No Images? Click here 11 January 2019 Welcome to your first Friday Facts for 2019! It promises to be an exciting and rewarding year for the Law Society and the WA legal profession. We look forward to keeping you informed and connected, and representing you in 2019. The Law Society of Western Australia and Law Council of Australia released a joint statement this week calling on the WA Government to repeal laws that have led to vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our community being incarcerated. Law Society President Greg McIntyre SC said, "There is something inherently dysfunctional and ineffective about a system of social control which relies on getting money from people who do not have it and which results in the life threatening risk and social disruption of imprisonment." The Law Society's advocacy has been noted in the media, with an article in The West Australian and interviews with Mr McIntyre on ABC Radio's AM and Statewide Drive programmes. The Law Society has a long history of advocacy on the issue, and you can read more in our Briefing Paper on the subject at our website. The State Government has noted that it takes the issue very seriously and intends to introduce legislation into Parliament in the first half of 2019 acknowledging the impact on vulnerable members of our community and making imprisonment a last resort. AnnouncementsForeign Influence Transparency SchemeThe Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme requires persons and entities who undertake registrable activities on behalf of a foreign principal in Australia to register with the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, unless they are exempt. The purpose of the scheme is to provide the public and government decision-makers with visibility of the nature, level and extent of foreign influence on Australia's government and political process. Where an obligation does arise, registration must be completed within 14 days of either entering into a relationship with a foreign principal or undertaking a registrable activity. There is a three-month grace period for arrangements that were in place prior to 10 December 2018. This will cease on 10 March 2019. For more information, please read the Law Council of Australia's Memorandum, or visit the website of the Federal Attorney-General's Department. Family Court of Western Australia – SubpoenasFrom 1 January 2019 the Family Court will change the way it deals with subpoenas to produce documents. When a subpoena is issued by the Court, instead of allocating a court hearing date, a ‘production date’ will be given. PEXA Transfers: Who Should Do What, WhenPEXA has provided transfer guidelines and bank transfer tips for practitioners completing transfers involving a financial institution. »Read more CPD SeminarsIs your New Year's Resolution to try something new? Our Design Thinking session is part of the Law Society's CPD Summer Getaway, to be held on 22 February in the scenic surrounds of the University Club, Crawley. This summer, take a break from the city and take advantage of this valuable opportunity to learn, connect and focus on enhancing your skills for the year ahead. Creating flexible workplaces for lawyers is a real issue. Join Nick Lim, Management Consultant, Strategy, Culture and Organisational Transformation, who will teach you about the fundamentals of design thinking and how to develop some practical skills in this approach. Participants will understand the five stage process of design thinking (empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test) and explore how it could be used in the legal practice. Nick Lim Nick will use an experiential learning approach to help participants understand a design thinking tool kit. Participants will learn some techniques to facilitate a more engaging conversation, rapidly generate new ideas and apply human centred design to problem solving. Get ready to learn a lot, test some new methods and walk away with a new toolkit for your next client! There are two great events to choose from on the day Design Thinking: Taking a designer’s mindset to help create flexible work practices for lawyers Essential Topics for the Expert insights into current developments relevant to daily legal practice New eLearning SeminarsLearn anytime, anywhere | Ideal for both country and metropolitan practitioners EventsSociety SundownerWednesday, 13 February 2019 | 5.30pm – 7.30pm | RSM Australia Register now for the first social event of 2019, our Society Sundowner! This event is FREE for members and will help to expand your network of professional and personal connections. Join us and unwind after a day at the office as you enjoy two hours of refreshments, canapés and friendly conversation. YLC Beach Volleyball CompetitionFriday, 1 March 2019 | 5.30pm – 9.00pm Hit the sand at our annual YLC Beach Volleyball Competition and let out your competitive streak in a fun, social, team environment! You will need at least six players to make a team, so gather some friends and join us for what is always a fun event. Registration cost covers all games, water, equipment and delicious wood-fired pizza. Law Mutual (WA) Risk Management SeminarsSupervision & Delegation
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