Guide to Member Benefits - Law Society of South Australia

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA YOUR ESSENTIAL CAREER PARTNER

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation. As a Member, you belong to a network of almost 4,000 legal practitioners and associates in South Australia.

The Society is the proud voice of the South Australian legal profession and symbolises the highest standard of professionalism, integrity and excellence. As a Member you have full access to the Society’s resources to help ensure those standards are maintained.

I encourage you to maintain an active membership by staying involved with Society activities, projects, committees and events throughout the year, and to take advantage of the following benefits of membership available to you: • • • • • • • • •

Advocacy & Lobbying Quality Publications Wellbeing & Resilience Services Professional Standards Scheme Premium CPD Professional Advice & Practice Support Referral Services & Directories Social & Networking Opportunities Exclusive Member Savings

If you would like to provide any feedback or ideas for new or improved services and benefits, please contact the Member Services Unit on (08) 8229 0200 or mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au.

Read on to discover all of the benefits available to you this year.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Hodder CHIEF EXECUTIVE

CONTENTS

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR..............................................................................2 IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS.....................................................................................................3 MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS................................................................................................................4 LAW SOCIETY COMMITTEES............................................................................................................6 MEMBER SERVICES Advocacy & Lobbying..................................................................................................................7 Publications......................................................................................................................................7 Wellbeing & Resilience Services..............................................................................................8 CPD & GDLP................................................................................................................................... 11 Professional Advice & Practice Support............................................................................. 12 Community Engagement.......................................................................................................... 16 Membership Loyalty & Rewards............................................................................................ 16 Referral Services & Directories............................................................................................... 18 Social & Networking Opportunities...................................................................................... 19 Additional Member Services to Note.................................................................................. 19

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR End of MCPD Year Lodge MCPD Certificate of Compliance or rule 7.1(A) statutory declaration with rectification plan or rule 5.3 Statutory declaration Regulation 33 3(b) “during April of each year, you must give the Society written notice of the associates (including their names and addresses) who are authorised, as at 31 March of that year:

(i) to sign cheques drawn on a general trust account of the practice; or (ii) otherwise to effect, direct or give authority for the withdrawal of money from a general trust account of the practice.”

F.B.T. Yearly Reconciliation MCPD rectification must be completed End of Combined Trust Account Calculation Period 1 DECEMBER – 31 MAY (Obtain May bank statement then complete calculation) Lodge Statutory Declaration rule 7.1(C) confirming completion of outstanding MCPD Last Day to make required deposit into Combined Trust Account or lodge written Notice of Withholding with the Society (Online Withholding Form) Practising Certificate Expires (If you have not applied to renew before the expiry date, you will be without a Practising Certificate and Insurance from 1 July) Law Society Membership subscriptions due Professional Indemnity Insurance Expires Appoint External Examiner if necessary, and arrange for External Examination Report Issuance of Practitioners Statements regarding Receipt or Holding of Trust Money; and Practice Checklist for completion by legal practitioners Furnish Trust Account Statements to be issued as soon as practicable after 30 June unless exempted by Regulation 40(7) Law Practices that are exempt from the PII Scheme must submit their Currency of Insurance for the proceeding policy year Commencement of new Practising Certificates, Membership and PI Insurance Return to Work SA Yearly Reconciliation Low Income Sole Practitioners must submit their Statutory Declarations declaring their taxable income for the Sole Practice for the previous financial year External Examiner to provide external examination report to the Society End of Combined Trust Account Calculation Period 1 JUNE – 30 NOVEMBER (Obtain November bank statement then complete calculation) Last Day to make Required Deposit into Combined Trust Account or lodge written Notice of Withholding with the Society (Online Withholding Form) Law Practices that are exempt from the PII Scheme must submit their application for Exemption for the proceeding policy year

31 MARCH 14 APRIL

DURING APRIL

21 MAY 31 MAY 31 MAY 7 JUNE 14 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 30 JUNE 1 JULY 31 JULY 31 AUGUST 31 OCTOBER 30 NOVEMBER 14 DECEMBER 31 DECEMBER

To access this information on the Society’s website and add it to your calendar, click here.

Law Society Christmas Closure 2022-2023 Wednesday 21 December 2022 to Tuesday 3 January 2023

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GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA GPO Box 2066, Adelaide, SA 5001 Telephone: (08) 8229 0200 Fax: (08) 8231 1929 Email: email@lawsocietysa.asn.au Level 10, Terrace Towers 178 North Terrace, Adelaide MANAGEMENT Telephone: (08) 8229 0200 Stephen Hodder – Chief Executive stephen.hodder@lawsocietysa.asn.au Rosemary Pridmore – Executive Officer rosemary.pridmore@lawsocietysa.asn.au Dale Weetman – Chief Operations Officer dale.weetman@lawsocietysa.asn.au COMMUNICATIONS Telephone: (08) 8229 0239 Michael Esposito – Communications Manager michael.esposito@lawsocietysa.asn.au CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Telephone: (08) 8229 0268 Natalie Mackay – Programme Manager natalie.mackay@lawsocietysa.asn.au

LAW CLAIMS Telephone: (08) 8410 7677 Email: email@lawclaims.com.au GPO Box 2253, Adelaide SA 5001 Kiley Rogers – Director krogers@lawclaims.com.au LIBRARY (MURRAY LAW LIBRARY) Telephone: (08) 8229 0235 Lorna Hartwell – Library and Information Services Co-ordinator lorna.hartwell@lawsocietysa.asn.au LITIGATION ASSISTANCE FUND Telephone: (08) 8229 0263 Annie MacRae – Fund Manager annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au MEMBER SERVICES Telephone: (08) 8229 0200 Email: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au Michelle King – Manager michelle.king@lawsocietysa.asn.au POLICY Telephone: (08) 8229 0233 Nathan Ramos – Policy Co-ordinator nathan.ramos@lawsocietysa.asn.au

ETHICS AND PRACTICE Telephone: (08) 8229 0229 Rosalind Burke – Director rosalind.burke@lawsocietysa.asn.au

SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION Facebook: facebook.com/LawSocietySA Twitter:

@LawSocietySA

Instagram: salawsociety

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Telephone: (08) 8229 0200 Ciro Pipolo – Manager ciro.pipolo@lawsocietysa.asn.au

For more information, please visit the Law Society website www.lawsocietysa.asn.au

GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LEGAL PRACTICE Telephone: (08) 8229 0266 Desiree Holland – Programme Manager desiree.holland@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Details of the Office Bearers and Council members can be found on the website. We encourage you to speak with them on any matters of concern to you as a Member of the Society.

LAWCARE COUNSELLING SERVICE Telephone: (08) 8229 0263 Annie MacRae – Co-ordinator annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au For urgent enquiries, please click here

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MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS ADVOCACY & LOBBYING

Lobbying for positive outcomes for the legal profession in SA • Vigorous advocacy on law reform, improved access to justice and the Rule of Law. • The benefits of regular contact with law and policy makers, key stakeholders and community groups and engagement with the media to lobby for and on behalf of the legal profession.

• Influence over law-related policy and legislation through submissions to Parliament, the courts and other stakeholders.

QUALITY PUBLICATIONS

Informing Members about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the legal profession • Free annual subscription to the Bulletin, the Society’s flagship journal.

• Free subscriptions to our suite of informative e-newsletters such as Advocacy Notes, InBrief, in the news, What’s On! RiskWatch and Member & Risk Alerts keep you up to date with all the latest developments in the legal profession and justice system.

• Access to a range of digital and print resources essential to practice.

WELLBEING & RESILIENCE SERVICES Support for you and your family

• Access to counselling and support services for legal practitioners, their staff and their families, including LawCare, Professional Advice Service, Young Lawyers Support Group and online resources.

• A regular column in the Bulletin with tips for staying physically and mentally healthy.

• Events designed to support wellbeing & resilience by encouraging practitioners to stay healthy and active.

PREMIUM CPD

CPD by practitioners for practitioners • Over 120 seminars, conferences and workshops delivered each year both face-toface and by webinar.

• Members receive up to 30% off registration rates.

• All revenue from CPD sessions is reinvested in Member services and keeps membership costs down.

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE & PRACTICE SUPPORT

The Society has the resources to help, with a range of services for practitioners and benefits to support your practice • The Society’s Small Practice Committee provides specific benefits and opportunities for sole practitioners and members of small firms to assist with establishing and maintaining a small practice • Advice & support on your ethical dilemmas, your trust account, your practising certificate and your MCPD compliance.

• Access to the Ethics & Practice webpage, an important resource for all practitioners.

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GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Raising the profile and reputation of the legal profession • The Litigation Assistance Fund is a charitable trust which has been in existence for over 20 years and helps people prosecute civil claims.

• The Legal Advisory Service has been connecting members of the community with practitioners for over 20 years.

• The Mock Trial Competition provides senior secondary school students with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the legal system, with practitioners volunteering as coaches and judges.

REFERRAL SERVICES & DIRECTORIES Easy to find information

• Over 30,000 referrals are made each year through the See a Lawyer Service, which connects members of the community with relevant firms who have registered to be on the database.

• The Find Another Practitioner directory allows practising Members to search for, and make contact with, fellow practitioners quickly and easily.

• The Online Resources Hub is a centralised, searchable location for guidelines, articles and other resources on the Society’s website.

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER SAVINGS Membership pays for itself

• Access to our network of partners, sponsors and preferred suppliers offering Member only savings, events and benefits.

• Access to our Member Privileges Program through the Frequent Values™ app, saving you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on dining, travel, electrical goods, shopping and leisure activities.

• A free Standard CPD Session each year.

SOCIAL & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Connecting you with the legal profession

• Members belong to a network of almost 4,000 legal practitioners and associates in SA. • The Society provides a variety of opportunities to attend legal and cross-industry networking events, of both a professional and social nature.

MEMBERSHIP LOYALTY & REWARDS • Firms with 100% membership can sign up to the Gold Alliance Firm Program featuring additional savings & benefits for firms.

• Admitted Members may use and display the relevant Member logo to promote themselves as a Society Member and therefore an integral part of the legal profession in South Australia.

• Loyalty rewards for Members who maintain continuous membership with the Society for 30+ years.

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LAW SOCIETY COMMITTEES The Society has a wide range of Operational, Governance and Special Interest Committees.

The following Special Interest Committees are filled via expressions of interest from Members on a biennial basis. At that time, all Members are given an opportunity to join the Committees.

Between biennial reviews, Committees may take new Members depending on factors including the size and composition of the Committee.

SPECIAL INTEREST COMMITTEES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aboriginal Issues Committee Accident Compensation Committee Administrative & Public Law Committee Advocacy Committee Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Animal Law Committee Bulletin Committee Children and the Law Committee Civil Litigation Committee Commercial Law Committee Costs Committee Country Practitioners’ Committee Criminal Law Committee Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Family Law Committee Human Rights Committee Industrial Relations Committee International Legal Practice Committee Justice Access Committee Legal Technology Committee Mock Trial Advisory Group Planning, Environment and Local Government Committee Property Committee Public Sector and In-House Lawyers Committee Small Practice Committee Space Law Committee Succession and Elder Law Committee Wellbeing and Resilience Committee Women Lawyers’ Committee Young Lawyers’ Committee

Members of the Society are from time to time invited to express an interest in joining Operational and Governance Committees.

To express an interest in joining or to contact any of the Special Interest Committees please contact Rosemary Pridmore (Executive Officer).

Rosemary Pridmore Email: rosemary.pridmore@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0240

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GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

MEMBER SERVICES ADVOCACY & LOBBYING MEDIA The Society regularly engages the media to promote important issues affecting the legal profession and justice system. The President and other spokespeople can be regularly seen and heard in print, radio, television and online media.

SUBMISSIONS To represent the interests of Members and the wider community, the Society actively seeks to influence law related policy and procedures, legislation, rules and funding related to the justice system through submissions to government, opposition parties, the courts and other bodies either in response to an invitation or otherwise.

COMMITTEES Members are encouraged to seek involvement in the Society’s numerous Special Interest Committees. These Committees conduct research and prepare comment on issues affecting the profession and have proven to be highly effective drivers behind the Society’s advocacy.

For advocacy and lobbying enquires, please contact Rosemary Pridmore.

Rosemary Pridmore Email: rosemary.pridmore@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0240

PUBLICATIONS THE BULLETIN The Bulletin is the Society’s flagship publication. The journal is published monthly and includes important information about changes to legislation, in-depth articles on various aspects of the law, feature stories about members of the legal profession, notices on changes to practices and a lot more. The journal, including past editions, is also available on the Society’s website. To pitch article ideas or submit stories, please contact Michael Esposito.

Michael Esposito Email: michael.esposito@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0239 INBRIEF InBrief is the weekly e-newsletter that keeps Members up-to-date with information on current developments in the legal profession and justice system, CPD events, submissions, Society events, Member services, employment opportunities, general notices and social notices. To include a notice, please contact the Society.

Publications Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0200 ‘in the news’ The Society’s Members-only regular legal news service, ‘in the news’ lists current legal news stories with links where available. The service gives you all your legal news in one place. Prepared by the Society’s Librarian, news items from daily papers – The Advertiser, The Australian, The Financial Review and online news sources - are itemised for your convenience. For more information, please contact Lorna Hartwell.

Lorna Hartwell Email: lorna.hartwell@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0235

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MEMBER SERVICES ADVOCACY NOTES A monthly e-newsletter for Members providing a snapshot of the latest news, submissions, media releases and advocacy from the Society. For more information, please contact Michael Esposito.

Michael Esposito

Email: michael.esposito@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0239

WHAT’S ON! What’s On! is the weekly guide to upcoming Society CPD, networking events and information sessions, giving you one easy way to keep up to date and stay connected. For more information, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

RISKWATCH RiskWatch, published monthly in the Bulletin and via email to subscribers, highlights topical risk management issues emerging from PII claim activity, changes to the law and potential future risks and claim activity. Articles published since 2009 can be found here. Risk Alerts are published via email on an adhoc basis to alert practitioners to important emerging risks and issues. For more information, please contact Mercedes Eyers-White.

Mercedes Eyers-White

Email: meyers-white@lawclaims.com.au

Phone: (08) 8410 7677

Members can update their Publication subscriptions here.

WELLBEING & RESILIENCE SERVICES LAWCARE COUNSELLING SERVICE For assistance with social and psychological problems, or any problem that is interfering or could interfere with your work performance.

The LawCare Counselling Service offers practitioners the opportunity to discuss any personal problem with a general practitioner, Dr Jill. Dr Jill is experienced in treating social and psychological problems which may be associated with stress (related to work or domestic situations), alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling addiction, matrimonial difficulties, a family crisis or career problems.

During the initial consultation, Dr Jill will seek to identify the nature and extent of the problem.

The treatment program may involve further counselling sessions and/ or a referral to a specialist in a particular discipline or to a specific support program for appropriate treatment. This is a confidential service.

To contact Dr Jill, please phone the LawCare paging service number on (08) 8110 5279 and leave your mobile phone number.

Dr Jill will return your call at the earliest possible opportunity. A mutually convenient appointment time will then be made for you to consult with her.

The Society will cover the cost of your first two consultations.

For general confidential enquiries about the Service, please contact Annie MacRae. Annie MacRae

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Email: annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

Phone: (08) 8229 0263

MEMBER SERVICES PROFESSIONAL ADVICE SERVICE For assistance with personal and professional problems including assistance across all fields of practice.

Members of the profession who experience professional or personal problems are invited to contact a member of the Professional Advice Service. The Service, consisting of senior practitioners, is confidential. Members of the Service are willing to help colleagues with matters such as: • General professional problems • Professional standards / conduct problems • Legal costs matters

• Personal problems • Legal practice / business advice • Relationships with the Courts

To access the brochure with contact names / details, click here, or please contact the Society.

Annie MacRae

Email: annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0263

YOUNG LAWYERS’ SUPPORT GROUP For young lawyers seeking independent guidance from experienced colleagues The Young Lawyers’ Support Group is an adjunct to the Professional Advice Service. The Group consists of practitioners approved by the Young Lawyers’ Committee. It has been recognised that some young lawyers feel uncomfortable discussing ethical issues, general professional problems or workplace issues with more senior members from their firm. The service can also provide a platform for a young lawyer to discuss career or employment options. The service is confidential. A list of the Young Lawyers’ Support Group members is available here or contact Annie MacRae (who will refer you to a Group member who may have appropriate experience or expertise).

Annie MacRae

Email: annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0263

WELLBEING & RESILIENCE COMMITTEE The Wellbeing and Resilience Committee oversees a program to promote discussion, debate and to drive issues relating to the health, wellbeing and resilience of members of the profession, including psychological distress and depression.

The purpose of the Committee is to raise awareness of the poor record of health problems in the legal profession and to inform Members of the assistance that is available to them. In this regard, the Committee: • Promotes discussion and debate relating to mental and physical health, insofar as those matters affect the ability of legal practitioners in South Australia to carry out their professional obligations; • Considers, comments on, or advocates within the Society and its other Committees, in relation to wellbeing and resilience matters; • Examines and keeps under review the wellbeing and resilience of the legal profession in South Australia and proposes policies, principles and guidelines directed towards the prevention of mental illness within the legal profession, its diagnosis and treatment, and towards the promotion of the mental health of every member of the profession.

Members are invited to submit any suggestions or ideas for consideration by the Committee to the Committee Resource Person, Mercedes Eyers-White.

Mercedes Eyers-White

Email: meyers-white@lawclaims.com.au

Phone: (08) 8410 7677

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&

LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Wellbeing Resilience Lawcare Counselling Service For

assistance

with

social

and

psychological

problems, or any problem that is interfering or could interfere with your work performance.

SERVICES

Young Lawyers’ Support Group For young Lawyers seeking independent guidance from experienced colleagues.

To contact Dr Jill, please phone the LawCare paging

Professional Advice Service

service number on (08) 8110 5279 and leave your

For assistance with personal and professional problems

mobile phone number. Dr Jill will return your call

including assistance across all fields of practice.

at the earliest possible opportunity. A mutually convenient appointment time will then be made for you to consult with her.

THE LAW SOCIETY WILL COVER THE COST OF YOUR FIRST TWO CONSULTATIONS.

Lawyers’ Complaint Companion Service For Members who are the subject of a complaint to the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner.

For further information on each of these Wellbeing & Resilience Services, please refer to the Guide to Member Services or visit the Law Society of SA website www.lawsociety.asn.au and click on the Wellbeing & Resilience logo.

All services are provided on a confidential basis. For confidential enquiries about any of our services, please contact Annie MacRae:

E ma il: a n n ie. m a c ra e@ l awso c i et ys a. a s n . au Phon e : (08 ) 8 229 0263

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GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

MEMBER SERVICES CPD & GDLP CPD SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES Throughout the year, the Society hosts over 120 seminars, conferences and webinars that cater for all areas of the legal profession. Seminars and conferences are targeted to specific areas of practice and experience levels. The Society’s Forum, held in February each year, allows practitioners to complete all ten MCPD points over two days, including in the required areas.

CPD completed with the Society is automatically recorded for Members in the online MCPD recording tool, found in ‘My Profile’ on the Society’s website. Members are regularly notified of upcoming CPD events and can save up to 30% off the non-Member rate. For more information, please contact the CPD team.

Continuing Professional Development Email: cpd@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0268 1 X FREE STANDARD CPD SESSION The Society offers Members and Associates the opportunity to attend one Standard CPD Session at no cost between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023. A Standard CPD Session is a CPD run solely by the Law Society of South Australia that is up to 1.5 hours long and has a maximum registration fee of $110 for Members admitted more than 3 years, or $85 for Members admitted less than 3 years. This is non-transferable.

To redeem your free session, please email with the name of the Standard CPD Session you would like to attend and request to use your one free session as payment or contact the CPD team.

Continuing Professional Development Email: cpd@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0268 CPD PAPERS, AUDIO AND AUDIO VISUAL RECORDINGS Members can access CPD Papers and Recordings from the Society for the majority of CPD seminars presented. Members receive 10% discount on all Society Papers and Recordings. The Society keeps a complete catalogue of Papers and Recordings, which is available from the online store. For more information, please contact the CPD Team.

Continuing Professional Development Email: cpd@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0268 GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LEGAL PRACTICE The Society, jointly with The University of Adelaide, is a provider of the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, which meets the Practical Legal Training (PLT) requirements that law graduates must satisfy to be admitted to practice in SA. The course focuses on the application of legal knowledge in a practical way. For more information, click here, or contact the GDLP team.

GDLP

Email: gdlpenquiries@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0267

SPECIALIST ACCREDITATION An Accredited Specialist is a lawyer recognised as having expertise in a particular area of law. Accredited Specialists are required to ensure their specialty remains a substantial part of their practice, maintain a higher level of continuing professional development than other lawyers and continually strive to improve the standing of their firm. Practitioners can complete an Accredited Specialist course of assessment through the Society in the areas of Family Law, Tax Law and Immigration Law. For more information, please contact the CPD team.

Continuing Professional Development Email: cpd@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0268

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MEMBER SERVICES PROFESSIONAL ADVICE & PRACTICE SUPPORT LAW CLAIMS Law Claims handles claims and potential claims against practitioners under the Legal Practitioners Professional Indemnity Insurance Scheme. Early notification to Law Claims for advice and assistance can prevent losses and minimise claims. Claims disrupt your practice and increase premiums for all. To notify or discuss possible risks and how to avoid them, please contact Law Claims.

Kiley Rogers (Director)

Phone: (08) 8410 7677

Amanda Adamson (Senior Solicitor)

Email: krogers@lawclaims.com.au Email: aadamson@lawclaims.com.au

John Doyle (Senior Solicitor)

Email: jdoyle@lawclaims.com.au

RISK AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The Risk Management Program is designed to assist practitioners to reduce their exposure to client complaints and claims. CPD sessions run throughout the year, focusing on the risk management and practice management skills required to improve client services, make fewer mistakes, avoid claims and have a less stressful practice. Content is drawn from SA claims trends and experience, and is delivered by experienced practitioners. In-house and regional sessions on risk management topics can be arranged on request. Risk alerts and RiskWatch articles in the Bulletin assist in practitioner current awareness of emerging issues in practice. RiskWatch articles published since 2009 can be found here.

Practitioners insured under the South Australian PII Scheme are also eligible to access the risk management practice packages. These document packages contain various templates and checklists aimed at ensuring full and timely client advice, fewer mistakes and omissions and improved client, matter and practice management. Document packages are currently available in the areas of Wills & Estates (including Estate Administration and IFP), Family Law (including financial agreements), Commercial Law (including Commercial Leasing and Business Sale & Purchase) and Cybersecurity (practice-management focussed). The document packages can be accessed here.

The Practice Visit Program, launched in 2022, will see all firms insured under the South Australian PII Scheme visited by a member of the Risk Management team approximately every three years, to assist with risk management issues. Most visits are practice area specific, providing information and resources (and a free CPD point) initially in the areas of Wills & Estates, Family Law and Personal Injuries – broadly in line with the available document packages. The aim of the Program is to reduce the incidence of claims on the Scheme and gives firms the opportunity to consider their current legal risk management strategies in light of the tips and claim examples provided. For more information, contact Mercedes Eyers-White.

Grant Feary (Legal Risk Counsel)

Phone: (08) 8410 7677

Email: gfeary@lawclaims.com.au

Mercedes Eyers-White (Risk Management Co-ordinator) Email: meyers-white@lawclaims.com.au Kate Marcus (Risk and Claims Solicitor)

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GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

Email: kmarcus@lawclaims.com.au

MEMBER SERVICES PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS SCHEME One of the major benefits of Society membership is the option to cap your occupational liability under the Society’s Professional Standards Scheme (formerly the Limitation of Liability Scheme). Practitioner Members of the Society, including Barrister Members and ILPs that are Company Members, can cap their occupational liability to an amount of $1.5 million or $10 million depending on the insurance policies, total revenue of the law practice and the number of practitioners of the law practice, and to the extent that liability can be limited under the Professional Standards Act 2004 (SA). Members should note that it is an “opt out” Scheme; therefore, any Practitioner Member of the Society who does not want to take advantage of the Scheme will need to seek exemption. Further information is available here or by contacting Tarin Hillier.

Tarin Hillier (Scheme Manager) Email: tarin.hillier@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0225 PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL SUPPORT The Society is passionate about maintaining self-regulation of the legal profession, and actively promotes high ethical standards in all aspects of legal practice. The Society’s Ethics and Practice Unit provides ethical and practical advice and support to all South Australian legal practitioners on a wide range of issues including the conduct rules and professional obligations, practice management, client relationships, costs and trust accounting. If you need advice on any aspect of legal practice, your first point of contact should be the Ethics and Practice Unit.

Ethics and Practice Email: ethicsandpractice@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0229 ETHICS ENQUIRY SERVICE The Society’s Ethics Enquiry Service provides members of the legal profession with guidance in relation to ethical issues. The guidance is provided by legal practitioners employed in the Society’s Ethics and Practice Unit and is of a general nature. Pro bono targeted legal advice can be obtained via the Society’s Professional Advice Service. You can contact the Ethics Enquiry Service by phone, email or by making an appointment to meet with an Ethics Officer in person.

If you want to remain anonymous just phone and ask for the Ethics Enquiry Service and say that you do not want to identify yourself. We welcome suggestions for articles, papers or guidelines in relation to ethical issues. If you have a suggestion please email it through to us. For further information, please contact Ethics and Practice.

Ethics and Practice Email: ethicsandpractice@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0229 TRUST ACCOUNTING REGULATION AND SUPPORT Via its Ethics and Practice Unit, the Society exercises important regulatory functions with respect to the trust accounting requirements under the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA). The Society’s Law Practice Compliance Investigators (LPCIs) conduct routine investigations of all South Australian legal practitioner trust accounts and cause-driven investigations are also carried out by LPCIs as and when required. The investigations programme carried out by the LPCIs is in addition to, and complements, the annual External Examiner Report requirements.

In addition to exercising the above regulatory functions, the LPCIs are an important education and advice resource for all South Australian legal practitioners who receive trust money from their clients. The LPCIs can provide immediate advice on any trust accounting issues and are available to legal practitioners and non-legal staff responsible for the maintenance of trust accounting records.

Ethics and Practice Email: ethicsandpractice@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0229

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MEMBER SERVICES TRUST ACCOUNTING ONLINE The Society’s Trust Accounting Online system provides a simpler way to record and report on your trust transactions, saving you time from hand writing your trust records or using Excel.

With secure online website access, it’s as easy to use as internet banking and is compatible with most browsers and operating systems. For more information, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

CTA CALCULATOR Section 53 of the Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA) provides that twice each year, within 14 days after 31 May and 30 November money must be deposited from each law practice’s general trust account into the Combined Trust Account (CTA). The amount of the required deposit is calculated by means of a formula provided in the Act. Members can use the Society’s CTA Calculator to assist in calculating the required deposit by visiting the Society’s website. For more information, contact Ethics and Practice.

Ethics and Practice Email: ethicsandpractice@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0229 ADMISSION AND PRACTISING CERTIFICATES The Ethics and Practice Unit exercises various functions with respect to admission, mutual recognition, MCPD compliance and the issue and renewal of practising certificates. For information about any of these matters, please contact Ethics and Practice.

Ethics and Practice Email: ethicsandpractice@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0229 LAWYERS COMPLAINT COMPANION SERVICE For practitioners who are the subject of a complaint to the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner This service provides assistance and advice for solicitors who are the subject of a complaint to the Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner. It is an adjunct service to the Professional Advice Service. Practitioners in receipt of a conduct complaint can receive one hour of free advice. The service is provided by a panel of experienced practitioners. If more than one hour is required, some of the practitioners on this panel may be able to provide assistance. If you would like to access this service, please contact Annie MacRae. Annie MacRae

Email: annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0263

SMALL PRACTICE KIT AND PRACTICE MANAGEMENT DIRECTORY The Small Practice Kit and Practice Management Directory are a must read for those setting up or running their own practice, or considering doing so. The Society’s website contains detailed information about establishing and maintaining a small practice. The Small Practice Kit can be downloaded here and comprises the following chapters: • Establishing a Practice • Business Planning, Finance and Insurance • Business Development and Marketing • Human Resources • Information Technology • Professional Obligations and Resources • Health, Wellbeing and Practice Management For further information about Small Practice Member services, please contact the Society.

Member Services

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Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

MEMBER SERVICES STANDARD PROPERTY DOCUMENTS The suite of Standard Property Documents are provided by the Society to assist legal practitioners prepare contracts for the sale and purchase of residential and non-residential land in South Australia, and to assist in preparing mortgages to which the National Credit Code does not apply. The documents are available for use with the purchase of a 12-month subscription enabling all practitioners within a firm to access the documents online, as often as required, within the subscription period. The Society upgrades and revises its standard form documents with changes in legislation and therefore recommends practitioners download a fresh copy prior to each use. For more information, please contact Member Services.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

WILLS REGISTER The Wills Register is a secure, centralised register of South Australian wills. It allows law firms and legal practitioners to quickly locate lost wills that have been registered and to add their own client wills to the Register. For more information, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

CAREER CENTRE For Employers The Career Centre allows employers to promote employment opportunities directly to the legal profession and to search the resume bank for suitable candidates. Job postings can be created for a minimum of 30 days, with special discounts available to Gold Alliance Firms, Firm Members and firms in regional areas. For an additional cost, your employment posting can be highlighted each week in InBrief.

For Jobseekers Use the Career Centre to search and apply for employment opportunities posted directly from local law firms. Jobseekers can also upload their resume to the resume bank for potential employers to search and contact them directly. The Career Centre can also send job alerts that match the job seekers’ personal profile.

For more information visit the Career Centre page here, or contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

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MEMBER SERVICES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICE The Legal Advisory Service has been assisting members of the community for over 20 years.

Society Members generously volunteer their time to meet with members of the community on a Monday or Wednesday evening to provide legal advice and to clarify many common problems.

To refer a member of the community or to volunteer your time, please contact the Society.

Member Services Email: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0200 MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION The Society’s Mock Trial Competition has been running since 1988 and provides South Australian secondary school students with an opportunity to compete against other schools and gain first-hand experience of the South Australian legal system. Members of the Society generously volunteer their time as coaches and judges, or on the Mock Trial Advisory Group. For further information or to volunteer your time, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

LITIGATION ASSISTANCE FUND The Litigation Assistance Fund (LAF) is a charity administered by the Law Society of South Australia which grants funding to clients and their solicitors to enable matters to be pursued.

Do you have clients with civil claims (seeking proceeds of some sort) who are struggling to pay disbursements? In principle, LAF can provide funding no matter what stage the case is at. Further, funding can be sought for as little as an individual disbursement. If LAF funds the matter and ultimately the claim is unsuccessful, LAF does not seek any repayment from either the client or the solicitors. If the claim is successful, LAF seeks reimbursement, plus an ‘uplift’.

For more information, including important factors to consider before applying, please click here or contact the LAF Manager, Annie MacRae. Annie MacRae

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Email: annie.macrae@lawsocietysa.asn.au

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

Phone: (08) 8229 0263

MEMBER SERVICES MEMBERSHIP LOYALTY & REWARDS MEMBER LOGOS Admitted Members may use and display the relevant Member logo to promote themselves as a Society Member and therefore an integral part of the legal profession in SA. We encourage Members to use and display this logo on individual materials such as business cards, email signature, individual website profile and CV. The logo can be downloaded here or Members can contact Member Services for assistance.

Member Services Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0200 PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP Members who maintain continuous membership with the Society for 30 years become a Platinum Member and are entitled to: • Attend any Society Standard CPD Session* free of charge • Discounted pricing for other selected CPD and Member events *A standard CPD session is defined as any Law Society CPD session of up to 1.5 hours duration held at the Society or via webinar. Excludes all conferences and joint events with other organisations.

SENIOR MEMBERSHIP Members who achieve 45 years membership with the Society become a Senior Member and receive the following additional benefits: • Free Law Society membership subscription each year • Invitation to attend the Society’s annual Senior & Honorary Members luncheon • Name displayed on the Senior Member honour board at the Society and in the Annual Report For further information, go to ‘My Profile’ page on the Society’s website or contact Member Services.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

GOLD ALLIANCE FIRM PROGRAM Over 400 firms are registered as a Gold Alliance Firm in South Australia. A Gold Alliance Firm is a firm which partners with the Society and shows a commitment to their employees and profession by maintaining 100% membership. The Society is working hard to develop a strategic alliance with all firms in South Australia to provide them with ongoing support and greater benefits. This is a unique marketing opportunity for firms both large and small to promote to clients and the broader community that all practitioners are Members of their professional association. To find out if your firm is eligible to become a Gold Alliance Firm, please contact the Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

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MEMBER SERVICES REFERRAL SERVICES & DIRECTORIES SEE A LAWYER SERVICE The Society made over 30,000 referrals to members of the community in 2021. For a nominal fee, Firm Members can register to be included on the See a Lawyer Service database, allowing staff of the Society to refer members of the public to registered firms offering the required areas of law in their preferred location. For further information or to register, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

BARRISTER REFERRAL SERVICE This is a free service available to Barristers who are Members of the Society. To be included, Barristers must register and update their areas of practice on their ‘My Profile’ page of the Society’s website. The Barrister Referral Service allows solicitors to search for the name and contact details of Barristers using specific search criteria. For more information or to register, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

FIND ANOTHER PRACTITIONER This directory allows Practising Members to search for, and make contact with, colleagues in the profession. The service is designed to facilitate communication between fellow practitioners simply and swiftly, when contact details are not readily available. It is not available to members of the public. For more information, visit the Find Another Practitioner page, or contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

FORMS DIRECTORY The Forms Directory is a comprehensive list of all commonly used Society forms, including membership, practising certificate, PSS, trust account and other ethics and practice related requirements, such as starting or closing a business. For more information, click here or contact Member Services.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

ONLINE RESOURCES HUB The Online Resources Hub brings guidelines, articles and other resources from across the Society’s website to one centralised and searchable location. Searches can be made using the common searches tabs or by searching for key words. If you have any suggestions of resources you would like included in the hub, or for further information, please contact the Society.

Member Services

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Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

MEMBER SERVICES MEMBERS ON THE GO A condensed, mobile-friendly version of the Society’s website, providing Members with access to information and resources wherever they are. Find out about upcoming CPD and networking events, access daily case lists and find information in the Society’s Resources Hub and other Directories. For more information, please contact Member Services.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

SOCIAL & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES PROFESSIONAL AND NETWORKING EVENTS Society Members expand their professional networks by attending and participating in a variety of events and activities facilitated by the Society. These include legal and cross industry networking events, special events and award presentations, leadership events, special interest committee events, sporting and competitive events and community events and initiatives. If you have any suggestions for new Society networking events, please contact Member Services.

Member Services Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0200

ADDITIONAL MEMBER SERVICES TO NOTE THE MURRAY LAW LIBRARY – REFERENCE, RESEARCH AND TRAINING SERVICES The Society has a comprehensive library of both hardcopy and online resources available to Members and Associates. The Library is open 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Practitioners are welcome to use the Library and the Librarian is available to assist you with any reference and research enquiries. Practitioners can use the Library’s online catalogue to search for textbooks and Members are able to borrow books.

If you find yourself overwhelmed trying to find an obscure case or stuck on a tricky legal question, contact the Librarian for some advice; she will be happy to guide you in the right direction. For more information about the Murray Law Library, please contact the Society.

Lorna Hartwell Email: lorna.hartwell@lawsocietysa.asn.au Phone: (08) 8229 0235 ROBE HIRE For a nominal fee, Members can hire robes for court appearances or moving admissions. For more information, please contact the Society.

MEETING ROOMS FOR HIRE The Society offers Meeting Room facilities for all types of functions including meetings, mediations, seminars and conferences. AV and IT equipment, speaker phones and free wi-fi are available and catering can be arranged upon request. Members are able to book a Meeting Room free of charge for up to one hour. Firm Members receive significant discounts for all Meeting Room bookings. For more information, please contact the Society.

Member Services

Email: reception@lawsocietysa.asn.au

Phone: (08) 8229 0200

GUIDE TO MEMBER BENEFITS 2022 - 2023

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