Monday Briefs

4 May

Your weekly professional update

4 May 2020

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Understanding how to manage change in the current climate

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the key research findings from the Law Society’s FLIP Stream collaboration with UNSW Law were presented to more than 320 members of the profession via webinar last week. The 2019 FLIP Stream topic, “Change leadership and management for a dynamic legal profession”, could not be more relevant for lawyers right now.

As we heard at the webinar, change comes in many shapes and sizes, sometimes incremental and hardly noticed, but sometimes large and dramatic. Continue reading >

NEWS

Associate membership renewals will open Tuesday 5 May 2020

Associate members will receive an email tomorrow morning, Tuesday 5 May 2020, containing a link and information on how to renew their associate membership online. For those who did not renew online last year, we really encourage you to do so this year given COVID-19 restrictions affecting us all. Read more

Practising certificate and membership renewals in COVID times

It’s time to renew your 2020-21 practising certificate (PC) and membership. For those who did not renew online last year, we really encourage you to do so this year given COVID-19 restrictions affecting us all. If you need help, our registry team is happy to walk you through the process over the telephone on 02 9926 0156.

LawID needed for PC renewals

It would greatly assist the successful delivery of this year’s PC renewals process for all legal practitioners to ensure they have registered for a LawID. Activate yours today.

Electronic Transactions Amendment Regulation 2020

The new Electronic Transactions Amendment (COVID-19 Witnessing of Documents) Regulation 2020 is now in effect and allows for the witnessing of legal documents to be conducted electronically during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Law Society has developed guidance to the profession for the application of the new arrangements, which is available here.

Introducing Golden Gavel – COVID Edition

Due to government restrictions on mass gatherings everyone’s favourite annual event, Golden Gavel, is going online this year. Are you brave enough to take part? Find out more.

NSW Young Lawyers – Happy Hour Trivia

Don’t forget NSW Young Lawyers will be running their weekly trivia session to keep you smiling on a Friday arvo: Happy Hour: Questions of Law – Trivia for Socially Distanced Lawyers hosted by the Chasers, Julian Morrow. Find out more

NSW ready to reopen front door on property inspections and on-site auctions

Agents and vendors will be able to hold traditional property inspections and on-site auctions from next weekend, after a six-week limited shutdown due to COVID-19. Read more

COVID-19 results now available in 60 minutes

High risk patients will now receive their COVID-19 test results within the hour, down from 24 to 48 hours, as the NSW Government deploys new rapid testing kits statewide. Read more

WHAT'S ON

FLIP Buzzwords: Design Thinking

12 May 2020

REGISTER NOW

Law Society CPD – Important developments in employment law (live webinar)

12 May 2020

REGISTER NOW

Climate, culture and corporations: how concerned should in-house lawyers be?

19 May 2020

REGISTER NOW

Law Society CPD – Mandatory rule 6.1 – law in the time of COVID-19 (live webinar)

21 May 2020

REGISTER NOW

NSW YOUNG LAWYERS

NSW REGIONAL LAW SOCIETIES

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.

Are you registered for eDuties?
Revenue NSW has announced that commencing Monday 4 May 2020, all complex duties assessments and refunds must be lodged through its eDuties service. Any paper lodgements received by Revenue NSW from 11 May will not be processed. These matters will be returned to your office for lodgement through the eDuties portal. Please see the list of applications (documents) that must be lodged through eDuties here.

LEGAL UPDATES powered by LSJ

Criminal law
Homicide and causation: The High Court decision in Swan v The Queen
By Mark Tedeschi AM QC >

Employment law
COVID-19: Employment law responds
By Jack de Flamingh and James Connolly >

IN THE PRESS

>	Law Society news and media announcements

>	New toolkit to help businesses get back to work safely - Australian Government

>	Campaign to combat domestic violence during COVID-19 crisis - Ministers for the Department of Social Services

>	Meeting of the Australian Digital and Data Council - Communiqué - Australian Data and Digital Council Ministers

>	Government must act on unanimous redress report - Sharon Claydon MP

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