Latest edition of the Court of Appeal’s Decisions of Interest bulletin
The Decisions of Interest bulletin is a regular publication produced by the Court of Appeal, summarising appellate decisions from Australia and internationally. Read the latest bulletin here.

Academic research – Mediator neutrality, what does it mean to you?
Assistance is sought from practising mediators conducting civil law mediations in NSW to participate in academic research being conducted by a current member of the Bar as part of a doctoral research project. For further information or to indicate your interest in participating, click here.

Land tax notices and bushfire areas
If you have not yet received your land tax notice of assessment from Revenue NSW, you have been granted a three-month grace period from January 2020. Your notice will be sent from April 2020, unless requested sooner.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – Statutory compliance by 31 March 2020
Practitioners are reminded that the 2019-20 CPD year concludes 31 March 2020. CPD compliance is a statutory requirement, governed by the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015. Please review the Law Society’s CPD information to ensure that you can comply with the CPD requirements by 31 March 2020. You may search available CPD courses through LawInform.
If you anticipate not being able to comply by 31 March 2020, an Application for extension of time to comply with CPD requirements must be made in advance of the expiration of the CPD year, where possible.  A Rectification of non-compliance CPD plan must also be submitted to the Society within 21 days of the extension application.
If you anticipate not being able to meet your CPD obligations due to extenuating personal circumstances or an absence from practice, you may make an Application for exemption from CPD requirements.
The Law Society is considering its response to the challenges arising from COVID-19, including any impact in relation to CPD compliance. Further information will be communicated to the profession as it comes to hand. In the meantime, if you anticipate that you may not be able to meet your CPD requirements as a result of:

1. unexpected cancellation or delivery of your (pre-booked) CPD seminar; or
2. due to your personal circumstances arising as a result of COVID-19

Please email the registry on registry@lawsociety.com.au marking your email subject heading as “CPD  COVID-19” and a member of the Licensing team will be in contact with you to provide guidance and assistance. It is a practitioner’s individual responsibility to maintain accurate records evidencing their engagement in CPD activities and satisfy themselves that they have properly complied with the CPD requirements, prior to declaring so in their practising certificate renewal application.
Practising certificate renewals will open in April.  Practitioners will be notified of the renewals process in advance.
All CPD enquiries should be directed to the Registry Compliance Officer on (02) 9926 0243 or by email to cpdcompliance@lawsociety.com.au.

Interpreters Practice Note
The Chief Justice, the Honourable T F Bathurst AC, issued Practice Note SC Gen 21 – Interpreters in Civil Proceedings, on 4 March 2020. It commenced operation on that date and applies to all civil proceedings commenced after its commencement and to any existing proceedings which the Court directs should be subject to this Practice Note in whole or in part.

Change in interest rate on unpaid legal costs
At its meeting on 3 March 2020, the Reserve Bank of Australia reduced the cash rate by 0.25 basis points  to 0.50 per cent. Accordingly, the interest rate on unpaid legal costs pursuant to Rule 75 of the Legal Profession Uniform General Rules  2015 on unpaid legal costs for bills issued on and from 4 March 2020 is now 2.50 per cent.

E-smarts in family law – the good, the bad and the ugly
The Greater Sydney Family Law Pathways Network’s main event for 2020 will take place on 23 March 2020 at Doltone House, Pyrmont and will focus on how technology is enhancing and impacting families. Panel speakers will include the E-Safety Commissioner, Judge Monica Neville, Leonie Smith and Alex Davis. Further information is available here.

New approach to resolve family law property disputes will save time and money through the Federal Circuit Court of Australia’s “PPP500” 
– Federal Circuit Court of Australia

Law Council of Australia President, Pauline Wright, statement regarding biosecurity control orders – Law Council of Australia

NSW Recorded Crime Statistics quarterly update December 2019
 – NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins launches Respect@Work report – Australian Human Rights Commission