• Substantive law

Join our facilitators in discussing what is a hot topic of International Family Law and child protection

• International parental child abduction 
• 1996 Convention on International Child Protection
• International surrogacy and international perspective on child support 
• Financial proceedings where parties live overseas and enforcing orders overseas.
  

Martha Barnett, Barrister, Culwulla Chambers
Catherine Spain, Barrister, Waratah Chambers

Knowledge area:

• Practice management and business skills

Having effective legal research skills is incredibly important throughout the legal career as legal research is crucial to the practice of law. Which resources should you be using to ensure that you are effectively and efficiently researching the law? Google might have a lot of the answers yet navigating the labyrinth of legal databases will continue to be necessary.

• a super searcher with Google;
• use Google Scholar and other resources for legal research;
• know how and when to use Wikipedia.

• Practice management and business skills

From 1 August 2016, the National Verification of Identity (VOI) framework will apply to paper conveyancing under the Conveyancing Rules. This session will cover the requirements to assist practitioners to understand the changes and how they impact conveyancing transactions.

• Substantive law

Pre-Pack arrangements have common elements to phoenix activity yet they have the limited support of insolvency practitioners. This area of the law is hindered by a lack of targeted legislation, although is somewhat addressed by The Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association.

• the difference between illegal phoenix activity for insolvent small to medium sized enterprises and legal pre-pack arrangements, also known as pre-positioned arrangements.

• Substantive law

 This videocast looks at the broad area of Foreign CGT assets & tax variations.

• Certain CGT asset acquisitions
• Whether vendor is a foreign resident
• Clearance certificates: Establishing Australian residency in real property transactions
• Vendor Declarations: Australian residency status (transactions not involving real property)
• Vendor Declarations: CGT assets are membership interests but not ‘indirect Australian real property interests

• Practice management and business skills

Darryl Browne will address some issues that he recognises as the recurring areas of concern with the preparation and performance of powers of attorney. The presentation touches on the areas of capacity, problems with new and old forms, scope, drafting, and section 19 certificates, just to name a few.

• areas of capacity
• problems with new and old forms
• scope, drafting
• and section 19 certificates

• Professional skills

Focusing on the Local Court jurisdiction, Talitha Fishburn canvasses the main practice and procedure elements of the Court.

• important advocacy tips
• addressing the technique of presenting and arguing a client's position
• civil practice and procedure
• tips provided are applicable for both civil and criminal.

• Practice management and business skills

Join us for this short seminar to hear Deputy President Schyvens discuss this contentious issue and the impact for lawyers and medical personnel.This podcast discusses this contentious issue and the impact for lawyers and medical personnel.

• cognitive impairment & the impact on lawyers

• Substantive law

It is 100 years since the Testator’s Family Maintenance and Guardianship of Infants Act 1916 was introduced, making provision for disappointed beneficiaries. The original Act was limited in its application.

• the extension of persons for whom provision can be made
• the concept of notional estate making it possible to claw back assets disposed of during one’s lifetime
• the greater complexity of families and estate assets

• Substantive law

In the world of civil disputes, there are a variety of methods of settlement negotiations that can be utilised. Calderbank offers and offers of compromise are important tools in trying to achieve settlement.

• Calderbank offers
• offers of compromise
• recent case law

• Professional skills

Developing mindfulness skills is an effective way to manage the dynamic circumstances of life, minimise stress and improve overall performance.

• What mindfulness actually is – not just jargon and buzzwords
• How to use mindfulness to improve all areas of your life
• Examples of mindfulness AND mindlessness
• How to do it – Mindfulness is best learnt by doing, we take you through practical mindfulness exercises that you can work into your day, not just while you are at the course

• 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

• Professional skills

Advocacy is the art of persuasion and is practised by us all every day (sometimes without our even noticing). There are many references available to assist in becoming a good advocate and advocates can be trained; but "the fool's way" - doing it, failing and succeeding - is the last and best way to learn.

• A forensic (court) advocate of any description must know the factual and legal bases of the case being advanced and the opposing case
• He or she must know the result that is sought, how to achieve it - and then convey that to the court
• An advocate must have a purpose, must prepare and must perform
• Flexibility is helpful, in order to address the opposing case as it develops
• A look at the examination of witnesses, cross-examination and oral submissions
• How to give attention to the audience, the structure of one's contribution, content, delivery and ethics/etiquette

•  Professional skills

Being an effective lawyer means writing so that your clients can understand and act on your advice. But how do you communicate complex legal ideas to an audience with little or no legal knowledge?

Drawing on his experience as a professional writer, Ralph Grayden will show you simple techniques to improve your writing and build trust and understanding with your clients.

• Develop your own effective writing style
  
• Structure your writing
  
• Avoid common mistakes and debunk writing myths

• Practice management and business skills

In this session Thomas Kaldor will address cyber security basics.

• speaking the language of cyber security
• understanding the key risks for legal practitioners
• cyber security tips for protecting your practice
• legislative developments - Privacy Act and mandatory notification
• case study: using email - risks and tips

• Practice management and business skills

This is a must for practitioners wanting all the latest security updates to ward off cyber attacks.

• A history of crime
• Crime as a business
• What are they after
• The principles of protection
• Understanding the NIST framework
• Why it is an important step in protecting your organisation
• Comparing Rogers framework to NIST for small legal firms

• Substantive law

In this session Tony Cahill will discuss the recently issued joint copyright contract for the sale and purchase  of water entitlements.

• Limitations in using the former edition
• The expanded scope of the latest version – what is a “water entitlement”?
• Delivery mode of the standard form
• Completing pages 1 and 2 – the “variable” information
• Hydrogeological and similar surveys – who pays?
• More detailed “consent” provisions
• Other notable changes
• Registration of interests of water entitlements under Federal legislation

• Practice structures
  
• Principal's responsibilities
• Business plans/business development
• Client management

In this podcast Sue-Ella will discuss conversations that are often cited by lawyers as being ‘difficult’. She will look at why these are challenging and discuss tools for effective engagement.

• An introduction to communication styles and how to adapt.
• Re-framing situations and why ‘difficult’ can be good.
• Tactics for effective engagement (and reducing stress)
• Getting a difficult conversation started

• The impact of firm size on client conflicts
• Communication ethics for the smaller practice
• Perils of the family who are all the client