The Law Society of New South Wales

An important first for a key priority

President's Message | 26 February 2024

You may have read in the media last week about the first occasion in Australia that a court has confronted tendered material suspected of being written by AI. The article draws attention to the fact that AI tools are here to stay, whether we like it or not.

The story could not have been more timely, given that this week the AI Taskforce I foreshadowed in my Opening of Law Term speech meets for the first time. This marks the beginning of our work towards ensuring the profession is equipped to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.

I not only want to thank those who’ve agreed to take part in the Taskforce, I extend my gratitude to many other members who’ve expressed an interest in this exciting work. The team we have gathered is an impressive group of experts in tech, law (including judicial officers), academia and government.

There’s much work to do on many questions, including around how our ability to deliver sound legal advice to clients will be affected, how to advocate for law reform, and how the justice system deals with deepfakes and other AI-authored documents.

I wish the AI Task Force well as it embarks on this fascinating and necessary project to help ensure the legal profession and the courts are well informed and supported to make the most of the changes arising from this revolution.

On the road and in the house

The last Profile of Solicitors in NSW identified that rural, regional and remote (RRR) areas of NSW are home to 12 per cent of just over 41,000 solicitors in this state, and 21 per cent of private law practices. That means the majority of RRR solicitors are working in sole practice or in a one-partner practice.

My two predecessors as President of the Law Society, Cassandra Banks and Joanne van der Plaat, know exactly what this sort of work entails, running small vibrant practices in the regions. I’m proud to be carrying on their commitment to the regions, including through visiting as many Regional Law Societies as possible during my term.

It’s only the end of February, and already myself, Acting CEO Kenneth Tickle and other key Law Society staff have ventured north, south and west to engage with the regional profession.

Earlier in the month, we were in both Albury and Newcastle with the Chief Justice for Opening of Law Term events. The latter event was also an opportunity for me to personally thank Gary Fox for his 18 years’ service to the regional profession as President of the Newcastle Regional Law Society.

The Far North Coast Regional Law Society hosted me in Ballina for its Conference Dinner and, just last week, I attended a half-day CPD hosted by the Central West Regional Law Society. This was followed by a return to my home turf, the Macarthur Regional Law Society, for its annual one-day CLE event.

There’s no substitute for meeting with members on the ground to learn about the issues that most concern them. Sometimes these conversations can be difficult, but they are always necessary and rewarding.

This week, I have the honour of hosting all our Regional Law Society Presidents at our headquarters in Phillip Street, as they gather for the first of five meetings this year. These meetings are vital fixtures in our calendar to ensure the Law Society is doing all it can to support RRR practitioners.

Putting the ‘inclusion’ in D&I

The Law Society has an ongoing commitment to advocating for diverse workplaces that better represent the community we serve. Setting the foundations for a diverse workplace is an important step, but ensuring people from diverse backgrounds are sufficiently included in the workplace is perhaps even more important.

We have struck an agreement with SBS to provide members with affordable access to the acclaimed SBS Inclusion Program through LawInform. There are eight self-paced courses designed to provide core skills and knowledge around supporting diversity in the workplace. Members can obtain between one and two CPD units by completing courses on LGBTQIA+ issues, generational diversity, gender equity, cultural diversity, First Nations, disability, respect at work, and psychosocial hazards.

This agreement with SBS brings to members a program that’s relied upon by some of Australia’s biggest and most reputable companies, adding to the 1.3 million employees licensed to use the program.

Brett McGrath, President, Law Society of NSW

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