Today, I have the honour of representing the NSW solicitor profession at the first two of several Opening of Law Term religious services I’ll attend this year.

The Catholic Red Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, and the Anglican service at St James, have a long history, echoing annual events which date back to 13th Century Paris and 14th Century London. Over the coming weeks, I’ll attend or be represented at similar ceremonies across many faiths, and indeed beyond Sydney, to Albury and Dubbo.

Whether we are of any faith or none, there’s something to be said for gathering together to reflect soberly and with some solemnity on the significance of our roles in defending the rule of law, in an era when it faces threats here and abroad.

There’s also value in celebrating the strength of the rule of law, along with the integrity and independence of the justice system in which we work. I’m looking forward to doing just that at the Opening of Law Term Dinner this Thursday night, the first major event of my term as President of the Law Society of NSW.

These events provide perhaps the greatest privilege of this office - meeting and speaking with solicitor members about the issues that concern you where you live and work. There can be little doubt that one major issue on the minds of many practitioners is the beginning of obligations arising under Tranche Two of the Commonwealth’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regime.

That’s why I’m especially pleased that AUSTRAC’s CEO Brendan Thomas is delivering the keynote address at the Law Society’s Annual Conference on 11 March. His address will conclude a morning of AML/CTF discussions and expert panels, featuring representatives from AUSTRAC, Grant Thornton, KordaMentha, AML Sorted and Norton Rose Fulbright. There’ll also be an interactive ethics session, addressing specific AML/CTF issues in the afternoon.

This year’s Annual Conference, with the theme of Uniting the Profession, is strategically timed in the lead-up to the CPD compliance deadline. Along with the AML/CTF sessions, there’ll be a panel on our Solicitor Capability Framework; a discussion on legal developments around the use of AI and our professional obligations; guidance from three judicial officers on court etiquette and protocols; and a solicitor ‘speed dating’ session, to encourage collegiality and professional connection with your peers.

If you are still considering attending, there’s extra motivation to act quickly, as Early Bird pricing ends at the close of business today. You can book your place and find out more here.

Ronan MacSweeney, President, The Law Society of NSW