What a year! In my last President’s Message, I’m privileged to share a few of the significant achievements of the Law Society of NSW for and on behalf of the solicitor profession in 2024.

It hadn’t occurred to me, when my Law Society Councillor colleagues selected me to serve on the Executive Committee, that my term as President would fall in the bicentenary year of the Supreme Court of NSW. I will count representing solicitors before the entire Court at the bicentenary ceremonial sitting as one of my career’s greatest honours.

Chief Justice Andrew Bell ensured solicitors were central to other events marking the Supreme Court bicentenary, delivering the traditional Opening of Law Term address on the subject, and speaking at regional events across the state, hosted by Regional Law Societies. 

The work of regional lawyers has been an important aspect of my President’s Priority to highlight the service of solicitors to their communities.

By the end of my term, I am proud that, as President, along with the Executive team and CEO of the Law Society, we will have visited all but one of the 29 Regional Law Societies this year. We were able to draw attention to the need for better access to justice in our regions.

I also focused on the benefits and risks to legal practice of artificial intelligence (AI). We have worked with Uniform Law regulators in Victoria and Western Australia to produce a consistent set of principles to guide practitioners in their use of AI. We have established our resource-rich AI for legal professionals page, featuring the Solicitors guide to the responsible use of artificial intelligence, the AI Glossary, and Court protocols on AI

I gave evidence at the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into AI, with both the Legislative Council Report recommending and the Government’s Response adopting our suggestion that state and federal ministers work towards a consistent approach to the governance of AI.

In support of my President’s Priority on the health and wellbeing of the profession, the Solicitor Outreach Service has continued to provide free psychological counselling for solicitors; our Staying well in the law series has continued to attract impressive numbers; and we established WHEREFIT as a member benefit, offering value to members.

We have met the development of the Commonwealth’s ‘Tranche Two’ reforms to its anti-money laundering/counter terrorism financing regime, by developing resources and CPD opportunities for members. The new regime poses challenges, particularly for smaller practices for which we’ll continue working to support their viability 

The Chair of the Specialist Accreditation Board and the Junior Vice President Jacqueline Dawson announced the launch of Elder Law as the first new Specialist Accreditation area of law since 2009. As the only such program in Australia, we believe it will help create a national pool of Elder Law experts to help older Australians and those who care for them.

As a mediator, I am especially proud of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee’s work towards establishing the new Lawyer Mediator Accreditation Scheme (LMAS). This will allow people who want to resolve disputes outside court, to know that as a lawyer, their mediator comes to their issue as a dispute resolution expert. The LMAS answers the call of many mediator members who approached the Law Society for assistance as the National Mediator Accreditation Standards ceased. 

It's this ability to respond to the challenges of the solicitor profession that makes the job of leading the Law Society so rewarding. This year, I’m proud to say that we achieved a lot, but there’s much left to do.

That’s why I’m delighted that Jennifer Ball will be leading and representing the profession when her term as President of the Law Society commences on 1 January. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to secure your ticket (or table) to hear Jennifer’s Opening of Law Term address on Thursday, 6 February 2025.

Jennifer’s outstanding experience in the law, both as a litigator and leader, will serve her exceptionally well as she steps into the role of President for what I believe will be one of the Law Society’s finest years.

I wish you, your families, and loved ones the very best over the festive season. For those who are able, I urge you to switch off, reconnect, recharge and start anew in 2025.