We need your participation

The Law Society serves a critical role in providing high quality, intellectually rigorous and highly respected submissions to government on matters that are of key significance in our communities. A key input to that is the advocacy work undertaken by the Council and our committees on behalf of the profession along with our participation in policy and legislative reform. This involvement is an important facet of the pro bono work we do for the betterment of our communities and society in general. This is why it is really important that members participate by seeking election to Council and by applying to join our committees. This type of participation is also both professionally and personally very satisfying.

Election of Law Society Councillors

Eligible members, who have provided the Law Society with their email address, should have received a notice by email last Monday, formally announcing the commencement of the process for the annual election of Law Society Councillors.

The Law Society Council governs the Society, in accordance with our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and the Corporations Act 2001. Our Council guides the objectives and policies of the Law Society, monitors its performance and delegates its authority over various matters to a network of Committees. Our 20 elected Councillors represent a cross-section of both the profession and the community and are ideally placed to consider the issues and pressures faced by solicitors, to identify opportunities to strengthen the profession and help our members to adapt to the changing demands of practice.

I would strongly urge all Law Society members entitled to vote in the upcoming election, to do so, and have a say in both guiding the Law Society and shaping the future of our profession. There are seven vacancies to be filled in the upcoming election and all members entitled to vote are eligible to stand for election. Further details regarding nominations are set out in the Notice of Forthcoming Election. Given the current COVID-19 restrictions, I would also encourage members to consider casting their vote online, rather than relying on the traditional paper vote. Voting closes at 2pm on Monday 25 October 2021. 

In light of the ongoing restrictions, the Annual General Meeting of The Law Society of New South Wales will be held as an online event at 4.30pm on Thursday 28 October 2021.

Join a Law Society Committee

The Law Society is now calling for expressions of interest from members interested in joining one of the Society’s Regulatory, Liaison or Policy committees in 2022. We’ll have more details in the coming weeks.

Regional solicitors

One of my key priorities this year was to spend as much time as possible getting out into the regional areas of our state, listening to the profession, advocating for their needs, and also sharing and promoting the good work that they undertake in their local communities. Around 12 per cent of the state’s 36,000 solicitors live and work outside of our cities. Before the current lockdowns, I was able to visit a number of regions and meet with practitioners in Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Ballina, Port Macquarie, Orange, Albury, Griffith, Newcastle, the Illawarra, Goulburn, Bowral, Nowra and Moruya.  It’s unlikely that I will be able to get back out into the regions anytime soon, but I do look forward to connecting online with regional practitioners at our annual Rural Issues Conference on 29 October 2021. The Rural Issues Conference offers panels and presentations on the topics and legal issues that directly impact rural legal practice. Register before midnight 31 August to take advantage of the Early Bird offer.

Until then, stay safe and stay well.

Juliana Warner, President, the Law Society of NSW

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