Monday Briefs | The Law Society of NSW

1 December 2025

Solicitors’ service, recognised and honoured

If there’s an annual celebration that represents the Law Society of NSW’s signature event for the year, it’s the Annual Members’ Dinner and Awards Night. This year, the inspiration for the event last Friday, was Van Gogh’s Starry Night; an appropriate theme to honour solicitors whose service shines brightly. One of the greatest privileges of leading the Law Society is the responsibility of choosing the solicitor who has distinguished themselves through their service to the rule of law and the community, such that they have earned the President’s Medal. Continue reading >

NEWS

Law Society holiday closure
The Law Society of NSW will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, through to Friday 2 January 2026. The Law Society’s Phillip Street building and services to the profession and public will be closed during this period. The Library will close at 12pm on 24 December to allow for end-of-year processing. Practitioners are requested, where possible, to submit all requests for assistance to library@lawsociety.com.au by 4pm on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.

Last chance to register: International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) event
Join the Law Society of NSW for a networking event and panel discussion on disability inclusion in the legal profession on Wednesday, 3 December 2025. Aligned with the 2025 (IDPwD) theme ‘Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress’, the panel will share experiences, challenges, and opportunities for fostering authentic inclusion and social progress. Registrations are open until close of business today. Secure your place now.

Farewell sitting for The Honourable Justice Garling
The Honourable Justice Peter Garling will retire as a judge of the Common Law Division. An informal farewell sitting will be held on Thursday, 18 December 2025 in Court 13A, Law Courts Building at 9.15am. Jeremy Morris SC will move. The sitting will be livestreamed with the link available on the Supreme Court homepage. Robes will not be worn.

WHAT'S ON

International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Wednesday 3 December 2025

REGISTER HERE

Evidence and due diligence: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar

Tuesday 9 December 2025

REGISTER HERE

2026 Mock Law program - Volunteering opportunities

REGISTER HERE

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2026 CPD Program

REGISTER HERE

EVENTS CALENDAR

CPD LAWINFORM CALENDAR

CAREERS IN THE COUNTRY REGIONAL JOBS BOARD

REGIONAL LAW SOCIETIES

NSW YOUNG LAWYERS

STUDENTS

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

December Service Directory
The LSJ Online Service Directory for December is now available. Here you will find advertisements for agency and referrals, practices for sale and purchase, and much more, plus all missing wills’ notices. Read more.

Sydney Water outage impacting property settlements
The following services will be unavailable from 5.30pm on Friday, 5 December 2025 until 8am on Wednesday, 10 December 2025:

- Certificates, documents and diagrams from Property Link brokers.

- Billing systems – Section 66 certificate updates will be frozen.

Solicitors should avoid calling the 1300 361 369 phone service during the outage. Delays are expected with only limited information provided.

Revenue NSW - Preparing for the 2026 land tax year
From Monday, 15 December 2025, land tax clearance certificate applications for the 2026 land tax year will become available. Revenue NSW will start issuing 2026 land tax assessment notices from Monday, 19 January 2026. For settlements occurring in early 2026 with a charge that needs to be paid, you can request an urgent land tax assessment notice. Visit the Revenue NSW website for more important information about preparing for the 2026 land tax year.

LEGAL UPDATES

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

The Administrative Review Tribunal: executive power or quasi-judicial overreach?
By Anthony Ma >

TAX

Wilfully blind
By Amanda Tully >

IN THE PRESS

Law Society news and media announcements