Inbrief

Get your tickets for IQ2 in 2014

St James Ethics Centre have now confirmed their debate motions for the 2014 IQ2 Debates. The debates will be televised in partnership with the ABC and BBC World, going out to a televised global...

Human Rights Awards: new event for 2013

The Human Rights Commission will celebrate International Human Rights Day this year by presenting the Human Rights Awards at a not-to-be-missed cocktail event on **Tuesday, 10 December at the Museum...

Amendments to Supreme Court Rules - Part 78 rule 93

On 4 November 2013 the Supreme Court Rules Committee approved an amendment to SCR Pt 78 rule 93. The amendment requires most notices of intention to distribute an estate to be published on the Online...

Changes to the MAA Claims Assessment Guidelines

Following the NSW Court of Appeal decision in Smalley v Allianz [2013] NSWCA 318, the Motor Accidents Authority has advised the Association that changes to the Claims Assessment Guidelines may be...

Common Law Practice Update 45

The Bar Association's Common Law Committee has released Practice Update 45, which features case notes on s 108 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 5I and 5L of the Civil Liability...

Positive role for social media

The trial of Simon Gittany has demonstrated that social media can help the community to engage with the court system and improve their understanding of the judicial system, according to Attorney...

Funeral arrangements for Jackie Moser

Jackie Moser, former clerk to Sir James Martin Chambers, died on Tuesday from melanoma. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, 3 December 2013 at 1pm at St Canice's Church, 28 Roslyn St Elizabeth...

ABA Silks Dinner in the High Court, Canberra - RSVP by 17 January

The Australian Bar Association will hold its annual dinner on the night of the new silks taking their bows in the High Court. The dinner will be held in the Great Hall of the High Court in Canberra...

This week in CPD: NCAT

On Wednesday, 4 December, Mark Robinson SC will present a seminar on The New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal, due to commence operation in 2014. The Honourable Justice Robertson Wright,...

Chess Terrey Shaw Memorial Shield 2013

On Thursday, 14 November 2013 the annual Bench and Bar v Solicitors chess tournament took place, hosted by Allens. On this occasion the solicitors team was successful but there were a number of very...

NCAT launch in 2014

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) will begin operating on 1 January 2014 as the "new one-stop-shop for specialist tribunal services in NSW". NCAT has published a flyer to inform the...

Law Council voices concerns about the rule of law in Sri Lanka

The Law Council of Australia has joined the International Bar Association and other national bar associations in expressing concerns about the state of the rule of law in Sri Lanka. Learn more here.... Read more >

Developments in relation to admiralty or maritime disputes

The Federal Court of Australia has opened a US currency account with Westpac Bank as a litigants’ fund under Division 2.5 of the Federal Court Rules. The court has also entered into an MOU with...

TONIGHT: Same-Sex Marriage Legislation: constitutional law perspectives

Thurs****day, 28 November: Same-Sex Marriage Legislation: constitutional law perspectives. To be presented by Professor Anne Twomey and Perry Herzfeld and chaired by The Honourable Justice Pepper....

Vale the Hon John Terrence Ludeke QC (1921-2013)

The Hon John Ludeke QC, former judge of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, died on 25 November 2013. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St Peter Chanel Church, Futuna...

Vale Jackie Moser

Jackie Moser, former clerk of Second Floor Selborne Chambers, died this morning. Members will be advised of funeral arrangements as soon as they are known.

26 November 2013

CPD Tonight: Dealing with In-House Counsel

Panel featuring Alexandra Rose (Benevolent Society), Ian Hemmings SC and Nick Tiffen and discussion led by Richard McHugh SC. For full details, please click here. 27 November 2013

Registering on Biometrics

Beginning December 2013 legal practitioners will be required to register on the Biometrics system to gain access to a correctional centre fitted with this equipment. Registration is open today and on...

Electronic court files in the Federal Court

The Federal Court of Australia will transition to electronic court files within the next 18 months. By the end of 2014, the court will no longer create a paper file for each proceeding started. This...

Position vacant: Workers Compensation Commission

The Workers Compensation Commission is seeking expressions of interest from qualified persons for appointment as registrar of the Workers Compensation Commission for a fixed statutory term of up to...

Victorian Bar announces 15 new silks

The Victorian Bar has announced the appointment of 15 new senior counsel. View the list here.

25 November 2013

Save the date: 2014 Bench & Bar Dinner

The 2014 Bench & Bar Dinner will be held on Friday, 2 May at the Hilton Sydney. The guest of honour is the Hon J L B Allsop AO, chief justice of the Federal Court of Australia. Further details and...

Zoe's law passed by the NSW lower house

The_ Crimes Amendment (Zoe's Law) Bill (No. 2) 2013_ (NSW) has passed the Legislative Assembly. The Hansard record of the second reading debate and division can be viewed here.

22 November 2013

Increased demand for LawAccess NSW

LawAccess NSW provided a record amount of free legal advice to disadvantaged people in 2012-13 following strong demand for its services among Aboriginal communities and in rural, regional and remote...

Productivity Commission review of access to justice in civil disputes

The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a 15-month inquiry into Australia’s system of civil dispute resolution, with a focus on constraining costs and...