Each year, the Annual Members Dinner is a highlight in the Law Society calendar, allowing members to catch up with friends and colleagues for an evening of dinner, dancing and entertainment. It is also an opportunity to reflect on our achievements on behalf of the profession and thank those who have contributed to the work of the Law Society over the course of the year.

I am delighted to announce that Professor Megan Davis, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous and Professor of Law, UNSW and acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court, will deliver this year's keynote address. Professor Davis is also a current expert member of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the former Chair and expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2011-2016).

Registrations are now open for the Annual Members Dinner, which will be held on Thursday 24 October in one of Sydney’s most iconic civil landmarks, the Sydney Town Hall.

As is tradition, we will honour the achievements of solicitors who have practised law for 50 years and announce the winner of the 2019 President's Medal. This year we will also present awards recognising signatories to the Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession who have contributed to the progression of women in the legal workplace. Nominations are still open for these awards (which have been expanded to three categories) and the 2019 President's Medal  - Don’t delay in submitting nominations.

On a side note, last week I put out a call for expressions of interest from members wishing to serve on the Law Society’s policy, regulatory and liaison committees. Whatever your area of expertise, I encourage you to spend a few minutes this month registering your interest in serving on a committee in 2020. Not only do these committees serve an important function on a state level, they allow us to contribute to submissions made by our national body, the Law Council of Australia, on national and international issues, federal law and the operation of federal courts and tribunals. And you get to meet and collaborate with other experts in your field.

Finally, from 1 July 2020, three-quarters of Australia’s solicitors will be regulated under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. Amendments have been passed ahead of Western Australia joining the scheme adopted by NSW and Victoria in 2015.

Elizabeth Espinosa, Law Society President

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