Inbrief

Celebrating women in the judiciary - speech by the Hon Justice McColl

Diversity

The Hon Justice Ruth McColl last night delivered an address at the Women Lawyers Association function, "Celebrating Women in the Judiciary". Read a copy of her speech here.

/#Diversity

ATO professional-to-professional service for legal practitioners

The intent of the P2P service is to support legal practitioners to represent their clients in their dealings with the ATO. It assists practitioners to understand the ATO view and legislative...

Toongabbie Legal Centre criminal law CPD conference

Toongabbie Legal Centre will hold its criminal law CPD conference on Saturday, 15 March 2014. Guest speakers include Nicholas Cowdery AM QC, Phil Boulten SC and Steve Mark. For more information...

TONIGHT: Scope for future development of constitutional and administrative law aspect of tax appeals

This evening's seminar will be presented by Chris Peadon and chaired by Neil Williams SC. The session focuses on the constitutional and administrative law aspects of the appeal and review system, and...

Volunteers needed for the Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library

Philanthropy

The Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library needs a volunteer from the NSW Bar to spend a couple of hours packing books for various hostels in New South Wales at the library's storage unit at...

Mandatory sentencing bill introduced in the Legislative Assembly

Law reform and public affairs

Premier Barry O'Farrell has introduced the Crimes Amendment (Intoxication) Bill 2014, which creates additional aggravated personal violence offences with higher maximum...

Farewell for the Hon Justice Cowdroy

A ceremonial sitting of the Federal Court of Australia will be held on Friday, 14 March 2014 to mark the retirement of the Hon Justice Dennis Cowdroy OAM. The ceremony will be held at 9.30am in Court...

Evolution or Revolution? The 16th Biennial National Family Law Conference

Registration is now open for the 16th Biennial National Family Law Conference, to be held in Sydney from 7-10 October 2014. With more than 90 international and local presenters, the professional...

Watered down alcohol violence laws acknowledge unfairness of mandatory sentencing

The New South Wales Government plans to introduce in the Legislative Assembly a package of mandatory sentencing laws for a reduced range of offences. This follows intense criticism from the legal...

Bar Library Academy Awards Competition

It's one of the more eagerly awaited events at the New South Wales Bar. More colourful than Bar Council elections, but without the controversy of senior counsel selection. It is, of course, the Bar...

Web watch: legal personality for the Great Barrier Reef

The Environmental Defenders Office of North Queensland has launched a campaign for what it calls "an evolution in Australian law", allowing for the Great Barrier Reef and other outstanding ecosystems...

New governor of Queensland

The Hon Paul de Jersey AC, chief justice of Queensland for the past 16 years, has been appointed as the 26th governor of Queensland. Learn more here.

TOMORROW: Scope for future development of constitutional and administrative law aspect of tax appeals

This seminar will be presented by Chris Peadon and chaired by Neil Williams SC. The session focuses on the constitutional and administrative law aspects of the appeal and review system, and in...

TONIGHT: Optimising Your Superannuation

This evening's seminar will be presented by Vanessa Woodley, Financial Strategist at SentinelWealth, and will be chaired by Dominique Hogan-Doran. The presentation is designed to provide an...

The 2014 Wootten Lecture to be presented by Professor Richard L Abel (UCLA)

At the lectern

The annual Hal Wootten Lecture will be held on Thursday, 13 March 2014 at The Law Theatre, UNSW Law School, Kensington Campus.The topic will be "How to be a 'good lawyer': Lessons...

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner bridging course

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The Australian Institute for Relationship Studies offers a bridging course for those seeking registration as a family dispute resolution practitioner (FDR), beginning 8 March 2014....

Bar Association speaks out on the real cost of mandatory sentencing

President Phil Boulten SC has publicly cautioned the NSW Government that its proposed mandatory sentencing legislation could have unintended consequences in domestic violence cases. He was quoted in...

TONIGHT: DSM 5

This evening's seminar will be presented by Andrew Scotting and Dr Samson Roberts, forensic psychiatrist. The presentation will explore the changes implemented in the diagnosis of mental illness and...

Two life memberships and a portrait

The unveiling of Jiawei Shen’s portrait of the Hon Keith Mason AC QC, to be donated to the New South Wales Court of Appeal, for display in the area of the President’s Court, will be held on...

This week in CPD

The following CPD seminars have been scheduled in the Bar Association Common Room for the final week of February.

##### Monday, 24 February

Cross Examination

This seminar marks the start of the...

Barristers for school excursions

The Rule of Law Institute of Australia is compiling a list of barristers willing to volunteer their time to speak to school groups on court excursions throughout NSW about the court system, their...

Copyright and the digital economy: where to from here?

The Australian Copyright Council will hold its Biennial Copyright Law and Practice Symposium in Sydney on March 13 & 14, at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour. The theme of...

Common Law Practice Update 49

The Bar Association's Common Law Committee has published Practice Update 49, with case notes on section 62 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act, sections 5B, 5F and 5R of the Civil Liability Act,...

The office of Queen's Counsel in New South Wales

The Bar Council has resolved to seek comment from members on the desirability of reinstating the use of the term “Queen’s Counsel” in NSW. The views of members are sought on the following...

Invitation to participate in family law survey

The Australian Institute of Family Studies is conducting research to evaluate the impact of amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) introduced by the Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family...