On 31 December 2015, Duncan McConnel’s 7-year career with the Law Council of Australia (“LCA”) will draw to a peaceful close, drawing the line under an historic 2015 presidential year.

“There is no evidence that public registers are successful in increasing community safety or reducing the rates of re-offending. There is the added risk that they create further barriers for victims to report offending.” said Law Society Northern Territory (“Society”) President, Mr Tass Liveris. The Society’s concerns were expressed in relation to the Sex Offender and Child Homicide Offender Public Website (Daniel’s Law) Bill, commonly referred to as “Daniel’s Law”.

The Society AGM was held last night with almost 250 members voting in person or by proxy. Mr Tass Liveris was re-elected President (unopposed) and expressed his gratitude to the 2014/15 Council, members and the secretariat for a very productive year. Copies of the annual report can be found on the Society website. The outcome of the election is below. Congratulations to the Council 2015/16.

TERRITORIAN EDDIE CUBILLO WINS PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL INDIGENOUS LEGAL AWARD

At the National Indigenous Legal Conference dinner in Melbourne on 4 September 2015, former Territory lawyer Eddie Cubillo was announced as the 2015 National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year. New South Wales law student Alison Whittaker was announced as the National Indigenous Law Student of the Year.

JUSTICE OUT OF REACH FOR MANY AS GOVERNMENT INCREASES SUPREME COURT FEES AGAIN

In the 2015/16 financial year, a 5-day hearing in the Supreme Court will cost an individual $9,426 and a corporation $17,683 in filing fees alone, not including any legal fees. It will cost even more for every additional day in court.

Parties will be charged thousands of dollars to file a notice of appeal. Law Society Northern Territory (“Society”) today expressed deep concern about the growing size of these sorts of fees.

Law Society NT (Society) congratulates Sonia Brownhill and Matthew Nathan, who were appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice on 15 September 2015.

Society President Tass Liveris said, “Ms Brownhill, a member of the independent Bar and Mr Nathan, a Senior Crown Prosecutor, are each highly skilled advocates in their chosen fields and are both richly deserving of their appointments. They have exemplary knowledge of the law and have a demonstrated commitment to the best traditions of the Bar and the administration of justice.”.

The Commonwealth Attorney‑General and Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, is pleased to announce the Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year Award and the Indigenous Law Student of the Year Prize.

The Law Society Northern Territory (the Society) is proud to support the "Change the Record" campaign (Campaign), an initiative of the National Justice Coalition aimed to end the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the justice system.

The Law Society Northern Territory will launch its second edition of Indigenous Protocols for Lawyers (Protocols) at noon tomorrow at Chifley Alice Springs Resort.

Letter dated 4 June 2015 to the Attorney-General, the Hon John Elferick MLA

The Law Society Northern Territory (the Society) refers to our letter to you dated 18 September 2014 calling on you to introduce urgent amendments to the Youth Justice Act (Act) to prevent the publication of information identifying youth who come in contact with the justice system.

From Wednesday 27 May 2015 the Darwin Family Law Registry will no longer be located at TCG Centre 80 Mitchell St Darwin.

Letter to Chief Justice Trevor Riley dated 21 April 2015:

Thank you for your letter dated 16 March 2015 in relation to the Supreme Court listings for 2016.

On 14 April 2015 the Society"™s Legal Practice Committee (Committee) met and considered the matters raised in your letter. Membership of the Committee is made up from representatives of private firms, government lawyers and the Bar.

Letter to The Hon John Elferink MLA dated 21 April 2015:

Law Society Northern Territory (the Society) has received a number of inquiries from members of the public seeking to complain about behaviour of corrections officers at the Darwin Correctional Precinct.

Letter to Director Legal Policy, Department of Attorney-General and Justice:

The Law Society Northern Territory (the Society) thanks you for the opportunity to provide input on the Issues Paper - Development of a Central Bond Holding Scheme in the Northern Territory (the Scheme). The Society applauds measures that will address areas of unmet legal need.

Letter to Chief Executive Officer Australian Red Cross dated 8 April 2015:

INTERATIONAL TREATY AGAINST USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Law Society Northern Territory (Society) is writing to acknowledge and express its support for your work building support for an international treaty that would make the use of nuclear weapons illegal under international law.

Letter sent to Master Luppino Supreme Court of the Northern Territory:

Supreme Court of the Northern Territory Practice Direction 1 of 2015

I refer to the correspondence between the Master"™s Chambers, Dylan Walters and I on 6 and 7 January 2015 concerning Supreme Court Practice Direction 1 of 2015 dated 2 January 2015 ("PD1/15").

Letter sent to Legal Practitioners' Admissions Board dated 30 March 2015:

Letter sent to Minister Styles on 30 March 2015: