About the event

Bookings are now closed. 

The Law Society of Western Australia is pleased to host a special CPD Day once again for country practitioners to engage with colleagues, share experiences in working in rural, remote, and regional areas and promote greater support for RRR practitioners.

Attend the face-to-face CPD Day and have an opportunity to connect and develop professional relationships with colleagues working in similar areas of practice. All sessions will also be provided in virtual format.

This CPD Day is offered free for Country members of the Law Society with CPD Freedom and is heavily discounted for Country members without CPD Freedom and Country non-members.

A total of 6 CPD points will be offered across the 4 competency areas.

* Country Member’ means an Ordinary Member who ordinarily practices outside a radius of 80 kilometres from the Central Office of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, Perth.

Programme at a Glance:

8.00am – 8.30am – Registration and Coffee

8.30am – 8.40am  – Welcome and Introduction of Keynote Presentation – Ante Golem, President, Law Society of Western Australia

8.40am – 9.40am – Keynote Presentation: Overcoming the Barrier of the Unknown: The Treechange Initiative  – Crystal Garwood, Co-Chair, RRR Committee, the Law Council of Australia

Legal practice in rural, regional, and remote Western Australia has changed significantly since the first firm was established in the regions. A recent article by Alex Granich (LINK) discusses these changes.

This presentation examines the recent initiative developed by the Law Council of Australia in consultation with the Law Society of Western Australia: “Digital Treechange”.

Digital Treechange aims to overcome the “barrier of the unknown” for lawyers considering RRR practice within an environment and is designed to provide an effective policy response to recruitment and succession deficits and difficulties in retaining staff.

Issues covered will include the impact on access to justice, conflicts of interest that limit the pool of lawyers available to act in a particular matter, RRR residents being denied legal representation at critical junctures, such as bail applications, as well as an explanation of the programme in detail.

9.40am –10.40am – Technology in the Courts: An Update – Katie Brennan, Manager Customer Services, Family Court of Western Australia; and Amanda Knuckey, Manager, Courts Technology Group, Department of Justice

Ms Amanda Knuckey, from the Courts Technology Group will be providing a live demonstration of the eCourts Portal functionality. Staff from the Family Court and Magistrates Court of WA will be in attendance to answer procedural questions in relation to the use of the eCourts Portals.

10.40am – 11.00am – Morning Tea

11.00am – 12.00pm – Safety in the Regions – Michael Hovane, Manager, Family Court & Child Protection Duty Services / Inhouse Family Violence Specialist, Legal Aid WA; and Daniel Gibbard, Senior Lawyer, Domestic Violence Legal Unit, Legal Aid WA

Family and domestic violence is complex and can permeate a wide range of matters. In a move towards better outcomes, this seminar examines helping practitioners navigate the intersection of FVRO and criminal law proceedings in the regional courts.

This seminar will provide procedural and practical guidance for practitioners working with clients who have experienced or are at risk of family and domestic violence, and to address cultural issues where relevant to prioritise safety.

12.00pm – 1.00pm  Part 1 – Cyber Security Update in 2023: A Cat and Mouse Game – Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed, Senior Lecturer of Computing & Security, School of Science, Edith Cowan University

The internet was not designed with security in mind, and people with malicious intent are taking full advantage of its openness to disrupt the activities of individuals, enterprises, and states. However, COVID-19 coerced us to embrace the internet-connected life more than ever which makes us more vulnerable to cybercriminal attacks. There has been a surge in cyber incidents in critical infrastructures, i.e., Optus, Medibank, Latitude, etc., and cybercriminals are devising newer scams such as the widespread “Hi Mum” scam. They understand the pressure points, such as healthcare, and have been successful with ransomware attacks.

Part 2 – Small Practice, Big Risks: Addressing Cyber threats and risks for Rural, Regional and Remote Legal Practitioners – Avis Moonsamy, Senior leader, Deloitte Cyber

As RRR legal practitioners increasingly adopt technology to enhance their practice, ensuring the confidentiality and security of sensitive client information remains a top priority. This presentation will address potential security concerns related to the implementation of new technologies and provide guidelines for maintaining data privacy and security.  

By promoting best practices and raising awareness, RRR practitioners can better protect their clients’ data and the integrity of their legal practice. 

1.00pm – 1.30pm – Lunch

1.30pm – 2.30pm – Advocacy, Evidence and Procedure in Criminal Proceedings – Simon Freitag SC, Barrister, Albert Wolff Chambers

Criminal Law Advocacy is all about planning, whether it is trying to build your own case or demolish the other side’s case, you can’t persuade until you have planned! This session focuses on how to improve essential advocacy skills, including effective preparation, presentation and questioning skills, and the ethical / tactical dilemmas that may arise in the course of advocacy work in the criminal courts.

2.30pm – 3.30pm – Migration Issues in the Regions – Crawford Yorke, Director, Loughton Yorke Lawyers and Easy Migrate-Australian Migration & Citizen Services; and Martin Udall, Principal, Martin Udall & Associates

This seminar considers the application process for migrants wishing to work in the regions including:

• Basics of immigration law practice
• Employer Options for sponsoring employees
• DAMA – Designated Area Migration Agreements
• Intersection of criminal law and migration law

3.30pm – 3.45pm – Afternoon Tea

3.45pm – 4.45pm – Courts in the Regions – Chair: His Honour Kevin Sleight, Retired Chief Judge of the District Court; and Panel: Judge Gary Massey, District Court of Western Australia; Magistrate Catherine Crawford, Magistrates Court of Western Australia & Children’s Court of Western Australia; and Magistrate Deen Potter, Broome Courthouse, Magistrates Court of Western Australia

Concluding the programme is a panel discussion by members of the judiciary. It will include a discussion regarding the causes of offending, sentencing options, domestic violence, incarceration rates and the merits of specialist Indigenous courts.

4.45pm – Closing and Networking Drinks