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2011 President's Message

Daniel Petrushnko, NSW Young Lawyers

It is with great humility and pride that I take on the role of President of NSW Young Lawyers.

It has now been 47 years since the establishment of NSW Young Lawyers. Throughout this period, we have seen this wonderful organisation go from strength to strength.

In the early years of our existence, NSW Young Lawyers provided valuable contributions on a range of decisions the Law Society was called upon to make and played a significant role in a number of initiatives including:

• The creation of community-based Legal Advice and Referral Centres.
• The Government's proposals for reform of Mental Health Legislation. 
• Development of a scheme to provide immediate legal advice for victims of disasters.
• Staging a regular program of lunch-time CLE lectures.

In 1980, the Law Society Council resolved to form a Young Lawyers section, with its own Constitution, rules and by-laws. So here we are today, with a million dollar budget and over 13,000 members – the largest body of young professionals in the country.

NSW Young Lawyers has always been at the forefront of legal reform. Our members are committed to a diverse range of projects, from gathering evidence on Sri Lankan war crimes, publishing the first ever Practitioner's Guide to International Law, to creating awareness of animal rights in the community.

To ensure we remain at the forefront NSW Young Lawyers implemented many reforms in 2010, from the restructuring of our Council, to the way we organise ourselves. Events are now planned up to nine months in advance and more CLEs have been organised than ever before. This year we also conducted an organisation-wide survey, held a long-range planning meeting, hosted a vibrant Mid-Year Assembly and listened to our members. They aired their concerns and expressed what they would like to see NSW Young Lawyers tackle in the coming years.

If we analyse the legal profession today, it is filled with challenges – the national legal framework, the mental wellbeing of lawyers, equal pay and our image. A changing climate means we have to change our ideas and the way in which we tackle things. Our task is not only to face these immense challenges but to come up with fresh ideas and solutions. To do this we have to ask ourselves this question: What is the purpose of NSW Young Lawyers? As the voice of all young and newly-admitted lawyers in the state, our purpose is to use our knowlegde and skills to assist those in need. Isn’t this reason why we all went to law school?

As part of our responsibility to promote social justice, in 2011 NSW Young Lawyers will focus on an ambitious and exciting project – educating the next generation. In two weeks time we will hold our first Youth Justice and Leadership Conference, a civics education program for students in years 5 and 6 designed to create awareness of indigenous rights, animal rights, the law making process and the criminal justice system. The next step in our civic education project is to incorporate it into the school curriculum. Let us draft the materials for the schools and teachers and lay the foundation of a civic education based on social justice.

Sometimes 'those in need' are our colleagues. Numerous aspects of practice can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety, such as the billable system, working conditions, lack of support and cost-cutting measures in firms. Added to these professional pressures are the typical personality traits of lawyers. From a very early age, at high school and then at law school, we are a very clever and competitive group. We often think that we can solve problems on our own. Our fear of failure can prevent us asking for help. In our online 24/7 world new pressures are emerging everyday. For example, one embarrassing post on a social networking site like Facebook can have huge repercussions on careers and professional reputations.

NSW Young Lawyers has been very active for many years in the area of mental health and it is only right that past Councillors, Office Bearers and Presidents are acknowledged for their work on this issue. However, what we need are practical measures that lawyers and students can use in a time of need, and to foster an environment of support throughout the legal profession.

These are the issues that we will be looking at in 2011! Taking on all of this won’t be easy. We must work together and create a dialogue amongst all of our members, starting from the grassroots of NSW Young Lawyers – our committees. Committees are the backbone of this organisation and the first point of contact with new members.

I know from personal experience how new committee Chairs feel when they first step into the role. In 2011 new Chairs willl be provided with a 'buddy', an experienced Chair, Councillor of Office Bearer who can provide advice about how to manage the administrative work and take on new projects.

To promote greater understanding of the role of the Executive Council and our Office Bearers throughout our membership base, more direct channels of communication will be employed. After all, members have the right to know why a particular policy decision was made. At the 2011 Mid-Year Assembly there will be a session called 'NSW Young Lawyers Under the Microscope'. All of the 10 Councillors and 5 Office Bearers will be up onstage to answer questions from the floor – Q&A style.

My involvement in NSW Young Lawyers has shown me many things. I have been encouraged by the resolve, dedication and vision of many young lawyers whose paths I have crossed over the years. We have in our hands and minds, the power of change.

Let the first year of the new decade be a year in which we support our colleagues, strengthen our committees and continue our work on civic education. Let us return to the reasons why NSW Young Lawyers was established in the first place.

If you have any suggestions about how we can improve our organisation, please contact me at president@younglawyers.com.au.

Daniel Petrushnko
President
NSW Young Lawyers