Inbrief

Amendments to the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules

Amendments to the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules were gazetted this afternoon.

Uniform Civil Procedure Rules (Amendment No 19) 2007: view the explanatory note >

Uniform Civil Procedure Rules...

Solicitors v Bench & Bar Golf Day

The annual Solicitors v Bar and Bench Golf Day is to be held at Manly Golf Club on Thursday, 24 January 2008.�The cost for the day is $135.00 including dinner for non Manly members and $75.00...

Position vacant: Homeless Persons

A rare opportunity exists for an exceptional lawyer to join the highly successful Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (HPLC). The HPLC is a project of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH)....

Online Court in the Equity Division

As part of the NSW Supreme Court’s aim to improve access to services, Online Court will be available for Equity and Corporations direction hearings from January 2008. Online Court, sometimes...

Supreme Court policy on audio recordings

A new policy has been issued that outlines the conditions that must be met by members of the media who wish to use tape recorders during court proceedings. This policy has been developed in the...

Fourth AIJA Law & Technology Conference: a call for abstracts

The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration will hold its�fourth�Law and Technology conference�on 26 and 27 June 2008 at the Law Faculty, University of New South...

English barristers support wigs in civil and family cases

A survey conducted by the Bar Council of England and Wales�has found that the majority of respondents back the retention of wigs in civil and family cases.��The survey follows an...

Motor Accidents claims and dispute resolution

The Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment (Claims and Dispute Resolution) Bill 2007�was introduced in the NSW Legislative Assembly�on 27 November, and has now passed both houses of...

Harmonised Bankruptcy Rules Monitoring Committee

A new committee has been established to monitor the operation of the Federal Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2005 and the Federal Magistrates Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2006.

Read further about the role of...

Legislation to note: Courts and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007

The Courts and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2007�was introduced�in the�NSW Legislative Assembly on 30 November, when it received its agreement in principle speech.�

The...

Counsel

CCL's Offices have been temporarily relocated to Level 2 National Dispute Centre.�They will be�there until the completion of the BCA upgrade and renovation and will re-occupy�their...

Family Law Courts December - January opening hours

The Family Law Courts will maintain limited services throughout the 2007–08 New Year period.�The smaller regional registries of Albury, Alice Springs, Cairns, Dubbo, Launceston, Lismore,...

Restore the rule of law in Pakistan: ABA

The Australian Bar Association yesterday joined with the leaders of the Bars of England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland in calling for the return of the rule of law in the Islamic...

Legislation to note: Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment (Claims and Dispute Resolution) Bill 2007

The Motor Accidents Compensation Amendment (Claims and Dispute Resolution) Bill 2007�was introduced in the NSW Legislative Assembly�on 27 November, and has received the agreement in...

Legislation to note: Civil Liability Amendment (Offender Damages) Bill 2007

The Civil Liability Amendment (Offender Damages) Bill 2007 was introduced into the Legislative Council on 28 November, when the minister's second reading speech was made. The object of the Bill, as...

Legislation to note: Road Transport Legislation (Breath Testing and Analysis) Bill 2007

The Road Transport Legislation (Breath Testing and Analysis) Bill 2007 was introduced into the Legislative�Council on 28 November, when the minister's second reading speech was delivered.

The...

Papers to note: local government area crime reports

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has released of the local government area crime reports for Wollongong, Marrickville and Wollahra. Each�report contains maps showing the location...

Papers to note: US report critical of harsh juvenile justice laws

The US Center for Disease Control has released a report on recidivism among juvenile offenders tried in the adult criminal justice system. A number of legislatures in the United States passed laws to...

Web watch: the 50th anniversary of Wentworth Chambers

In August 2007 Counsel's Chambers Ltd celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of Wentworth Chambers.� To mark the occasion, and to record at least a portion of the company's history, CCL...

The naming and shaming approach to professional conduct

The Law Society of England and Wales is challenging a radical proposal by the Legal Complaints Service to publish complaints records.

The Law Society has conducted polls and focus groups. The...

Speeches to note: Concurrent Expert Evidence, by Justice McClellan

In his keynote speech�delivered yesterday at�the Law Institute of Victoria's Medicine and the Law Conference, the Hon Justice Peter McClellan�argued�in favour of...

Fees owed to counsel

Pursuant to s623(2) of the Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW), Andrew Brown has been appointed manager of the following practices:�

Pragma Legal Solicitors M D Nikolaidis & Co.

Counsel with...

NSW courts are keeping up with the workload

The Audit Office of New South Wales has published the Auditor-General's Report to Parliament 2007 Volume Five. In its commentary on government agencies, the state's auditor has reported on the...

New federal attorney general announced

Prime Minister-Elect Kevin Rudd has announced the new federal ministry. The new attorney-general will be Mr Robert McClelland MP, while the Hon Bob Debus has been named minister for home affairs and...

Legal Aid web site updates its state civil law policies

Legal Aid NSW has amended its state civil law policies in relation to mental health matters. The amendments relate mainly to the commencement of the Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW). Information relating...