The Inaugural Barristers’ Clerks Association Conference a success

11/10/2011

On Friday, 7 October 2011, the inaugural Clerks’ Conference was held at the Sun Room at the Ivy.� Over 60 clerks from NSW, Victoria and overseas were welcomed by the president of the Bar Association.� MC James O’Loghlin guided attendees through sessions including:

• New Barristers Rules
• Direct Access Briefs
• Fee Recovery
• The new national OHS laws and Chambers’ obligations
• Bullying, harassment and discrimination
• Difficult conversations and managing conflict
• International practice
• Marketing and business development

The overwhelming success of the conference was due in no small part to the generosity of the barristers – Jeffrey Phillips SC, Louise Goodchild, Rachel Fran�ois, and Janet McDonald – and other outstanding speakers who gave freely of their time and expertise.� Several speakers have agreed to conduct further professional development sessions for clerks, and to be available to discuss marketing, business development and international practice on an individual basis.

Following the conference, the annual dinner was held at the Establishment Ballroom, where Chief Justice French gave guests a highly amusing perspective on clerks and clerking, and honoured Paul Daley by presenting him with a gift from the association to mark his 50 years as a clerk.

The Bar Association has thrown its full support behind the conference, and recognises the enormous effort Andrew Laughlin, Angela Noakes, and the rest of the Clerks’ Association Committee, with the assistance of Katie Hall, put in to make the conference a reality.� We look forward to next year.

11 October 2011