Last Thursday, I discharged one of the most important tasks as President of the Law Society of NSW, chairing the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

In my report I was able to update members on a year of significant achievement, including our effective advocacy during the state election campaign in the first part of the year. I thanked the previous Attorney General Mark Speakman for his willingness to listen to our perspective on a range of policy issues.

I also commented about the positive development of our relationship with the new Attorney General Michael Daley. I have enjoyed our constructive discussions since he took office and have reassured him that the Law Society, including its 18 expert policy and segment committees, is a trusted advisor to government.

The AGM was also bittersweet as the result of the Law Society Council election was announced. We farewelled outgoing councillors, Hugh Macken, Jennifer Windsor, Adriana Care and Leah Serafim.

I congratulate Lauren Absolom and Jennifer Wong who’ll continue on Council for a further three years and Moira Saville who commences her first three year term. NSW Young Lawyers President Olivia Irvine is appointed for a 12 month term.

As a result of modernising governance reforms approved by last year’s AGM, the Council is reducing from 21 to an eventual size of 15, making it more agile and responsive to the profession’s needs.I encourage all members to participate in next year’s election and, if you feel the call to leadership, put yourself forward to serve your profession as part of the Council.

A focus on children and families at risk

I’m very grateful for the more than 250 solicitors that joined our webinar last Wednesday, Navigating care and protection law: Essential insights for family lawyers presented by Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law Dian Neligan.

As members may know, this is a key area of my practice, and one I’ve made a President’s Priority for my term leading the Law Society this year.

Care and protection proceedings can form a lasting direction in the lives of the children who are the subject of these often deeply complex proceedings.

Dian provided a very useful overview of the Children’s Care and Protection system for those already involved in this jurisdiction and solicitors who might be considering expanding their practice to include this vitally important work.

As I said when introducing the webinar, ‘too few lawyers handle the legal work necessary to help these children have a better chance at life’. This is at the centre of my President’s Priority to build awareness of the importance of legal practitioners in this jurisdiction.

There are some quite hard statistics associated with it. You may know that NSW currently has around 16,000 children in out-of-home care, and more than 100,000 children assessed at risk of significant harm every year. There are close to 500,000 reports made in relation to concerns about children’s welfare each year.

If you have any interest at all in helping at risk children and families get a better chance in life, please log on to LawInform where the webinar will be uploaded by COB. It’s free for members.

Deadline extended for Law Society Awards and President’s Medal nominations

In last week’s message I encouraged members to both book a ticket or table at the Annual Members Dinner on Thursday, 7 December, but more importantly to nominate practitioners you know who have made a real difference through their work.

You may have been tossing a few thoughts around but thought it too late to lodge an entry for any of the nine awards categories. Now, there’s no excuse. The Awards Night team has decided to extend the deadline for nominations to COB this Friday, 3 November.

Since 2009, this award has recognised our most outstanding members; those solicitor members of the Law Society who’ve made significant personal and professional contributions to the improvement of law and justice in the community.

As I said last week, it’ll be a magnificent night for the legal community of NSW. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.

Tracker Network elder’s ask

As part of the Law Society’s regional meeting in June, I visited LeaderLife, one of the members of the Tracker Network that helps children and young people at risk of contact with the criminal justice system develop skills as a foundation for a better life.

The Tracker Network, including LeaderLife is so successful in doing this, because they engage the help of important figures in their communities with whom their young participants can relate.

For LeaderLife, that’s Wiradjuri elder and poet Riverbank Frank Doolan. He’s Frank by name and frank by nature, and I remember well our rewarding conversation around the firepit on that chilly Dubbo morning.

I noticed while scrolling through my social media feed, that Riverbank Frank’s caravan, his home, isn’t in great shape. There’s a go-fund-me campaign for him to get a new one, as he says ‘that keeps the rain, the wind and the sun away’. Please help if you can.

Cassandra Banks, President, Law Society of NSW