During the course of the year I have made it a priority to meet with solicitors working in regional and rural areas of our state to learn more about their challenges and concerns and how we, as a member organisation, can support them in their practice.

Around 12 per cent of the state’s 34,000 solicitors live and work in rural areas. Twenty-two per cent of sole practitioners and 27 per cent of firms with two to four partners are located in country NSW.

Country solicitors play a significant role in our regional areas, working tirelessly for local communities while grappling with distinct and challenging issues – often dealing with clients whose lives are made more precarious by events such as floods, droughts, bushfires and other natural disasters. As regional solicitors, they are trusted advisers and a crucial component of close-knit towns and rural communities.

NSW is currently experiencing one of the most severe droughts on record, with the Central West, Far West and North West regions the worst affected. According to WaterNSW, without significant rain, some parts of regional NSW, including Dubbo, Narromine and Cobar, could run out of water by November this year. The ongoing drought and the management of the Barwon-Darling River system was a major issue at this year’s state election – and continues to be. The economic impact of the drought on our regional communities is enormous, extending way beyond the farmer’s gate. Our country solicitors are not immune to this.

The Law Society’s annual Rural Issues Conference is just one of the many ways the Law Society supports our country solicitors and helps them serve their local communities. This year, the Rural Issues Conference will be held on Friday 25 October with The Hon. Melinda Pavey, Minister for Water, Property and Housing, delivering the keynote address. The program (attracting 6.5 CPD units) will focus on the unique matters affecting practitioners in rural areas including rural and regional farm debt, the impact of climate change on the legal profession and rural succession planning. Registrations are now open.

Elizabeth Espinosa, Law Society President

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