A PRIVATE school-educated budding corporate lawyer who glassed and bashed a man at Crown casino has avoided jail after a magistrate said he would not cope in the clink.

Liam Danial Sweeney , 27, received an 18-month jail term, wholly suspended for two years, and was convicted and fined $5000 for the "unprovoked and gratuitous" assault on April 7.

Ian Hill, QC, told magistrate Jack Vandersteen the alcohol-fuelled attack meant Sweeney would have trouble being admitted to practise law and asked that he not send Sweeney to jail.

"I don't think he'd last very long (in jail)," Mr Vandersteen replied.

"Not many people are in jail who went to (the prestigious school) Haileybury or who had your client's privileged background."

Mr Hill added: "Or who look like him."

Mr Vandersteen told Sweeney it would be "extremely devastating" for his parents - particularly his father, prominent family law barrister Dan Sweeney - to see him in court.

Mr Hill said Sweeney's parents, with whom he lives, were "beside themselves".

On April 7, Sweeney, of Mentone, smashed a wine glass into the face of Richard Huiswaard, a man he met earlier that night at their mutual friend's birthday drinks.

He then punched Mr Huiswaard twice in the head.

Sweeney pleaded guilty to intentionally causing injury, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.

Mr Huiswaard, who needed stitches in his head and three weeks off work, still had a scar on his forehead, Melbourne Magistrates' Court was told.

Mr Hill said Sweeney reacted angrily after Mr Huiswaard said he was going to "go him" and made a comment about his mother.

Mr Vandersteen said this was not told to police during an interview.

Prosecutor Luke Exell said Sweeney "got his nose out of joint" about 9.30pm, when his attempt to shake hands with the drunk Mr Huiswaard was ignored, and acted on that anger hours later, about midnight.

He said Sweeney had fled the scene like a coward, not stopping to render assistance to the bleeding man or to speak to police.