Modern Advocates Lecture Series | Christine Smyth

Christine Smyth, Partner, in her role as President of the Queensland Law Society is very proud of the extraordinary success of her initiative the Modern Advocates Lecture Series. Christine developed the series in response to a need amongst the legal profession to have access to ideas and concepts around modern advocacy in a rapidly changing legal landscape. The series is […]

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D’Ath Evader

D’Ath Evader

Backflipping Minister comes to her censors “The Palaszczuk Government has backed down and agreed to reconsider its decision to heavily censor a report into the state’s youth detention system. Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath initially backed the advice of Crown Law to heavily redact an independent review of Queensland youth detention centres before its release last month.  “I Can’t pick and choose […]

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Proctor – May 2017 – Vol.37 No.4 Reversal of funding cuts welcomed

Proctor – May 2017 – Vol.37 No.4 Reversal of funding cuts welcomed

But there’s still a long way to go. On Monday 24 April, federal Attorney-General Senator George Brandis QC announced that the Government would reverse its proposed funding cuts for community legal centres. While we warmly welcome this reversal, as a victory it is bittersweet. The threat of reduced funding had already forced CLCs to review their offerings, staffing and volunteer placements. This is not easily […]

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Christine Smyth

Proctor – May 2017 – Vol.37 No.4 The reality of AML for solicitors

‘A fundamental attack on the civil rights of clients’ Anti-money laundering (AML) regulation may soon become a reality for Australian solicitors, with a strong call for its implementation following the 2013 report of the Financial Action Task Force. The implications of this proposal are of grave concern to Queensland Law Society, as it will attack the heart of the solicitor-client relationship. […]

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No trial for Qld mum who killed eight kids

A Cairns mother was insane when she killed eight children in 2014 and will not stand trial over the deaths, a court has ruled Raina Thaiday, also known as Mersane Warria, was charged with eight counts of murder over the deaths of her seven children and a niece at the family’s suburban Manoora home in December 2014. But she will […]

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Gladstone solicitors appointed magistrate

Gladstone solicitors appointed magistrate

Queensland Law Society president Christine Smyth congratulated Ms Benson, along with Michelle Dooley and James Morton, who were also appointed as magistrates in Queensland. “I also applaud family law accredited specialist Catherine Benson, also a member of the society, and a former barrister on her appointment,” she said. “Our magistrates are at the very forefront of our justice system, and […]

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Queensland news, politics, courts: Corridors of Power

Queensland news, politics, courts: Corridors of Power

LESS than a year into the new judicial appointment process and the complaints are starting to trickle in. The Queensland Law Society has come out swinging against the current protocol implemented by the Palaszczuk Government in July 2016 calling it an “experiment” that hasn’t worked to solve delays or transparency fears. That followed similar calls from the Opposition via Questions […]

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QLS President's Report – May 2017 Edition

QLS President’s Report – May 2017 Edition

Reversal of funding cuts welcomed But there’s still a long way to go On Monday 24 April, federal Attorney-General Senator George Brandis QC announced that the Government would reverse its proposed funding cuts for community legal centres. While we warmly welcome this reversal, as a victory it is bittersweet. The threat of reduced funding had already forced CLCs to review […]

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