To put this into context, the Society’s total membership as at 30 June 2019 was 4,138, comprised of 3,151 Ordinary members and 632 Associates most whom are students (346) who pay a student membership fee of $25. Also in contrast to our counterparts in NSW, we are purchasing our premises at 160 St Georges Terrace and currently owe $1.83 million, our reserves were $2.48m with an end of year surplus at 30 June 2019 of $131,507. The current forecast cash reserve for 30 June 2020 is now $1.07m primarily as a result of financial impacts associated with COVID-19.

What this means is that we will do what we can to support our members financially and otherwise. While the Law Society is simply not able to replicate anything like what the Law Society of NSW has done, we will endeavour to investigate any relief we might be able to offer members within our financial capacity and be communicating that to members by no later than May.

What the Law Society is Doing

Last week the Law Society President, CEO and staff collectively volunteered to reduce their hours and pay by 40%. The President subsequently wrote to the staff to acknowledge:

• ​how impressed and humbled the Council was by the work of the Senior Management Team and the changes all staff are all prepared to consider and have to make in the interests of the future of the Society; and that 
• the Society is truly fortunate to be assisted in implementing its important functions by such a strong and committed staff.

While our operations are impacted by COVID-19, our team will be working to assist in reducing the financial impact and protect the Law Society’s cash reserves to ensure that your peak professional body is here for you at this important time and into the future. Our team has worked to stagger their hours so that we can continue to perform the vital functions of the Society while our traditional face-to-face engagement is not presently possible.

I am very pleased to announce that eligible members will be able to now pay their membership in 12 monthly instalments from 1 July 2020. We hope this new Part-payment plan can offer you greater flexibility and convenience.

We are looking at ways to increase access to our CPD Freedom programme, to help ease the burden for members who may face financial challenges in the coming months.

While our popular face-to-face events are on hold, there is much work for us to do. We’ve been investing in our digital capabilities and have a full programme of targeted streamed engagement coming up. We’re still working hard on Brief content, and look forward to making more of it available promptly online, for any of you who are finding more time for professional reading while some aspects of our practices are restricted.

In addition to the significant changes to our practices and the Courts associated with the COVID-19 virus, we still face a significant year of law reform. The Law Society will continue to be actively involved in advocating and responding to bills before State Parliament relating to national uniform legal regulation, industrial manslaughter, wills and estates, mental health accused reform and other proposed significant changes to the criminal law jurisdiction.

Law Mutual PI Insurance Renewal

Law Mutual has received numerous requests to consider changing our insurance and payment requirements and associated procedures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Such changes present challenges. They involve considerations of our operational capability, financial impact, consideration of the relevant legislation, and the views of the Legal Practice Board. The Board’s view is important as the payment of the annual contribution is the trigger for the issue of a compliance notice to the Board which is a necessary step for the issue of an annual practising certificate. We are working with the LPB on these issues as a matter of urgency.

If there are any changes to our requirements they will be published to insured practices and also on the Law Society COVID-19 Information Hub that is specifically devoted to the latest information on COVID-19 and associated issues relevant to legal practices and practitioners: lawsocietywa.asn.au/covid-19-information-and-resources

We are in this together

Since 15 June 1927 when a group of around 30 practitioners gathered in the old library at the Supreme Court building in Perth until now the Law Society has never lost sight of its commitment to its core objects: advancing the interests of the legal profession; promoting good practice and curbing malpractice; advancing legal education; promoting the administration of justice and the development and improvement of the law; and encouraging collegiality. While the prevailing societal attitudes have shifted as the decades have passed, the Law Society has consistently acted not only in the best interests of its members, but also with robust consideration for the interests of the wider community.

We could not perform many of our functions without your support. We also appreciate that you may have difficulties in being able to afford the cost of renewing your membership as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and are looking at ways we can assist members who find themselves in this situation.

The whole Law Society team is keen to confront the challenges of 2020. There is much work for us to do, and with your continued support we are determined to do it.

We wish you and your families the best health. We hope to have your continued support so we may face these challenges together. If you would like to let me know how you are going and have any questions for us, you can email me at president@lawsocietywa.asn.au. We are here to listen and would welcome your feedback.

Best wishes,

Nicholas

Nicholas van Hattem
President, The Law Society of Western Australia