We’re now just two weeks away from the commencement of Tranche 2 obligations for solicitors providing ‘designated services’ under the AML/CTF regime. Our library of resources to support the profession through this transition continues to grow.

Following the very well received AML/CTF Implementation Guide: for sole practitioners and small practices, the Law Society has now published a bespoke guide for practices of “medium” or “high-complexity”. The AML/CTF Implementation Guide: for medium and large practices was developed by the Law Society, working with the experts at Grant Thornton, and further strengthened by the input of many leading practices in NSW.

We are updating our collection of the AML/CTF expert led video series, with new videos throughout June, which feature Brendan Thomas and William Morris (AUSTRAC), Neil Jeans (Grant Thornton) and Amy Bell (AML Sorted) now live.

We have created a handy suitability assessment tool to assist practices in determining whether or not they can apply, or apply with adjustments, the AUSTRAC issued Program Starter Kits to suit their own practice, and a helpful Privacy Policy template. Next week we’ll launch an on-demand interactive course, Complying with your anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations; an invaluable resource for solicitors as we head towards July 1.

You can find links to all these resources and more on the Law Society’s AML/CTF Hub. If you need any further assistance, contact the dedicated AML/CTF Professional Support Unit by email or phone (02) 9926 0249.

Respecting and protecting our elders
I began my term as President of the Law Society of NSW on 1 January, having worked for the previous four years as General Counsel and Company Secretary at BaptistCare, one of the largest providers of services to the elderly in Australia.

I was, and remain, proud of this work; advancing the mission to provide homes for older people focused on enhancing wellbeing and quality of life. On rare occasions, an incident of suspected elder abuse would cross my desk. Even a rare occurrence of this condemnable form of abuse was one too many.

Today, 15 June, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, an initiative of the United Nations to draw attention to, and take action on, this issue and its many forms, ‘including physical, psychological, and financial abuse, as well as neglect’. The 2026 theme is Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work.

The Law Society has been active in this space. We have established an LSJ Online portal, featuring elder law case notes, articles, news and practitioner commentary. The first cohort of Elder Law Specialist Accreditation candidates is on the home stretch to becoming part of what we hope will emerge as a national pool of Elder Law experts.

This year’s Specialist Accreditation Conference will also feature a range of elder law topics, including panel sessions on elder abuse, and dispute resolution in elder law matters - look out for the program release later this week. There are also several recent Elder Law CPD sessions available to view at your convenience on LawInform.

On the policy front, the Law Society has long been active in advocating for elderly and disabled people to have more autonomy in decision making that affects them. A month ago today, two members of our Elder Law, Capacity & Succession Committee, Jennifer McMillan and Arthur Koumoukelis, provided evidence in the NSW Parliament’s Inquiry on Supported decision making. I thank them for this important contribution. You can read our submission here.

Ronan MacSweeney, President, The Law Society of NSW