Monday Briefs

19 April 2021

Align
Right

Your weekly professional update

12 April 2021
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
LECC report findings present a threat to community's belief in the criminal justice system

On 31 March 2021, I wrote to the NSW Police Commissioner, Michael Fuller APM, on behalf of the solicitor arm of the legal profession expressing my concerns about the conduct uncovered by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) in its report relating to Operation Monza, which has been tabled in Parliament. Continue reading >

 
 
NEWS
Practising certificate and membership renewals are open
Online lodgements for 2021/22 practising certificate (PC) and membership renewals are now open. For those who did not renew online last year, we really encourage you to try to do so this year. If you need help, our Registry team members are happy to walk you through the process over the telephone on (02) 9926 0156.
Introducing humm
We have partnered with humm as an alternative payment option for your 2021/22 practising certificate and membership. Humm allows you to pay your fees in easy slices over time. Choose from either five fortnightly or 10 weekly interest-free repayments. Sign up today.
Innovate at low cost  FLIP Roadshow in Parramatta
The FLIP Roadshow stops in Parramatta on Friday 23 April, with a half-day program designed to provide you with innovative and sustainable solutions to improve your practice. We’ll discuss the future of legal fees, legal service delivery models, cyber security and provide practical techniques from project management, design thinking and process improvement to help solve pain points unique to you. Find out more and register.
Don't miss the buzz on Data
Join us on Wednesday 28 April for the second FLIP Buzzwords for 2021 and discover the benefits of data and the important role it plays in driving business growth. Our panellists will break down what data is, the approaches and technologies to use to capture data, how to use data to help make informed decisions and better understand your staff, clients and competition, and more. Register now.
Talking differently about grief webcast
Grief is a universal experience, yet many of us struggle to talk about it, let alone support others who are grieving. Tomorrow, Wendy Liu, Specialist Grief and Trauma Counsellor and Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, will unpack the impacts of grief and how to best support someone experiencing grief. Find out more.
Specialist Accreditation conference is back for 2021
The specialist accreditation conference is back and in-person at the ICC, Sydney. On Thursday 5 August join specialists from six areas of law for seminars, panel discussions and unique networking opportunities. Super early bird available now. Learn more and register.
Volunteers needed for annual Mock Trial and Mock Mediation competitions
The annual Mock Trial and Mock Mediation competitions are seeking volunteer magistrates, adjudicators and scenario writers for the 2021 programs. To register your interest, email us at mocklaw@lawsociety.com.au.
Food delivery service for charity
Choose from delicious house-made butternut pumpkin, sage and ricotta ravioli with crispy prosciutto, hazelnut and herb pangrattato. Or enjoy a creamy mushroom, bacon and sweet potato casserole topped with mozzarella cheese and breadcrumbs. Order by 8am Tuesday for Friday delivery.
 
 
WHAT'S ON
Talking differently about grief
13 April 2021
UNCITRAL 2020 Overview and Legal Developments
14 April 2021
Rule of Law, Justice & Democratic Rights in Sri Lanka
22 April 2021
FLIP Roadshow – Parramatta
23 April 2021
FLIP Buzzwords: Data
28 April 2021
In-house induction April 2021 (live webinar)
28 and 30 April 2021
Practice Management Course
7, 14 and 21 May 2021
FLIP Roadshow – Orange
28 May 2021
NSW YOUNG LAWYERS
NSW REGIONAL LAW SOCIETIES
EVENTS CALENDAR
LAWINFORM CPD CALENDAR
 
 
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
>
Latest edition of the Court of Appeal’s Decisions of Interest bulletin
The Decisions of Interest bulletin is a regular publication produced by the Court of Appeal, summarising appellate decisions from Australia and internationally. Read the latest bulletin here.
>
Registered tax agents
All Law Society members who are also registered tax agents have been requested by the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) to update their TPB profile to record their Law Society membership. This will assist the Law Society to maintain its accreditation as a recognised tax agent association.
>
Advisor Regulation and Compliance role – Office of the Registrar General
There is an exciting regulatory oversight and advisory role with the Office of the Registrar General. The Office of the Registrar General sits within the NSW Department of Customer Service and is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the NSW land titles system.  It regulates the concession of NSW's land titles registry, as well as overseeing providers of electronic conveyancing services in NSW. Applications close 16 April 2021. Find out more.
>
In-person bookings on JUST Connect at correctional centres 
Practitioners should be aware that over the next four months, Corrective Services NSW will roll out bookings for professional in-person visits at all correctional centres across the state onto JUST Connect. This will mean that in future, all in-person professional visits will be booked via JUST Connect. The first region that will be moved to using JUST Connect for in-person appointments will be the Northern Region, which will go live in early April. Read more.
>
Land Tax COVID-19 relief application deadline extended
The deadline for applications for the land tax COVID-19 relief scheme has been extended until 31 May 2021. This extension applies to relief for both the 2020 and 2021 land tax years. Read more.
>
Practice alert: Put and call options
Property lawyers are alerted to the recent decision BP7 Pty Ltd v Gavancorp Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 265 which considered s 66T(d) of the Conveyancing Act 1919, in which case the cooling-off period applied in relation to contracts for sale of land arising on exercise of put options, as distinct from call options.
>
eConveyancing: new Guidance Notes
With the commencement of Version 6 of the Model Participation Rules and Model Operating Requirements on 12 April 2021, ARNECC has published new and updated MPR Guidance Notes. Read more.
>
Revenue NSW update – Transfer of options to purchase land
Revenue NSW has updated their website to assist practitioners understand the duty implications and evidentiary requirements in relation to options to purchase land, particularly the transfer or assignment of options. Read more.
>
Personal Injury Commission – extension of time discretion
To address issues with the strict timeframes for the lodgement of review or appeal applications in the Personal Injury Commission, the Commission has advised that:
  1.  Any appeal or review application lodged within time in the Commission will be accepted, whether compliant or not, and a direction will be issued to regularise any compliance issues afterwards.
  2. An appeal or review application with respect to a decision made on or after 1 March 2021, will be subject to the 28-day time limit to make an appeal or review application against the decision. There is no provision in the Personal Injury Commission Rules 2021 to extend the time to make an appeal or review application.
Further information is available here
>
Children’s Court introduces standardised orders for care and protection proceedings
The President of the Children’s Court has approved a set of standardised orders for use in the Court’s care and protection jurisdiction. A copy of these orders is available on the Children’s Court website. Read more here.
 
LEGAL UPDATES powered by LSJ
Employment
Requiring the jab? What’s reasonable in Australian workplaces?
By Jack de Flamingh and Kate Curtain >
Constitutional law
Constitutional algebra: Palmer v Western Australia reunites the broken parts of s 92
By Dr David J. Townsend
 >
 
IN THE PRESS
>
>
>
>
 
YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS PROGRAM
Begin your next adventure with Budget
Everyone should get out and explore their own backyard occasionally, and there’s no better time to see what Australia has to offer. Budget can help you get where you want to go with 10 per cent off online car rentals. Find out more.
Save on international transfers
If you or your clients send or receive money from around the world, saving on your FX transfers can make a big difference to your back pocket. Sign up through your member benefits for preferential exchange rates and $0 OFX fees on transfers.