Inbrief

Legislation to note: a new Bail Act

Attorney General Greg Smith SC gave notice to the NSW Parliament today that he would introduce a new Bail Act. Mr Smith said the legislation includes “unacceptable risk” as the primary...

A notable novel: Me & Rory Macbeath, by Richard Beasley SC

Richard Beasley SC's novel _Me & Rory Macbeath _was published today and is now available in bookstores. Its official launch by Anne Summers will be at the Sydney Writers Festival. Her endorsement,...

NCAT Project Update

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) will begin operations on 1 January 2014. A Corporate Services Coordinating Committee is working on the integration of corporate service functions of...

Tomorrow: ceremonial sitting to mark the start of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia

Tomorrow, 1 May at 9:30am, the chief judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia will preside at a special sitting of the court to mark the name change. The ceremony will take place in Courtroom...

Odgers SC opinion piece in the Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph has published an opinion piece by Stephen Odgers SC, the chair of the Bar Association's Criminal Law Committee, regarding mandatory sentencing. Read his article here.

The article...

Practising certifcate renewals update

All practising certificate renewal forms were sent in the post today. If you have not received your forms by next Tuesday, 7 May, or have any questions regarding its completion, please contact the...

TONIGHT: Tax and Administrative Law

Tonight at 5.15pm in Banco Court, two leading constitutional/administrative and taxation practitioners, Geoffrey Kennett SC and David Thomas, will explore the major issues, which are of critical...

Papers to note: law and disorders

In its recent publication Updating Justice, the Law and Justice Foundation has published a working paper, which confirms a strong relationship between the experience of a broad range of everyday...

The Library Brief

The Bar Library has accessioned the following new titles into its collection. Learn more here.

24 April 2013

Redfern Legal Centre funds injection

The Australian Government has announced that the Redfern Legal Centre will receive a one-off funding boost of $60,000 to support its financial counselling credit and debt service. Learn more here.

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Bar FC season off to a flying start

NSW Bar FC continued its strong start to the 2013 Domain Soccer League season with a comfortable 2-0 win over perennial rivals Reserve Bank C in beautiful conditions this afternoon. Bolstered by the...

Legislative Council report on partial defence of provocation

The Legislative Council's Select Committee on the Partial Defence of Provocation has recommended a suite of reforms to the partial defence of provocation, which are designed to address concerns about...

Positions vacant at the Workers Compensation Commission

The Workers Compensation Commission is seeking applications from suitably qualified persons to be considered for appointment as a sessional arbitrator. You must be a legal practitioner with skills,...

TONIGHT: Newcastle CPD seminar on the right to silence

The Evidence (Evidence of Silence) Amendment Bill 2013 and the Criminal Procedure Amendment (Mandatory Pre-Trial Defence Disclosure) Bill 2013 passed the Legislative Assembly on 19 March 2013 and the...

Competition Law Conference

This annual one-day conference will be held in Sydney on Saturday 4 May 2013 at the Shangri-La hotel. The conference, which has been held since 1989, continues to attract about 100 registrants,...

Changes to yoga classes

Tuesday's yoga class resumes tomorrow at 7.15am in the Common Room. Due to ANZAC Day on 25 April, Thursday's lunchtime class will be held** tomorrow at 1.00pm instead and will be the **last before a...

Criminal law conference - online registration now available

The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law will be holding its 26th annual conference, International Responses to Social and Justice Challenges, in Hobart, Tasmania from August 15...

Lawyers Ski and Snowboard Race

The Lawyers' Ski and Snowboard Race weekend is an event organised and run on a non-profit basis by Lawyers Ski Race Inc., an incorporated association based in NSW. The association's Organising...

Changes to the NSW Legislation website

Access to information on the NSW Legislation website relating to paper reprints, regulations and EPIs has changed. The list of acts and regulations reprinted and the date of any reprint is now to be...

NSW Bar FC starts the season as winners

The Domain Soccer League kicked off on 18 April 2013 with the NSW Bar Team led by Simon Philips defeating Corrs Chambers Westgarth convincingly, 3-1.

Canceri in mid field scored after some deft...

BOCSAR update shows gun crime and other crime rates declining

The incidence of gun-crime in Sydney has begun to decline, according to the latest data released by NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). In February 2010, incidents of discharge...

Replacement of Federal Court Practice Note CM 20 and Approved Forms 49 and 121

On 12 April 2013 the chief justice of the Federal Court revoked Practice Note CM 20 and Approved Forms 49 and 121 and replaced them with revised versions. The changes are confined to changing the...

Bar Council business for March 2013

Bar Council met on 21 March in the boardroom of the New South Wales Bar Association. Matters reported elsewhere in In Brief are omitted from this summary of Bar Council business. Bar Council...

Common Law Practice Update 22

The Bar Association's Common Law Committee has released Practice Update 22, with case notes on ss 34, 92, 117 and 126 of the_ Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999_, as well as foreseeability / duty...

UNSW Justice Talks - The Human Sides of Law

Members are invited to attend the next instalment of the UNSW Law Justice Talks series. "The Human Sides of Law", will be presented by the Hon Keith Mason QC, former president of the NSW Court of...