The coming decade will be defined by the lessons we take from this year

The coming decade will be defined – in part – by the lessons we take from this year. While COVID-19 has affected everyone, people have been impacted in different ways and will have different interpretations about how to move forward.

This was evident at last Wednesday’s “FLIP Buzzwords” event on working from home. Streamed by more than 100 members of the profession and now available on-demand, it explored whether widespread working from home arrangements will continue in coming years.

My own perspective has been informed by my meetings with members working in small firms, large firms, CLCs, and in government or in-house roles. I have come to the same conclusion reached by the NSW Innovation and Productivity Council in their report into remote working. Namely, that a ‘hybrid model’ might be the best option going forward.

If properly managed, this would combine the ‘best of both worlds,’ with time spent working from home (which increases flexibility and autonomy) and time spent working from the office (which strengthens collaboration and team-building).

The challenge for employers will be to ensure that the organisation’s business objectives – or for lawyers, the needs of the client – remain paramount, and that flexible working arrangements support these objectives. Like the report authors, I remain optimistic that this is possible.

The final FLIP Buzzwords event caps off a big year for our events team, who have seen attendance at some events treble. The good news is that if you have missed one of our events, many are available on-demand. With topics covering everything from design thinking to defamation reform, online courts to mental health and wellbeing – there is something for every lawyer to stream over the holiday season.

As this is my final Monday Briefs for 2020 and my last as President, I want to conclude by saying that it has been both an honour and a privilege to have served you this year. In March – after announcing a one-time reduction to our membership fees – I said that if we stick together, we will emerge from this crisis stronger. This is exactly what the legal profession has done so far, and it has been a humbling thing to see.

I look forward to continuing my association with the Law Society and I wish the incoming President Juliana Warner every success in the role next year. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Richard Harvey, President, Law Society of NSW

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