Last year, the Chief Justice of New South Wales, The Honourable Tom Bathurst AC, delivered the inaugural Bill Grant OAM Access to Justice Oration in honour of a man whose commitment to equality before the law for all has had a lasting and profound impact on the lives of many individuals in this state.

Bill Grant’s sudden passing in January 2017 came only days after his retirement as CEO of Legal Aid NSW. The annual Bill Grant OAM Access to Justice Oration continues to bring together members of the profession to celebrate his incredible life, career and legacy. The Oration follows the steps of Bill’s lifelong dedication to defending the rule of law and fighting for access to justice within institutions such as Legal Aid NSW, the Attorney General’s Department, and the Law Council of Australia.

Former NSW Attorney General The  Honourable Bob Debus AM will deliver the 2019 Oration on 22 August 2019 on the topic, "Must prisoner numbers grow forever?". Registrations are now open for this event, which will be held at the Law Society on Phillip Street. 

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Charter for the Advancement of Women Awards. These Awards recognise the efforts of signatories to the Law Society’s Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession who have demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies and workplace changes relating to the advancement of women in the legal workplace.

The Charter is designed to promote and support strategies to retain women in the profession over the course of their careers and encourage and promote their career progression into senior executive and management positions. It now has more than 160 signatories, serving as a public record of law firms, corporate and government bodies and solicitors who are actively committed to advancing women. After the success of last year’s Inaugural Charter for the Advancement of Women Awards, we have expanded the Awards from one to three categories:

• Large Law Firm (Member of Law Firms Australia)
• Organisation employing an in-house practitioner
• Any NSW law firm or practice that is not a member of Law Firms Australia.

Further information about the awards and how to nominate are now available on the Law Society website. The winners of each category will be announced at the Annual Member’s Dinner on Thursday 24 October 2019.

Elizabeth Espinosa, Law Society President

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