The Law Society of NSW recognises the significant challenges currently facing many members of our profession. I want to use today’s President’s Message to ensure you are aware of the range of support options available as you navigate new regulatory compliance obligations, practice changes following legislative reform, and funding changes affecting staff retention and practice management.

The Solicitor Wellbeing Service (SoWell) provides all New South Wales solicitors with access to no-cost individual therapy, couples counselling, and general wellbeing checks. This service is hosted entirely by our independent third-party provider, PeopleSense, ensuring full confidentiality and solicitor-specific support form board-registered psychologists.

All solicitors are provided with three session credits each year, to use on the therapeutic services of their choice, which can be increased to six credits by request. If you feel you would benefit from these additional therapy or counselling sessions, please discuss this with your PeopleSense psychologist.

We also encourage practitioners to make use of SoWell’s confidential, 24/7 crisis support line, available at 1800 592 296.

In addition, we are developing a range of targeted resources designed to support practitioners managing the impacts of accelerating change in our profession. These workshops, webinars, and services will focus on key challenges currently emerging across the sector, including:

• Practitioner safety, and professional boundaries when acting in matters involving self-represented litigants
• Regional staff recruitment, retention, and training
• Effective communication and client care when working with vulnerable clients
• Managing increased emotional, psychological, and relational strain at work
• Career guidance and professional skill identification
• Sustainable business strategies for sole practitioners and principals of small firms
• Navigating change at work, including changes to organisational culture and structure.

For more information on our existing and upcoming training resources and supports, please visit our Growth and Wellbeing Hub here.

Learning, networking and growing a career
If you’re an early career lawyer, who’s still not caught up with the impressive line-up of presenters and panellists at this year’s NSW Young Lawyers Professional Development Day, I think it’s worth taking a look … and registering!

I’m particularly pleased that Acting District Court Judge Judith Gibson and Local Court Judge Lucas Swan will headline the panel to discuss Professional Etiquette: Navigating modern legal practice.

The issues dealt with in this panel are of special importance to early career lawyers as they build their careers and reputations. Other sessions include a panel discussion on Strategic Communications and the defence of the Rule of Law; and Understanding trauma in the legal process, presented by our Growth and Wellbeing Manager, Anna Fischer.

The NSWYL Professional Development Day is being held this Saturday at Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel. See the rest of the program and Register here.

Ronan MacSweeney, President, The Law Society of NSW