Inbrief

Amendments to the Federal Court Rules

The Federal Court Amendment Rules 2013 (No 1) was registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments on 8 May 2013 and commenced today, 9 May 2013. A copy of the Amendment Rules is now...

PILCH Walk for Justice - 14 May

The Walk for Justice, now in its sixth year, celebrates National Pro Bono Day and raises much needed funds for PILCH in New South Wales and Victoria. This year's event will take place on Tuesday, 14...

Reminder: submissions on early guilty pleas due on 21 June

The NSW Law Reform Commission is seeking preliminary submissions on encouraging appropriate early guilty pleas. Submissions regarding all relevant areas of the law and practice are welcome and can be...

Changes to Legal Aid NSW policies

Legal Aid NSW has made a number of recent changes to its client eligibility and grants policies.

**Start up grants ** From 1 July, 2013 Legal Aid NSW waiting times which are an approved fee item in...

Appointments to note: Law Council of Australia

Law Council of Australia President Joseph Catanzariti today announced the appointment of Mr Martyn Hagan to the role of secretary-general of the Law Council. Mr Hagan has been acting...

Appointment for the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG has been appointed as chair of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of...

TONIGHT: Identifying the Limits of Executive Power

Today, Tuesday, 14 May 2013, at 5.15pm in Banco Court, the Honourable Justice Basten will present a seminar on the limits of executive power. For full details of the seminar, please download a flyer...

Large room for sale at H B Higgins Chambers (ADVERTISEMENT)

As a consequence of an appointment a large room is available for sale in H B Higgins Chambers, a leading floor in industrial and employment law. Members of the floor also practice in a wide range of...

Reduction in interest on unpaid legal costs

At its meeting on 6 August 2013, the Reserve Bank Board decided to lower the cash rate by 0.25% to 2.50%, effective 7 August 2013. Accordingly the rate of interest on unpaid legal costs, prescribed...

Law Council launches National Attrition and Re-engagement Study

The Law Council of Australia has launched the National Attrition and Re-engagement Study (NARS). The aim of NARS is to obtain quantitative data and confirm trends in progression and attrition rates...

Full court and appellate sitting dates of the Federal Court in 2014

The Federal Court of Australia has approved the full court and appellate sitting dates for 2014, which are: 10 February - 7 March; 5-30 May; 4-26 August; 3-28 November.

6 May 2013

Papers to note: homelessness and legal problems

The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW has published a working paper on homelessness, disadvantaged housing and the experience of legal problems. Home is Where the Heart of Legal Need Is takes...

Common Law Practice Update 23

The Bar Association's Common Law Committee has released Practice Update 23, with case notes on ss 5B and 49 of the Civil Liability Act 2002 and duty to upgrade premises.

1 May 2013

Janet Coombs Lunch for New Female Barristers

The Women Lawyers Association of NSW and the Women Barristers Forum are holding the Janet Coombs Lunch to welcome new female barristers, on Friday, 17 May 2013 between 1.00-2.00pm in the Law society...

TONIGHT: Seminar on eDiscovery

Tonight Thursday, 16 May, together with the Law Society of New South Wales, The Bar Association is hosting a seminar entitled 'Making discovery quick & cheap with technology: finding the unknown...

Bail Bill introduced in the Legislative Assembly

The New South Wales Government has introduced the Bail Bill 2013 in the Legislative Assembly. Read the attorney's second reading speech here.

2 May 2013

Swearing-in ceremony for Judge Antony Townsden

Antony Townsden will be sworn in as a District Court judge on Monday, 6 May 2013 at 9.30 am in Court 21A John Maddison Tower, 86-90 Goulburn Street. Attorney General Greg Smith SC will speak on...

Next meeting of the Bar Book Club

The next meeting of the Bar Book Club will be held on Tuesday, 4 June 2013 at 6.00pm in the Bar Library and we will be discussing Me & Rory Macbeath by Richard Beasley SC.

24 May 2013

TONIGHT: AACL seminar on military justice and Chapter III of the Constitution

The Australian Association of Constitutional Law invites members to an address on "Military Justice and Chapter III of the Constitution: the Constitutional Basis of Courts Martial", to be presented...

Appointments to note: Crime Commission

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher today announced the appointment of the Honourable Graham Barr QC as the first inspector of the Crime Commission. Learn more here.

2 May...

Committee applications close tomorrow

The president annually reviews the Bar Association’s various committees, the role of those committees and their membership. Members can apply online for 2013/2014 committee membership or return...

STEP address: The Origin of Managed Investment Schemes (ADVERTISEMENT)

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) invites you to an address by Gregory Drew, barrister, on "The Origin of MIS...or an Evolutionary Tale of Unintelligent Design". The address will...

Tedeschi QC's book shortlisted for award

Mark Tedeschi AM QC's true crime book Eugenia: a true story of adversity, tragedy, crime and courage, published by Simon & Schuster, has been shortlisted in the Australian Book Industry Awards. He...

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,...