Very early in my career, working at a practice in the Sutherland Shire, I was fortunate to become involved with the St George Sutherland Regional Law Society, first as the Young Lawyers representative and later as its President. 

This local engagement provided me with great insight into the important role our 29 regional law societies play in ensuring that the work of the Law Society is directly relevant and accessible to practitioners, no matter where they are located.

In many ways, our regional law societies are the lifeblood of our profession, fostering collegiality between local practitioners and providing continuing legal education locally. 

Meeting with our Regional Law Society Presidents in Phillip Street last Friday was, for me, an important reminder of the valuable work our Regional Presidents undertake, as well as the breadth and depth of expertise and origin from which the Law Society’s members are drawn. We are, after all, a community diverse in age, location, practice area, gender, race, and area of interest, among other things. No one member is alike. What unites us is our shared commitment to safeguarding the rights of the community, ensuring access to justice and defending the rule of law.

Already this year I have had the opportunity to meet with and attend a number of regional law society events and I am looking forward to heading further afield in the coming months for our Regional FLIP Roadshows in Newcastle, Wollongong, Dubbo and Byron Bay.

Before then, we have the matter of a State Election on 23 March 2019 to contend with. Members would be aware that the Law Society wrote to the major political parties asking them to respond to the key law and order issues outlined in the Society’s State Election Platform.  

We have received responses to our State Election Platform from the NSW Government, the NSW Opposition, the Greens and Independent Alex Greenwich MP, which are now available on the Law Society website. I would encourage all members to take the time to read these responses.

Elizabeth Espinosa, Law Society President

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