Given the challenges of COVID-19, the Law Society has deferred the launch date for the annual PC renewals process until 7 April 2020. This is to ensure any necessary revisions to the online application process can be implemented and properly tested before renewals go live. While our offices are closed during this time, we’ve implemented measures to ensure there will be minimal disruption to Law Society operations and services, with a particular focus on the PC renewals process. Our staff are working remotely and are available Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, on (02) 9926 0156 or registry@lawsociety.com.au.

It would greatly assist the successful delivery of this year’s annual PC renewals process for all legal practitioners to ensure they have registered for a LawID before 7 April 2020. Activating your LawID does not take long: click the activation link, submit your details, and check your inbox for instructions to complete the process. Support available at (02) 9926 0185 or support@lawid.com.au.

On and from Monday 30 March 2020, the Court will endeavour to limit, as much as possible, personal appearances in court rooms by the technological enhancement of its current AVL system (the virtual court room). The District Court has published a Virtual Court Practitioner User Guide for legal practitioners’ assistance.

The OLSC may be operating on reduced staffing levels, and delays may be experienced in processing and handling your complaint and/or responding to your enquiry. If correspondence is sent by mail, there may be further delays. Please contact OLSC by email where possible. If your email relates to a new inquiry, we will contact you as soon as possible. If your email is about an existing complaint it will be forwarded to your case officer who will contact you in due course. More information here.

The capacity for Local Courts to continue to operate effectively across the breadth of their jurisdiction is being compromised by progressive restrictions announced by governments. The Hon. Judge Graeme Henson AM has concluded that all listed hearings in the civil jurisdiction at the Downing Centre between 30 March and 30 September 2020 are abandoned. Read more here.

The President of the Children’s Court has introduced several changes to practices in the Children’s Court. A notice of the changes has been published on the Children’s Court website. The Court is continuing to develop processes to enable legal professionals to appear by means other than physical attendance. The President would like to thank the profession for their co-operation and the speed with which they have adapted in response to the pandemic.

To minimise the need for parties to physically attend NCAT premises, the President has updated NCAT's hearing and filing arrangements in response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. These changes are effective from 27 March 2020.

If you are unable to lodge your application or documentation online, by post, or at Service NSW, NCAT is temporarily allowing parties to lodge documents by email. A new Procedural Direction, Procedural Direction 6 - Filing of Documents, has been issued by the President in relation to this change. For more information, refer to the guideline on Temporary arrangements to lodging documentation. Any further changes to NCAT services will be announced here.

The Law Society’s Professional Support Unit has prepared some FAQs to assist solicitors with some of the most common COVID-19 questions being asked. While most facilities at the Law Society are closed to the public, we are working hard to ensure our services remain uninterrupted so as to support the profession as best we can in this unfolding crisis. A reminder to keep up to date with all critical updates affecting practitioners here.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined G20 leaders overnight for an extraordinary summit, hosted by His Majesty King Salman of Saudi Arabia. On behalf of Australia, the PM urged G20 leaders to do whatever it takes to fight this twin crisis: to save lives and overcome the pandemic, and to cushion the economic blow. Read more here.

The Centre for Social Impact is producing a series of fact sheets to address specific social issue areas in the context of COVID-19. The crisis will disproportionately affect those currently homeless or at risk of homelessness with respect to increased risk of exposure and a greater likelihood of severe cases and mortality. In this fact sheet, CSI discusses the current state of homelessness in Australia and highlights specific risk areas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this afternoon announced that the Government will strengthen COVID-19 quarantine measures with all arrivals to Australia to be quarantined in hotels in the city they arrive in, effective from 11:59pm, Saturday 28 March 2020. The Australian Defence Force will be deployed to enforce the quarantine in hotels across the country. The Prime Minister also said a third stimulus package will be revealed in the next few days in a move to "hibernate" Australian businesses and help them through the lockdown. Read more here.

The NSW Government has released the second stage of its economic package aimed at keeping people in jobs, helping businesses, and supporting our most vulnerable. Key elements include: a $1 billion Working for NSW fund to sustain business, create jobs and retrain employees; deferral of payroll tax for business with payrolls over $10 million for six months; deferral of the parking space levy for six months; and deferral of rents for six months for commercial tenants with less than 20 employees in government-owned properties.

The Sydney Law Careers Fair run by the Law Society of NSW will run as a virtual careers fair this year. This event is free to exhibitors and students. The Law Society is now inviting all students from across the state through social media platforms, law faculties and careers teams. Date: 3 April 2020, 11am – 2pm. For students wanting to find out more, please like LegalVitae on Facebook for daily updates.