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Once again, large areas of NSW are dealing with record-breaking floods and my thoughts are with all those affected. The Department of Communities and Justice has advised practitioners with questions about matters in courts across affected regions to call the NSW Court Service Centre on 1300 679 272. Natural disasters, like personal tragedies, can have considerable effects on mental health. I encourage solicitors who may be experiencing stress to call the Solicitor Outreach Service on 1800 592 296 for 24/7 crisis help from a qualified psychologist. Continue reading >
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Renew your practising certificate now
If you haven’t renewed your practising certificate by 30 June, you will be unauthorised to engage in legal practice from 1 July. Renew your practising certificate here. Any questions? We are here to help. Contact the Law Society Registry on (02) 9926 0333 or by email at registry@lawsociety.com.au.
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Pride Breakfast 2025
Join LGBTQIA+ legal professionals and allies for a morning of connection, inspiration, and celebration. Enjoy a plated breakfast and hear from keynote speaker Moya Dodd AO—lawyer, sports leader, and trailblazer in women’s football. Moya will explore the 2025 Pride theme, "Love. Respect. Empower!", reflecting on its meaning for the legal profession and our collective future. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate and reflect together. Learn more.
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2025 NSW Golden Gavel applications closing soon
Time is running out to apply for one of the most anticipated speaking competitions of the year—the 2025 NSW Golden Gavel. If you’ve got wit, charm, and a way with words, this is your chance to shine. Competitors not only gain an unforgettable experience but also enjoy some fantastic rewards:
- Winner: $500 gift card
- Runner-up and People’s Choice: $300 gift cards each
- Bonus: Professional coaching from a seasoned comedian to elevate your performance
Know someone who should be on stage? Nominate a star speaker. If your nominee is selected, you’ll receive a $250 gift card. Applications close Thursday 5 June 2025. Apply now or join us in the audience to witness the fun.
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Work experience survey
The Law Society of NSW is looking to collect information on organisations and employers across NSW offering legal work experience placements for high school, university and PLT students to assist with their facilitation. If your organisation currently offers, or is interested in offering, such placements, please complete our quick survey to be featured on our website.
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The Law Society of NSW's Lawyer Mediator Accreditation Scheme (LMA Scheme): exclusive to solicitor members
We now offer a straightforward path to accreditation, allowing members to distinguish themselves in the market as both practising solicitors and qualified mediators. LMA Scheme membership will assure people seeking mediation that they are in the hands of an expert problem solver, someone backed by legal experience and stringent professional standards. Solicitors currently accredited as mediators, or those who have successfully completed an approved mediator training in the past six months, are invited to apply. More information can be found here.
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Proposed changes to liability and entitlements for psychological injury
The Law Society made a submission to the NSW Parliament’s Standing Committee on Law and Justice regarding the proposed changes to liability and entitlements for psychological injury. On invitation, members from the Law Society NSW’s Injury Compensation Committee gave evidence at the inquiry's public hearing. We agree reform of the NSW workers compensation system is necessary. However, we expressed concerns about the rushed consultation processes, given the significance of the proposed reforms. We also expressed concerns about aspects of the reforms, including the 31 per cent Whole Person Impairment Threshold (WPI), which would likely prevent most people with psychological injury from making a claim, and may ultimately shift costs to other sectors, including to employers. As a compromise, we suggested a 21 per cent WPI. The Standing Committee is expected to report back on its findings shortly.
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Forbes Society: joint presentation with the Ngara Yura Committee
The Francis Forbes Society and the Ngara Yura Committee of the Judicial Commission of NSW invite you to a joint event on Tuesday 3 June 2025 at 5:30 pm in the Banco Court. The presentation will explore the Towards Truth project, which maps laws and policies affecting First Nations people since 1788. Register to attend in person or online. For queries, contact: secretariat@forbessociety.org.au.
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NSW Regional Women Lawyers Lunch & Learn webinar series: May Session
Join Kymberlei Goodacre, Barbara-Rose Townsend and Michelle Meares for a webinar that will explore career paths in family law across rural and regional NSW, the rewards and challenges faced by outback family lawyers, and new developments for practitioners across the state. The webinar will take place on Thursday 29 May from 1.00-2.00 pm. Learn more.
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Productivity in Practice - Connect, Create, Collaborate: The MS Teams Experience
Wednesday 4 June 2025
REGISTER HERE
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Next-level lawyering: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar
Thursday 12 June 2025
REGISTER HERE
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Practice management course: June 2025 – online
Wednesday 18, Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June 2025
REGISTER HERE
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May Service Directory
The LSJ Online Service Directory for May 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.
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Advocacy in action
The Law Society NSW, informed by its Business Law Committee, recently responded to ASIC’s consultation: Australia’s evolving capital markets: discussion paper on the dynamics between public and private markets. ASIC is investigating the shifting dynamics in public and private capital markets, and the exposure of investors to risks due to a decline in public listings on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) and the substantial growth of private markets. Our submission supported, among other things, streamlining ASX Listing Rules and proposed consideration of differential voting rights share structures to boost the appeal of public markets. We also proposed the development of guidance to enhance transparency in private markets and emphasised that any adjustments to regulatory settings should be made cautiously and incrementally to avoid disincentivising investor participation.
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Change to legal practitioner access to finalised files for family law proceedings
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has announced that as of 10 May 2025, legal practitioners will no longer have access to family law files on the Commonwealth Courts Portal 60 days after all applications on the file are finalised. More information is available here.
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CRYPTOCURRENCY
Towards an Australian crypto asset services licence
By Aaron M. Lane >
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RISK
Defamation law reforms: risk management tips for practitioners
By Milica Vukancic and Sam Rappensberg >
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