From the CEO Society news and updates

KELVIN STRANGE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | LAW SOCIETY NT

ceo@lawsocietynt.asn.au (08) 8981 5104

Society news and updates

Save the date Law Society NT Annual General Meeting Wednesday 17 November 2021

The dry is here again which heralds all those dry season activities we all enjoy along with the influx of visitors escaping to the warmth of northern Australia. It is pleasing on numerous fronts (especially in these times of COVID-19) to see that the Northern Territory has once again become such a popular destination.

This time of year also brings with it regulatory compliance season for legal practitioners and firms.

First and foremost is the need to renew your practising certificate for 2021/22. As of late May there were still a considerable number of legal practitioners who had not yet applied to renew their certificate. Leaving it late may result in the payment of late fees and ultimately affect your ability to practise.

Firms, sole practitioners and barristers are also reminded of their obligations in respect of professional indemnity insurance and are urged to make contact with their approved insurers as soon as possible as the issue of practising certificates is conditional upon insurance requirements being met. It is also the time for annual reporting relating to trust accounts for law practices. If uncertain as to your requirements in this regard, please refer to the information available on the Society’s website or look for the reminders in The Practitioner.

Finally don’t forget that by now, Annual CPD Certificates should have been submitted. Should you not have managed to accrue the required points in all the required competencies, you have until 30 June 2021 to submit a Supplementary CPD Certificate.

As part of Law Week, the Ethics CPD Quiz hosted by Julian Morrow of Chaser fame was a great success. It made a nice change to be able to get together with colleagues in a social setting, enjoy a drink and food and still pick up CPD points. Julian’s unique presentation style and interesting ethical conundrums made it all the more enjoyable.

On matters closer to home, the Secretariat is pleased to welcome Aislinn McIntyre back into the Manager Regulatory Services role from parental leave. Equally good news is that the Society has managed to convince Fiona Kepert to remain working at the Society for another year assisting with regulatory matters. The Secretariat and profession is fortunate to benefit

from having not one but two senior skilled and experienced practitioners dealing with regulatory matters in the Northern Territory.

In March, the Society bid farewell to longstanding council member and current Treasurer Matthew Littlejohn. Matthew had been involved with and made a valued contribution to the Society’s operations for many years and will be sorely missed. When one door closes however another opens and the Society was very fortunate in having Jim McMillan agree to step into the Treasurer’s role.

I mentioned COVID-19 briefly earlier and think it appropriate to end by returning to the topic generally. Whilst the profession and wider community in the Northern Territory and Australia have generally have fared very well in meeting the challenges presented, the threat of coronavirus remains real and will be with us for many years. As such the Society and no doubt the legal profession generally will continue to look at ways to adapt to changing circumstances.

Finally, as I sit here typing this with a sore left arm (but little other symptons) I can only urge that everyone consider their personal contribution to responding to COVID-19 when the opportunity arises.

Should any members wish to raise any issues affecting the profession with me at any time please feel free to contact me at the Society.

NT legislation

Statute Law Amendment (Territory Economic Reconstruction) Bill 2021

INTRO PASSED AMENDED

13/05/21

Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 06/05/21 Youth Justice Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 05/05/21 11/05/21 Yes

Financial Integrity and Revenue Legislation Amendment Bill 2021

04/05/21

Appropriation (2021-2022) Bill 2021 04/05/21 National Disability Insurance Scheme (Worker Clearance) Amendment Bill 2021 25/03/21 12/05/21 No

Local Government Amendment Bill 2021 24/03/21 13/05/21 Yes

Land Title Amendment Bill 2021

24/03/21 13/05/21 Yes

Health Service Bill 2021

24/03/21 06/05/21 No

Bail Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 24/03/21 Serious Sex Offenders Amendment Bill 2021 25/03/21 05/05/21 No

Taxation Administration Amendment Bill 2021

25/02/21 04/05/21 No

Mineral Royalty Amendment Bill 2021 25/02/21 06/05/21 No Police Administration Amendment Bill 2021 18/02/21 25/03/21 No

Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2021 18/02/21 23/03/21 No

Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

22/10/20 25/03/21 Yes

Legislation information sourced 10.41 am, 26/05/2021 from: https://legislation.nt.gov.au/en/LegislationPortal/Bills/By-Session

Recent Law Society NT advocacy and activites

28/05/21 Attended Sexual Harassment & Workplace Culture Workshop 20/05/21 Ethical Pursuit? CPD & Trivia Night with Julian Morrow 17/05/21 Attended NT Young Lawyers Great Debate 14/05/21 Law Society Northern Territory concern at passing of Youth Justice Amendment Act – media release 18/03/21 Managing Change & the Future Workshops CPD 17/03/21 Tips on Trust Money & Changes to Reporting Obligations CPD 13/03/21 Attended LCA Director’s meeting, Brisbane 12/03/12 Attended Conference of Law Societies, Brisbane 11/03/21 Attended International Women’s Day Breakfast