Property
Law
Property Law
The Property Law Committee monitors all matters related to property 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
- Where relevant, preparing and reviewing standard documentation for use by the profession (including contracts, leases etc)
Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee
Resources
Law Society retail and commercial leases
Law Society Commercial Lease 2018 and Law Society Retail Lease 2018 – superceded
Law Society Commercial Lease 2021 and Retail Lease 2021
Contract for the Sale and Purchase of Land
Summary of changes made in the Contract for the sale and purchase of land 2022 edition >
Summary of changes made in the Contract for the sale and purchase of land 2019 edition
Summary of changes made in the Contract for the sale and purchase of land 2018 edition
Conveyancing Arbitration Rules
Conveyancing arbitration rules 2015
Copyright guidelines
Copyright guidelines for the contract for sale of land
Protocols and guidelines
Property guides
The following online resources provide guidance on buying and selling a residential property in NSW.
Residential Conveyancing Protocol
Residential conveyancing protocol for solicitors and real estate agents
Conveyancing Dispute Resolution Scheme
The Property Law Committee is available to adjudicate on certain conveyancing disputes and provide the parties with a binding determination.
For more information on this impartial and authoritative alternative to litigation or arbitration, visit the Conveyancing Dispute Resolution Scheme.
Recent policy submissions
Letter to SIRA - Review of the NSW Home Building Compensation Scheme – 12 November 2024
Letter to the Law Council of Australia – Winding down Australia’s cheques system – 6 February 2024
Letter to ARNECC – Identifying property sold under power of attorney – 24 November 2023
Letter to Department of Planning and Environment – Planning certificate fees – 19 June 2023
Visit the policy submissions archive
2024 Committee list
Mr Richard Harvey (Chair), Mrs Clarissa Huegill (Deputy Chair), M. Andrews, E. Ashley, A. Cahill, G. Channell, J. Crittenden, M. Devitt, E. Di Stefano, R. Dimis, D. Fitzclarence, M. Jebeile, O. Kiely, A. Landy, M. Macken, G. Maksimovic, T. McKibbin, J. McMillan, G. Milani, G. Newton, M. Osborne, S. Pallavicini, N. Scanlon, K. Shahani, D. Skapinker, A. Stiles, G. Stilianou, M. Swan, A Yazdani.
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.