Inbrief

Key issues in the upcoming federal election

Legal aid funding, client legal privilege, same sex marriages and a Bill of Rights are just a few of the major issues the Law Council of Australia has invited political parties to address in the...

Reminder: 2007 Forbes Lecture

The Francis Forbes Society for Australian Legal History invites all members of the Bar to attend its annual lecture, to be held tomorrow,** 8�November 2007�at 5pm** in the Bar Association...

Law Council policy statement on the death penalty

The Law Council's policy on capital punishment is now available from its web site, www.lawcouncil.asn.au

The policy states, among other things, that "It is the position of the Law Council that no...

Speeches to note: "Throwing Stones", by the Hon Justice Keith Mason, 6 October 2007

This speech, delivered by the Hon Justice Keith Mason at the Judicial Conference of Australia,�"explores the motivation of studied harshness, when it is legitimate, and its impact upon the...

Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment Rules 2007 (No 2)

The Federal Court (Corporations) Amendment Rules 2007 (No 2) will commence on 16 October 2007. A copy of the Amendment Rules will be available from the ComLaw site at http://www.comlaw.gov.au/.

The...

Bar Brief: the newsletter of the New South Wales Bar Association

Bar Brief No.143 (October 2007) is now available online. This issue includes: an update on the association's efforts to fight mental illness at the Bar; an Indigenous law student from UTS gives his...

Today: Practising at the New Zealand Bar

We are privileged to welcome the president of the New Zealand Bar Association, Jim Farmer QC, to present this CPD seminar on practice at the New Zealand Bar. The president of the NSW Bar Association,...

On the tube: Lex Lasry QC discusses capital punishment on ABC TV

On Wednesday, 10 October 2007, Lateline featured an interview with Lex Lasry QC regarding the need for the Australian Government to hold a consistent policy towards capital punishment, particularly...

Local Court sitting arrangements during the Christmas-New Year period

In accordance with the fixed leave period for magistrates, normal rostered sittings of the Local Court will cease on Friday, 21 December 2007 and recommence on Monday,�7 January 2008. The...

Attorney General’s Department moving to Parramatta

The Attorney General’s Department of NSW is set to move next month�to its new corporate headquarters at the Parramatta Justice Precinct.

“By relocating to this state-of-the-art...

Reminder: hearings in the Federal Magistrates Court have moved

As of Tuesday, 2 October 2007,�general federal law hearings in the Federal Magistrates Court have been relocated from Queens Square to John Maddison Tower, 88 Goulburn Street. All enquiries and...

Position available: Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Sydney Office

**(Package in the range of $250,000 per annum)

**Expressions of interest are sought from highly motivated and suitably qualified legal practitioners for the position of in-house counsel to be...

Web watch: Mental Health Links for Lawyers

Yesterday, New South Wales Attorney General John Hatzistergos launched a new web site called Mental Health Links for Lawyers.�

The web site, which�is a project of the Criminal Justice...

Law Council laments leadership vacuum on the death penalty

The Law Council of Australia has described Labor’s hasty backflip on the death penalty as disappointing.�

"Consistent, public opposition to the death penalty is desperately needed in this...

Income tax lodgment obligations: a message from the Australian Taxation Office

The deputy commissioner of taxation, Mr James O'Halloran, has�written to the legal profession with a reminder to lodge income tax returns for the year ended 30 June 2007 by the due date.�...

The National Pro Bono Resource Centre online survey: take part and enter the competition

The National Pro Bono Resource Centre helps lawyers help the neediest of the needy.�It is conducting a national on-line survey of barristers across Australia in conjunction with the NSW Bar...

England and Wales bid to become global centre for international dispute resolution

The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a campaign to promote the Old Dart as the jurisdiction of choice for the resolution of disputes arising all over the world. To support the campaign...

Reminder: New court fees start today

From� today, 15 October 2007, some fees payable in the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and the Family Court of Australia will change. These changes have occurred in an effort to align the...

Naming of children in criminal matters

A NSW parliamentary committee will review laws that prohibit the publishing or broadcasting of the names of children involved in criminal proceedings. NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos announced...

Register now for child support seminars

Australia's Child Support Scheme is undergoing radical change, the biggest since its inception in 1989.� New formulae and new rules will change the effect of the Scheme. New consent arrangements...

Late delivery of reserved judgments: contact the Bar Association for assistance

Although most courts and tribunals have their own systems in place for monitoring the timing of the delivery of reserved judgments, if a practitioner is concerned with a delay in a court or tribunal...

Speeches to note: Gleeson CJ describes "Some Legal Scenery"

In this�speech, which�was delivered at the Judicial Conference of Australia on 5 October,�the Hon A M Gleeson AC, chief justice of Australia,�observes that, "Delay can be both a...

Law Council of Australia Annual Report

The Law Council of Australia has today released its 2006-07 Annual Report.� View the Annual Report.�

Appointment of Mr Stuart Fowler AM as a Family Court Judge

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today announced the appointment of Mr Stuart Fowler AM as a judge of the Family Court of Australia. View the media release.�

Appointment of new Federal Magistrates

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today announced the appointments of Magistrate Margaret Cassidy and Judge Jillian Orchiston as Federal Magistrates. View the media release.�