The Law Society Council

Serving as a Law Society Councillor requires a significant commitment of time and effort. Councillors, other than Office Bearers, should expect to spend at least the equivalent of one half-day a week to Law Society business, in addition to reading and preparation times.

The Council currently meets about ten times each year. Additional special Council meetings are convened as needed. Monthly meetings usually begin at 4.00 pm, and may run for three hours or longer. Councillors are also expected to serve on committees supporting the Law Society’s representational and regulatory work, and to attend a significant number of Law Society functions from time to time.
 

2026 Council Vacancies

The 2026 Notice of Forthcoming Election has been sent to Solicitor Members (see Notice).

The following Councillors are due to retire as Councillors at the Annual General Meeting of The Law Society of New South Wales, which will be held at 4.30pm on Thursday 22 October 2026: 
 

Each of the retiring Councillors, other than the Young Lawyer Councillor, holds an unreserved position. All retiring Councillors are eligible to stand for re-election. 
  
The Young Lawyer vacancy is appointed for a 1-year term in accordance with clause 12.1.2 of the Law Society’s Constitution. 

Candidates in this Election

LAUREN ABSALOM
City Member 
GAICD, BA, LLB, LLM (Dispute Resolution) LLM (Wills & Estates). "The Law Society of NSW exists to serve those who serve". Current Councillor seeking third term re-election who believes service is our profession’s cornerstone. As North Metropolitan Regional President; Co-Chair Elder Law, Chair Licensing and Deputy Chair Fidelity Fund committees; and a passionate succession/elder law lawyer, I’m committed to efficient advocacy and safeguarding the legal profession for all challenges. Supporting lawyers at every stage of their career, in every corner of NSW, means I’m a regular visitor of regions and presenter to our profession and community.
T:  0456 923 813
E: contact@lawsocelections.com.au / lauren.absalom@melaw.au
W: www.lawsocelections.com.au 
 

SUSAI BENJAMIN
Suburban Member
Principal Solicitor at Toongabbie Legal Centre. I would greatly value the opportunity to represent you on the Law Society Council in 2027. I have many years’ experience in the public, private and NFP legal sectors. I am concerned for the interests of all practitioners and in the minimisation of red tape. I am also dedicated to assisting vulnerable and disadvantaged peoples’ access to the legal system - www.tlc.asn.au - run by volunteers. If elected, I intend to listen to issues raised by solicitors and the wider community in relation to the profession and help to communicate them for constructive action.
T:  0418 691 525 or 1300 373 353
E:  sbenjamin@tlc.asn.au

LARA BISHKOV
Suburban Member
BecLLB.  Lara is a lawyer, Advanced Mediator accredited under the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards (AMDRAS), Lawyer Mediator accredited under the Law Society Lawyer Mediator Accreditation Scheme (LMAS), and Teaching Fellow at UNSW Faculty of Law & Justice. Admitted in 1994, Lara has extensive civil litigation experience across NSW and federal jurisdictions. She serves on the Personal Injury Commission’s Workers Compensation Division and the Law Society’s ADR Committee. Lara promotes dispute resolution by adjudicating mock mediation and negotiation competitions and is committed to empowering people with self-determination in conflict resolution.
T: 0417 202 184
E: lara@larabishkov.com

JACOB CARSWELL-DOHERTY
City Member
BA, LLB, LLM (Sydney). Principal of Jake McKinley, leading a small practice with offices in Sydney and Hurstville. I am CEO of Human Rights United by Law, former Director and treasurer of a not-for-profit community organisation and finalist, Australian AI Awards. I support choice in professional indemnity insurance. I am involved with ‘Solicitors for PI Choice’ and drafted its submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry. I support women holding equity in the firms they help build. The provision of independent, sceptical guidance on legal technology, informed by building the AI systems my own firm runs on.
T:  0423 159 472 
E:  jacob@jakelaw.com.au

REBECCA GRANT
City Member                                                  
Small practice is in my DNA. I have spent my career where law and technology meet and if elected I will bring that practical experience to Council. As Deputy-Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, with time on the Data Privacy, Litigation Law and Practice and Legal Technology Committees, I understand the value of listening and collaboration. Let’s build a Law Society that is confident in confronting the challenges of modern practice, practical in supporting its members and ambitious about the future of the profession. I will be a practical voice for a changing profession.
T:  0467 443 433         
E:  rebecca.grant@councilelections.com.au
W: www.councilelections.com.au

HUGH MACKEN
City Member
 B.A. LLB. (Macquarie) LLM (UTS). Ask yourself, why would I vote for this Guy? What will he do?  The answer? I will bring all that I am. It's all about SOLICITORS. Service. Sacrifice. Selfless. Streetwise. Organised. Observant. Obliging. Original. Likable. Lawful. Loving. Loquacious. Intelligent. Interested. Impartial. Inspired. Committed. Concise. Conscientious. Cool. Idealistic. Integrity. Intrepid. Insightful. Thoughtful. Tenacious. Tactical. Trustworthy. Outspoken. Outrageous. (a long time ago). Righteous. Resolute. Responsible. Robust. Sincere. Smooth. Sophisticated. Scrupulous. Solicitors. Just Solicitors. Was. Is. Always will be my single focus. 
E:  hmacken@msols.com.au
Macken and Company

IRFAN PEERZADA
Suburban Member
As Principal Solicitor at Peerzada & Associates in Auburn, I serve Western Sydney's diverse communities. As a panel member of the Legal Aid and Pro Bono Scheme, I represent victims of domestic violence and families in crisis. Running a suburban practice gives me firsthand insight into the pressures sole practitioners and small firms face. I'm committed to mental health support, reducing red tape, ensuring fair treatment for lawyers, and lowering insurance costs. I will be a strong, independent voice: practical, proactive, and dedicated to our profession's future.
T: 02 8097 4028  
E: irfan@peerzada.com.au
W: www.peerzada.com.au

TIMOTHY ROBERTS
Corporate Member
Serving Young Lawyer Councillor and officer at the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation, my day-to-day work is representing professionals like you. As NSW Council for Civil Liberties President, I champion the rule of law. Formerly a teacher in regional NSW, I know the crucial role of regional practitioners. Having served as Executive Officer of NSW Education Standards Authority, I contribute my diversity of experience to the Law Society’s Human Rights, Professional Conduct and Ethics committees. Continual technology developments impact new and experienced practitioners alike. The Society must be a bulwark against unqualified and unregulated intrusions into the practice of law, whether by “consultants” or “AI slop”.
T:  0423 688 120
E:  timothy.roberts@councilelections.com.au
W: www.councilelections.com.au

VAUGHAN ROLES
Government Member
A serving Councillor with total blindness, I take the time to listen and get things done for you. A Legal Aid Solicitor, I appear almost daily in Local and District Courts. I visit with practitioners across NSW and hear your concerns, how you’re adapting to ongoing change and what our Law Society can do to help. A member of the Society’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Criminal Law Committee, I care deeply for lawyers in our variety of roles. I provide outcomes that are genuinely useful to you in your every-day practice. Please visit my webpage for details.
T:  0425 211 038
E:  vaughan.roles@councilelections.com.au    
W: www.councilelections.com.au

GEORGIENA RYAN
Country Member
I am a passionate advocate for regional and rural practice and the diverse communities that we serve.  I understand the challenges of running a business in the country and representing vulnerable clients, particularly when resources are being increasingly centralised and digitalised. I will bring a pragmatic and personable approach to serving on Council and working to ensure legal practice remains financially and personally rewarding. GAICD, LLB, MComLaw, GradDip (Applied Tax Law) Acc Spec Business Law, Past Chair Rural Issues, past member Elder Law & Succession, Business Law Committees, AML-CTF and Climate Change Working Groups. 
T:  0429 380 398
E: gryan@regionalbusinesslaw.com.au

MOIRA SAVILLE
Large Firm Member 
BA (Hons) LLB (Hons). Councillor and disputes partner at Mallesons. NorthMet member. Chair of the Fidelity Fund Management Committee and Scheme Administration Committee. Member of the Audit & Risk Committee, Professional Conduct Committee and Litigation Law & Policy Committee. Director of legalsuper. I am enthusiastic about the training and mentoring of young lawyers, and am a working group member of the Supreme Court’s training initiative for < 2 year lawyers. I support the ethical and responsible use of AI in legal practice, while preserving the critical role of solicitors for our clients and communities. 
T:  02 9296 2311 / 0407 241 824 
E:  moira.saville@mallesons.com contact@lawsocelections.com.au 
W: www.lawsocelections.com.au 

MICHAEL SETON
Country Member
LLM., LLB., B.Sc. (Psych.). I’m passionate about creating clear, practical pathways that empower solicitors to thrive at each career stage. As Founder and Solicitor Director of Seton Family Lawyers, and Secretary of the Central Coast Law Society, my daily focus centres on regional advocacy, support of small firm leaders, and mentorship for early career lawyers. From creating award-winning workplace wellbeing frameworks to serving as a University Ethics Committee Member and Law Society Mentor, my focus is always on actionable outcomes. I’m seeking your vote to champion accessible pathways, realistic wellbeing, and strong regional support across NSW.
T:  02 4397 4797
E:  michael@setonfamily.law
W: www.lawsocelections.com.au
 

A central webpage for candidate canvassing materials is available during the election period (see link). The information on this webpage and the webpages of each of the candidates, including information in any third party or external web pages provided by such candidates, have been prepared by the candidates and not by the Law Society. The views and statements of the candidates are made in connection with their election campaigns for the Law Society Council Election 2026 and are not endorsed as the views of the Law Society.

Online voting - external host provider

BigPulse, the Law Society’s web-based online election provider, will again host the 2026 Council election. BigPulse has conducted the Law Society’s online elections for the past ten years.
During the last week in September, Solicitor Members with a unique email address recorded with the Law Society will receive an “Invitation to Vote” email.
Solicitor Members are encouraged to vote online so their vote is received before the ballot closes at 2.00 pm on Monday 19 October 2026.

Paper ballots

Solicitor Members who have opted in to receiving hard copies may choose to vote by completing the printed ballot paper which will be sent by post to those Solicitor Members.
Solicitor Members are encouraged to vote online.

Please remember - you can only vote once.