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.