Monday Briefs

4 November

Your weekly professional update
4 November 2019
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Legal assistance for farmers and drought-affected communities

Having heard first-hand from our country solicitors about the impact the drought is having on farmers and rural communities across the entire state, I was happy to hear that drought-ravaged areas of western NSW experienced some much-needed rain over the weekend. As it’s been widely reported, the towns of Bourke, Cobar and White Cliffs received a month’s worth of rain, Narromine received 14 millimetres and Walgett, where level five water restrictions are being enforced, received around two millimetres. Continue reading >
 
 
NEWS
Pre-order your 2020 Law Society Diary
Pre-orders are now open for the 2020 Law Society Diary. Diaries will be despatched from 25 November 2019. Stocks are limited so get in quick. Order now
End of CPD year program now available
More than 50 courses in February – March 2020 are now available for enrolment. Save up to 10 per cent off course rates when you book before 10 December 2019. View the program and register
Latest edition of the Court of Appeal’s Decisions of Interest bulletin
The Decisions of Interest bulletin is a regular publication produced by the Court of Appeal, summarising appellate decisions from Australia and internationally. Read the latest bulletin here
Lawyer cricketers wanted
Australian Lawyers Cricket is looking for lawyers who presently play, or have played, competitive cricket to play in the Lawyers’ Cricket World Cup in New Zealand between 29 December 2019 and 9 January 2020. For further details please email Karl Prince
 
 
WHAT'S ON
McCallum Medal Presentation Night
7 November 2019
Professionalism, integrity and ethics for the modern lawyer
14 November 2019
Thought Leadership: Smart law for deep space
18 November 2019
Conveyancing fundamentals for solicitors
19 and 20 November 2019
Disability inclusion and accessibility in the legal profession
28 November 2019
2019 Hal Wootten Lecture with Honourable Dr. Justice D.Y Chandrachud
4 December 2019
NSW YOUNG LAWYERS
NSW REGIONAL LAW SOCIETIES
EVENTS CALENDAR
LAWINFORM CPD CALENDAR
 
 
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
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Solicitors needed for Downing Centre Duty Solicitor roster
The City of Sydney Law Society are looking for solicitors highly-experienced in Criminal and General work in the Local Court to join a monthly roster of Duty Solicitors at the Downing Centre Local Court. If you can help, please email Anthony Restuccia.
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Promotions, Practising Certificates and Practice Management Courses
Practitioners are only entitled to engage in legal practice in the manner authorised by their practising certificate (PC) type and conditions – regardless of when promotions in a law practice are made or announced. If a promotion (anticipated or not) imposes new responsibilities as a Principal of a law practice, the practitioner may not practise as such without having completed an approved Practice Management Course (PMC) and having been granted a Principal’s PC. The Licensing Committee will not accept a solicitor’s undertaking to complete a PMC save for where the applicant is able to provide evidence of exceptional and extenuating circumstances that justify the grant of a Principal’s PC, prior to completion of an approved PMC. Applications can be made to the Committee which meets on a monthly basis, with strict lodgement deadlines.
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New national gift card laws
Under recent changes to the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), most gift cards sold to consumers in Australia from 1 November must have a three-year minimum expiry period. These national requirements are similar to those introduced in NSW last year under the Fair Trading Act 1987, which apply to gift cards and vouchers. A key difference is that, under the ACL, gift cards must now display:
  • the expiry date
  • the supply date and period of validity or
  • that there is no expiry date
Further information is available on the Australian Consumer Law website
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Toongabbie Legal Centre - eConveyancing programme and Annual Community Fundraising dinner
The Toongabbie Legal Centre is holding a one-day programme on eConveyancing and its Fundamentals on Saturday 9 November 2019 and their Annual Community Fundraising Dinner on Saturday 16 November 2019.
LEGAL UPDATES powered by LSJ
Corporate law
New protections for corporate whistleblowers
By Dan Pearce and Hannah Pelka-Caven >
Consumer law
ACCC gains momentum in its push for higher consumer law penalties
By Michael Milnes >
 
IN THE PRESS
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Uluru Statement should be respected - Law Council of Australia
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