Monday Briefs

25 May

Your weekly professional update
25 May 2020
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

A milestone in the road back from COVID-19

Today marks a milestone in the road back from COVID-19 with the state’s school students returning to school full time today, businesses starting to re-open, and workplaces preparing for employees to return to the office in a COVIDsafe, staged manner.

Our courts are also preparing to ease lockdown measures, albeit with strict physical distancing guidelines in place. The Supreme Court will resume some face-to-face civil hearings from 1 June and criminal jury trials from 29 June 2020. Jury trials will also resume on a limited basis in the Sydney District Court, Parramatta District Court and the Newcastle District Court. However, in order to avoid congestion in District Court premises and courtrooms, there will be no change to the Court’s policy that all lists in the Court’s criminal jurisdiction, including arraignments and readiness hearings, are to be conducted by use of a virtual courtroom. Continue reading >
 
 
NEWS
Practising certificate renewal reminder to practitioners
To engage in legal practice after 30 June 2020, you must hold a practising certificate.If you have not yet lodged your renewal application, please do so here. The legal profession legislation does not permit the Law Society to accept practising certificate renewal applications submitted after 30 June 2020. Read more.
We need your help
Can you mentor a less experienced lawyer? You could enhance their career and prospects, develop your leadership skills, and feel enriched by giving back to the profession. Apply now to be a mentor in our graduate, young lawyer or women’s mentoring programs.
LawID for LawInform
You will now need your LawID to access LawInform. To continue to access LawInform's CPD courses, webinars, practice management courses and on-demand videocasts, make sure you activate yours today.
Golden Gavel applications – deadline extended to 29 May
Entries for the Golden Gavel – Covid Edition competition have been extended. Ten brave competitors will be given 24 hours to produce a three to five-minute video which will be uploaded to LSJ.com.au for viewers to vote for their favourite. Learn more.
Litigation funders to be regulated under the Corporations Act
The Morrison Government is ensuring that litigation funders are subject to greater regulatory oversight by requiring them to hold an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and comply with the managed investment scheme regime. Read more.
Further easing of restrictions
Beauty and nail services can recommence June 1. NSW Health has compiled a checklist for the industry. Businesses must develop a safety plan that addresses how to minimise risk from COVID-19. Read more.
Communication in the virtual courtroom
The Australian Advocacy Institute has produced a video to assist all practitioners meeting the demands of effective communication using remote video access to court. Watch the video.
 
 
WHAT'S ON
LAWASIA Human Rights Webinar Series: Access to Justice during the COVID-19 Pandemic
2 June 2020
Law Society CPD – The new National Arbitration List: what practitioners need to know (live webinar)
5 June 2020
LAWASIA Human Rights Webinar Series:
Government Accountability during COVID-19: The Citizen's Right to Know
9 June 2020
Law Society CPD – Practice management course (online)
15, 16 and 17 June 2020
LAWASIA Human Rights Webinar Series: Business and Human Rights during COVID-19 (including Digital Rights, Contact Tracing and Surveillance)
16 June 2020
The Reception, Quality and Evaluation of Scientific Evidence in Australian Courts
19 August 2020
NSW YOUNG LAWYERS
NSW REGIONAL LAW SOCIETIES
EVENTS CALENDAR
LAWINFORM CPD CALENDAR
 
 
PROCLAMATIONS
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ASSENTS
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PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
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Federal Court of Australia
The Honourable James Allsop AO, Chief Justice, Federal Court of Australia, has issued an update on COVID-19 arrangements (update 23), which details the cautious and measured arrangements being put in place for the next phase of Court operations. More here.
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Nomination of legal practitioner
As part of the ATO's ongoing review to improve the way they engage with legal practitioners who are representing their clients in relation to tax and superannuation matters, the ATO have updated information for:
  • your client to nominate you as their legal practitioner by using our online services for individuals; and
  • notification by you for urgent cases where the details will be updated by close of business the next business day
The information can be found in the Nomination of Legal Practitioner section on ato.gov.au
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Access to tax records for solicitors acting for executors and administrators
The Taxation Administration (Remedial Power – Disclosure of Protected Information by Taxation Officers) Determination 2020 came into effect on 15 May 2020. It modifies the operation of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (Cth) to allow the ATO to disclose the taxation information of a deceased person, following a grant of administration of their estate, to a lawyer representing the executor/administrator; or a registered tax agent or BAS agent of the executor/administrator. More here.
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NSW Land Registry Services (NSW LRS) Customer Survey 2020
NSW LRS has released its 2020 Customer Survey.  For further information and a direct link to the survey please view the NSW LRS announcement. The survey closes at midnight on Friday 5 June 2020. Solicitors are encouraged to participate.
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Local Court
His Honour, Judge Graeme Henson AM, Chief Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW, has issued Memorandum No. 11 COVID-19 Arrangements - Listing of Defended Hearings with persons in custody where the hearing has been previously abandoned and changes to arrangements set out in previous memoranda.
 
LEGAL UPDATES powered by LSJ
Business and human rights
Practical guidance on implementing a robust modern slavery program
By Fiona Dernikovic and Marion Wright >
Wills and estates
Suspicious circumstances and estate litigation
By David Price >
 
IN THE PRESS
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