Maximising our opportunities to connect with the profession online

One of the downsides of the restrictions imposed on us by the COVID-19 pandemic is that during my term as President, other than a recent trip to the Blue Mountains, I have not been able to travel outside the CBD and engage with my fellow practitioners working in the rural, regional and remote areas of our state. This has been particularly frustrating given the ongoing challenges our country solicitors are dealing with in the wake of the drought, bushfires, floods and now the pandemic.

With the loss of face-to-face interactions we have had to maximise our opportunities to connect with the profession online. The upside to this change is that we are now delivering an extensive program of online events which can be accessed by members regardless of where they live or work.

I am particularly pleased that we have been able to forge ahead with our annual Rural Issues Conference, which will be held as a virtual event on Friday 23 October 2020.  As always, the program brings together leading experts in the legal profession to discuss important and topical aspects of rural practice.

I am pleased to announce that the Hon Bronnie Taylor MLC, Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women, will deliver the keynote address at Rural Issues Day 2020.

The program will deliver a full day of seminars (and seven CPD points) on a range of topics that are relevant to regional and rural practitioners.

Other speakers include Commissioner John McKenzie from the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner, Registrar Brett McGrath from the Family Court & Federal Circuit Court of Australia, and Kirsty Ruddock, the Director of Regulatory Investigations and Compliance at the Natural Resources Access Regulator.

All sessions will be made available to attendees to watch on-demand after the live broadcast. Registration is essential.

Finally, a reminder that members must register to join this year’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 22 October and Annual Members Address on Monday 26 October – both of which will be held virtually. Yet another first for the Law Society.

Richard Harvey, President, Law Society of NSW

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