Fundamentals Series

Discover the essential building blocks of various legal practice areas and skills with the ACT Law Society's Fundamental Series. Designed for both new and experienced lawyers, our monthly sessions offer insights into key issues and practice areas. Whether you're looking to expand your expertise or stay updated on legal developments, there's something for everyone. Join us on the last Tuesday of each month for practical knowledge and professional growth.

Tuesday 26 November 2024

SCHEDULE

10:30am - 11:30am: Employment Dispute Resolution (1 point in CA4)

1:30pm - 2:30pm: Practice Skills for the Modern Lawyer: Using AI safely and effectively in your legal Practice (1 point in CA2)

Our November edition of the Fundamentals Series is proudly supported by the Leo Cussen Centre for Law.

---

Employment Dispute Resolution

Join us for an insightful session on the fundamentals of Dispute Resolution within Employment Law. This engaging overview will cover essential topics, including:

• Understanding the nature of conflict
• The philosophy and origins of dispute resolution in the employment context
• An introduction to conciliation and its importance
• Insights into arbitration processes within the Fair Work Commission
• The critical role of lawyers in Fair Work proceedings
• An exploration of the Fair Work Commission’s authority to impose costs on paid agents and lawyers in various dispute scenarios
• Case studies highlighting recent decisions where costs orders were issued against representatives
• Best practices and practical tips for effective client representation in dispute resolution conferences

Enhance your knowledge and skills in this vital area of law, and equip yourself with strategies to navigate the Fair Work Commission with confidence!

KRISTIE BURT

LEGAL COUSEL
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF THE ACT

Master Builders Association of the ACT (MBA ACT) is a member organisation and a core function provided for members is advocacy in the Fair Work Commission as well as assistance with the interpretation and administration of the Fair Work and associated modern Awards and how they apply to industry.  Kristie was admitted to practice in 2010 initially working in private practice before making the move into the building and construction industry association space as a general adviser and moving into the role of General Counsel.  In 2020, MBA ACT established MBA Legal which bridges the gap between general advice provided to members and having to refer our member to another solicitor /professional members.  MBA Legal now also offers dispute resolution services by accredited mediators.  Kristie’s passion is educating and informing industry participants in relation to their rights and obligations across a broad range of areas. 

 

RICHARD CALVER

LAWYER, IR CONSULTANT AND WRITER
CALVER LAW

Richard Calver has had over 40 years broad experience in law, having previously conducted his own legal practice in the state of Victoria, Australia, taught law at the Faculty of Law Monash University, the RMIT University and the University of Canberra as well as having had roles in government and industry.  He has had experience as a director of not for profit organisations as well as private and public companies.

Richard is now practicing in employment and contract law and is conducting his practice from Canberra. He can assist with contractual, unfair dismissal, and harassment issues which can make life miserable.

 

ADITI MOHINDRA

PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR
ACT GOVERNMENT SOLICITOR

Aditi is a Principal Solicitor at ACT Government Solicitor working predominantly in the employment law team since 2019. She has more than a decade of legal experience across ACT and Federal government and is an accredited specialist in dispute resolution with the Law Society of NSW since 2018. She has worked at private firms and Legal Aid representing private clients as well as representing Territory clients at ACTGS and other government departments, giving her a deep understanding of the various lenses involved in dispute resolution.  

DETAILS

• When: Tuesday 26 November, 10:30am - 11:30am
• Where: Hybrid - In person at the ACT Law Society or Online Live Streaming Webinars - a link will be sent the day of the event
• Cost: Members - $50, New Lawyers and Students - $25, Non-members $70
• CPD: Members will receive 1 point in Core Area 4
• RSVP: 25 November 2024

---

Practice Skills for the Modern Lawyer: Using AI safely and effectively in your legal Practice

Generative AI technologies are starting to revolutionise legal practice and reshape the development of modern lawyer skills, but not always as we might imagine.  When it first came out, we were told it would do legal research, document drafting, document management and e-discovery for us, but the realities are sometimes a bit disappointing.  What's more, we remain concerned about how GenAI impacts our professional identity and ethical obligations.  

This session aims to help us move from hype to reality.  Learn the principles for how you can start or grow in your use of AI in your law practice today and into the future. 

This session will include the following topics:

• What is GenAI and how does it work?
• AI Tools – general and applied 
• Ethical issues: confidentiality, competence & IP
• The context: your real legal life
• Principles for using GenAI in legal practice
• Examples and experiments

This session will equip you with key principles and real-world examples, boosting your confidence and skill to elevate your practice's effectiveness.

JENNIE PAKULA

PRINCIPAL
THE LAWYER'S FRIEND

Jennie Pakula is Principal of The Lawyer’s Friend, a boutique firm that helps lawyers navigate their regulatory obligations and serve their clients better. 

Jennie worked in legal services regulation from 1994-2023. She has been an ethics adviser and complaint handler with the Law Society of NSW, and in Victoria, she conducted many complaint investigations and prosecutions. From 2010-2018, she managed the team that dealt with the bulk of complaints and enquiries. In that role, she read and allocated about 14,000 client complaints, pioneered the innovative Rapid Resolution approach to complaint handling, instigated several policy initiatives and designed the first iteration of the VLSB+C’s compliance auditing program.   

Jennie’s last role at the VLSB+C was as Manager, Innovation & Consumer Engagement. In that role, she gained a deeper understanding of the consumer experience of legal services and worked closely with the Consumer Panel. Jennie conceived and executed many initiatives designed to overcome barriers to innovation, including devising and running the ‘Innovation In-box’, where legal services innovators receive regulatory guidance on new ways of working. She was responsible for a series of practical regulatory guidance pieces, the most recent relating to lawyers’ use of generative AI.  

Throughout her career, Jennie has seen and deeply understood systemic problems and common issues and has converted these insights into practical guidance for consumers and the profession. She particularly loves encouraging and helping lawyers in small firms – especially those who want to do things differently.

DETAILS

• When: Tuesday 26 November, 1:30pm - 2:30pm
• Where: Online Live Streaming Webinar - a link will be sent the day of the event
• Cost: Members - $50, New Lawyers and Students - $25, Non-members $70
• CPD: Members will receive 1 point in Core Area 2
• RSVP: 25 November 2024

 

Reduced rates may be available to some of our members to ensure equal training opportunities. Please make contact to discuss your eligibility.