PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Lawyers as volunteers

As we process the devastation of the floods in Central West NSW, our profession again demonstrates its enormous generosity and selflessness. Firms in affected regions have rallied around their communities, swiftly co-ordinating pro bono legal assistance for flood-affected people on a range of issues arising from the disaster. 

This is both through the Disaster Response Legal Service coordinated by Legal Aid and supported by the Law Society’s Pro Bono Scheme, as well as several local firms putting up their hands to help.

If you have been impacted by the recent floods and require assistance, you can find out how to access that help here or call 1800 801 529. I encourage firms who want to provide pro bono assistance to join the Law Society's Pro Bono Scheme. If your firm is interested in joining the scheme, you can fill out the attached form at this link or contact the Law Society’s Director of Access to Justice, Nerida Harvey, on 02 9926 0379. 

Condolences for Griffith solicitor

The Law Society is saddened to hear of the passing last month of solicitor Phillip John Alvaro, who died on 11 October, aged 63, as a result of recent flooding in the Hillsdale area. 

Mr Alvaro was a Griffith local who commenced practising law in Condobolin, before relocating to Temora and Wagga Wagga. He returned to Griffith as a sole practitioner before joining David Davidge Solicitors in 2016, working across family, crime, wills and estates, property, and civil law. 

Mr Alvaro will be truly missed by his family, his friends, his work family at David Davidge Solicitors, his colleagues in the profession, and the greater community. 

The Law Society extends its sincere condolences to Mr Alvaro’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time. 

Rule of law as a rule of thumb?

Over the past four days, I attended the 2022 LAWASIA Annual Conference held in Sydney. 

The current LAWASIA President, Melissa Pang, confirmed that, "Australia plays a defining role in the rich history of LAWASIA, as the inaugural conference was held in Canberra in August 1966. Since 1966, LAWASIA has represented and advocated for the interests of the legal profession in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Ms Pang welcomed 50 leading bar associations and legal organisations from 40 jurisdictions across the Asia-Pacific region to the conference, “to share education and ideas.” Ms Pang added, “These associations and organisations encourage, as their central objective, adherence to the principles of the rule of law, access to justice, and the protection of human rights."

Professor George Williams' plenary address on the role that a nation's Constitution plays in maintaining human rights and the rule of law was timely, given the Law Society's advocacy for a standalone piece of NSW human rights legislation this year. 

Law Society members also volunteered their time to present at the conference and I thank them for sharing their knowledge and insights.

Missing wills

Several practitioners have reached out to me recently regarding finding missing wills. Whilst some Regional Law Societies offer this service, not all do, and they are not required to. The Law Society has for many years published a monthly service directory, where practitioners can place an advertisement to locate a missing will. To place an advertisement, you can contact our advertising department on (02) 9926 0290 or advertising@lawsociety.com.au

Joanne van der Plaat, President, Law Society of NSW