Day one: General sessions

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General sessions, Monday 6 March 2023

Keynote: the Hon William Alstergren AO

9am, Monday 6 March 2023 | 1 CPD point in core area 4

Following an introduction by President of the Law Society Farzana Choudhury, and a welcome from Law Society CEO Simone Carton, our special guest the Hon Chief Justice Alstergren AO, Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, will deliver the keynote address.

The Hon Chief Justice Alstergren AO

The Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is the Honourable William Alstergren. Chief Justice Alstergren is also Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Chief Judge Alstergren was appointed Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia on 10 December 2018. His Honour was appointed Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in October 2017. His Honour held a dual appointment as Deputy Chief Justice of the Family Court from December 2017 and he has presided over the Appeals Division of the Family Court since March 2018. Chief Justice Alstergren has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne. He also has a Master of Laws. He practised as a barrister in Melbourne from 1991, and took silk in 2012. He was the Chairman of the Victorian Bar in 2013 and President of the Australian Bar Association in 2017.

ACT legal ethics cases: 2022 in review

10.30am, Monday 6 March 2023 | 1 CPD point in core area 1

Athol Opas, barrister at Blackburn Chambers and member of the Law Society’s Legal Profession Act & Ethics Committee, will review the last year of local court and tribunal decisions that dealt with legal ethics issues. Athol has presented this very popular session regularly for a number of years, and as well as the latest updates, participants should expect a lively discussion.

Athol Opas, Barrister, Blackburn Chambers 

Athol was called to the Bar in 2017, and principally practices in commercial law, public law, occupational discipline and general civil litigation. Athol has acted in legal occupational discipline and other legal ethics proceedings. He served for several years on the ACT Law Society Council and he is currently a member of the Law Society’s Legal Profession Act and Ethics Committee. In 2019 and 2020 he was recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a recommended Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Barrister in the ACT.  

NewLaw and legal innovation

11.30am, Monday 6 March 2023 | 1.5 CPD points in core area 2

Terri Mottershead, Executive Director of the Centre for Legal Innovation at The College of Law Australia, will facilitate a session with Demetrio Zema (Founder & Director of Law Squared), Lisa Keeling (General Counsel, Australian Digital Health Agency and Chair of the Australian Government Legal Service), and Jiaying Goh (Family Law Solicitor at Farrar Gesini Dunn). Panel members will discuss the ongoing transformation of legal practice and emerging challenges from their own perspectives. Time will be given to questions from the audience.

Jiaying Goh, Lawyer, Farrar Gesini Dunn

Jiaying is an experienced lawyer holding a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. She is a native Mandarin and English speaker, having grown up in both Taiwan and Australia. She has experience in Family Law and Wills. Since joining the firm in 2018, she has been thinking a lot about how to make the law a better place for her clients, and created the AI behind her firm's online family law service, www.moderndivorce.com.au.

Lisa Keeling, General Counsel, Australian Digital Health Agency 

Lisa Keeling is the Australian Digital Health Agency’s General Counsel, where she provides legal advice on a wide range of digital health projects and initiatives designed to improve the health of all Australians. Lisa previously held senior in-house legal roles with the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Home Affairs, and most recently Services Australia. Lisa started her legal career at Clayton Utz, where she worked on some of the Commonwealth’s largest IT and telecommunications projects and procurements, before moving in-house in 2017. Lisa is Board Chair of the Australian Government Legal Service (AGLS), which is the overarching, formal professional network which connects more than 2,000 Commonwealth government lawyers working in over 90 entities across Australia. 

Terri Mottershead, Executive Director, Centre for Legal Innovation, The College of Law

As the Executive Director of the Centre, Terri works internationally with leaders and managers of law firms, legal departments, community legal centres, alternative legal service/product providers, legal associations, legal incubators and accelerators, legaltech entrepreneurs, law schools, business schools, business professionals and lawyers, supporting their contribution to the transformation of legal practice. She has been a thought leader in people centred legal practice innovation for more than 25 years. Prior to joining the Centre, Terri was a practising lawyer and subsequently led the in-house talent management departments for global firms and associations. She has also led or taught on practical legal education initiatives in law schools in Asia, Australia and the US. In 2010, Terri founded Mottershead Consulting in the US, and later expanded it to Australasia, to focus on supporting lawyers, legal business specialists and law firms in identifying, developing and transforming their capabilities and practices to a new way of delivering legal services/products to the market.

Demetrio Zema, Founder and Director, Law Squared 

Demetrio is the founder and director of Law Squared, a NewLaw firm specialising in working with Australia’s leading disruptive businesses, corporates, ASX listed entities and multi-national clients. Founded in 2016, Law Squared has grown rapidly to become ‘Australia’s most innovative law firm’ and become a leader in NewLaw and legal innovation. An accomplished entrepreneur and lawyer having worked with many listed, large unlisted, NFP’s and venture capital funds, Demetrio is focused on providing a true alternative to the traditional law firm model. Leading a globally recognised NewLaw firm, Demetrio has received numerous awards and recognitions for the growth, impact and innovation Law Squared has achieved since its launch in 2016.

Helping lawyers respond to stress

11.30am, Monday 6 March 2023 | 1 CPD point in core area 3 and 0.5 points in core area 2

Are you looking to better understand how to respond to stress or to help your staff and colleagues in those situations? Join our panel of esteemed speakers as they share stories about mental health in the law, learn about the behaviour signs to watch for, and discuss potential strategies and associated risks and claims. This interactive session will provide attendees with an invaluable opportunity to ask questions, and learn from what the past two years of lockdown has taught us about dealing with stress.

Katie Binstock, Partner, Thomson Geer 

Katie is a Partner at Thomson Geer. She advises the ACT Law Society in relation to the investigation and prosecution of complaints, external intervention and granting/renewal of local practising certificates. Aside from acting for the Law Society, Katie has a busy Wills and Estates practice. She is the Chair of the ACT Law Society Elder Law and Succession Law Committee and authored the ACT Law Handbook chapter on Older People and the Law. Katie has also tutored Lawyers, Justice and Ethics at the Australian National University.

Malcolm Heath, Practice Risk Manager, Lawcover 

Malcolm conducts risk reviews of law firms which involve onsite visits and meetings with the principals, employed solicitors and senior support staff. Malcolm presents risk management strategies through the Lawcover Risk Management Education Program’s workshops for principals, on-site at law firms, at the practice management courses of The Law Society of NSW, College of Law, FMRC, Regional Law Societies’ seminars and other events. With a degree in Psychology and his experience in business, Malcolm focuses his work on the importance of effective law firm management and profitability which helps reduce professional negligence risks. 

Alison Howarth, Managing Director, APac Trauma Consulting 

Alison has a significant work history in both government and corporate clinical settings in the sector of trauma support, including development and implementation of evidence-based policy, protocols, and training for counselling programs, social justice advocacy and reforms. In addition, Alison is a highly experienced trainer, speaker and author, with a clinical practice background spanning over two decades in counselling and support for people impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence, and vicarious trauma. 

Louise Morris, Director, Morris Legal Group 

Louise is Director of Morris Legal Group. She is the only Canberra-based property and construction lawyer who has developed large scale mixed-use, commercial and residential property. Louise is a recipient of the Australian Property Institute’s Young Achiever Award for her service to the property industry and her work at Morris Property Group. Louise brings a commercial approach to the technical application of the law, and provides development management services and advice on business operations and project delivery systems, project finance and strategic planning. Louise’s work towards establishing Morris Legal Group as a top Canberra law firm has been recognised in the Doyle’s Guide list of leading Property & Real Estate Lawyers in the ACT. 

Rob Reis, Professional Standards Manager, ACT Law Society

Rob has been the Professional Standards Manager at the ACT Law Society since 2006, investigating allegations of misconduct by practitioners. Previously Rob was in private practice from 1985. In addition to his statutory role, Rob is the ACT representative on the Professional Ethics Committee of the Law Council of Australia, and presents risk management and trust account seminars for newly admitted practitioners, paralegals and other administrative and support staff. He also runs tri-annual mandatory Practice Management Courses for senior and experienced practitioners and is a sessional lecturer and tutor at the University of Canberra and formerly a tutor in Ethics at the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Australian National University. 

Safety in the work environment

2pm, Monday 6 March 2023 | 1 CPD point in core area 2

Improve your work environment and get tips on how to ensure the safety of both practitioners and clients. Experienced trauma counsellor Alison Howarth will discuss the impact of trauma, the principles of trauma-informed care, and how to recognise risk and protective factors for burn out, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma.

Self-care planner and workbook

Powerpoint slides

Alison Howarth, Managing Director, APac Trauma Consulting 

Alison has a significant work history in both government and corporate clinical settings in the sector of trauma support, including development and implementation of evidence-based policy, protocols, and training for counselling programs, social justice advocacy and reforms. In addition, Alison is a highly experienced trainer, speaker and author, with a clinical practice background spanning over two decades in counselling and support for people impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence, and vicarious trauma. 

Sexual harassment and the Respect at Work reforms: what does it mean for your law firm?

3.30pm, Monday 6 March 2023 | 0.5 CPD points in core area 2 and 0.5 CPD points in core area 4

It’s now law: employers have to get proactive about eliminating sex discrimination and sex-based harassment in their workplaces. Gabrielle Sullivan, Chair of our Employment Law Committee, invites you to join this session and get a better understanding of your legal obligations under these reforms, and their practical ramifications for busy law firms.

References:

Powerpoint slides

Tom Fischer, Legal Officer, CFMEU ACT Branch

Tom became involved in industrial relations practice while a union delegate in the media sector, and moved into full-time organising in 2006. Working with CPSU, one of Australia’s largest national trade unions, he managed industrial disputes, conducted employee-side enterprise bargaining and organised protected industrial action in public sector workplaces as varied as the Australian Customs Service, the Defence Department, DEEWR, the Department of the Environment, and the Australia Council. In 2016, he commenced legal practice with the NSW Branch of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Construction Division, and in 2019 moved to the ACT Branch, where he assists union members with IR matters from unfair dismissals and wage claims, protected action, right of entry litigation, bargaining and agreement disputes, and litigation around discrimination, entitlements and safety in the workplace.

Gabrielle Sullivan, Legal Director, Employment Law & Investigations, BAL Lawyers

Gabrielle has been practicing civil law for over 20 years, primarily in Employment and Industrial law, and has been an Accredited Specialist in Employment in Industrial Law since 2016. She has worked for both employer, union, government and individual employee clients and so understands all sides of the IR landscape. Gabrielle has been recognized in Doyle’s Guide since 2021, and is the current Chair of the ACT Law Society’s Employment Law Committee. 

Tips and traps for new lawyers

3.30pm, Monday 6 March 2023 | 1 CPD point in core area 3

This illuminating session will be facilitated by Carys Atkinson from our New Lawyers Committee. Student mentor Georgia Briggs will discuss how to smoothly transition from student to solicitor, Barrister Ian Metz will share tips for taking the stress out of your first Court appearances, and experienced criminal lawyer Paul Edmonds will offer advice on avoiding some of the common traps new lawyers can fall into.

Carys Atkinson, Senior Solicitor, ACT Government Solicitor

Carys Atkinson (she/her) is a Senior Solicitor at the ACT Government Solicitor. She commenced practicing in 2020, and has worked in the ACT Government Solicitor’s Claims, Inquests and Inquiries Practice focusing on personal injury claims and as Practice Coordinator. Carys is a member of the ACT Law Society New Lawyers Committee.

Georgia Briggs, Principal Solicitor, Briggs Law

Georgia began her career 7 years ago, working primarily in criminal law with a law firm in Queanbeyan. She went on to work as a prosecutor, before switching to family law and then opening her own firm, Briggs Law, in 2021. She currently works in criminal, family, care and protection, and estate planning law. Georgia also lectures and tutors at the University of Canberra, Charles Sturt University and UNE, and is a mentor to many university students through several programs. She has been a member of the Young Lawyers Committee since early 2021, and has been shortlisted as one of the Top 10 Best Criminal Lawyers in Australia Under 30 in 2019 and 2021. Georgia has also just been appointed as a Director of the Board of Capital Football. She has just finished a Masters in Law and is currently also completing a PhD in the area of criminal law.

Paul Edmonds, Principal, Paul Edmonds & Associates

Paul has over 20 years experience in all types of criminal and traffic matters, and has personally handled over 1000 drink drive cases as well as a wide range of cases from assault to serious sexual matters, drug trafficking, and murder. Paul is a former councillor of the ACT Law Society, and is a long serving member of its Criminal Law Committee. Paul also takes a special interest in cases involving illegal police searches and unlawfully obtained confessions. He started his legal career as a compensation lawyer, winning hundreds of workers compensation and motor accident claims for his clients, and continues to fight hard to get the maximum compensation payout for his clients.

Ian Metz, Barrister, Blackburn Chambers

Ian was called to the Bar in 2020. He began his career as a solicitor at Gilbert + Tobin and was a tipstaff in the Equity Division of the NSW Supreme Court. While at Gilbert + Tobin, Ian specialised in employment law. He worked on a number of high-profile matters and acted for large and sophisticated clients including major banks and private equity firms.  He was also a top contributor to the firm’s pro bono initiatives. Ian has particular expertise in employment law, commercial law, equity and trusts, and wills and estates.

The great hesitation: legal recruitment trends

4.30pm, Monday 6 March 2023 | 0.5 CPD points in core area 2 and 0.5 CPD points in core area 3

Canberra based recruitment firm, Elliott Gray, will provide an overview of the current recruitment trends and challenges specific to the legal sector. They will be joined by a panel providing insight on the recruitment challenges they have faced and the new approaches being adopted to successfully recruit staff in the legal field.

Elsa Gray-Murphy, Director, Elliott Gray

Elsa is Director and co-founder of Elliott Gray. Elsa is widely regarded as one of Canberra’s most passionate and skilled recruiters. She has over 10 years’ experience in large agency recruiting and specialises in matching skill-sets and experience and ensuring optimum cultural fit. Elsa is relied on for recruitment advice and solutions by a number of key Canberra firms and has an unparalleled ability to source and engage candidates who will contribute to the success of an organisation over the long-term.

Mikey Richardson, Team Leader - Commercial Sector Specialist, Elliott Gray

Mikey specialises in commercial sector recruitment for Elliott Gray. He brings with him strong business and stakeholder management expertise to the role having worked in management roles in the fitness sector for the last 4 years. Mikey specialises in the art of recruitment and as such, his skill set lies in the engagement of candidates and matching of culture and skills sets across all white-collar disciplines. His career to date has seen him responsible for client management, program development, business development, finance management and team management. His strong work ethic saw him lead the fitness business he managed to be the most successful studio in the territory.

Emily Shoemark, Director, Sneddon Hall & Gallop

Emily leads the firm’s Employment Law team and IP team. She provides business clients with advice on commercial transactions, intellectual property and employment law matters. She joined Snedden Hall & Gallop in September 2008 and was appointed a Director of the firm in July 2021. Emily is an approved Secure Local Jobs auditor with the ACT Government, with Secure local jobs replacing the Industrial Relations & Employment Obligations (IRE) procurement process in January 2019. Emily was an HR consultant prior to her legal career. She developed expertise in performance management, workforce planning and process improvement. Emily was recently appointed to the ACT Work Health and Safety Council, which advises the ACT Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety on relevant issues. Emily has also written widely on commercial law and employment law.

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