Law Council President-elect addresses
New Zealand Law Society on current
advocacy priorities
On 10-11 April, Law Council President-elect Tania Wolff and Chief Executive Officer James Popple attended New Zealand Law Society’s Board and Council Meetings in Wellington. Tania and James had a number of meetings with the Law Society’s leadership. Tania addressed NZLS Council at their meeting on 11 April, providing an overview of the Law Council’s Call to Parties and current priorities, which covered issues including anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing, youth justice, and legal assistance funding, as well as broader concerns regarding rushed, opaque lawmaking without proper debate or scrutiny.
Law Council supports Australian resolve to protect human rights of older persons
On 3 April 2025, the UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution to proceed with an intergovernmental process to draft a treaty on the human rights of older people.
The Law Council has long supported the adoption of a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, including in the Royal Commission context, and looks forward to participating in the drafting discussions to follow.
Responses to the Law Council’s Call
to Parties
As noted in the previous LCA Update, the Law Council released its 2025 Federal Election Call to Parties document on 31 March 2025.
The Call to Parties outlines a set of key reform priorities identified by the Australian legal profession and seeks the commitment of political parties and independent candidates to these reforms.
The Law Council has received responses from the Australian Labor Party, the Coalition, the Australian Greens and Senator David Pocock, Independent Senator for the ACT.
These responses have been published on the
Law Council’s Call to Parties webpage to allow consideration by the legal profession and the public.
Any further responses received before election day will also be published on this webpage.
LCA Submissions
Recently published Law Council Submissions.
- Inquiry Into the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) Bill 2023 (Cth), Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee.
- Review of the Future Acts Regime: Issues Paper, Australian Law Reform Commission.
Section Submissions
Recently published Section Submissions.
- Payday Super – Exposure Draft, Treasury (Legal Practice Section).
Centrepay Reform: Consultation Paper, Services Australia (Legal Practice Section).
Inquiries and consultations
As of 30 April 2025.
- CP 383 Reportable situations and internal dispute resolution data publication, Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
- DP Australia’s evolving capital markets: A discussion paper on the dynamics between public and private markets, Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
- Merger process guidelines, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
- Mergers reform – notification thresholds instrument – exposure draft, Treasury.
- Improving access to affordable and quality financial advice, Treasury.
- Merger assessment guidelines, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
- Public consultation on template constitutions for charitable CLGs, Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
- Governance Review - Discussion Paper, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
- Consultation on proposed revisions to the Accreditation Standards for Australian Law Courses, Legal Services Council.
- Southeast Asia Free Trade Agreement modernisation review, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
News and Media
Key media articles:
- Coalition says a national sex offender register would be a ‘powerful deterrent’. How would it work, and why now?, The Guardian, 21 April 2025.
- On 23 April 2025, Law Council President Juliana Warner appeared on Victorian Statewide Mornings, ABC Radio to discuss Legal Aid and the upcoming election. Listen to the interview here starting at 1:05:30.
Awards
The 2025 round for nominations is open for the Mahla Pearlman Award for the Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year.
The Mahla Pearlman Award for the Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year is awarded to a young lawyer who has made a significant contribution to environmental law. Each recipient is recognised not only for their contribution to the practice of environmental law but also for their contribution to the legal and wider community.
The Award is named in honour of the former Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, and former President of the Law Council of Australia, the late honourable Mahla Pearlman AO.
Nominations close 23 May 2025. For more information about the award or to submit a nomination, click here.
Events
The Family Law Section (FLS) invites you to Melbourne for the next installment in our Family Law Intensive Series for 2025.
Our session program caters to family lawyers at all stages in their careers, with content ranging from death and personal injury, to developing strategies for practitioners to better handle matters involving domestic and family violence, to effectively drafting Affidavits and presenting evidence in a compelling and constructive manner.
The Intensive will open and close with the ‘Latest and Greatest’ sessions; an analysis of the leading family law cases of the last 12 months, presented by the Hon Justice Altobelli AM of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Hon Justice O’Brien of the Family Court of Western Australia.
In addition to obtaining 5 CPD points, there will be great networking opportunities for all attendees throughout the course of the day, with morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and post-Intensive drinks included with registration.
Learn more about the webinar here.
The International Law Section invites you to the next session of the ILS International Law and Practice Course in Sydney on 6 May 2025. In this session, guest speaker Angus Lang SC will speak on the topic of ‘International and Comparative Aspects of Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Law’.
Registration for the Course includes International Law Section membership for 2025/26.
For more information about the Course and to learn about other upcoming sessions, visit the Course website.
The International Law Section and the Business Law Section invite you for a Special Joint Seminar exploring current issues in Sustainable Finance in Sydney on 7 May 2025.
In this seminar, guest speakers the Hon Justice Brian J Preston FRSN SC, Linda Romanovska, Lewis Grimm, and Siobhan Toohill will speak on the topic ‘Sustainable Finance - Conceptual, International and Practical Perspectives’.
Learn more about the seminar here.
The Federal Dispute Resolution Section invites you to attend the first Hot Topics in Commonwealth Compensation seminar for 2025 on Friday, 23 May 2025, in Melbourne.
Chaired by Senior Member, Geoff McCarthy, Workers Compensation List Leader from the Administrative Review Tribunal this is a must-attend event for those interested in compensation matters under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth) and matters before the Administrative Review Tribunal in the workers compensation area. Do not miss this opportunity to stay informed and connected with others in an educational and collegiate setting.
Registrations are now open and close Wednesday, 21 May 2025.
Learn more about the seminar here.
The Legal Practice Section's Australian Consumer Law Committee is hosting another exciting ‘Consumer Rights Forum’ in person in Adelaide and by webinar.
The forum will feature a keynote address from Simone Constant, ASIC Commissioner, providing valuable insights into the governance and responsibilities of trustees in managing Australia’s superannuation assets. Following the keynote, a panel discussion moderated by a committee member will delve deeper into the challenges and expectations facing trustees today.
Registrations are open and close 5pm Thursday, 22 May 2025.
Learn more about the forum here.
The 9th National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference is coming to Melbourne on 29–31 October 2025. The Law Council of Australia, Law Institute of Victoria and the Australian Pro Bono Centre will unite to deliver the latest perspectives and ideas on access to justice and pro bono matters to support society’s most vulnerable. Enjoy insightful discussions and networking with industry leaders.
Registrations are open and close Friday, 24 October 2025.
Learn more about the conference here.
