Inbrief

Vale Paul Byrne SC (1950-2009)

Paul Byrne SC, of Samuel Griffiths Chambers, died last night after a long illness. Members will be advised of funeral arrangements as soon as they are made available.

**13 May 2009 **

Cheap and Quick Bench and Bar Lunch

A Bench and Bar Lunch, like those organised by Phil Greenwood SC last year, will be held on 2 June 2009 at the Hyde Park Barracks Cafe, Macquarie Street. A selection of three main courses is offered...

New designated areas of practice list

The Bar Council Executive has approved a new areas of practice list, which is used on the Find a Barrister web site. The main amendments are as follows:

1. 'Alternative Dispute Resolution (Arbitration...

Join the PILCH Walk for Justice

Join the PILCH Law Walk for Justice this Friday, 15 May 2009 as part of Law Week 2009. The PILCH Law Walk is a five kilometre walk around Sydney's biggest attractions to show your support for pro...

Barristers in schools for Law Week

This week is Law Week and barristers have started conducting mock trials at selected primary schools across the Sydney metropolitan area as part of a programme designed to help children to understand...

Publication of index to the State Reports (New South Wales) series

From 1901 to 1970, reports of significant judgments in NSW were published in the State Reports (New South Wales) series, cited as the SR(NSW). Many of the cases published in the series are of...

Cases selected for reporting in FCR by V Kline

Following are the cases selected by V Kline for reporting in FCR:

SZEWL v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2009] FCA 209 FMG Pilbara Pty Ltd v Cox [2009] FCAFC 49 Habib v Director General...

Cases selected for reporting in Commonwealth Law Reports by J D Merralls QC

Wong v Cth [2009] HCA 3

Imbree v McNeilly [2008] HCA 40

Imbree v McNeilly [No 2] [2008] HCA 47

**12 May 2009 **

Web watch: New South Wales Public Defenders Office

The Public Defenders Office have a new web address.

It is http://www.publicdefenders.nsw.gov.au/

**12 May 2009 **

Seminar on the silk selection process 2009 - today at 5.00pm

Applications for appointment as senior counsel will open at the beginning of 1 July 2009 and will close on 31 July 2009.� Today, at 5.00pm in the Bar Association Common Room, the president will...

Tax Office warns: investigate before you invest

The ATO is warning that promoters of dodgy tax schemes may increase their targeting of investors in the current tough financial climate, exploiting their financial vulnerability. If you invest in a...

Barristers in schools for Law Week

Law Week celebrations across New South Wales and most of Australia will run from Monday 11 to Sunday 17 May 2009. The theme is "Law and Your Community". The Bar Association will enter the swing of...

New migration form in the Federal Magistrates Court

The Federal Magistrates Court Rules 2001 were recently amended by the _Federal Magistrates Court Amendment Rules 2009 _and included, inter alia, an amendment to reflect changes to s477 of the...

An enjoyable night at the movies

Why not unwind and leave behind the stress of a week in court? The Bar Association will screen _To Kill a Mockingbird _in the Common Room on Friday, 29 May at 5.15pm. Popcorn and drinks will be...

Fees owed to counsel - Stephen Dack & Associates

Pursuant to s623(2) of the _Legal Profession Act 2004 _(NSW), the Law Society of New South Wales has appointed Mr Raymond John Collins to manage the following law practices:** Stephen Dack &...

Local Court Practice Note No.4 of 2008 reissued

Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson has reissued Practice Note 4 of 2008 - Procedures to be Adopted for Committal Hearings in the Local Court for Proceedings Commenced on or After 1 May 2008. Download a...

New members of the Bar Association

At meetings of Bar Council in April, the persons listed below were accepted as members of the New South Wales Bar Association.

Speeches to note: Science and Judicial Proceedings

On 2 May 2009 Chief Justice Robert French delivered an address before the Medico Legal Society of Victoria, under the title "Science and Judicial Proceedings - Seventy-Six Years On". Download and...

Recent decisions of the House of Lords

The following two opinions of the lords of appeal are available on the House of Lords web site:�

Secretary of State for Justice (Respondent) v James (FC) (Appellant) (formerly Walker and...

Bar Council business for April

Governance

Matters reported elsewhere in In Brief are omitted from this summary of Bar Council business. Bar Council regularly considers requests by the attorney general, the courts and other...

New South Wales Government introduces legislation targeting declared organisations

The _Criminal Organisations Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly today. The object of this bill, as provided by the explanatory notes, is to amend various Acts...

New protocol for judicial appointments in the Apple Isle

The Government of Tasmania has released a new protocol for judicial appointments, which includes local and national advertisement of vacancies except in exceptional circumstances;assessment of...

NSW Government calls for submissions on open government initiative

Premier Nathan Rees has tabled in parliament three exposure draft bills intended to reform this state's freedom of information laws. The government invites interested persons to provide written...

Law Council supports streamlining of federal courts

The Law Council has welcomed the Commonwealth attorney-general’s announcement that the federal court system will be restructured so that all family law matters will be consolidated and heard...

New police powers to disperse drunken groups

The New South Wales Government will introduce legislation empowering police to disperse groups of people who are "noticeably affected", instead of "seriously affected", by alcohol or drugs and are...