 23, she was allegedly told the firm was cutting costs and making her redundant.

In her claim, Irvin recounts breaking down in tears during the meeting, stating she believed the decision was directly linked to her pregnancy. The firm’s director allegedly refused to discuss further, simply saying, “Think what you like, but it has nothing to do with your pregnancy.”

Irvin was offered six weeks’ notice and four weeks’ redundancy pay. When she later told colleagues she believed she’d been fired due to pregnancy, the firm responded by alleging her remarks amounted to “serious misconduct.”

Represented by Wotton + Kearney partner Sian Gilbert, Irvin maintains the redundancy wasn’t genuine—and says the misconduct claims are completely unfounded.

The law firm’s defence? They say she had a light workload, lacked experience, and didn’t gel with the team.

Now facing mediation set for October 15, the case shines a spotlight on pregnancy discrimination, parental leave protections, and just how sharp the elbows can get when law meets life. And for a firm accused of punishing pregnancy, the reputational risk may end up being a lot more costly than a redundancy payout.