Monday Briefs

11 May 2020

Your weekly professional update
11 May 2020
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Keeping our profession informed and connected on the road to recovery

Following last Friday’s National Cabinet meeting and the weekend announcement by Premier Gladys Berejiklian, we have, for the first time in many weeks, been given an idea of what the path out of the COVID-19 crisis will look like.

While we will see an easing of restrictions in NSW from this Friday 15 May, the Premier has stopped short of adopting all the measures outlined in step one of the national three-step roadmap to recovery. With a population of some eight million people in NSW, our health authorities are warning that we cannot afford to be complacent about the risk of COVID-19 infection rates increasing as restrictions lift. Continue reading >
 
 
NEWS
Practising certificate and membership renewals are open
The Legal Profession Uniform Law requires that practising certificate renewals must be lodged by 15 May 2020. For those who did not renew online last year, we really encourage you to try and do so this year given COVID-19 restrictions affecting us all. If you need help, our registry team members are happy to walk you through the process over the phone on 02 9926 0156. Read more.
LawID needed for PC renewals
It would greatly assist the successful delivery of this year’s PC renewals process for all legal practitioners to ensure they have registered for a LawID. Activate yours today.
Introducing Golden Gavel – COVID Edition
Due to government restrictions on mass gatherings everyone’s favourite annual event, Golden Gavel, is going online this year. Are you brave enough to take part? Find out more.
NSW Young Lawyers – Happy Hour Trivia
Don’t forget NSW Young Lawyers will be running their weekly trivia session to keep you smiling on a Friday arvo: Happy Hour: Questions of Law – Trivia for Socially Distanced Lawyers hosted by the Chasers, Julian Morrow. Find out more
Former Law Society President appointed as Land and Environment Court Commissioner
The Law Society of NSW congratulates former President, Elizabeth Espinosa on her appointment as a new Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court. Read more.
$650 million bushfire recovery package
The Federal Government has announced a new $650 million funding package to help regional communities recover from Australia’s devastating bushfires. $448.5 million will be allocated to individual communities to support local projects and recovery plans. Read more.
NSW to ease restrictions this week
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced NSW will further ease COVID-19 restrictions across the State from Friday. Read more.
COVID-19: Safety paramount as District Court jury trials resume
Strict measures to ensure juror safety underpin today’s decision by the Chief Judge of the District Court to resume jury trials at selected locations from from Monday, 15 June. Read more
Proposed constitutional amendments in Samoa concerning
The significant constitutional amendments introduced into Parliament by Samoa’s Government, without due consultation, are of great concern, said the Law Council of Australia. Read more.
 
 
WHAT'S ON
FLIP Buzzwords: Design Thinking
12 May 2020
Climate, culture and corporations: how concerned should in-house lawyers be?
19 May 2020
Law Society CPD –Mandatory rule 6.1 – law in the time of COVID-19 (live webinar)
21 May 2020
Law Society CPD – Practice Management Course
June 2020
NSW YOUNG LAWYERS
NSW REGIONAL LAW SOCIETIES
LAWINFORM CPD CALENDAR
 
 
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
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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.
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Review of bank trust account services
The Law Society of NSW (LSNSW) and the Victorian Legal Services Board (VLSB) are undertaking a joint review of the services provided by those banks that are authorised to maintain trust accounts for law practices. The LSNSW and VLSB are interested in hearing from law practices that operate a general trust account, and your feedback via a short online questionnaire, which should only take a few minutes to complete, would be appreciated.
 
LEGAL UPDATES powered by LSJ
Criminal law
Could the 'Great Writ' lie to release prisoners at risk of COVID-19?
By Craig Longman >
FLIP
The courts and the pandemic: the role and limits of technology
By Michael Legg and Anthony Song >
 
IN THE PRESS
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