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Exiting a stage that’s set for continued success
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What a year! In my last President’s Message, I’m privileged to share a few of the significant achievements of the Law Society of NSW for and on behalf of the solicitor profession in 2024. Continue reading >
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Law Society holiday closure
The Law Society of NSW will be closed from close of business Tuesday 24 December 2024 through to Friday 3 January 2025. The Law Society’s Phillip Street building and services to the profession and public will be closed.
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Introducing our partnership with Thomson Reuters for In-House Counsel
Thomson Reuters is now partnering with the Law Society of NSW to deliver top-notch legal resources and support for in-house counsel. This collaboration aims to enhance access to a collection of Practical Law Australia templates to help you stay ahead in your practice. Learn more.
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Queensland Parliament appointing additional legal advisors
The Queensland Parliament is seeking to appoint additional legal advisers to its Human Rights Advisory Panel. Panel members provide expert advice in areas of human rights to assist the portfolio committees of the Queensland Parliament. For further information, see this letter from the Queensland Parliamentary Service dated 5 December 2024 here .
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2025 Mentoring Program: Applications open
We are pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2025 Mentoring Program. The tradition of mentoring is one of the finest of our profession and is one the Law Society of NSW is honoured to foster. The culture of sharing and learning is at the heart of our program and enables the legal community to create a stronger, more connected future. If you wish to be a part of this dynamic journey, sign up here.
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Retirement ceremony for Justice Richard White rescheduled
The retirement ceremony for Justice Richard White has been rescheduled to 9.15am on Thursday 19 December 2024 in the Banco Court. This change accommodates the funeral of the Hon. TEF Hughes AO KC, taking place at 11.00am on Tuesday 17 December 2024.
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Specialist Accreditation: expressions of interest for Board and Advisory Committee placements
The Specialist Accreditation Program is calling for expressions of interest from practitioners interested in obtaining a place on the Specialist Accreditation Board, or the Advisory Committees. Board placements are applicable from early 2025, and Advisory Committee placements are applicable from July 2025 within the areas of Children’s Law, Dispute Resolution, Employment & Industrial Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, Personal Injury, Planning & Environment Law and Elder Law. Submit your expressions of interest here.
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Specialist Accreditation: Applications are now open for the 2025 program
Specialist Accreditation can take your career to the next level, where you can join an elite group of recognised experts. Areas of Law on offer in 2025 are Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Law, Family Law, Property Law, and Wills & Estates. Apply today
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2025 Opening of Law Term Dinner tickets now on sale
The President and Council of the Law Society of NSW invite you to join us for our 2025 Opening of Law Term Dinner on Thursday 6 February 2025, in the Grand Ballroom of Hilton Sydney. The commencement of the Law Term will feature an address by NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell and Jennifer Ball, the 2025 Law Society President, who will deliver the Presidential Address. Reserve your seat.
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Law Society Library holiday closures
The Library will be closed and all library services will conclude for the year at 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and return at 9am on Monday 6 January 2025. Where possible, please submit all requests for assistance to library@lawsociety.com.au by 4pm on Monday 16 December 2024.
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Festive Helper Hamper now available to order
Our Festive Helper Hamper has everything you need to make Christmas lunch or dinner one to remember. Goodies to make the day that little bit easier include ginger beer glaze, traditional Christmas pudding, mulled wine bombs, and plenty more. Plus, $10 from every hamper will be donated to this year's President's Charity: United Way Australia. These delicious hampers will be available to order until Wednesday 18 December 2024 or until sold out, so get in quick to secure your order today.
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2025 Mock Law Competition: call for volunteers
The countdown is on for the 2025 Mock Trial and Mediation Competitions, and we're excited to invite you to be a part of these prestigious programs. As one of the Law Society's longest-running and most popular competitions, Mock Law provides a unique opportunity to shape the future of the legal profession and we need your expertise to make it a success. Ready to get involved? Register here.
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Deep dive into settlements: Mandatory rule 6.1 – online
Tuesday 11 February 2025
REGISTER HERE
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Drafting wills – online
Tuesday 11 and 18 February 2025
REGISTER HERE
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December Service Directory
The LSJ Online Service Directory for November is now available. Here you will find advertisements for agency and referrals, practices for sale and purchase and much more, plus all missing wills notices. Please note: From 1 January 2025 classified advertising in Service Directory will be via prepay only. Please reach out to advertising@lawsociety.com.au with any questions. Read more.
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Submission of the Week: Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW)
We made a recent submission in response to the consultation on public interest exceptions for offences under sections 11, 12, and 14 of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007. We highlighted the complexity of balancing legitimate and sometimes competing policy goals, and emphasised the importance of stakeholder consultation. We provided qualified support for a limited public interest exception for possession and communication of information obtained through surveillance devices, with specific parameters to ensure it is in the public interest and involves serious criminal wrongdoing or corrupt conduct. The submission also underscored the need for clear guidelines and oversight mechanisms to prevent misuse and protect individual privacy rights. For all of our submissions, please visit the Policy Submissions 2024 page.
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Jury Amendment Act 2024 No 24
The Jury Amendment Act 2024 passed NSW Parliament on 15 May 2024, received assent on 31 May 2024 and will commence on a day or days to be determined by proclamation. The Act will make several amendments to the Jury Act 1977 to improve the efficiency of jury empanelment, provide enhanced support for jurors to perform their role, and reduce the expenditure of resources on trials that are ultimately aborted or result in hung juries, where possible. It is anticipated that the amendments will commence on 10 March 2024, with the exception of proposed section 53D, which will have a different commencement date, yet to be confirmed.
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Important changes to the Foreign Resident Capital Gains Withholding (FRCGW) regime
The Treasury Laws Amendment (2024 Tax and Other Measures No 1) Bill 2024 was assented to on 10 December 2024. The Bill amends the FRCGW regime by removing the current $750,000 threshold and increasing the withholding rate from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent. The amendments commence on 1 January 2025, and will apply to contracts made on or after 1 January 2025. Read more.
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2025 Land Tax Clearance Certificates
From today, practitioners will be able to apply for clearance certificates for the 2025 land tax year. For information about the process to request an early issue of a land tax assessment notice for settlements occurring in early January 2025 (where payment of a land tax charge is required), please visit the Revenue NSW webpage, preparing for the 2025 land tax year.
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Additional Guidance for Subscriber Compliance Examinations
ARNECC has published an updated version of the Subscriber Compliance Common Errors document. This document aims to provide additional guidance for subscribers in relation to some of the common errors found across jurisdictions when conducting subscriber compliance examinations.
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EVIDENCE
Wild ride for NSW lawyers: new guidance on direct speech evidence
By Andrew Hack, Sonya Willis and Sylvia Fernandez >
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WHISTLEBLOWING
Is it possible to make a public interest disclosure? New lessons for practitioners
By Olivia Dixon >
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