PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Welcoming the new Law Term and the 2022 President's Charity, Sober in the Country

As I sat down to prepare this week’s Monday Briefs, I was reminded of the incredible spirit, sense of duty and service we have as Australians.

As part of the Australia Day Honours List for 2022, former Law Society President (2013) and Cronulla solicitor John Dobson was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM), for his service to the legal profession. It is uplifting when members of our profession are publicly recognised for the important work they do within our communities. Congratulations to all in the legal profession and judiciary who were recognised for their significant contribution to law and the community.

Shanna Whan, CEO and founder of Sober in the Country (SITC), my President’s Charity for 2022, was also named Australia’s Local Hero for 2022. SITC is a “grassroots, rural charity leading social impact and change across rural Australia, through peer support, education, advocacy and their #OK2SAYNO campaign”. I look forward to raising some much-needed awareness and funds for SITC this year.

I also congratulate current Chief Executive Officer of the Law Council of Australia and former Law Society CEO, Michael Tidball, on his recent appointment as Secretary of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.

This week marks the Opening of Law Term but regretfully many official Opening of Law Term church services and ceremonies have been postponed given the current Omicron outbreak. Our new date for the Law Term Dinner is 28 March 2022. I am very much looking forward to catching up with you all to outline my priorities for 2022. If you would like a sneak preview, I recently caught up with LSJ over lunch to talk a little about my plans for 2022.

Finally, the NSW Government has extended current restrictions for another month as the state continues to take a measured response to managing COVID-19 with a focus on a safe return to school. I acknowledge and appreciate that extended restrictions may have a negative impact on our health and wellbeing and financial sustainability.  If you or a NSW solicitor you know is struggling, I encourage you to contact the Law Society’s Solicitor Outreach Service (SOS) on 1800 592 296 for access to our dedicated confidential psychology counselling service for NSW solicitors.

Joanne van der Plaat, President, Law Society of NSW