From the President

As I indicated in the Society’s media release after my election, I hope to be proactive, innovative, and approachable in my role. The practise of law is challenging – that has always been the case – however as a profession we are facing a number of issues which make the administration of justice increasingly difficult. Many of them are issues which the Law Society has been working to address for some years now, while others are more recent developments. I hope that during my term as President, I can continue the work of those who have come before me and make significant in-roads which benefit current and future members of the profession.

Opening of the Legal Year
The Law Society has been asked to gauge the profession’s attitude towards the current Opening of the Legal Year celebrations – in particular, the annual ecumenical church service. In other states and territories around Australia, a variety of approaches are taken. Some states hold church services for those wishing to attend, while other states have done away with religious services and instead mark the occasion with a ceremonial court sitting. Members of the profession should expect to receive a short survey in the coming weeks asking for input on this topic. I encourage you to complete this survey to provide your views on how the Opening of the Legal Year should be marked in future. While it is unlikely that any changes will take place for the 2026 Legal Year, feedback will be taken on board and shared with the relevant stakeholders (including the Supreme Court) with the intention of reviewing how the occasion is observed from 2027 onwards.

Recruitment and Retention of Lawyers
The Law Society has been working for some years now on efforts to improve the profession’s ability to attract and retain lawyers, especially in the North and North-West regions.
There is no shortage of graduate lawyers. The Tasmanian legal profession is the largest it has ever been. However, factors such as the retirement of senior lawyers, court delays, lack of legal aid funding, rising cost of living, and increasing complexity of legal issues are all contributing to the pressures which our profession is under. Additionally, attrition in the profession continues to be most prevalent in the cohort between 5 and 10 years PQE, causing a dearth of middle-career lawyers in the private sector. This puts pressure on both early career lawyers and senior members of the profession, further adding to stress and burnout.
The Society is working on strategies to attract middle-career lawyers to work in Tasmania, and to support Tasmanian legal practices to retain talent, and will be able to provide further information about this in the coming months.

Anti-Money Laundering Obligations
The profession’s obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024 (“the AML Act”) come into effect on 1 July 2026. This represents a significant shift in the way we as lawyers conduct business, particularly for commercial clients but also in other areas of practise. The obligations imposed on the profession are substantial. The Law Society, in conjunction with the Law Council of Australia and the societies of other states and territories, will be providing resources and support to the profession in the New Year to ensure all members of the profession understand and comply with AML requirements.

Amelia Higgs
President