It was a powerful moment when Professor Megan Davis, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous and Professor of Law, UNSW, read the Uluru Statement from the Heart during her keynote address at the Law Society’s Annual Members Dinner at Sydney Town Hall last Thursday. Professor Davis delivered a moving speech during which she outlined the role of the legal profession in implementing law reform, particularly in relation to Aboriginal peoples and their rights. Professor Davis thanked the legal profession for its support of the Uluru Statement, saying its early endorsement was a major factor in shifting many views on the reforms.

My sincere thanks to those who attended this year’s Annual Members Dinner, including Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC, the Honourable Mark Speakman SC MP, NSW Attorney General, members of the judiciary, past presidents of the Law Society and representatives of our 29 regional law societies. The event, set within the historic Centennial Hall, was simply spectacular from start to finish, and a fitting way to celebrate the hard work and achievements of the solicitors of NSW during the year. Amongst those recognised were solicitor members who have practised continuously for 50 years, many of whom were admitted in the same year man first walked on the moon.

I also had the honour of presenting Jason Behrendt, Managing Director, Chalk & Behrendt, Lawyers and Consultants, with the Law Society of NSW President’s Medal for 2019 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of law and policy affecting Indigenous Australians during the past two decades. Immigration law specialist and registered migration agent, Anne O'Donoghue was highly commended for her contribution to the profession and the community during the past 30 years.

Congratulations also to the winners of the 2019 Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession Awards: King & Wood Mallesons (Large Law Firm Award), Holding Redlich Lawyers (Law Practice Award) and PepsiCo Australia & New Zealand (Organisation Employing In-House Practitioner).

As is tradition, the Law Society’s Annual General Meeting also took place last Thursday, during which the six candidates who have been successfully elected to serve on the Law Society Council were announced. I would like to extend my congratulations to Joanne van der Plaat on her re-election and congratulate and welcome the new members of the Council: Jennifer Ball, Angelo Bilias, Iona Luke, Stephen McAuley and Jade Tyrrell, along with Jennifer Windsor, who has been appointed the Young Lawyer Councillor. I would also like to thank retiring Councillors Darryl Browne, Hugh Macken, Antonella Sanderson and David Turner for the considerable time, energy and expertise they have devoted to the Law Society Council. 

I am looking forward to joining with the Law Society Councillors later this week to develop the Council’s key objectives for the coming year.

Elizabeth Espinosa, Law Society President

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