The Law Society of NSW’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) presents the dual opportunities for taking stock and leadership renewal of the largest legal membership organisation in Australia. 

It was a privilege to deliver the President’s Address to the meeting, covering the work and achievements of the Law Society over the last six months of Cassandra Banks’ term and my first six months in this position. It was also my honour to welcome new and continuing Councillors, following our recent election.

I thank those candidates who put themselves forward to serve their solicitor colleagues on the Council of the Law Society. I also appreciate every member who took the time to vote.

There were six successful candidates in this election, among them, two newcomers who have started their terms as at the AGM. I am delighted to announce those successful candidates as follows:

Kymberlei Goodacre, who is currently serving as President of the Clarence River and Coffs Harbour Regional Law Society has been elected for a three-year term.

Vaughan Roles, who is a solicitor at Legal Aid NSW and will serve a two-year term.

Danielle Captain-Webb, also from Legal Aid NSW was elected as the Government Councillor. Sylvia Fernandez, partner at Thomson Geer continues as the City Councillor. Both were re-elected to Council for three-year terms.

Jacqueline Dawson from Sexton Family Law and Rebekah Hunter from Minter Ellison’s in-house team have each been re-elected to Council for three-year terms.

I also welcome Taylah Spirovski to her 12-month term on Council as President of NSW Young Lawyers. I thank Taylah’s predecessor Olivia Irvine, for her work on Council before she moved to take up a new position in the ACT earlier this year.

I want to pay special tribute to Mary Macken who is retiring from Council at this election. Mary’s invaluable contributions to the Law Society have been an exemplar of service to her profession through her terms as Councillor, Office Holder and President in 2010. 

Upon Jennifer Wong’s elevation to the bench of the Local Court of NSW, she retired from her seat on Council. We congratulate Her Honour on her well-deserved appointment and thank her for her dedicated work on behalf of the profession. 

Finally, I thank our Immediate Past President Cassandra Banks, for her unstinting efforts on behalf of the solicitor profession as a Councillor for a total of nine years. I am grateful for her personal support during my term as President and my earlier roles on Council’s Executive Committee. I wish her well in her new role with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Councillors who volunteer for this work come from a cross-section of both the profession and the community. They help the Council guide the objectives and policies of the Law Society, monitor its performance and delegate its authority over various matters to a network of Committees.

The Law Society is a respected and trusted voice of the solicitor profession to government, providing the advice of legal experts to improve public policy and advocate for legislative reform, to uphold the rule of law and improve the administration of justice. I thank all Councillors and Committee members for their efforts in this pursuit.

Brett McGrath, President, Law Society of NSW