Celebrating diversity for a stronger profession
President's Message | 19 February 2024
Those who were present for my remarks at the Opening of Law Term dinner a few weeks ago, or who have caught my speech online will know the personal value I place on diversity. As I said then, “The increased diversity of our profession is pulling us into the future. We are stronger for it.”
A glance over the results of successive Profiles of Solicitors in NSW shows the growing diversity of the solicitor profession of which women have made up a majority for seven years. The Law Society walks the walk on diversity, with members electing to Council people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Diversity is something to be embraced and celebrated. We are doing just that with events to mark Mardi Gras and International Women’s Day coming up in the next fortnight.
I’ll be thrilled to join LGBTQIA+ members at our Disco Era-themed Pride Cocktail Party on Thursday 29 February at Bar 83 in Sydney Tower. This presents an opportunity to mingle and network, as well as to honour and celebrate those who’ve paved the way for a brighter, more inclusive legal profession.
The early birds among us will enjoy our annual Pride Breakfast on Tuesday 5 March at the Law Society premises on Phillip Street. This year we have the enormous privilege of hearing an address by the Immediate Past President of the Canadian Bar Association and Officer at the International Bar Association’s LGBTI Law Committee, Steeves Bujold Ad. E.
Then, on International Women’s Day, Friday 8 March, our IWD Breakfast features the Hon Justice Dina Yehia of the Supreme Court of NSW. Justice Yehia is a trailblazer, becoming the first female Deputy Senior Public Defender. She is also the Chairperson of Diverse Women in Law, an organisation which has been formed to mentor women of diverse backgrounds in the profession.
I encourage interested members to register quickly for the above events as places are limited.
Nothing should bar solicitors from advocacy – or the bench
The Law Society consistently advocates to Attorneys General that more of our number should be appointed directly to the bench, recognising the legal expertise and diverse experience solicitors can bring to judicial office.
NSW is exceptionally fortunate to have as President of the Court of Appeal the second most senior judicial officer in the state, former solicitor the Hon Justice Julie Ward.
Members have the opportunity to hear Justice Ward provide tips on best practice when appearing in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in a live webinar on Wednesday week (28 February).
This webinar is the latest in a series of Law Society seminars on court etiquette and procedure. Members have previously heard from the Chief Judge of the District Court Justice Derek Price and can access the webinar via LawInform of Local Court Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis.
Learning the skills of an advocate in any of these courts is a step towards taking on more of an advocacy role in court where potential judicial talent is often identified.
Justice Ward’s seminar is free to members. You can register here.
A trove of free resources for in-house members
There’s an old advertising slogan for a credit card that says, “Membership has its privileges.” At the Law Society, we’re more about membership having its benefits, just like the networking and CPD opportunities above.
I am delighted to share, particularly with our in-house members, news of an exciting collaboration between The Law Society and the Practical Law team at Thomson Reuters.
We have secured for members complimentary access to a meticulously curated collection of legal resources and templates designed to empower and streamline your role as in-house counsel.
These resources amount to a personalised toolkit, encompassing practice notes and checklists and templates including policies, agreements, deeds, and forms.
We think these resources could be a game changer for you and your practice and yet another benefit of being a member of an organisation that has your success as our priority.
You can access those resources here.
Brett McGrath, President, Law Society of NSW
A glance over the results of successive Profiles of Solicitors in NSW shows the growing diversity of the solicitor profession of which women have made up a majority for seven years. The Law Society walks the walk on diversity, with members electing to Council people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Diversity is something to be embraced and celebrated. We are doing just that with events to mark Mardi Gras and International Women’s Day coming up in the next fortnight.
I’ll be thrilled to join LGBTQIA+ members at our Disco Era-themed Pride Cocktail Party on Thursday 29 February at Bar 83 in Sydney Tower. This presents an opportunity to mingle and network, as well as to honour and celebrate those who’ve paved the way for a brighter, more inclusive legal profession.
The early birds among us will enjoy our annual Pride Breakfast on Tuesday 5 March at the Law Society premises on Phillip Street. This year we have the enormous privilege of hearing an address by the Immediate Past President of the Canadian Bar Association and Officer at the International Bar Association’s LGBTI Law Committee, Steeves Bujold Ad. E.
Then, on International Women’s Day, Friday 8 March, our IWD Breakfast features the Hon Justice Dina Yehia of the Supreme Court of NSW. Justice Yehia is a trailblazer, becoming the first female Deputy Senior Public Defender. She is also the Chairperson of Diverse Women in Law, an organisation which has been formed to mentor women of diverse backgrounds in the profession.
I encourage interested members to register quickly for the above events as places are limited.
Nothing should bar solicitors from advocacy – or the bench
The Law Society consistently advocates to Attorneys General that more of our number should be appointed directly to the bench, recognising the legal expertise and diverse experience solicitors can bring to judicial office.
NSW is exceptionally fortunate to have as President of the Court of Appeal the second most senior judicial officer in the state, former solicitor the Hon Justice Julie Ward.
Members have the opportunity to hear Justice Ward provide tips on best practice when appearing in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in a live webinar on Wednesday week (28 February).
This webinar is the latest in a series of Law Society seminars on court etiquette and procedure. Members have previously heard from the Chief Judge of the District Court Justice Derek Price and can access the webinar via LawInform of Local Court Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis.
Learning the skills of an advocate in any of these courts is a step towards taking on more of an advocacy role in court where potential judicial talent is often identified.
Justice Ward’s seminar is free to members. You can register here.
A trove of free resources for in-house members
There’s an old advertising slogan for a credit card that says, “Membership has its privileges.” At the Law Society, we’re more about membership having its benefits, just like the networking and CPD opportunities above.
I am delighted to share, particularly with our in-house members, news of an exciting collaboration between The Law Society and the Practical Law team at Thomson Reuters.
We have secured for members complimentary access to a meticulously curated collection of legal resources and templates designed to empower and streamline your role as in-house counsel.
These resources amount to a personalised toolkit, encompassing practice notes and checklists and templates including policies, agreements, deeds, and forms.
We think these resources could be a game changer for you and your practice and yet another benefit of being a member of an organisation that has your success as our priority.
You can access those resources here.
Brett McGrath, President, Law Society of NSW
