Tuesday, 1 April 2025
Message from ACT Law Society President
Dear members,
I am writing to you to address and provide clarity in relation to recent changes that have occurred on the Law Society Council as well as articles that have appeared in legal news publications and other media coverage.
I want to assure our valued members that the Council remains strong and fully committed to our mission. Our dedicated team remains focused on ensuring you get the most from your membership, upholding professional standards, and equipping you for future challenges while safeguarding the profession’s public image and reputation.
On 27 March 2025, Treasurer Mark Tigwell tendered his resignation to Council. I thank Mark for his many years of service to the Society as both Treasurer and Councillor and wish him well in his future endeavours. I have personally worked with Mark on Council for a number of years and have found his dedication to the profession selfless and admirable.
While some may have questions about why certain former Council members are no longer serving, it is essential to uphold the confidentiality of Council meetings and respect the privacy of those individuals. I appreciate your understanding and am sorry I cannot provide further details.
The current Council brings a wealth of experience and diverse professional and personal backgrounds, ensuring strong representation for all our members. While differences in opinion may arise, healthy debate and diverse perspectives contribute to sound governance.
In 2024, the Society commenced a governance review to ensure that the Society’s governance is modern, efficient, responsive, transparent and fit for purpose. Contrary to publications that have been circulated by some members of the Society, the Council has driven this process. The Council appointed a working group to oversee the process, consisting of members of the Executive Committee together with the CEO. An independent external provider who worked with the Law Institute of Victoria and NSW Law Society on their recent constitutional reforms is providing guidance to the working group around best practice.
As a member of the governance review committee from the outset, I have been actively involved in this process. As President, I have had the privilege of attending the Conference of Law Societies, where I engaged with CEOs and Presidents from law societies across Australia to gain insights from their governance reforms. This review is not only about assessing our current practices but also about learning from industry best practices and experiences in other jurisdictions to ensure that we implement the most effective governance framework for our members and our profession.
In 2023, to address governance gaps, the Council adopted an interim code of conduct and a roles and responsibilities policy, to ensure we adhered to our workplace obligations, to regulate the interactions between elected members and the employed staff, to clearly set out their functions and to ensure that members of Council are held accountable to a standard which our members would expect. I believe the Society is bigger than any one person or role and that these changes are essential to better serve you.
Regarding our regulatory and disciplinary function, I want to address a recent article referencing an ongoing court matter. While I cannot comment on the case, I want to reassure members that our regulatory process is overseen by an experienced Regulatory Services Manager, with complaints reviewed by the Professional Standards Committee, external legal advisers, and counsel. Importantly, Council does not determine a practitioner's guilt or innocence—that decision lies with the relevant tribunal or court.
Whilst there has been a lot of change to deal with in my first few months as President, it has always been my desire to ensure that the Society has a fair, transparent and robust regulatory regime to deal with disciplinary matters promoting confidence from both the public and our members, whilst ensuring as a membership body, we continue to provide you, our members, with the resources, tools and support to assist you in practice.
As President, I greatly value the close working relationship I’ve built with our CEO, Deputy CEO, and staff, who have shown incredible dedication to our members. I have also valued working with my colleagues on Council, who have demonstrated moral courage in making difficult decisions when needed. It is a privilege to work alongside such a committed team.
On behalf of the Council, we want to assure members we are dedicated to building a progressive and modern Council that embraces innovation, inclusivity, and forward-thinking solutions to meet the evolving needs of our members and the community. We see change as an opportunity for growth, and we remain committed to creating a vibrant, efficient, and responsive Society.
Whilst some members may be apprehensive of change, it is my view that as the professional body for lawyers in the ACT, we must ensure that we are progressive, modern, and always evolving to meet the needs of our members and the challenges of the profession.
If there are ways we can better inform you as members or you would like to discuss your concerns, my Vice-Presidents Andrew Allan and Lisa Quilty, and I would be happy to meet with you.
Kind regards,
Vik Sundar,
President, ACT Law Society
