This full-day intensive program is specifically tailored to elder law, wills and estate planning practitioners. Experts specialising in this area cover many of the issues that you might face in your day-to-day practice. You will gain knowledge of the most current laws and cases and an expanded skill set, and 6 CPD units.  

This program complies with Rule 6.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 under the Legal Profession Uniform Law requirements of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Practice Management and Business Skills, Professional Skills, and Substantive Law.

Client management and capacity concerns – Tanya Chapman, Senior Associate, Turner Freeman Lawyers
When dealing with older clients who may have capacity issues, a solicitor should take special care to identify and manage the client relationship and to assess and record the client’s capacity. In this session we will look at:

• Correctly identifying the client.
• Assessing the client’s capacity.
• The importance of file notes.
• Obligations when circumstances or capacity change.
• The role of the solicitor in identifying and prevent elder abuse.
• Following instructions vs advising your client.

The collision of death and taxes – Mimi Su, Principal Lawyer, Private Clients – Wills & Estates, Macpherson Kelley
Australia is a jurisdiction that has long abolished death duties or inheritance taxes, but there are some instances in a deceased estate where taxation will be triggered and often inadvertently. This presentation will cover multiple examples in an estate where taxation may be triggered unknowingly or unwittingly, and the tax planning opportunities to combat these challenges.

Legal ethics for elder law, wills and estates practitioners – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW
This session will present common scenarios in the area of elder law, wills and estates, focusing on:

• An overview of the ethical and regulatory frameworks for legal practice.
• Duties to the Court, the client and the profession in this context.
• Meeting ethical obligations in regard to AI.
• Managing new ethical issues relating to AML.
  
  

The Aged Care Act: ‘To whom do the penalty units apply, they apply to thee’ – Sue Field, Adjunct Professor, School of Law, University of New England; Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Law and Justice, Charles Sturt University
Underpinning the Aged Care 2024 (Cth) is a rights based approach which can be found inter alia in the Code of Conduct for Aged Care and the Statement of Principles:

• There are penalty units for non-compliance.
• Penalty units range from 30 to 4,800.
• Penalty units apply to governing bodies, registered providers and aged care workers (which include volunteers).
• The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has the power to ensure compliance and enforce action against non-compliance.

This session will examine the application of the Act.

Changing minds: Family, identity, and decision-making in older adulthood – Anna Fischer, Wellbeing Manager, Law Society of NSW
This session will address the psychosocial considerations of ageing. Our sense of identity often changes dramatically as we age, and this frequently brings about significant alterations to our priorities and decision-making processes. Family dynamics also evolve generationally, meaning that interpersonal factors often influence us differently in later life epochs than they would have in our earlier years. In order to provide meaningful and attuned legal services to elderly clients, it's paramount that we understand satisfaction, safety, and psychosocial wellbeing from the perspectives of ageing persons. 

Understanding testamentary trusts – Stephen Lynch, Director, Somerville Legal
Testamentary trusts are an important tool for any solicitor providing estate planning services. However, before incorporating them into your practice, it is essential to understand the principles involved in testamentary trusts, the consequences of errors, and the dangers of a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Topics covered in this session will include:

• Testamentary trusts – the essentials, including advantages and disadvantages.
• Testamentary trusts in practice.
• Tips and pitfalls in drafting.
• Tax implications.
• Capacity/knowledge and approval issues.

Tanya Chapman, Senior Associate, Turner Freeman Lawyers
Mimi Su, Principal Lawyer, Private Clients – Wills & Estates, Macpherson Kelley
Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, The Law Society of NSW
Sue Field, Adjunct Professor, School of Law, University of New England; Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Law and Justice, Charles Sturt University,
Anna Fischer, Wellbeing Manager, Law Society of NSW
Stephen Lynch, Director, Somerville Legal

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 26 March 2026 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 lawyers and earn four CPD units.

Topics include the following:

Practice management and business skills for personal injury lawyers – Luke O’Kane, Partner, Clyde &

This session will explore the key practice management and business skills essential for personal injury solicitors in NSW. It will cover effective file and time management, client communication, risk management, financial performance and team leadership – all within the context of a high-volume, high-stakes practice area.

The discussion will highlight practical strategies for aligning operation efficiency with ethical obligations, strengthening client relationships and fostering sustainable business growth. Attendees will gain insights into how sound practice management not only mitigates risk, but also drives better outcomes for clients and firms.

A year in review: Case update – David Baran, Barrister, Jack Shand Chambers

Hear from legal experts in this live online course as they discuss some of the current issues faced by civil litigators, and earn four CPD units.

Topics include:

Case update – Raphael Hudson, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers

In this session, Raphael Hudson will focus on two key areas relevant to civil litigators: 

• Recent developments in disclosure and discovery.
• The power of the Court to restrain practitioners from acting in conflict of interest.  

Ethics for civil litigators – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW 

This session will examine core ethical issues and practical examples in the area of civil law. The presentation will focus on:

• An overview of the ethical and regulatory frameworks for legal practice.
• Duties to the Court, the client and the profession in this context.
• Meeting ethical obligations in regard to AI.
• Managing new ethical issues relating to AML.

Compliance requirements for costs – Nick Satouris, Professional Support Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

The content covered in this session will include:

• Providing proper cost disclosure, and exceptions to cost disclosure.
• The consequences of failing to properly disclose.
• The benefits of entering into a cost agreement with the client and the different types of cost agreements.
• Cost disputes.
• Cost recovery, including cost assessments.
• A discussion on proper billing practices.

Negotiation skills for dispute resolution – Louise Edmonds, Special Counsel, Carter Newell

 This session will offer guidance on dispute resolution options, and how to develop the negotiation skills to best implement them. It will cover:

• Negotiation skills for use in dispute resolution, including in mediation, conciliation and arbitration.
• Case studies – ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ in the world of dispute resolution.
• Takeaways for practitioners in present day practice – remote practice, artificial intelligence and communication.

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.

These sessions were recorded on 21 March 2026 as part of the Core issues for criminal 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 criminal lawyers, and earn four CPD units.

Topics will include:

Instructing counsel – Trudie Cameron, Principal Lawyer, Practice Leader – NSW & ACT, Armstrong Legal

While instructing counsel is something criminal practitioners all do regularly, there is no specific process and practices vary widely. In this session, Trudie Cameron will cover the ins and outs of instructing counsel, with the aim of improving the experience for the solicitor, barrister and client alike.

This talk will cover topics including:

• Selecting the right counsel for the matter, the client and yourself.
• Letters of instruction.
• The brief to counsel.
• Proofs of evidence and defence material.
• Managing the relationship on an ongoing basis.
• Costs.
• Common feedback from counsel.

The session will also be supplemented by a useful briefing checklist and template letter of instruction to assist practitioners moving forward.

A year in review: Case update – Manny Conditsis, Director, Conditsis Lawyers

The topics covered in this session will include: 

• Recent sexual assault communication privilege cases. 
• The proposed statutory review of the sexual consent reforms introduced by the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021. 
• ICOs for Federal offenders. 
• Sentencing juvenile offenders for ‘adult-like’ conduct. 
• Sentencing principles. 
• The UK AI predictive offences scheme. 

Legal ethics for criminal lawyers – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, The Law Society of NSW

This session will present common scenarios in the area of criminal law, with a focus on:

• An overview of the ethical and regulatory frameworks for legal practice.
• Duties to the Court, the client and the profession in this context.
• Meeting ethical obligations in regard to AI.
• Managing new ethical issues relating to AML.

Courtroom advocacy: The world of the Local Court – Matthew Ward, Partner, Morrisons

Advocacy, the art of persuasion, is one of the core skills for any criminal lawyer. The Local Court can be a fast paced and high volume jurisdiction, where advocates need to be persuasive, but also efficient.

This session aims to provide solicitors with an approach to advocacy in the Local Court, including practical tips for the continual improvement of advocacy skills.

Key topics covered in this session will be:

• A framework for approaching advocacy in the Local Court.
• The elements of preparation.
• Practising to perform.
• Tips to improve your advocacy over time.

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.

DISTRESSING CONTENT 

Viewers are advised that this course may contain details that some may find distressing. Please review the course description and use your discretion before proceeding. 

If you are in distress, the Solicitor Outreach Service (1800 592 296) and Lifeline (13 11 14) offer 24/7 counselling support. If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, please contact the Police or call 000 for emergency assistance. 

Richard Harvey, Special Counsel, Thornton + King (Chair)
Diane Skapinker, Principal, Skapinker Law
Gary Newton, Partner, HWLE Lawyers
Mark Smith, Principal, Brander Smith McKnight
Danielle Francis, Senior Associate, Chambers Russell Lawyers
Linden Barnes, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW
Carol Prasad, Professional Support Solicitor (AML), Law Society of NSW