Friday, 25 May 2018
ACT Law Society affirms commitment to reconciliation
Sarah Avery, President of the ACT Law Society, today took the opportunity afforded by the upcoming Reconciliation Day public holiday to reaffirm the Society’s commitment to the national reconciliation movement.
“Next week the ACT is celebrating our first Reconciliation Day, part of the National celebration of Reconciliation Week. At this time of the year, it is natural and important to reflect on how the Society has been involved in the reconciliation process.
“The Law Society has long been committed to promoting ‘good’ law, pushing to ensure that any new law reform proposal takes into account the effect on vulnerable groups such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of our community.
“In 2017, I chose the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre as the President’s Charity, and during Law Week that year we raised $9,875 for the Centre. In 2018, we invited Aboriginal entrepreneur and ACT Australian of the Year Dion Devow to deliver the Address at the Opening of the Legal Year.
“On behalf of the ACT Law Society in 2017, I signed the memorandum of understanding between the ACT Law Society, ACT Bar Association, ACT Law Courts, the ANU College of Law, and the University of Canberra School of Law and Justice to allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students to participate in legal experience placements at the Courts, and in ACT law firms and barristers’ chambers to gain exposure to the day to day working of the legal profession.
“The ACT Law Society’s Inclusion and Diversity Committee has produced the Society’s first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, which will be launched on Monday 4 June 2018. It provides a blueprint for the next steps in our reconciliation journey, and we will be establishing a working group to monitor the progress of our Reflect Plan objectives.
“Later this year the ACT Law Society will be hosting a training course to share what we learned through that process, and to give local law firms the tools they need to create their own Reconciliation Action Plans.
“I am encouraging all of our members to participate in National Reconciliation Week events.
“The Law Society of the ACT is committed to amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in the fight for equality before the law, access to justice, and equity in our community.”
For further information contact:
Ms Sarah Avery, President, ACT Law Society, T 02 6274 0300