LawInform Courses


For information on CPD rules: The Law Society of New South Wales website.



	This conference will explore the vital role solicitors in rural and remote regions play in their communities, often managing broad areas of law, navigating limited resources, and balancing close community ties with professional obligations. These sessions were recorded as part of the 2025 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 24 October 2025
	Bobbie Wan, Head of Regulatory Policy and Strategy, The Law Society of NSW Neil Jeans, Partner, Risk Consulting, Grant Thornton Sarah Maddox, Enforcement, AUSTRAC Karina Penfold, Partner, Turner Freeman Lawyers Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, The Law Society of NSW David Allen, Managing Director at Haille Paine Solicitors; President, Southern Tablelands Law Society Ann Fischer, Wellbeing Manager, The Law Society of NSW Jess Salvato, General Counsel, RELA Steven Wright, Associate Director Crime (West/South), Legal Aid NSW Jason Elias, Chief Executive Officer, Elias Recruitment Ben Gouldson, Managing Director, Clifford Gouldson Lawyers Analiese McKelvey, Solicitor, Family Law and Care & Protection, Legal Aid NSW



	Navigate the opportunities and challenges of using generative AI in this single-session panel, which is tailored for practitioners seeking a practical understanding. Hear from industry experts about the fundamentals of generative AI, explore its application, and grasp how AI adoption can boost business growth and staff wellbeing. Walk away feeling equipped to harness AI's potential ethically and effectively in your practice. This session was recorded on Friday, 11 October 2024 as part of the Rural and Private Practice stream at the Annual Conference 2024.
	Recorded on 11 October 2024
	Linden Barnes, AI Task Force Member, Senior Ethics Solicitor, LSNSW Anneka Ferguson, Senior Lecturer, UNSW Practical Legal Training Program; Solicitor, Walker Gibbs and King; Member of The Law Society of NSW Ethics Committee, Rural Issues Committee, & AI Task Force Amber Ling, Partner, Cutcher & Neale (Sponsor) Sarah Waley, Founder & Director, Ideas in Practice, Head of Clients & Markets – Turks Legal Brett McGrath, President, The Law Society of NSW, Member of The Law Society of NSW AI Task Force (Moderator)



	In this session, Linden Barnes and Matt Anderson look at a number of ethical issues including: Conflicts when acting for multiple family members Conflicts when you have acted in the past for the other side The risks of mixing friend and client Confidentiality and information the whole town knows Relationships amongst practitioners on opposing sides This recorded webinar was originally captured during the 2021 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 29 October 2021
	Linden Barnes, Sr Ethics Solicitor, The Law Society of NSW Matt Anderson, Lawyer, Lander & Rogers



	This panel discussion will consider the impact of AML/CTF legislative changes for rural and regional practices, with a focus on AUSTRAC Starter Program Kits. These sessions were recorded as part of the 2025 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 24 October 2025
	Bobbie Wan, Head of Regulatory Policy & Strategy, The Law Society of NSW Neil Jeans, Partner, Risk Consulting, Grant Thornton Sarah Maddox, Manager, Enforcement, AUSTRAC



	This panel discussion will explore the unique challenges rural practitioners face in navigating conflicts of interest in estate planning, family provision claims and touch on proprietary estoppel. With rural clients often connected through tight-knit communities, overlapping personal and professional relationships can complicate legal duties. Panelists will examine common conflict scenarios involving farming families, intergenerational asset transfers, and blended families. Practical strategies for managing ethical obligations while preserving client relationships will be discussed. The session aims to equip rural lawyers with tools to identify and mitigate conflicts in complex rural estates. This session was recorded as part of the 2025 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 24 October 2025
	Karina Penfold, Partner, Turner Freeman Lawyers Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, The Law Society of NSW David Allen, Managing Director, Haille Pain Solicitors; President, Southern Tablelands Law Society



	This panel brings together voices from across the legal profession to explore the ongoing challenge of attracting and retaining legal talent in rural, regional and remote communities. Rather than presenting solutions, the session will focus on sharing lived experiences, identifying systemic barriers, and discussing methods and models that have shown promise in supporting recruitment and retention efforts. This session was recorded as part of the 2025 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 24 October 2025
	Steven Wright, Associate Director Crime (West/South), Legal Aid NSW David Allen, Managing Director, Haille Paine Solicitors; President, Southern Tablelands Law Society Jason Elias, Chief Executive Officer, Elias Recruitment Ben Gouldson, Managing Director, Clifford Gouldson Lawyers Analiese McKelvey, Solicitor, Family Law and Care & Protection, Legal Aid NSW



	This session outlines and addresses some of the psychosocial stressors most frequently encountered by rural solicitors. From being under-resourced and under-staffed to grappling with high workloads and disadvantaged client bases, rural practitioners often need to take a tailored approach to their mental and emotional wellness. This session acknowledges these strains and offers practical guidance on how to safeguard wellbeing amidst unique stressors and limited access to institutional support. This session will conclude with a practical framework of psychological injury management and prevention for rural and remote solicitors. This session was recorded as part of the 2025 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 24 October 2025
	Anna Fischer, Wellbeing Manager, The Law Society of NSW



	The transition to renewable energy is reshaping how agricultural land is used. For landowners in regional and rural areas, it presents valuable economic opportunities ‒alongside a range of legal, commercial, and practical challenges. This session will walk through the lifecycle of a renewable energy project ‒from early access and construction through to long-term operations and decommissioning ‒ with a focus on supporting co-existence with ongoing farming and responsible land management at each stage. We’ll explore key negotiation points, including land access terms, the structuring of option and lease arrangements, the management of competing land uses, and how to balance project viability with landowners’ ability to continue using, managing, and dealing with their land. We’ll also consider how to future-proof agreements in a rapidly evolving sector. This session was recorded as part of the 2025 Rural Issues Conference.
	Recorded on 24 October 2025
	Jess Salvato, General Counsel, RELA


	Diving into the Legal Implications of Climate Change, this session will explore the guidance put out to practitioners to assist those who are unfamiliar with the legal issues associated with climate change and its impacts. This session was recorded on Friday, 11 October 2024 as part of the Rural and Private Practice stream at the Annual Conference 2024.
	Recorded on 11 October 2024
	Elizabeth Wild, Partner, Environment & Planning Team Leader, Norton Rose Fullbright Georgiena Ryan, Principal – Regional Business Lawyers, Chair – Law Society of NSW Rural Issues Committee (Moderator)

LawInform Courses

2025 Rural Issues Conference – on-demand recording

AI Essentials: Practical Insights for Practitioners – on-demand recording

Ethics for rural lawyers – on-demand recording

Panel: AML/CTF for Rural and Regional law practices – on-demand recording

Panel: Conflicts of interest in estate planning and family provision claims involving rural interests and assets – on-demand recording

Panel: Talent acquisition and retention for RRR law firms – on-demand recording

Psychological safety for rural solicitors – on-demand recording

Renewables-focused leasing and developments: Managing negotiations and commercial considerations – on-demand recording

Understanding the Law Society's Practitioner Guidance on Climate Change – on-demand recording