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Opening of Law Term: Tradition, reflection and supporting the profession
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Today, I have the honour of representing the NSW solicitor profession at the first two of several Opening of Law Term religious services I’ll attend this year. The Catholic Red Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, and the Anglican service at St James, have a long history, echoing annual events which date back to 13th Century Paris and 14th Century London. Over the coming weeks, I’ll attend or be represented at similar ceremonies across many faiths, and indeed beyond Sydney, to Albury and Dubbo.
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AUSTRAC’s AML/CTF Program Starter Kits are now available
AUSTRAC, Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regulator, has now released AML/CTF Program Starter Kits on its website. The Starter Kits are designed to help legal practices prepare for upcoming AML/CTF obligations, which take effect on 1 July 2026. If your practice provides a designated service, you will become a reporting entity and must enrol with AUSTRAC. To help you get started, AUSTRAC’s new Program Starter Kits offer a practical foundation, particularly for small practices, to help meet these requirements. The Law Society of NSW is also developing additional resources to assist legal practices in using the Program Starter Kits. More information will be available on the Law Society's AML/CTF Hub shortly.
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Australia’s new AML/CTF regime: Information session for solicitors and barristers
17 February | 5–7pm Supreme Court of NSW, Banco Court (Level 13, Law Courts Building) and online
Chaired by Justice Payne of the NSW Court of Appeal, this event will bring together senior regulators and legal leaders, including Brendan Thomas, CEO of AUSTRAC, Juliana Warner, immediate past president of the Law Council of Australia (LCA) and chair of its AML/CTF Working Group, Catherine Gleeson SC, member of the NSW Bar Association Executive, LCA director and member of its AML/CTF Working Group, and Bobbie Wan, Head of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at the Law Society of NSW.
The presentations will provide an overview of the new AML/CTF regime, including its scope of application to legal practitioners, the treatment of client legal privilege, AUSTRAC’s AML/CTF Program Starter Kits and regulatory priorities, and how the regime intersects with obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
The Supreme Court will livestream and record the event, which will be available on the Supreme Court YouTube channel. Register now.
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Expressions of interest for Mediators Panel and the Family Law Settlement Service Panel for 2026-2027
The Law Society of NSW’s Access to Justice Department is seeking expressions of interest from practitioners for two-year terms on the panels, for the years 2026 and 2027. Current panellists are not automatically rolled over; therefore, all outgoing panellists from 2024-2025 must submit a new expression of interest form for 2026-2027. Please complete this form and return it to a2j@lawsociety.com.au by 5.00pm on Friday, 13 February 2026.
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2026 Specialist Accreditation Program: Apply now and register for our Q&A sessions
Are you considering applying for the 2026 Specialist Accreditation Program, or have you applied for the Program and have questions? Registrations are now open for our Q&A sessions, giving you the opportunity to hear from the experts about their experience as Accredited Specialists and to ask any questions you may have about the Program. All Q&A sessions will be held online from 5.30pm to 6.30pm from Monday, 16 February 2026 to Thursday, 19 February 2026 in the areas of Children’s Law, Dispute Resolution, Elder Law, Employment & Industrial Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, Personal Injury and Planning & Environment Law. View the Q&A timetable and register now.
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Swearing-in ceremony of Mr David Coulton and Mr James Howard
On Monday, 23 February 2026, at 9.00am, a Full Bench ceremony will be held in courtroom 5.2 of the Downing Centre Local Court to mark the swearing in of Mr David Coulton and Mr James Howard as Magistrates of the Local Court of New South Wales. If you wish to attend, please RSVP by emailing cmojudicialsupport@justice.nsw.gov.au. If you are unable to attend in-person and wish to view the ceremony online, please use the following link.
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Upcoming religious Opening of Law Term services
A number of religious services will be held to mark the Opening of Law Term. Further to the services shared in the 19 January 2026 edition of Monday Briefs, here are some additional services:
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42nd Annual Pan-Orthodox Church Service on Tuesday, 10 February 2026 at 6.30pm at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation. Email kpolyviou@gmail.com to RSVP
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Coptic Orthodox Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at 6.00pm at St Mary St Mina Coptic Orthodox Cathedral. Complete this form to RSVP. Find out more
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Jewish Community Law Service 2026 on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 at 5.30pm at The Great Synagogue. Find out more.
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Memorial for Barry Toomey KC
There will be a memorial celebration of the life of Barry Toomey KC held on 6 February 2026, from 1pm to 6pm, in the Lounge Bar at the Greenwood Hotel, 36 Blue St, North Sydney. The family warmly invites solicitor colleagues and friends to attend. Barry Toomey KC died on 9 December 2025, aged 90. He was called to the Bar in 1967, took silk in 1980 and practised full time at the Sydney Bar for 51 consecutive years.
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Legal drafting intensive – two day in-person
Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 February 2026
REGISTER HERE
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Lawcover risk briefing: Traps in costs – online
Monday 16 February 2026
REGISTER HERE
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In-House Corporate Lawyers Forum: Let’s talk about flexibility
Tuesday 17 February 2026
REGISTER HERE
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Staying Well in the Law: Tragedy in close proximity
Thursday 19 February 2026
REGISTER HERE
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Solicitor's Guide to Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence - updated January 2026
The Law Society of NSW has recently updated A Solicitor’s Guide to Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence to remain current with developments to generative AI and to include further direction on emerging issues and cases of AI misuse. The updated Guide can be accessed here.
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Mining Act 1992 (NSW): Landholder Costs
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is seeking assistance to complete a short online survey regarding land access arrangements under the Mining Act 1992 (NSW). Input is sought from legal practitioners who assist NSW landholders or who act as private mediators or arbitrators. The survey is available here.
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LRS Digital Plans industry webinars
LRS will be hosting an online industry briefing for legal professionals on Wednesday, 4 February 2026 to help prepare for the Digital Survey Plans program commencing from 1 July 2026. If you are involved in the preparation of section 88B Instruments, you can register for the session here.
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SUCCESSION
Succession law’s inheritance: exploring its foundations and future
By Professor Prue Vines >
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RISK
High Court rules on generic advice and BFAs: practical takeaways
By Jen McMillan >
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