Inbrief

Amendments to the Best Practice Guidelines

Standards

The Bar Association's Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) were approved by Bar Council in June 2014. They are designed to encourage chambers to maintain professional standards and to comply...

Reminder: swearing in ceremony for Jennie Girdham SC and Kate Traill

Jennie Girdham SC and Kate Traill will be sworn-in as judges of the District Court at 9.00am on Monday, 24 August at Level 21, John Maddison Tower in court 21A. The attorney general, the Hon...

Reminder: swearing-in ceremony for Brigitte Markovic on Monday

Brigitte Markovic will be sworn-in as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia on Monday, 24 August 2015 at 9.30am in Court 1, Level 21, Queens Square. Arthur Moses SC will speak on behalf of the...

Next meeting of the Bar Book Club

The next meeting of the Bar Book Club will be held on Tuesday, 1 September 2015. Perhaps not surprisingly, the discussion will be about Harper Lee's "new" book, Go set a Watchman, the prequel of To...

Media statement: personal abuse of a Royal Commissioner is unacceptable

The Bar Association has issued a media statement regarding personal attacks on a Royal Commissioner. View the media statement here.

Non-payment of fees to counsel

The Court of Appeal has handed down a decision in Donaghy v Council of the Law Society of NSW (No.2), regarding a practitioner who was the subject of a complaint by a barrister in relation to the...

When to notify the Bar Council

The Uniform Law legislation requires a barrister to notify the Bar Council of certain matters:

• becoming bankrupt

• being served with notice of a creditor’s petition

• presentation of a debtor’s...

Statement from the President regarding the Hon J D Heydon AC QC

It is not appropriate for the New South Wales Bar Association to comment on the substantive issues relating to the current controversy surrounding the Royal Commission into Trade Union and...

For the diary: family law conference in Darwin

The NT Law Society will hold its "Start at the Top" family law conference in Darwin on 21-22 January 2016. The registration fee and conference program will be released closer to the date. To register...

Trends in bail and remand in NSW

The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has published its report, The Impact of the NSW Bail Act 2013 on trends in Bail and Remand in NSW, which found the 32% increase in the state's...

Royal Commissioners entitled to same respect as Judges - Law Council of Australia

The President of the Law Council of Australia, Duncan McConnel, has branded attacks in the media upon Royal Commissioner the Hon J D Heydon AC QC as unacceptable. See the Law Council's media release.

New Bar Association Professional Standards Scheme

Professional Standards Scheme

The third New South Wales Bar Association professional standards scheme commenced on 1 July 2015 and expires 30 June 2020. Members will see no practical difference with...

Swearing in ceremony for Jennie Girdham SC and Kate Traill

Jennie Girdham SC and Kate Traill will be sworn-in as judges of the District Court at 9am on Monday 24 August at Level 21, John Maddison Tower in court 21A. The Attorney General, the Hon Gabrielle...

Arbitration workshops continue tomorrow

The third in this month's series of arbitration workshops will be held on Wednesday, 19 August 2015 at 5.00pm in the Bar Association Common Room. Presenters include the Hon Murray Gleeson AC QC,...

Swearing-in ceremony for Brigitte Markovic

Brigitte Markovic will be sworn-in as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia on 24 August 2015 at 9.30am in Court 1, Level 21, Queens Square. Arthur Moses SC will speak on behalf of the New South...

Coming up in CPD tonight

A seminar will be held in the Common Room tonight at 5.15pm: "Unifying Principles in Administrative and Criminal Law". It will be presented by Tim Game SC and Julia Roy, and chaired by Neil Williams...

Changes to registrar's sitting times in the Corporations and Equity Lists

Practitioners and parties are advised that commencing today, 17 August 2015, the following changes will apply to the registrar's sitting times in the Corporations and Equity Lists:

• The registrar...

Sydney Law Revue

Members are invited to the 2015 Sydney Law Revue, on 19 - 22 August at 7.30pm in the Seymour Centre. The Law Revue has been described as "a comedy show written and performed by a cast of disenchanted...

For the diary: an overview of the International Bar Association

On Thursday, 27 August 2015 the New South Wales Bar Association and Law Society of NSW will co-host an afternoon seminar on the work of the International Bar Association. This is a rare opportunity...

Public Defenders " Day of Practical Advocacy" at Newcastle Saturday 26 September 2015

Members are invited to attend the 2015 Public Defenders Day of Practical Advocacy which will be held on 26 September 2015 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newcastle.

For further details plaese download a...

Coming up in CPD next week

A seminar will be held in the Common Room on Monday, 17 August at 5.15pm: "Unifying Principles in Administrative and Criminal Law". It will be presented by Tim Game SC and Julia Roy, and chaired by...

Workers compensation bills pass upper house

The State Insurance and Care Governance Bill 2015 and the Workers Compensation Amendment Bill 2015 were debated and passed by the Legislative Council last night. Amendments were passed, including a...

Wanted: Judges for witness examination competition

Macquarie University Law Society (MULS) is seeking volunteers to assist with the judging of their internal Witness Examination competition to be held at North Ryde and City campuses between August...

Corrs hold Bar FC to a 1-1 draw

Under clear blue skies today Bar FC dug deep to come back from a 1-0 deficit to draw with our nearest rival for third position on the table. Goal keeper Harris was excellent yet again between the...

Funeral arrangements for John William Wormington (1959-2015)

John William Wormington, former member of the Newcastle Bar, died on Sunday. A funeral Mass will be held at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Macquarie Street, Wallsend on Monday, 17 August 2015 at...