Law Council of Australia | Non-governmental organisation (NGO)

Law Council of Australia

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Businesses
• Non-governmental organisation (NGO)

23.01.2022 On International Human Rights Day, the Law Council of Australia is calling on government to reassess its mandatory, indefinite detention of non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa. This policy, originally intended as a temporary and exceptional measure, has now been in place for decades and has resulted in prolonged periods of detention for far too many individuals who do not pose a risk to community health or safety. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//human-rights-day-isn-t-it-t

22.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia is calling for a comprehensive national response to address the vastly disproportionate imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 30 years on from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC). In 1991, the Royal Commission concluded: The conclusions are clear. Aboriginal people die in custody at a rate relative to their proportion of the whole population which is totally unacceptable and which would not b...e tolerated if it occurred in the non-Aboriginal community. This occurred because too many Aboriginal people are in custody too often. Yet in December 2020, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander imprisonment rate was 2,333 persons per 100,000 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, compared to the imprisonment rate of 208 persons per 100,000 adult population generally. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//royal-commission-into-abori #auslaw #auspol

21.01.2022 At the recent Directors’ Meeting of the Law Council of Australia, the following Directors were elected as Members of the Law Council Executive for 2021: Dr Jacoba Brasch QC, President Mr Tass Liveris, President-elect Mr Ross Drinnan, Treasurer... Mr Luke Murphy, Executive Member Mr Greg McIntyre SC, Executive Member Ms Caroline Counsel, Executive Member Outgoing President, Ms Pauline Wright, said that it has been an honour to lead the Law Council during 2020, a truly unprecedented year. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//2021-law-council-of-austral #auslaw

20.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia congratulates Victorian barrister Daye Gang for winning the prestigious 2020 Annual IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year award. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//korean-australian-named-as-

20.01.2022 At a time of global power shifts, increasingly fragmented and insular national politics, and events characterised as ‘profound’ blows to fundamental freedoms being played out across the globe, the Law Council believes NOW is the time to consider a renewed commitment to the fundamental and universal norms of human rights. Law Council President, Pauline Wright and human rights barrister Stephen Keim QC will address the National Press Club tomorrow (12:30pm AEDST) on the topic No time like the present to protect our human rights. You can watch on ABC News or online at https://iview.abc.net.au/show/national-press-club-address/ #auslaw

19.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia and the Australian Bar Association strongly condemn the ongoing intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrest and incommunicado detention of lawyers and judges by Myanmar’s military (the Tatmadaw) since the unlawful coup d’état on 1 February 2021. We are concerned by credible reports of lawyers being detained for challenging the legality of their client’s detention, and for filing legitimate cases that the military considers undesirable. In addition,... judges at all levels of courts have been dismissed without valid cause, and some placed under unlawful detention. These reprisals violate Myanmar’s obligation to respect, protect and fulfil the rights to life, liberty and security of person, the right to a fair trial, and the right to not be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//the-lca-and-the-aba-condemn

19.01.2022 The murder, torture and abuse of civilians and prisoners of war is abhorrent. The Law Council of Australia is concerned by the findings of the Report released today by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF), which reveals alleged breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Afghanistan, between 2005 and 2016. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//response-to-reports-of-war-

18.01.2022 Modern slavery presents the world with an ongoing challenge. A growing acknowledgement of human rights in business has exposed the labour violations and abusive practices that prevail in many global supply chains. Join the International Law Section for the fifth ILS International Law and Practice Course lecture for 2020 Tackling Modern Slavery: A Review of the Effectiveness of the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking and Slavery in Australia featuring Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FRSA FACLM (Hon) FAAL TEP, Mr Kevin Hyland OBE and Ms Anne O'Donoghue, Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer. Register here: https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//ils-international-law-and-p

15.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia invites comments and submissions by 7 December 2020 on a proposal for an Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rule (Rule 11A Short-term legal assistance services). The purpose of the proposed Rule is to clarify how existing ethical principles relating to avoiding conflicts of interest between current clients, or current and former clients, of a solicitor or law practice may be applied when providing short-term legal assistance services. The Public Consultation Paper can be downloaded from the Law Council website. For more information visit https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//australian-solicitors-condu

15.01.2022 Law Council President, Pauline Wright, speaking with Sabra Lane on ABC AM - it's time to talk about a federal Human Rights Act https://www.abc.net.au//programs/am/pauline-wright/12894134 #auslaw #auspol #humanrights

13.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia welcomes Attorney-General Michaelia Cash’s announcement that Mr Jonathon Davis QC, Ms Jennifer Howe, and Mr Colin Campbell have been appointed to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, and Judge Paul Howard elevated to the Family Court of Australia. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//law-council-welcomes-court-

13.01.2022 From today, migration lawyers will be able to offer services independently of the regulatory framework for migration agents, and all lawyers with unrestricted practising certificates will be freely able to provide immigration assistance in the course of legal practice. The discontinuation of dual regulation is in accordance with multiple major recommendations spanning many years and has been a long-held advocacy position of the Law Council. The removal of expensive and inefficient regulation of migration lawyers will improve access to justice by reducing costs for lawyers and therefore their clients. The changes to the legislation are a win for access to justice. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//the-end-of-dual-regulation- #auslaw #migrationlawyers

13.01.2022 Simon Bruck, President of the NSW Young Lawyers accepted the Law Council’s 2020 Australian Young Lawyer Organisation Award #auslaw #younglawyers

11.01.2022 For those who missed our ‘Closing the Justice Gap: Implementing the ALRC’s Pathways to Justice Roadmap’ webinar, a recording of the event is now published on our website. Watch here: https://lawcouncil.asn.au//closing-the-justice-gap-impleme #auslaw

10.01.2022 Sophie Coffin was honoured to receive the 2020 John Koowarta Scholarship. Here is what Sophie had to say when accepting the scholarship.

10.01.2022 The Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia is seeking an Administrative Coordinator to join its team. For more information about the role and selection criteria, visit https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/about-us/positions-vacant

09.01.2022 Mr Christopher John Bowrey’s appointment as a judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in the Townsville Registry is most welcomed news." - LCA President, Dr Jacoba Brasch QC. https://lawcouncil.asn.au//law-council-welcomes-townsville #auslaw

09.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia believes that now is the time to reignite the conversation and calls on the Australian Government to implement a federal Human Rights Act. Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra today, Law Council President, Pauline Wright, said in launching the Law Council’s policy position, that many Australians would not know that their human rights are not protected by the Constitution or legislation. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//lets-talk-about-a-federal-h

08.01.2022 MEDIA STATEMENT: Law Council concerned with business stability https://lawcouncil.asn.au//law-council-concerned-with-busi #auslaw #auspol

07.01.2022 MEDIA RELEASE: Cautious support for Magnitsky-style legislation https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//cautious-support-for-magnit #auslaw #auspol

05.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia is calling on the Federal Government to reconsider the enormous increase to the Federal Circuit Court fees for migration cases. Law Council President, Pauline Wright, said the jump from $690 to $3,330 will pose a severe threat to access to justice for migrants. The Law Council considers it unconscionable for the government to be imposing such an exorbitant rise in the cost of migration applications to the Court, Ms Wright said. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//unfair-hike-to-fcc-migratio #auslaw #auspol

05.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia has released a Public Consultation Paper on a proposed revision to the Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rule 42. The Law Council is inviting comments and submissions by 7 May 2021. For more information visit: https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//australian-solicitors-condu #auslaw

04.01.2022 "It is not surprising that the importance of legal assistance in times of emergency features prominently in the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements report, handed to the government today." - Law Council President, Pauline Wright. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//response-to-the-release-of-

04.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s engagement with the important issue of sexual harassment as a matter for the national agenda. Eliminating sexual harassment in the legal profession has been part of a long-running commitment from the Law Council and recent events have emphasised that fresh and comprehensive responses are required to drive the necessary, and overdue, cultural change. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//government-recognises-need- #auslaw #auspol

04.01.2022 A coordinated national approach to family, domestic and sexual violence, as recommended within the recently released final report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence, is a positive step in addressing this scourge on our community. Many of the report’s 88 recommendations aim to address the insidious and ubiquitous problem of family violence on a national level, which has been m...agnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal for a uniform national definition of family, domestic and sexual violence, is welcomed by the Law Council of Australia as it will go some way to addressing the confusion and complexity that arises from inconsistent legislative frameworks between jurisdictions and will assist in improved data collection. The current inconsistencies such as the definitions of what constitutes family violence and abuse, and what kinds of relationships are covered hinder the ability to make comparisons and to compile a detailed national picture to inform resource allocation and service delivery. https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//a-national-response-to-fami #auslaw #auspol

04.01.2022 Registrations are still open for the Courting innovation: Australia’s judicial system in the context of COVID-19 Webinar. Be sure to register to secure your spot, as attendance is limited. More information here https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//courting-innovation-austral #auslaw

03.01.2022 The Law Council of Australia believes it is time for the Australian Government to take the lead in responding to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) Pathways to JusticeInquiry into the Incarceration Rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Report. It has been three years since the Report was tabled and still statistics, showing the disproportionate incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, continue to be alarming despite the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people never committing a criminal offence. Read more: https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//time-for-a-government-respo #auslaw

02.01.2022 The first episode of the BLS Report for 2021 has recently been released. Episode 5: Foreign investment reforms: policy and practice, explores recent, and very significant, reforms to Australia’s foreign investment review framework, that came into effect on 1 January this year. The BLS Report is a podcast series dedicated to the late Professor Robert (‘Bob’) Baxt. Listen here: https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au//episode-five-foreign-invest #auslaw