Children's legal issues

Children's legal issues

The Children’s Legal Issues Committee monitors all matters related to children and child rights and represents the Law Society and its members on policy and practice issues arising from it. Our priorities include:

  • Developing and commenting on law reform and legal policy proposals (including preparing submissions, and liaising with government and other stakeholders in this process)
  • Educating the legal profession about changes to the law, and providing guidance on practice and other issues
  • Exchanging information about issues arising in legal practice (such as recent case law) that may indicate a legal policy issue or concern

Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee

Recent policy submissions

Letter to NSW Drug Summit 2024 - 15 November 2024

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 - 26 September 2024

Letter to Law Enforcement Conduct Commission - Bail compliance checks in NSW Issues Paper - 26 July 2024

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) - 7 June 2024

Letter to Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety - Inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities - 30 May 2024

Letter to Committee on Community Services – Inquiry into the Equality Legislation Amendment (LGBTIQA+) Bill 2023 – 15 April 2024

Letter to Members of the Legislative Council - Bail and Crimes Amendment Bill 2024 - 20 March 2024

Letter to Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal - Review of Out-of-Home Care cost and pricing - 11 March 2024

Letter to NSW Sentencing Council - Firearms knives and other weapons offences - 4 December 2023

Letter to NSW Advocate for Children and Young People - Special Inquiry - Children and Young People in Alternative Care Arrangements - 30 November 2023

Letter to Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety - Inquiry into e-cigarette regulation and compliance in New South Wales - 10 November 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Youth Justice and Child Wellbeing Reforms - 2 June 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Family Law Amendment Bill Exposure Draft and Consultation Paper - 24 February 2023

Visit the policy submissions archive

2024 Committee list

Mr James Clifford (Chair), Ms Kerri Phillips (Deputy Chair), K. Bromley, N. Callander, E. Canning, R. Carty, I. Caulfield, S. Clarke, Z. De Re, R. Frankham, L. Goodwin, A. Hall, S. Hargans, S. Ienna, K. Kelso, E. Leong, E. Mathenge, G. Mojtahedi, T. Moore, D. Neligan, S. Niles, Z. Robinson, A. Ross, K. Rowley, J. Smith, J. Stanton, S. Sunna.

How to join a committee
Law Society Committees have powers, authorities and tasks delegated by the Council. Consisting of dedicated volunteers, each committee focuses on a particular area of law, pooling together specialist skills and experience in order to scrutinise legislation, court decisions and other government policies.
There are three broad categories of committees:

  • Regulatory committees – perform statutory duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
  • Liaison committees – linked to other professions or organisations
  • Policy committees

By drawing on the insights of committees, the Law Society can meet its statutory duties and act as a major player in law reform and policy debates.

See the Law Society Committee webpage.