• For Solicitors
• For the Community
• About the Law Society
• Resource center

The Law Society of NSW Reconciliation Action Plan

The Law Society of NSW has served the legal profession and the community of New South Wales for over 125 years. The Society is dedicated to working for a just and fair legal system.

The Society acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands across New South Wales. The Law Society particularly acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, traditional owners of the land on which the Law Society is built. The Law Society pays its respects to Elders past and present.

Click on the following for more information:

Our commitment to reconciliation
Aims of the Law Society’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2012-2014
Key commitments for 2012-2014 

Contact us 

Our commitment to reconciliation

The Society acknowledges that there is an unacceptable gap in life expectancy between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia and other Australians. We believe that closing the gap is of critical importance both for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and for the well-being of our nation. Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians is both necessary for closing the gap and for the well-being of Australia as a nation.

Having regard to our mission and vision, we have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP is a two year program, and is a product of extensive and in-depth consultation with Reconciliation Australia and key Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders. We are grateful to the many people who have generously shared their time and expertise with us throughout this process.

Our RAP makes a strong commitment to building respect and relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. We have also committed to improving the opportunities available to Indigenous peoples. The Law Society's RAP will be a living document that evolves with our experiences and understanding.

Aims of Law Society’s Reconciliation Action Plan 2012-2014

The Law Society’s RAP constitutes a formal program to develop policy, and to create and implement programs within our sphere of influence.

Our focus will include:

• supporting Indigenous lawyers and improving the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lawyers in the legal profession;
• protecting and promoting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in NSW;
• addressing the legal needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in NSW by supporting those who provide legal services to Indigenous clients and by engaging with relevant law reform issues;
• developing partnerships and initiatives to address needs identified where appropriate;
• raising awareness of the complexity and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture; and
• countering existing misunderstandings and misinformation.

A copy of the Society’s 2012-2014 RAP can be found here.

Key commitments for 2012-2014

Our key committments are:

• Provide financial and in-kind support to Ngalaya Aboriginal Corporation, the NSW Indigenous Lawyers and Law Students Association. The Society recognises the depth of expertise that Ngalaya’s membership represents and determined that providing support to Ngalaya to assist with its operational functionality would further our mutual aim of improving the representation of Indigenous peoples in the legal profession. Ngalaya is now housed in the Law Society building.
• Establish an Indigenous Issues standing policy Committee. This Committee was established in 2012 and is already considering law reform and policy development in relation to issues that affect Indigenous peoples and the legal profession in NSW.
• Establish an Indigenous Solicitors Trust as a tangible symbol of the Society’s commitment to reconciliation that will allow our members to show their support. Indigenous law students and young lawyers will be able to apply to the trust to assist the advancement of their studies and careers.
• Develop the capacity of Indigenous support staff. The Society aims to address the need for alternative pathways into the legal profession by exploring ways in which it can provide better opportunities for Aboriginal peoples through the Society’s existing Legal Support Training Program.
• Develop and adopt a protocol for Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country. The Society has adopted a Protocol for Welcome to and Acknowledgment of Country. By doing so, the Society recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have an ongoing relationship with, and obligations to, traditional lands and waters. Country remains integral to Aboriginal law, identity, culture and well-being, and a Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country remains an essential practice. A copy of the Protocol can be found here. The Society welcomes the adoption of this Protocol, (or of an appropriately modified version of the protocol), by its members.

Contact us

If you have any questions or comments about the Law Society’s RAP, please contact Vicky Kuek on 9926 0354 or victoria.kuek@lawsociety.com.au.