Employment law

Employment law

The Employment Law Committee monitors all matters related to employment law and represents the Law Society and its members on policy and practice issues arising from it. Our priorities include:

  • Developing and commenting on law reform and legal policy proposals (including preparing submissions, and liaising with government and other stakeholders in this process)
  • Educating the legal profession about changes to the law, and providing guidance on practice and other issues
  • Exchanging information about issues arising in legal practice (such as recent case law) that may indicate a legal policy issue or concern

Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee

Recent policy submissions

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 - 29 September 2023

Letter to NSW Law Reform Commission – Review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) – 29 September 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - 2023 Workplace Reform Consultations - 15 May 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – An appropriate cost model for Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws – 29 March 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Draft Fair Work (Statement of Principles on Genuine Agreement) Instrument 2023 - 22 March 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Privacy Act Review Report - 20 March 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 - 7 November 2022

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Senate Committee Inquiry into the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022 - 7 October 2022

Letter to Law Council of Australia – Review of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act – 7 October 2022

Letter to Fair Work Commission – Consultation: New enterprise agreements statistical reports – 29 August 2022

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022 - 15 August 2022

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Fair Work Commission Consultation - Online Proceedings Framework - 28 June 2022

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Fair Work Commission - The future of online proceedings - 2 February 2022

Visit the Employment Law policy submissions archive

2023 Committee list

Mr Brett Feltham (Co-Chair), Mr Nathan Keats (Co-Chair), A. Angelopoulos, S. Berry, M. Byrnes, P. Costigan, M. Dawson, M. Doherty, M. Doyle, L. Drake, J. Farah, K. Iles, L. Izzo, C. Kerley, D. King, M. Kuga, K. Lewis, A. Lyras, D. McEvoy, S. Nachiappan, D. Potts, C. Stebbing, W. Steenson, J. van der Plaat.

How to join a committee
Law Society Committees have powers, authorities and tasks delegated by the Council. Consisting of dedicated volunteers, each committee focuses on a particular area of law, pooling together specialist skills and experience in order to scrutinise legislation, court decisions and other government policies.
There are three broad categories of committees:

  • Regulatory committees – perform statutory duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
  • Liaison committees – linked to other professions or organisations
  • Policy committees

By drawing on the insights of committees, the Law Society can meet its statutory duties and act as a major player in law reform and policy debates.

See the Law Society Committee webpage