This session will cover personal injury caselaw over the past year, highlighting the effects of legislative changes.

Ethics for personal injury lawyers – Paul Monaghan, Senior Ethics Solicitor, Law Society of NSW

This session will present core ethical issues and practical examples in the area of personal injury. 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

A practical guide on how to effectively brief an expert – Justin Wong, Principal Solicitor, Streeton Lawyers

Justin Wong will explore the essential steps legal professionals should take in order to commission, instruct and collaborate with experts to deliver effective, persuasive and compliant evidence.

This session will include tips on how to:

• Define the precise scope of work and select the right expert.
• Draft clear instructions that comply with ethical obligations and rules.
• Provide all necessary materials and context to ensure a well-founded opinion.
• Navigate the expert’s duties under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) [UCPR] and the Expert Witness Code of Conduct.
• Frame questions that prompt the most persuasive and defensible responses for your legal strategy.

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.