Women Lawyers NSW

The peak body representing women lawyers in NSW for the advancement of women in the legal profession.

19 June 2008

Dear Members & Colleagues

The Australian Women Lawyers Second National Conference held last week on 13-14 June, was a well-attended success. At the Conference Opening, Chief Justice Diana Bryant of the Family Court of Australia was announced as the new patron of AWL. The Keynote address of Dame Sian Elias Chief Justice of New Zealand was another highlight of the Conference, as were the discussions generated among attendees about the continued importance for women to remain engaged in women's rights issues. Chief Justice Elias' comments about the need to ensure that judicial discretion is exercised boldly in the creation of justice, were certainly a refreshing and uplifting reminder of the need to be courageous in ensuring that justice is and continues to be created.

A Conference Communique was discussed, revised and approved by the Delegates at the Conference, and adopted by the AWL Board at its meeting on Sunday 15 June. This document sets our what AWL is about, what issues it seeks to address, and what AWL's general position on particular policy issues is. Please click here to read the Communique.

I invite you to join us and our distinguished guests on the special occasion of our biennial Celebrating Women in the Judiciary function on 24th July 2008 at the American Club. Please click here for details and registration.

A courtesy reminder that membership renewals fall due on 1 July, so if you have not yet joined or renewed and wish to claim as a deduction this financial year, please forward your renewal or application. Click here for Membership Form. If you are unsure about your membership status, please contact our Executive Officer on (02) 4392 1185 or at executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au.

Yours faithfully,

Lee-May Saw
President

AWL and WLA NSW submissions - Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave & Judicial Appointments Selection Criteria
AWL has made a written submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave. The submission has been adopted by WLA NSW, Victorian Women Lawyers and the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT. Click here to read the submission.
WLA NSW thanks the Attorney General's Department of NSW for the opportunity to make a written submission in response to the NSW Attorney General's Department Discussion Paper on the Selection Criteria for Judicial Appointments. AWL also made a submission in response to the Discussion Paper supporting the WLA NSW submission. Click here to read the WLA NSW submission.

Wednesday 6.30pm, 25 June
Women Silks invite you to a Cocktail party to support Afghani women lawyers through the UNIFEM/IDP Peace Scholarship program at the Sky Room at the Blacket Hotel on King Street, Sydney
UNIFEM Australia will bring three more outstanding young women this year, one of whom has English of sufficient level to be enrolled directly in a masters degree course at UTS, whilst the other two will first do a semester of English before their enrolment in the masters at Macquarie University. Click here for further information and registration or please contact Katie Hall on ph: (02) 9229 1720 or khall@nswbar.asn.au

*** CALL FOR MENTORS!
The Sydney University Law Society is currently seeking female mentors for its annual Women's Mentoring Program. This program aims to assist women hoping to enter the legal profession by providing them with the opportunity to build strong personal and professional connections with someone who has "been there".
The only compulsory event is the launch on Wednesday 13 August 2008 at Mallesons Stephen Jacques from 6 pm, featuring an address by Justice Margaret Beazley AO, Supreme Court of Appeal.
It is up to each mentor/mentee pair to arrange their meetings. In the past, mentees have shadowed their mentor for a day, had lunch together, or simply spoken on the phone. If you are interested in being a mentor, please send a brief email to sulsmentoring@gmail.com with details of your line of work and any relevant activities/hobbies so that we can pair you with a student with similar interests. We can then send you further information about the program. Due date for applications is 27 June 2008.

ADHD: A Journey of Hope Inaugural Summit 3 Aug 2008, Wyong http://www.ajourneyofhope.com.au/
WLA NSW is pleased to support this initiative with two of our current committee members participating as panellists: Tania Evers and Pauline Wright. The purpose of the panel is to explore access to justice for people with conditions such as ADHD given that they appear to be over-represented in the criminal justice system in NSW and consequently in correctional centres and to inform delegates of the importance of securing proper legal advice and representation and ensuring their legal representatives are aware of their condition so that it might be considered in relation to sentencing in particular. The summit is designed to raise awareness within the broader community of ADHD and provide information to people affected by ADHD and associated conditions and their families about the assessment, diagnostic process, treatments and support (including legal support). The ultimate aim is to establish a centre on the Central Coast that will offer support to people affected by ADHD which can act as a referral agency and an information, education and training centre.

Survey 2008 – Questionnaires Now Open
Mahlab Recruitment’s survey of the legal market is "the nation's most authoritative survey of solicitor's incomes" as quoted by The Australian newspaper. Lawyers and law firms will look to Survey 2008 for information on remuneration, lawyer engagement and satisfaction as well as other emerging trends in the legal market place.
Women lawyers Association of NSW members are encouraged to participate. Be the first to access Survey 2008, by completing the appropriate questionnaire at: http://www.mahlabsurveys.com/survey2008
Supported by WLA NSW and other associations Mahlab Recruitment will survey hundreds of clients, private practitioners, company secretaries, corporate lawyers and practice development and management professionals. Released post salary review, Mahlab’s survey is recognised as the most comprehensive retrospective survey, reflecting trends and salary benchmarks across private practice, corporate and practice development services. Please note that by completing the survey you consent to your data forming part of a published report, however, all personal information will remain strictly confidential. For further information on Mahlab Recruitment and Survey 2008, visit www.mahlab.com.au

OTHER EVENTS & NEWS:

UNSW Lucy Mentoring Program 2008
UNSW Careers and Employment is excited to be running the Lucy Mentoring Program again in 2008. The Minister for Women launched the program at UNSW in 2007 and both students and mentors found it to be an enriching and inspiring experience. They are seeking expressions of interest from senior level women in business, accounting or legal fields to become involved as mentors. Please click here for further information.

2008 Australian Women & Leadership Regional Forums
will be held in NSW at Armidale on July 30th, and at Wollongong on October 29th. The 2008 forums build on previous programs in regional Australia and cover a range of informative and inspiring topics. The full-day program celebrates the enormous talent and achievements of women throughout the New England and Illawarra regions. Please click here for further details.

Please feel free to pass this email onto colleagues and ensure they are on our email list for future updates and invitations.

Problems viewing this e-newsletter? View it online at:
/newsletter-archive/wlansw_2008_jun19.htm

For more information contact us
Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales Inc.
DX7304 Wyong / 14A Lonsdale Close, Lake Haven NSW 2263
Ph: (02) 4392 1185 Fax: (02) 4392 9410
Email: executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au URL: http://www.womenlawyersnsw.org.au

If you wish to continue receiving updates and invitations via email no action is required. However, if you wish to be removed from our email list, please email: executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au with the subject heading: UNSUBSCRIBE