• Practice management and business skills

The Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Bill was passed by the Victorian Parliament on 13 March 2014. A Bill applying the Uniform Law as a law of New South Wales was passed by the New South Wales Parliament on 13 May 2014 applicable as of 2015. The New South Wales and Victorian Governments have executed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) formalising their joint participation in the new regulatory scheme.

• regulation of legal costs under the forth coming Legal Profession Uniform Law.
• disclosure and billing
• resolution of cost disputes either before the Legal Services Commissioner or on assessment

• the overriding duty of a solicitor to the court and the obligations this imposes on a solicitor
• the duty of the solicitor to the client including the duty to advise and the solicitor’s duty of loyalty.
• the duty of the solicitor to avoid conflicts of interest

• Business Process and Accounting
  
• Revenues, Liabilities and Owners Equity
  
• Costs – Assets and Expenses
  
• Developing Cost Estimates for Operating Overhead Costs
  
• Developing Cost Estimates for Labour Costs
  
• Planning Revenue Generating Activity Levels – (HOURS)
  
• Calculation of Labour Charge out rates
  
• Break-even and Profit Planning
  
•  Understanding Revenues & Expenses and their drivers. 
  

Traditional techniques and document structures may escalate conflict and even make the professional writer the next target of blame.

• To recognise high conflict clients
• Know what you can do to adjust how you communicate
• Understand writing approaches for high conflict people

This course presents a practical framework for assessing and resolving ethical dilemmas in a sophisticated manner guided by a circumspect and reflective analysis able to withstand the scrutiny of others and minimise the potential for personal regrets.

•  Determining the role of your client in an investigation; 
• Advising about notices to produce documents; 
• Preparation for and attendance at section 19 examinations; 
• Advising clients about the timing of and possible publicity arising from an ASIC investigation; 
• Negotiating enforceable undertakings; and Making complaints to ASIC.

As we know, the PPS Act commenced on 30 January 2012. Our new personal property securities (PPS) regime represents one of the most significant changes to property and securities law in Australia for many years. The PPS Act literally transforms the way personal property is dealt with in relation to security interests.

Many legal commentators have described this area of case law as a minefield. As we continue to experience an expanding body of PPS case law, many lawyers share this view.

• the basic underpinnings of the European and American approaches to legal ethics and in-house counsel 
• differences between the practical approaches to preserving the independence of legal practitioners 
• why in-house counsel cannot practise as lawyers in some of Europe 
• what problems face in-house lawyers in the American model 
• what similar problems are faced by external counsel
  

Chiara Formenti-Ujlaki

This session will address the practical considerations that lawyers need to take into account when a person dies intestate.

• the morality and the law
  
• the role ethics plays in the legal profession
  
• whether rules and regulations can govern a profession and ultimately make it immune from moral accountability.
  

• The role of case law and legislation in recent years in relation to directors duties
• The key provisions in the Corporations Act dealing with directors duties and how they have been interpreted by the Court.

This session will give you a basic understanding of the principles of class actions in the NSW Supreme Court and the Federal Court. It will help you advise your clients who may be group members, possible defendants or cross defendants.