By Henry Ea and Wendy Yang - Mar 16, 2026 11:00 am AEDT

Set against the sophisticated backdrop of ILUMINA, on Elizabeth Street in Sydney’s CBD, the Law Society of New South Wales' Annual Conference proved to be a masterclass in professional collaboration. Perched directly above Martin Place metro station, the venue served as a fitting metaphor for the day's proceedings. Just as the transport hub below seamlessly connects the people with their city, the sold-out event facilitated a vital convergence of the legal community. Throughout the day, delegates engaged in a high-energy program of insightful and interactive sessions, reinforcing the bonds that drive the profession forward.

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘uniting the profession’. President of the Law Society of NSW, Ronan MacSweeney, told delegates the aim of this year’s conference was to bring practitioners together from across the state and share knowledge. “We want to strengthen the skills that underpin effective practice, while also helping solicitors navigate emerging issues. And add something a little humane, too,” he said.

This knowledge-sharing focused on the upcoming AML/CTF reforms, commencing for legal practices on 1 July this year, delving into practitioners’ obligations and how they can navigate the evolving regulatory environment.

In his keynote address, AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas observed that, while Australia’s AML/CTF regime historically prioritised banks and casinos, tightening controls in those sectors has forced a shift in criminal behaviour. He warned that gaps in the non-financial sector have now become “attractive pathways” for exploitation, necessitating a broader regulatory focus.

“The reforms that were passed in November 2024 respond to that reality, and they align Australia’s framework with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force. They’re not about questioning professional ethics. They’re about closing vulnerabilities that criminals do currently exploit,” Thomas said.

Bobbie Wan, Head of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at the Law Society of NSW, led an interesting panel discussion titled ‘AUSTRAC AML/CTF Starter Programs – From unboxing to action,’ on the recently released program starter kits. The panel, which included William Morris (Director of Guidance at AUSTRAC), and Neil Jeans (Partner at Grant Thornton), discussed how to use and customise the program starter kits to suit individual practices.

This was followed by another engaging panel discussion on the challenges for firms when it comes to AML. The session, titled ‘Common missteps – What are the common compliance mistakes AML/CTF reporting entities make,’ featured AML/CTF experts Amy Bell (CEO of AML Sorted), and Grace Mason (Partner at KordaMentha), and was moderated by Jeremy Moller (Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Australia). The panel shared their experiences, including how they have navigated the AML/CTF reforms here, and in other jurisdictions, and how they resourced and effectively utilised staff at all levels.

When asked about her main piece of advice for practitioners, Bell said one essential role for practitioners is to build their risk assessment and tailor the program starter kits to their businesses. “[Y]ou’ve got to look at what your actual practice is, and that’s going to be different for everybody,” she says.

Moving beyond regulatory compliance, the conference turned to the Solicitor Capability Framework—a roadmap for future-proofing the profession.

Moderated by Karl Hoerr (Acting Head of Content and Communication, Law Society of NSW), the panel featured a powerhouse of expertise, including Dr Marcus Bowles (Chair, The Institute for Working Futures), Jacqueline Dawson (Chair, Specialist Accreditation Board and Law Society Councillor), and Sarah Malcher (Legal Education Manager, Law Society of NSW).

During the discussion, Bowles clarified a vital distinction: while competencies are job-specific skills and knowledge, capabilities are the broader, lifelong behaviours that sustain a career. This two-year project introduces 14 core capabilities — including professionalism, critical thinking, and collaboration — designed to complement traditional CPD. Jacqueline Dawson eloquently framed these capabilities as “the humanity we bring to practice,” arguing that these human-centric traits are what lead to deeper client empathy and more effective communication within the justice system.

“If you look at all of those skills, they are the things that make us better as practitioners. They are the things that mean we understand our clients better. We communicate better with our clients, we communicate better with our opponents, and we communicate better with the court,” Dawson said.

This focus on the ‘humanity’ of practice naturally extended into a discussion on courtroom conduct. A dedicated session, moderated by Law Society President Ronan MacSweeney, on etiquette and courtesy reminded delegates that professionalism isn’t just a personal capability–it is a fundamental obligation to the court. A distinguished panel featuring The Hon. Justice Ian Pike (Supreme Court of NSW), Judge Judith Gibson (Acting Judge, District Court of NSW), and Gary Ulman (former President of the Law Society and Chair of the Law Society’s ADR Committee) examined the shifting landscape of courtroom standards. Their discussion tackled the modern pressures currently testing traditional legal etiquette—ranging from the high-tech challenge of AI-generated submissions to the procedural complexities posed by sovereign citizens.

Senior ethics lawyers at the Law Society, Linden Barnes and Paul Monaghan, joined Jennifer McMillan (Manager, Practice Support Services at Lawcover) and David Miller (Chair of the Law Society’s Ethics Committee) in a riveting conversation about the latest ‘hot’ topics in ethics. The panel covered a diverse range of interesting topics, including technological changes, AI, liability for personal costs orders, and the importance of upholding your obligations under the professional conduct rules.

The conference drew to a high-energy close with an interactive session led by criminal lawyer Andrew Tiedt and communication expert Lucy Cornell. Moving beyond the basics of “making contacts”, the duo demonstrated how converting high-impact encounters into enduring professional relationships is a cornerstone of successful practice. The workshop-style finale empowered delegates to find their authentic voices and master the art of building a lasting professional brand.