Inbrief

Mandatory sentencing and liquor licensing bills passed by the Legislative Council

The NSW Government's mandatory sentencing and liquor licensing bills have passed both houses of parliament in a single day. The views of the Bar Association were quoted often during debate in the...

CPD in February and March

To assist members in completing their CPD requirements before the 31 March cut-off date, a number of seminars and conferences have been organised. Conferences will be held at: - [North...

Port Kembla Courthouse upgraded

Port Kembla Courthouse will soon begin hearing video bail applications following the installation of a high definition audio visual link (AVL) in both courtrooms. Learn more here.

Expression of Interest to accept briefs from NSW DPP

Director of Public Prosecutions Lloyd Babb SC is seeking expressions of interest from suitably experienced and qualified counsel to conduct trials on his behalf. Successful counsel will act in a...

AG lauds NSW courts

Yesterday the Productivity Commission released its annual Review of Government Services (Volume C: Justice). Attorney General Greg Smith SC has issued a media release, praising the NSW Local Court...

One-punch drug and alcohol bills before NSW Parliament

Premier Barry O'Farrell has recalled the New South Wales Parliament early in order for it to pass his government's legislative response to drug and alcohol fuelled violence in Sydney's CBD. As a...

NSW adult prison population is booming

The state's adult prison population grew by 6.9 per cent between July 2012 and December 2013, according to the December 2013 quarterly update of NSW Custody Statistics released today by the Bureau of...

Yoga classes resume on Tuesday, 4 February

Enjoy the opportunity to slip away from chambers for an hour either before or during your day on Tuesdays. Benefit from the art of practice with a renewed sense of focus, energy, flexibility and...

Common Law Practice Update 47

The Bar Association's Common Law Committee has released Practice Update 47, with case notes on s 3A of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 (NSW), ss 5D, 5I, 5F, 5L, 45 and 43A of the Civil...

Replacement of AMA List of Medical Services and Fees

Pursuant to clause 4(2) of the Motor Accidents Compensation Regulation 2005, the AMA's List of Medical Services and Fees (dated 1 November 2013) were gazetted on 20 December 2013 (Gazette Number 177)...

The Bar Knit Group next meets on 26 February

Wellbeing

The Bar Knit Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month in the Bar Library. The first meeting for 2014 will be held on Wednesday 26 February. The group is not affiliated with the...

Public Defenders Practical Advocacy Course for Under 5s practising in Criminal Law

The Public Defenders are seeking expressions of interest from NSW barristers of five years and under to participate in a practical advocacy training course for criminal lawyers. The course consists...

Reserve a place in the Bar Association's childcare scheme

Member services and benefits

There are still vacancies in the Bar Association's childcare scheme. Under an agreement reached with Jigsaw Corporate Childcare in December last year, ten places at...

Childcare for Bar Association members

Member services and benefits

The Bar Council is pleased to announce that it has approved a proposal from the Equal Opportunity Committee to reserve places at a child care centre in the Sydney CBD...

Productivity Commission report on the justice system

The Productivity Commmission has today released its annual Report on Government Services (Volume C: Justice). ROGS provides information on the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of government...

Parliamentary Research Service e-brief on mandatory sentencing

The NSW Parliamentary Research Service has published e-brief 1/2014: Mandatory Sentencing Laws. It's not an exposition of the legal principles of sentencing. Rather, it's designed to provide members...

NSW AG launches NCAT

Attorney General Greg Smith SC today officially opened the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), declaring it would improve access to justice. NCAT has assumed the workload of 22 specialist...

Anglican Law Term Church Service

The Most Reverend Dr Glenn Davies, Archbishop of Sydney, and the Reverend Andrew Sempell, Rector of St James, invite members to attend the 2014 Law Term Church Service at St James€™ Anglican...

Church services for the opening of the 2014 Law Term

Red Mass

The 2014 Red Mass will be held in St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney at **9.00am on Monday, 3 February 2014. **The Mass will be celebrated by his Eminence Cardinal George Pell AC. Judges and...

There was movement of the chambers

Martin Place Chambers has relocated to the 32nd floor of 52 Martin Place.

ALA State Conference

The Australian Lawyers Alliance will hold its NSW State Conference on 20-21 March 2014 at the Mercure Resort, Hunter Valley Gardens. For more information about the program, or to register, visit the...

Appointment to the Local Court of New South Wales

Attorney General Greg Smith SC announced today the appointment of Crown Prosecutor David Williams as a magistrate of the Local Court of NSW and an industrial magistrate. Mr Williams will be sworn in...

Australia Day Honours

Former shadow attorney general of NSW and member of the Bar Association, Mr Andrew Tink, was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his "significant service to the Parliament of New South...

Mandatory one punch laws not the solution

Law reform and public affairs

President Phil Boulten SC has issued a media release warning that the NSW Government's proposed mandatory eight year minimum sentences for "coward punch" assaults...

The new In Brief

Welcome to In Brief, the new format for the Bar Association's regular e-mail circulars to all members and clerks. In Brief will keep you up to date with news of appointments to the Bench, social...