2024 WLA Law Week Dinner with Professor Megan Davis

The ACT Law Society along with the ACT Women Lawyers' Association is delighted to present our annual Law Week Dinner for 2024 at the Boathouse by the Lake, with keynote speaker Professor Megan Davis.

Our Law Week Dinner will be held on Thursday 23 May 2024, starting at 6:00pm.

SCIENTIA PROFESSOR MEGAN DAVIS FAHA FASSA FAAL

Pro Vice-Chancellor Society UNSW, the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law, United Nations expert, Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Scientia Professor Dr Megan Davis grew up in Eagleby and Hervey Bay, Qld and is a Cobble Cobble woman of the Barunggam Nation. Prof. Davis is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Society (PVCS) at UNSW Sydney. Professor Davis is also a UNSW Scientia Professor, the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law, a Professor of Law and Director of the Indigenous Law Centre UNSW Law.

She is a renowned constitutional lawyer and public law expert, focusing on the human rights of First Nations peoples. She has been the leading Australian lawyer on constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples for two decades and designed the Referendum Council’s deliberative process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Prof Davis was a Commissioner on the QLD Commission of Inquiry into Youth Detention Centres in 2016 and was the Chair and author of ‘Family is Culture’, an inquiry into NSW Aboriginal Out of Home care (2017-2019).

She is a globally recognised expert in Indigenous peoples rights and was elected by the UN Human Rights Council to the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples based in Geneva in 2017 and again in 2019 (2017-2022) and was previously elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council to the role of expert member and Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UN Headquarters in New York (2011-2016).

Prof Davis is an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court. She is a Commissioner on the Australian Rugby League Commission, a director on the North Qld Cowboys Community Foundation Board, a Commissioner for Western Australia Rugby League Commission.

She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

In 2023 Prof Davis was named on TIME Magazine’s TIME NEXT100 list of the Next Generation of Global leadership under the category of “Leaders”.  She was also named “Powerhouse of the Year” at the Annual Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards.

Event Details:

  • When: Thursday 23 May 2024 at 6pm

  • Where: The Boat House by the Lake, Menindee Drive, Barton

  • Dress: Business attire

  • Cost: $165 per person, $140 for WLA ACT members, or $1,120 for a table of 8.

    Tickets can be purchased online via the Women Lawyer's Association Get Tickets page, and ticket sales are live, get yours now!

  • RSVP: by 9 May 2024

We also note that photos will be taken at the event for our social media and website. If you do not want your photo taken please just let the photographer know. If you have any questions, please email communications@wlaact.org.au

These events are only possible due to the generosity of sponsors. Thank you to the College of Law for sponsoring this event.

 

About Law Week

Law Week is an annual event held in May across Australia to promote public understanding of the law and its role in society. Each year in Canberra the Law Society and its partners run a range of events to celebrate and engage the local legal profession, and to educate the public about the role of lawyers in our society. 

Law Week is made possible with the support of Lawcover, the principal Law Week sponsor — they have been a longstanding supporter of Law Week, and we thank them for their ongoing sponsorship.

If you have any questions about Law Week in the ACT, please contact Member Assist on 02 6274 0333 or memberassist@actlawsociety.asn.au

Law Week, along with the ACT Law Society Foundation, raises money each year for a local Canberra charity. In 2024, we are supporting Lifeline Canberra

Lifeline Canberra exists to support people in crisis and save the lives of those experiencing thoughts of suicide. Skilled volunteers provide 24/7 support via local crisis support service on 13 11 14. Telephone crisis support workers listen with care and acceptance, whatever the circumstance. 

The Society has chosen this charity because we know the value in having a service support people in their most dire moments. 

If you are unable to attend any Law Week events and would still like to donate to Lifeline, you are able to do so via their website.

Law Week events include fully paid as well as free events.

Free events operate on an 'entry by donation' basis, we have listed free events with optional 'contributions', so that attendess can choose to contribute to the cost of running of the event as they see fit. 

Profits from Law Week every year are disbursed to the Law Week charity, via the ACT Law Society Foundation.

The ACT Law Society Foundation was originally seeded with three years’ worth of Law Week profit (2013, 2014 and 2015), matched by Law Society funds. Each year, around September, the Foundation's annual disbursement is paid directly to the Law Week charity. The corpus of the Foundation is grown by splitting Law Week profits between the Law Week charity and the Foundation (generally a 50/50 split, up to the disbursement amount). This arrangement ensures that the Foundation will continue to grow, allowing greater disbursements in future.

 

Event registration terms and conditions

Fees are payable upon registration. 30 days payment invoices are available to members at the discretion of the Law Society. A 1.2% surcharge may be incurred on payments processed via credit/debit card. The Society reserves the right to cancel or alter events at its discretion, and in such circumstances, attendees will be notified via email. 

Definitions — 'Registration' means any booking given to the Society in writing, on our website, or by phone. 'Member' means any member of the ACT Law Society, including associate members and honorary members. 'New Lawyer' means any member who has held a practising certificate for five years or less. 'CLC' means any member working for a recognised community legal centre, or holding a volunteer practising certificate. 'Student' means any member holding a student membership.

All cancellations must be made in writing, and all cancellations will incur a fee, however, no charge will be incurred for substituting another person. Outside of the cancellation periods given below, a $10 administration fee will be incurred for any cancellation made. If a registered attendee fails to attend without notifying the Society in writing, no credit or refund will be offered and 100% of the total cost will be retained by the Society. 

CPD Events — In the case of CPD events held at an venue other than the Law Society, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event. In the case of CPD events held at the Law Society, for cancellations made up to two working days prior to the event, 50% of the total cost will be retained by the Society as a cancellation fee and the balance may be used as a credit towards other CPD events or be refunded. If you choose to keep a credit it will remain valid for 12 months from the event date, after which time it will expire. For cancellations within two working days of the event, no refunds or credits will be applicable. 

Webinars — In the case of live or on-demand webinars, as connection details are sent when registration is completed, no refund or cancellation is available. 

Social events — In the case of social events, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event.

 

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Schedule

Speakers

Sponsors & Supporters

Lawcover is a proud sponsor of the 2024 ACT Law Society Law Week, in support of the legal profession in the ACT.

Lawcover is Australia’s only profession-owned, APRA regulated insurer of the legal profession. We provide PI cover to law practices in New South Wales, the ACT and NT, as well a number of national firms and Community Legal Centres.

Lawcover provides outstanding claims service, as well as:

· Risk Management Education Program events and resources, delivered in person or online at no or low cost, attracting CPD points and comprehensive premium discounts.

· Unlimited Run-Off cover for ceased practices/retired practitioners, at no additional cost

· Cyber risk cover to the value of $50,000 per practice, at no additional cost

By helping to foster an environment of collaboration and knowledge sharing, Lawcover aims to assist the ACT Law Society with promoting standards of excellence in the provision of legal services - resulting in better outcomes for clients and the community.

Lawcover - more than insurance.