PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

It’s no small feat that it’s taken 180 years to enable the Law Society of NSW to have three female Presidents in a row.

As I said in my speech at this year’s Annual Members Dinner earlier this month, ‘this office is an honour to hold’. The honour was passed to me from our Immediate Past President Juliana Warner and now it’s my turn to pass it on to President-elect Cassandra Banks. 

It’s no small feat that it’s taken 180 years to enable the Law Society of NSW to have three female Presidents in a row. We are, I think, reaching a stage where that fact will become utterly unremarkable. And what a good thing that is too. 

As a profession though, we still have a way to go in ensuring women, for the fifth year in the majority, have the same access to career advancement and remuneration expectations as their male colleagues. I look forward to seeing our President-elect continue to tackle these issues in her term next year.

There are so many people for me to thank for their support during my term. My fellow councillors, and the four hundred or so volunteer solicitor members who give freely of their time on our policy and regulatory committees, do so much to cement the Law Society as the voice of the legal profession. 

Our CEO Sonja Stewart leads a remarkable organisation that has service to the profession and the community at its heart. Most of all, I thank you, our members, for continuing to uphold the rule of law in our state.

Just Chat podcast

There’s so much more I could say about the year, so it’s fortunate that LSJ’s Keely McDonough hosted me on the Just Chat podcast where we recounted the events and issues of an at times tumultuous year. If you’re at a loose end for something to listen to while on a beach or travelling over the break, pay the podcast a visit. You can find it and the whole Just Chat library here.

CPD ‘last minute’ Smörgåsbord

The last treat in my Advent Calendar of Law Society services and initiatives to support the profession is the excellent selection of CPD sessions on offer in the lead up to the end of the CPD year on 31 March.

The team from LawInform has curated a veritable cornucopia of courses delivered, face-to-face, online or in hybrid format. Whether you need to squeeze in a single point, or want to qualify to run your own practice, there are courses across the four compulsory fields, Ethics, Practice management and business skills, Professional skills and Substantive law. There’s even a three-unit Mandatory rule 6.1 session on 30 March, just before the CPD year ends.

If you book before the new year, you’ll only pay 2022 prices.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a restful holiday break.

Joanne van der Plaat, President, Law Society of NSW