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The long and short of a busy year
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Since joining the Council of the Law Society of NSW at the end of 2018, I’ve heard just about every President remark at around this time of year, “the days are long, but the year is short”. That’s never felt truer to me than now, as we count down the last days of 2025. New Year’s Eve is the last day of my term as President of this remarkable and longstanding organisation. While three Mondays remain in the year, this is my final President’s Message. A small space to contain the enormous gratitude I have for all who’ve made this term a year of significant achievement for the solicitor profession. Continue reading >
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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.
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Specialist Accreditation: Applications are now open for the 2026 Program
Specialist Accreditation can take your career to the next level, where you can join an elite group of recognised experts. Areas of law on offer in 2026 are Children’s Law, Dispute Resolution, Elder Law, Employment & Industrial Law, Family Law, Immigration Law, Personal Injury, and Planning & Environment Law. Apply today.
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Court arrangements during the 2025-2026 shutdown period
Court Services has prepared an information sheet setting out the arrangements for various courts across the 2025-2026 shutdown period.
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Farewell sitting for The Honourable Justice Ian Harrison
Chief Justice Andrew Bell has thanked The Honourable Justice Ian Harrison, who is retiring after 18 years of service to the people of New South Wales. Justice Harrison was sworn-in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2007, and as Chief Judge at Common Law in November 2023. Justice Harrison will be farewelled at a public ceremony on Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 9.15am in the Banco Court, at which the President of the Law Society of NSW Jennifer Ball will make an address. The public ceremony will be livestreamed here.
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Invitation for the Opening of the Law Term and Sanctuary Rededication Service
The Great Synagogue invites you to a service for the Opening of the Law Term 2026 and the Rededication of the Synagogue Sanctuary. The service will take place in the presence of the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Chief Justice of New South Wales, the Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth and other State and Federal leaders. It will commence at 5.30pm on Tuesday, 10 March 2026 at 187a Elizabeth Street, Sydney 2000, with a reception to follow the service. Click here to register to attend.
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Red Mass for Opening of the Law Term 2026
To mark the Opening of the Law Term 2026, The Very Reverend Robert Riedling, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, warmly invites members of the judiciary, the legal profession, public service officials, law students, and their families to the annual Red Mass. The Mass will be held at 7:00pm on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, at St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta, with refreshments served afterwards. Please confirm your attendance by contacting enquiry@stpatscathhedral.com.au or 02 8839 8400. Please RSVP by Friday, 30 January 2026.
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Islamic Service for the Opening of the Law Term 2026
The Muslim Legal Network (NSW) is pleased to host the annual Opening of Law Term – Islamic Service to mark the beginning of the 2026 law year. Members of the legal fraternity, including the judiciary, legal practitioners, academics and students, are warmly invited to attend. The service will be held on Monday, 9 February 2026, at Lakemba Mosque, with guests asked to arrive by 5.45pm for a 6.10pm start. Please RSVP to events@muslimlegalnetworknsw.com by Thursday, 5 February 2026 to confirm your attendance.
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Evidence and due diligence: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar
Tuesday 9 December 2025
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2026 Mock Law program - Volunteering opportunities
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December Service Directory
The LSJ Online Service Directory for December remains 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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FCFCOA Practice Direction: Working with interpreters
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia recently introduced the FCFCOA Practice Direction: Working with interpreters, which came into effect on Monday, 1 December 2025. The Practice Direction is available here.
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NSW Land Registry Services (LRS): Digital Plans reform
From Wednesday, 1 July 2026, Digital Forms (Plan administration sheets and section 88B Instruments) must be created using the Online Form Builder in LRS Connect. These completed documents, known as Digital Forms, must be lodged with NSW LRS. For more information, see the LRS website and the Office of the Registrar General website. An industry briefing will be held by LRS in early February 2026.
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Confidentiality in costs recovery
Practitioners are reminded of their confidentiality obligations when they are pursuing costs from a client. See the FAQs from the Ethics Committee and the article in ESQ.
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EVIDENCE
New approaches in expert evidence: the High Court on transparency
By Dr Ian Freckelton AO KC >
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COMPETITION LAW
Epic Games: digital platforms test Australian competition law
By Brent Fisse >
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