President's Message - Monday 8 April 2024 - The Law Society of New South Wales

Hail to the Chief Magistrates, new and outgoing

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE | 1 JULY 2024

Today marks the halfway point of my one-year term as President of the Law Society of NSW. During this time, I’ve relished the opportunity to speak with and listen to practitioners as distant from each other as Broken Hill and Tweed Heads. I’ve gained invaluable insights into challenges common to the profession and those unique to the areas (of both geography and law) in which you practise.

I’m also afforded the honour of welcoming new judges or heads of jurisdiction to the bench and to wish departing judicial officers well as they enter retirement. Over the course of this Friday and next Monday I’ll be doing both; farewelling Chief Magistrate Judge Peter Johnston and welcoming his successor Judge Michael Allen.

Over his years presiding over both the Children’s Court of NSW and the Local Court and in his long and varied career, Judge Johnstone demonstrated an active commitment to the betterment of the justice system.

His Honour’s championing of initiatives such as Circle Sentencing and the expansion of both the Youth Koori Court and the Drug Court, has contributed to changing the lives of many people through the innovative approaches adopted in these processes.

He advocated for and pursued prevention, early intervention, diversion and rehabilitation measures that keep children out of juvenile detention and established a therapeutic and restorative justice approach in the Local Court’s 2023-26 Strategic Plan.

During his 33 years as a solicitor, Judge Johnstone contributed significantly to the Law Society as Councillor of the Law Society, Junior Vice President in 2005 and as a volunteer on our Litigation Law and Practice, Professional Conduct, In-House Corporate Lawyers, Ethics, Costs and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees.

I’m looking forward to expressing the gratitude of the Law Society and the solicitor profession generally to Judge Johnstone this Friday at the Downing Centre. If you can’t make the ceremonial sitting, you can view the proceedings here.

Likewise, I’ll be representing NSW’s solicitors in a ceremony to welcome Judge Allen as the new Chief Magistrate next Monday in the same venue, to be streamed here.

As I said in my recent media statement on the announcement of his appointment, in his role as a Deputy Chief Magistrate, Judge Allen provided reliable and expert insights to the Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee. 

His Honour’s broad experience, including in the regions, and as a former Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law, means he is well acquainted with the challenges facing the justice system and the solicitors who work within it. I look forward to working with Judge Allen on your behalf for the remainder of my term.

Membership has even more advantages

Our Member Benefits team is constantly on the lookout for ways to bring value to you as a member of the Law Society.

Earlier this year I shared with you details of our partnership with Wherefit, which offers members a wide variety of discounts on sporting and other goods and services.

I’m pleased to bring you news of another partnership which from today will provide you with access to more valuable benefits.

The Law Society’s partnership with Member Advantage provides discounts on groceries, fuel, retail, shopping, dining, and a range of eStores.

Brands on the platform include Woolworths, Coles, Hertz, Avis Budget, Red Balloon, JB HiFi Business and The Good Guys Commercial.

I encourage you to log on here today to take advantage of Member Advantage!

Brett McGrath, President, Law Society of NSW

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