COVID-19 Update

7 July 2021

Align
Right
 
NSW lockdown extended
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced stay at home orders will remain in place in the Greater Sydney region, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour, for another week and will now end at 11.59pm on Friday 16 July. Schools in Greater Sydney will move to remote online learning for the first week of term three from Tuesday 13 July for four days. They will remain open for the children of essential workers and no child will be turned away. Face-to-face learning will resume in regional NSW when school returns on Tuesday,13 July. Read the details of the Premier’s announcement here.
NSW COVID-19 statistics
NSW recorded 27 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night from 45,000 tests. Check the latest confirmed exposure venues here. This information is being updated as cases are confirmed and locations are verified. More here. 
Law Society of NSW update
Following the extension of the stay at home orders until Friday 16 July, the Law Society building at 170 Phillip Street remains closed and the majority of our staff are working remotely. Upcoming Law Society events, including Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, will be delivered online.  The Law Society Library is closed to visitors but is still operational. We will continue to provide the profession with access to resources from the Law Society Library collection as well as assistance with research. The Visiting Solicitor's Rooms and Mediation Rooms remain closed. Our aim is to ensure the lockdown has minimal impact on the Law Society’s support and services. We will continue to monitor and act in accordance with NSW Government advice. The next COVID-19 update will be issued on Monday as part of Monday Briefs.
NSW Local Court update
The Chief Magistrate's COVID Memorandum 19 has been amended to extend the memo until Friday 16 July 2021 and to note that all vacated hearings are to now obtain new hearing dates and parties should provide details of availability to assist the listing of those matters. Read the updated memo here.
NSW District Court update
The temporary suspension of the commencement of new jury trials at: The Downing Centre; John Maddison Tower; Campbelltown; Gosford; Katoomba; Parramatta; Penrith and Wollongong is extended to Friday 16 July 2021.  This is the only change to the arrangements published on Friday 25 June 2021 and Sunday 27 June 2021 and included in previous COVID-19 updates.
Supreme Court update
The Supreme Court notes the continuation of current COVID-19 arrangements. The Chief Justice has determined that current Supreme Court COVID arrangements will continue until Friday, 16 July:
  • All hearings will continue to be heard via AVL/virtual courtroom. No live appearances.
  • No new jury criminal trials will commence in this period. Current criminal trials will continue / conclude.
  • The public counter will remain closed until Friday, 16 July. The online registry will remain open. Please refer to the Supreme Court website for additional information.
  • Masks remain compulsory throughout the court building and in court, unless one of the public health exemptions applies.
Legal Aid arrangements
Following the NSW Government announcement of restrictions on Saturday 26 June 2021, Legal Aid NSW offices are currently closed to the public until further notice.
The Legal Aid NSW COVID-19 telephone mediation scheme remains in operation. It is available to help separated parents resolve any issues related to COVID-19. Read more here.
District Court Practice Note 16: Work Health and Safety Act prosecutions
This practice note commenced on 28 June 2021 and applies to all WHS prosecutions before the Court at that date, except those already listed for trial or sentence hearing. The extent to which the practice note is applicable to existing matters is to be approached by the parties and the Court on a case by case basis. The purpose of this practice note is to set out the case management procedures and the process for the preparation for and conduct of trials and sentence hearings to ensure that criminal proceedings are dealt with in a just and timely way. Members are encouraged to read the practice note here.
Law Society COVID-19 portal
For the latest information on COVID-19’s impact on the legal profession, including changes to court arrangements, government resources, and advice on CPD, remote supervision and workplace entitlements, check the Law Society of NSW’s dedicated COVID-19 portal here.
Solicitor Outreach Service
The Law Society of NSW’s Solicitor Outreach Service (SOS) connects NSW solicitors to confidential, psychological support. Call the Solicitor Outreach Service on 1800 592 296 for access to: up to three psychological sessions per financial year, paid for by the Law Society of NSW and 24/7 telephone counselling with a psychologist if you are in crisis or distress. Read more here.
 
Call us | Email us | Visit lawsociety.com.au
The Law Society of New South Wales
Disclaimer: This email is sent by the Law Society of New South Wales (ACN 000 000 699) of 170 Phillip Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone 9926 0333. Fax 9231 5809. It contains general information and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice. The Law Society of New South Wales takes no responsibility for the accuracy of the content of this email. This email may contain confidential, copyright and/or legally privileged information. Personal information contained in communications with the Law Society is subject to our Privacy Policy and the obligations of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Our Privacy Policy outlines what kinds of personal information we collect and hold, as well as how we collect and handle it, and your rights in regards to your personal information. The information contained in this email may also be subject to the jurisdiction of section 462 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW). If you are not the intended recipient, any use of, interference with or disclosure of the material is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and then delete the message. The message is not to be copied, further distributed or disclosed to other parties without the express permission of the author and (if applicable) then only in accordance with the legal profession legislation (as defined in the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW)). If you are a member of the Law Society, and do not wish to receive any further messages from the Law Society offering goods and services to members,update your subscription preferences. If you wish to update the Law Society regarding your contact details please email CorpLegal@lawsociety.com.au. This email address (no-reply@lawsociety.com.au) is not monitored. If you would like to contact the Law Society please phone 02 9926 0333 or email lawsociety@lawsociety.com.au.
Image size
large