This session was recorded on 14 March 2024 as part of the Key knowledge for commercial lawyers: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar.

Hear from legal experts in this live online course as they discuss some of the current issues faced by commercial lawyers legal practitioners, while earning four CPD units.

Topics include:

It’s non-negotiable: navigating unfair terms in small business and consumer agreements – Jennifer Dean, Partner, Johnson Winter Slattery

Recent legislative reforms have created an increased focus on ensuring fairness in standard form contracts used in dealings with small businesses and consumers. This practical session provides an overview of the recent reforms, identifying unfair terms, compliance strategies and key takeaways from regulatory enforcement and case law.

Legal ethics – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Professional Support Unit, The Law Society of NSW

In this session Paul Monaghan will consider ethical issues and scenarios relevant to commercial lawyers.

Proper management of a trust year by year – David Marks KC, Barrister, Inns of Court & Norman Hanna, Barrister, Inns of Court

This session will look at the proper management of a trust - year by year. Quite apart from managing the tax position of a family group or investment structure, the lawyer has a role in ensuring decision-making is in order. The lessons from recent cases like JJ Owies (VSCA), Grand View (UKPC) and Legler (NZCA, NZSC appeal heard) will be addressed. 

This interactive session will discuss strategies for improving decision-making and ensuring that the intended structuring and tax planning actually works.

David Marks KC will also discuss some recent lessons about trust distributions, particularly where there are foreign elements, or unusual types of income and gains.

Wellbeing and commercial practice – Simonette Vaja, Wellbeing Manager, The Law Society of NSW

This session will provide an overview of optimal habits for high performing lawyers, including: 

• Mental Agility – Growth Mindset
• Evidence based best practice habits for mental wellbeing
• Mental Fitness with Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction 

This session was recorded on 27 March 2025 as part of the Crucial pointers in contract law: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar.

Hear from legal experts in this live online course as they discuss some of the current contract law issues faced by legal practitioners, while earning four CPD units.

This course will include four sessions:

Contract drafting tips for preventing disputes – Amanda Comelli, Partner, Brown White Stein Lawyers & Eleanor Arthurson, Associate, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers

In this session, gain useful drafting skills from an Accredited Specialist in Business Law experienced in general contract drafting and review in a range of areas; these include commercial and corporate law, tax law, trusts and estate planning. 

File and data management for contract lawyers – Nick Satouris, Professional Support Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

By the end of this session, you will:

• Be familiar with costs disclosure obligations.
• Understand how to establish optimal billing practices.
• Be able to establish a costs practice with appropriate costs precedents.

Ethics in contract law – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

This session will provide a review of the ethical aspects of duties to the court, the client and the profession, and their practical applications in the area of contract law.

Damages for breach of contract and wasted expenditure – Ourania Konstantinidis, Partner, Dentons

This session will cover the High Court’s recent decision in Cessnock City Council v 123 259 932 P/L dealing with the appropriate measure of damages for breach of contract. We will dive into:

• A snapshot of historical cases on damages and how the High Court arrived at the landmark decision.
• The High Court’s guidance on reliance damages for breach of contract with a particular focus on wasted expenditure and the recently established ‘facilitation principle’.
• How the courts will approach disputes involving damages incurred in reliance on contractual promises.
• Important practical strategies as to how you can manage risk when drafting contracts or advising your clients.

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your understanding about this important and evolving area of contract law from the solicitor who ran the High Court case from its origins.

Amanda Comelli, Partner, Brown White Stein Lawyers
Eleanor Arthurson, Associate, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Nick Satouris, Professional Support Solicitor, Law Society of NSW
Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW
Ourania Konstantinidis, Partner, Dentons

This session was recorded on 20 March 2025 as part of the Civil litigators: Mandatory Rule 6.1 – live webinar

Hear from legal experts in this live online course as they discuss some of the current issues faced by civil litigators, while earning four CPD units.
Topics include:

Developments in evidence law – Carmel Lee, Barrister, Greenway Chambers

In this session, learn about recent developments in evidence law and their application to civil litigation.

Legal ethics – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

This session will examine ethical aspects of duties to the Court, the client and the profession, with practical applications for civil litigators.

Building your civil litigation practice – Alistair Marshall, Director, Professional Services Business Development

The session will focus on how to counteract the effects of a market slowdown and demonstrate what it takes to stand out in an increasingly competitive and noisy marketplace.

Many firms suffer from a lack of awareness, underperforming websites, no real point of difference from the competition and personnel who consider themselves professionals rather than marketers or salespeople.

Session participants will learn how to engage potential clients without sounding confused or bland and also how to build trust and credibility, so they become the provider of choice over time. 

Key points to be covered include:

• Why you should change your attitude and behaviour relating to business development.
• The profit model all successful businesses must master.
• How the answers to three simple questions can change your financial life.
• The ‘must implement’ ideas to drive revenue growth in the new modern world.

Working with Counsel – Paul Cutler, Migration Lawyer, Barrister, Mediator and Arbitrator

Working with Counsel should be a constructive and collaborative process for both solicitor and barrister. Each have their own roles in civil litigation. Good teamwork and understanding are essential to achieve the best result for the client. This session will look at some of the important aspects of briefing, working with and instructing counsel at trial.

This session was recorded on 12 March 2025 as part of the Personal injury law: Mandatory rule 6.1 - live webinar.

Hear from legal experts in this live online course as they discuss some of the current issues faced by personal injury practitioners, while earning four CPD units.

Topics include:

Case law: A year in review – Rita Yousef, Special Counsel, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers
This case law update will provide you with important insights from a selection of recent personal injury cases. 

Legal ethics – Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, The Law Society of NSW
This session examines ethical aspects of duties to the Court, the client and the profession, with practical applications for personal injury lawyers.

Tips for growing a personal injury practice – Carmine Santone, Director, Santone Lawyers
Gain practical skills for setting up and expanding your personal injury practice from Carmine Santone, who has had extensive experience in both areas, and in a broad spectrum of personal injury matters.

Costs for personal injury lawyers – Nick Satouris, Professional Support Solicitors, The Law Society of NSW
By the end of this session, you will:

• Be familiar with costs disclosure obligations
• Understand how to establish optimal billing practices, and
• Be able to establish a costs practice with appropriate costs precedents.

For Mandatory rule 6.1 courses 

Practitioners should inform themselves of Rule 6.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 which sets out the requirements for the four (4) mandatory CPD areas for NSW legal practitioners – (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law. It is the responsibility of each legal practitioner to self-assess as to whether a particular educational activity extends their knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to their practice needs or professional development. If so, then the practitioner may claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included. 

If you self-assess that this particular educational activity extends your knowledge and skills, this program may allow you to claim four (4) of the mandatory areas: (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law.

This session was recorded on 6 February 2025 as part of the Important issues for in-house lawyers: mandatory rule 6.1 - live webinar.

Hear from legal experts in this live online course as they discuss some of the current issues faced by in-house legal practitioners, while earning four CPD units. 

AI and your professional skills – Caryn Sandler, Partner + Chief Knowledge and Innovation Officer, Gilbert + Tobin

Artificial Intelligence (particularly Gen AI) has now well and truly arrived in the legal industry and has the potential to shake up the way we practice. This session will serve as your guide to the Gen AI technologies that will likely change the way we find, review and write legal content. Taking a vendor-agnostic approach, we’ll bypass the hype and explain everything you need to know about:

• The current state of Gen AI in the legal industry.
• Emerging legal use cases.
• Gen AI demonstration.
• Considerations when working with Gen AI.
• What you need to do now to prepare for potential changes to legal service delivery.

Ethical issues for in-house lawyers – Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

In this session Linden will review recent issues in ethics, focusing on:

• Avoiding misleading statements.
• Managing client expectations.
• Understanding your confidentiality obligations.

Changes to Australia’s privacy and data security regime – Amber Cerny, Corporate Law Partner, EY Oceania

In this session you will get an update on changes to Australia’s amended privacy and data security laws.

We will also cover what the changes mean for you:

• How leading inhouse counsel are supporting their businesses to be compliant with the laws.
• How best to identify and mitigate risks.

The right to disconnect – Carly Stebbing, Partner, Longton Legal

This session will explore the implications of Australia's ‘right to disconnect’ reforms both for employers and for employees. The presentation will include an examination of how to ensure compliance while fostering a healthier work environment.

This session was recorded on 25 February 2025 as part of the Key knowledge and skills for family lawyers: Mandatory rule 6.1 – live webinar 

Hear from legal experts as they discuss some of the current issues faced by family legal practitioners, while earning four CPD units.

Skills and tips for managing risks relating to complex parenting issues – Malcolm Gittoes-Caesar, Consultant, Family & Relationship Law, Lander & Rogers

In this session, Malcolm Gittoes-Caesar, an Accredited Specialist in Family Law, shares insights and strategies for working on complex parenting matters that involve significant risk issues.

Ethics for family lawyers – Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

In this session, Linden reviews recent issues in ethics, focusing on:

• Avoiding misleading statements.
• Client expectation management.
• Confidentiality obligations.

Working with Independent Children's Lawyers – Skye Owen, Special Counsel, Lander & Rogers

In this session, Skye discusses the role and mandatory obligations of Independent Children’s Lawyers (ICLs). She explores when ICLs are required, how they are appointed and who bears the cost, with insights into how the recent amendments have impacted ICLs. Additionally, she discusses the types of evidence that assists ICLs, and what this means for you, along with practical communication tips for working with ICLs.

Family law case law: year in review – Craig Nicol, Editor, The Family Law Book & Keleigh Robinson Co-Editor, The Family Law Book

In this session Craig Nicol & Keleigh Robinson review notable family law cases from 2024, with a discussion of key takeaways from these cases and how they may be applied to day-to-day practice.

This session was recorded on 1 March 2025 as part of the Core issues for criminal lawyers: Mandatory rule 6.1 - live webinar.

Practitioners should inform themselves of Rule 6.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 which sets out the requirements for the four (4) mandatory CPD areas for NSW legal practitioners – (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law. It is the responsibility of each legal practitioner to self-assess as to whether a particular educational activity extends their knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to their practice needs or professional development. If so, then the practitioner may claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included. 

If you self-assess that this particular educational activity extends your knowledge and skills, this program may allow you to claim four (4) of the mandatory areas: (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law.

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

This course will focus on changes to the Australian Consumer Law which came into effect November 2023, and which prohibit businesses from proposing, using, or relying on unfair contract terms in standard form contracts with consumers and small businesses. ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh has noted that “There was previously little motivation for businesses to comply with the law”.  With substantial penalties now available, there is a significant incentive to comply. 

Topics include:

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. 

Ethical issues and unfair contracts – Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Professional Support Unit, The Law Society of NSW

In this session, Linden Barnes will examine ethical issues relating to contract law.

Unfair terms - legislation and case review – Jennifer Dean, Partner, Johnson Winter Slattery

In this session, Jennifer Dean will review important recent decisions and critical legislative changes.

Complying with the unfair contract terms regime – Verity Quinn, Special Counsel, ACCC

ACCC Special Counsel Verity Quinn will provide an overview of what the unfair contract terms regime requires, and give some tips for businesses when reviewing their contracts to ensure they comply with the law including discussion around:

• Changes allowing courts to impose substantial penalties on businesses and individuals who include unfair terms in their standard form contracts. Prior to the changes, courts could only declare specific terms of a contract void, no penalties applied.
• Changes expanding the coverage of the regime to apply to more small business contracts.
• Changes clarifying aspects of the regime, including more clearly defining ‘standard form contracts'.

Practitioners should inform themselves of Rule 6.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 which sets out the requirements for the four (4) mandatory CPD areas for NSW legal practitioners – (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law. It is the responsibility of each legal practitioner to self-assess as to whether a particular educational activity extends their knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to their practice needs or professional development. If so, then the practitioner may claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included. 

If you self-assess that this particular educational activity extends your knowledge and skills, this program may allow you to claim four (4) of the mandatory areas: (a) ethics and professional responsibility; (b) practice management and business skills; (c) professional skills; and (d) substantive law.