Inbrief

Late rush to join Vioxx class action

More than�1000 victims of the arthritis drug Vioxx�are said to have�joined an Australian class action in the wake of a $5 billion settlement for U.S. Vioxx users, according to a media...

New daily distribution of magistrates

His Honour Chief Magistrate Henson has released the new daily distribution of magistrates for 2008.�It�includes provision, commencing Monday, 21 January 2008, for�the magistrate's...

Law Council releases submission on regulation of migration agents

The Law Council fo Australia has published its submission on the regulation of migration agents. A discussion paper on standards in the migration advice sector was released�in September�by...

Costs agreement and disclosure precedents

The Bar Association's web site now�includes�precedents for barristers' costs agreements and disclosures. They�are offered in response to requests for precedent costs disclosure...

Increase in interest on unpaid legal costs

At its meeting on�6 November 2007, the Reserve Bank Board decided to increase the cash rate by 25 basis points to 6.75 per cent.�Accordingly the rate of interest on unpaid legal costs,...

Annual counsel fee review

The Office of Legal Services Coordination has announced a 4.3 per cent�increase in the approved rates for engagement of counsel by the Australian Government in new briefs received on or after 5...

Web watch: swearing-in ceremony for the Hon Justice Lasry of the Victorian Supreme Court

Lex Lasry QC was sworn in as a judge of the Victorian Supreme Court on 31 October 2007. The ceremony was web cast, and can be viewed as a Windows Media File�from the Supreme Court's web site.

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Media briefing: consent in sexual assault offences

The new president of the Bar Association, Anna Katzmann SC, hasn't wasted any time engaging the media. Together with Stephen Odgers SC, chair of the Criminal Law Committee, she went on a number...

Papers to note: Local Government Area Crime Report

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research today announced the introduction of a new series of Local Government Area Crime Reports. Each�report will contain maps showing the location of all...

Legislation to note: Police Amendment Bill 2007

The Police Amendment Bill 2007 (NSW) passed the New South Wales Legislative Assembly on 7 November 2007. The Bill�amends the Police Act 1990 (NSW).�The objects of the Bill, as listed in the...

New Barristers Christmas Drinks - Wednesday, 5 December 2007

You are invited to celebrate the festive season at the New Barristers Committee Christmas Drinks drinks on Wednesday, 5 December at Verandah Bar from 5.30pm.�All members of the Bar are invited.... Read more >

Criminal Procedure Amendment (Briefs of Evidence) Regulation 2007

The Criminal Procedure Amendment (Briefs of Evidence) Regulation 2007 will commence on 12 November 2007.� The�Regulation� is made under the Criminal Procedure Act 1986, including...

Bar Association office bearers for 2008

At a Bar Council meeting on 8 November 2007, the following were elected as office bearers of the New South Wales Bar Association for 2008:

President: Anna Katzmann SC Senior vice president: Tom...

Cases marked reportable by the Council for Law Reporting

The following is a list of cases received and marked reportable by the Council for Law Reporting for New South Wales.

Sykes v Richardson [2007] NSWSC 418 (Hidden J) (01.05.07) (CLD 11499/2007)

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Fourth World Bar Conference

In 2008 the International Council of Advocates and Barristers will host the Fourth World Bar Conference in Dublin and Belfast between Friday 27 June and Monday 30 June 2008. Very successful...

2007 Great Bar Boat Race: entries due by tomorrow

The Great Bar Boat Race will be held on** Monday, 17 December 2007. **The deadline for entries is tomorrow, 30 November. The starting line is in the vicinity of Shark Island, finishing at Store...

Occupational health and safety seminar series

The Federal Litigation Section of the Law Council, together with the Law Society of New South Wales (including The College of Law), the Queensland Law Society, the Law Society of South Australia, the...

Privacy reform in practice

Members are invited to attend a Law Council - Freehills seminar and discussion on privacy. The seminar will provide an overview of the privacy reform topics and a succinct analysis of the critical...

More legislation to note

The Crimes Amendment (Consent - Sexual Assault Offences) Bill 2007 was introduced to�the Legislative Council�on 7 November. The objects of the Bill, as defined in the�Explanatory Notes...

Legislation to note: Surveillance Devices Bill 2007

The Listening Devices Act 1984 is to be repealed by the Surveillance Devices Bill 2007. This Bill was introduced into the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, 6 November and has received its agreement in...

Papers to note: Law Reform Commission report on juries in sentencing

The New South Wales Government has accepted the advice of the NSW Law Reform Commission report�into the role of juries in sentencing, which says increasing their involvement would cause undue...

Legal Aid

Legal Aid NSW will be relocating its Parramatta Criminal Law Practice on** Monday, 12 November 2007** to the new Parramatta Justice Precinct, Level 1, 160 Marsden Street. The telephone number will be...

Wanted: Volunteers for the Inter-School Mock Trial Competition

The Law Society of New South Wales is inviting members of the Bar to provide voluntary assistance to the Inter-School Mock Trial Competition.�The competition aims to introduce year 10 and 11...

Web update: worldwide information about privacy

Privacy.Org is the site for daily news, information, and initiatives on privacy. This web page is a joint project of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) in the United States�and...

Courts under scrutiny in FOI report

The�justice system has�come under scrutiny in the Report of the Independent Audit into the State of Free Speech in Australia, written by Irene Moss AO. The report finds that�"the...