This session explores the intersection of AI, cyber risks and ethics, with a focus on actionable strategies for in-house lawyers. Gain insights into navigating legal challenges, fostering ethical AI practices and how to safeguard your business against cyber threats. 

This session was recorded as part of the In-House Corporate Stream at the Annual Conference 2024.

Sebastian Sequoiah-Grayson, Senior Lecturer in Epistemics, UNSW

(Moderator) Brett McGrath, President, Law Society

In this back-to-basics presentation, the President of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal, Magistrate Carolyn Huntsman, and Deputy President (Forensic Division), Magistrate Michael Antrum, will guide participants through the essentials. 

The presenters will traverse the principal issues that are confronted in the Civil and Forensic divisions of the Tribunal and will provide insights into working with the Mental Health Act 2007 and the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020. Practical aspects surrounding representation of patients, making relevant submissions and navigating Tribunal procedure and practice will be covered. 

For practitioners new to the jurisdiction or those thinking about it, this will be an invaluable introduction. For experienced lawyers, the session will provide an opportunity to brush up on the basics. 

In this session, John Turnbull SC will discuss:

• The importance of understanding the legislative basis upon which damages can be awarded.
• Relevant factors to consider in relation to non-economic loss, including judicial subjectivity and the clear identification of assessment parameters.
• Tips and essentials skills for reading and interpreting financial records.

This session was recorded on Wednesday 20 September 2023 as part of the Buzzwords: Generative - live webinar.

Generative AI has been generating a bit of buzz recently. In this session, we will discuss its opportunities and challenges for lawyers, and explore how existing legal obligations can and should be applied to this technology.

Our expert panel will elaborate on various aspects related to generative AI and its impact on legal practice, including:

• What is generative AI, its current landscape, and use within the law,     
• How to avoid new risks that emerge from its use,
• Whether generative AI might be engaging in legal practice and who is responsible when something goes wrong,
• Its current and future impact on the legal profession, including business models and pricing of legal services. 

Get the buzz on generative AI.

We are pleased to deliver this on-demand recording complimentary to members.

Panel Moderator Anneka Ferguson, Senior Lecturer with the UNSW Practical Legal Training Program, Solicitor of Walker Gibbs and King, Member of the Law Society of NSW Ethics Committee

Tom Dreyfus, CEO, Co-founder Josef

Aggie Maisano, General Counsel, Gadens Lawyers, Member of the Law Society of NSW Ethics Committee

Clayton Noble, Senior Corporate Counsel, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand

Lindsay O’Connor, Head of Core Product – Pacific, LexisNexis

Jennie Pakula Manager, Innovation and Consumer Engagement Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner

Bruno Solia, Partner, MinterEllison

Dr Dilan Thampapillai, Dean and Head of School, The School of Law, the University of Wollongong

This session was recorded on Tuesday 18 July 2023 as part of the Buzzwords: Growth mindset - live webinar.

Lawyers traditionally develop a fixed mindset throughout their training and practice, which can lead to being overly risk-averse, perfectionistic, and fearing failure. Professionals who adopt a growth mindset can better adapt to disruption and change by seeing it as an opportunity to grow. 

Our panel will explore and discuss the following: 

•    What is a growth mindset?

•    How a growth mindset can prepare you for change and innovation.

•    Why a growth mindset is essential for successful leadership at all levels and how to develop it.

•    How can we benefit from a growth mindset within the legal practice?

We are pleased to deliver this on-demand recording complimentary to members.

Michael Bunting, Founder, The Mindful Leader 

Sue Rosen, Executive Coach, Sue Rosen Executive Coaching

Tim Sprague, Executive Coach/Psychologist, The Coaching Practice 

Panel Moderator Simonette Vaja, Wellbeing Manger, The Law Society of NSW

This session was recorded on Wednesday 29 March 2023 as part of the Buzzwords: Neurotechnology - live webinar.

The rise of neurotechnology raises ethical, social, political, economic, and legal issues that span many areas of law, including human rights, privacy, criminal, contract, commercial, employment, consumer, mergers & acquisition, medical, technology, and digital. 

Neurotechnology can be part of a headset, wristband, helmet, computer gaming, cochlear and other brain implants. It can also be used to monitor or cognitively enhance workforce or treat various medical conditions.  

During this expert panel event we will aim to anticipate the challenges and opportunities of neurotechnology for the legal profession, covering: 

• What is neurotechnology, where is it today and where is it heading? 
• Are the current regulatory systems and human rights protections adequate? 
• How can lawyers prepare for neurotechnological advances?

We are pleased to deliver this on-demand recording complimentary to members.

Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, President, Australian Human Rights Commission

Dr Allan McCay, Academic Fellow, Sydney Law School, Deputy Director, Sydney Institute of Criminology

Lesley Sutton, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin 

Associate Professor Frederic Gilbert PhD, Ethics Lab -Principal Lead, Head of Discipline - Philosophy & Gender Studies, School Of Humanities, College Of Arts, Law And Education, University of Tasmania

Cassandra Banks, President, The Law Society of NSW

This session was recorded on 20 March 2024 as part of the Key developments and skills for civil litigators: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar

Electronic witnessing and execution of legal instruments – Tim Masters, Senior Associate, Piper Alderman 

This session will cover the current legislative requirements for electronic execution and remote witnessing of legal documents such as wills, enduring powers of attorney, appointments of enduring guardian, affidavits, statutory declarations, deeds and contracts. 

In this session you will learn:

• The impact of legislation created under Covid-19 on the changes to practices of electronic signing and remote witnessing.
• The relevant sections of the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (NSW) and the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) with respect to electronic execution in NSW, and the interaction of those sections with execution requirements set out under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
• Acceptable forms of “Remote witnessing” and practices that should be avoided.
• Legislative differences between NSW and other jurisdictions and the differing requirements for electronic signing and remote witnessing for commonly encountered legal documents such as wills and deeds.

This session was recorded on 12 March 2024 as part of the Elder law, wills and probate: One day intensive – live webinar.

Estate planning for blended families – Paul Evans, Partner, Makinson d’Apice Lawyers

Blended families, where one or both spouses have children from a prior relationship are today increasingly common. Inevitably, with a blended family situation, there will be a multitude of competing needs and obligations. Skillful estate planning can address those needs and obligations and as far as possible keep conflict within the family to a minimum. 

The presentation will examine types of blended families, provide an understanding of how to tackle your clients' objectives, and the potential for family provision claims. It will also cover possible strategies to include: 

• Outright gifts
•  Mutual wills contracts 
•  Life interests and rights to reside 
•  Superannuation and family trusts 

Packed courtrooms, high-pressure negotiations, and constant client interaction - the legal profession often seems exclusively made for extroverts. But what about introverted lawyers who find their energy drained by social situations and excel in focused research and analysis?

This session will offer:

• Practical advice and inspiring stories from successful introverted lawyers.
• Insights on how to leverage strengths while navigating the extroverted world of law and could be a valuable resource for law students, lawyers, and anyone considering a legal career who might worry that their personality doesn't fit the mould.
• How do you drive performance if you manage an introverted team?
• Because law is noted for its adversarial approach, competition, and assertive work ethic, what if you don’t find yourself in-step with that mindset?
• Practical tips and tricks to deal with imposter syndrome while making your way through a legal career—and can it ever leave?

Please note that not all questions asked by the live audience are clearly audible.

This session was recorded on Thursday 10 October 2024 as part of the Annual Conference 2024.

Mei Gong, Senior Associate, Johnson Winter Slattery

Mara Lejins, Solicitor, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions NSW

(Moderator) Henry Ea, Content Specialist, The Law Society of NSW

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This session was recorded on 27 March 2024 as part of the Unfair contracts - the new penalties: Mandatory rule 6.1 - live webinar.

Good drafting and compliance with the changes to unfair contracts law – Kathleen Morris, Barrister, Level 22 Chambers

On 9 November 2022 the Treasury Laws Amendment (More Competition, Better Prices) Act 2022 (Cth) came into effect, which expanded and reformed the unfair contract terms regimes applying under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth). Those amendments included the introduction of a new civil penalty regime prohibiting the use of, and reliance on, unfair contract terms by businesses, which came into operation from 9 November 2023. The amendments also broadened the definition of “small business” and clarified matters to be taken into account when assessing whether a contract is a “standard form contract”. This session considers those legislative changes and steps that can be taken to ensure compliance with the unfair contract terms regime. 

This session was recorded on 12 June 2024 as part of the Key considerations for settlements: Mandatory rule 6.1 - live webinar.

Many negotiations involve a ‘haggle’, predominantly over money. This session examines the haggle from the perspective of clients and representatives, and also from interveners such as mediators. It defines its predictable features, consider how it can be improved and explains what to look for when the haggle becomes sticky. In this session you will learn to:

• Prepare for and commence haggle negotiations
• Manage the dynamics of the process
• Respond to tactics and scan for underlying interests
• Link client choices to broader goals and find justifications for outcomes