Lawyers regularly engage with clients in crisis, yet few are trained to recognise the signs of trauma or understand its impact on communication, memory, and decision-making. The presenters will offer practical insights into trauma and vicarious trauma, equipping lawyers with tools to manage difficult interactions and reduce the risk of re-traumatisation. Participants will learn how to apply trauma-informed principles to enhance client engagement, improve outcomes and support their own wellbeing. The session also includes an introduction to culturally competent practice, highlighting the importance of cultural awareness to strengthen service delivery.
THE HON ROBERT BENJAMIN AM SC
The Honourable Robert Benjamin is a former Justice of the Family Court of Australia (2005-2021), Presidential Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2005-2020). He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2022. He was one of the Commissioners constituting the Tasmanian Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings and currently serves as Tasmania’s first Child Safety Reform Implementation Monitor. Robert is also a former President of the Law Society of NSW, Chair of The College of Law and Chair of the Education Committee of the Family Court.
MICHELLE BENJAMIN
Michelle Benjamin is a Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) facilitator with the Child Wellbeing and Mental Health Unit for the NSW Department of Education. Michelle is also a Trauma Informed Practice Community of Practice Co-Ordinator (Sutherland Shire area) and worked on the TIP Disability Advisory Committee.
Michelle is also a qualified Dramatherapist and Counsellor having worked with children, nursing-home patients, First Nations people and service users attending outpatient hospital day programs, providing both individual and group therapy interventions.
Michelle has co-created and co-facilitated trauma-informed professional learning to the Judicial Commission of New South Wales and regional law society conferences.
KARINA OKOTEL
Karina Okotel is the Principal Lawyer at the Racial and Religious Discrimination Legal Service Inc. Karina has practiced for many years in the area of human rights in Victoria before relocating to Canberra. She is a past Victorian Co-Convenor of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and served on the Law Institute of Victoria’s National Human Rights Charter Consultation Committee.
Karina also lecturers at The College of Law and is the College’s Academic Secretary in addition to serving on its Academic Board.
DETAILS
- When: 12.30pm - 1:30pm, Thursday 22 May 2025
- Where: Online live streaming webinar
- CPD: Members receive 1 points in core area 3
- Cost: Free, or optional contribution to the 2025 charity Roundabout Canberra (please note no refunds can be made)
About Law Week
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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, along with the ACT Law Society Foundation, donates to a local Canberra charity each year.
If you have any questions about Law Week in the ACT, please contact Member Connect on 02 6274 0333 or memberconnect@actlawsociety.asn.au
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2025 Charity: Roundabout Canberra
Each year, the President of the Law Society nominates a local Canberra charity to receive funds from any charitable events run by the Society (the primary event being Law Week). In 2025, we are supporting Roundabout Canberra.
Roundabout Canberra believe every child deserves a safe start and every family deserves dignity. Powered by an incredible team of volunteers, they provide safe, high-quality, essential baby and children’s items to families in need. In 2024 alone, Roundabout Canberra supported almost 5,000 local children.
Through strong partnerships with 140 social services, they ensure children and families receive the vital support they need. By taking care of essential material needs, Roundabout Canberra free up these services to focus on the broader challenges families face—helping to create a stronger, more supported community.
If you are unable to attend any of our fundraising events and would still like to donate to Roundabout Canberra you can so via their website here.
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Why are there ticket prices listed for free events?
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
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General
ACT Law Society invoices have payment terms of 14 days. Fees are payable upon registration. 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.
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Cancellation policy
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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Notice of Filming and Photography
Attendees of events consent to filming, photography and sound recording as members of the audience. By registering and attending this event you agree to being filmed or photographed which may be used for marketing or promotional purposes
Registration
A) I would prefer not to contribute (live streaming) | Free | Register |
B) I would like to contribute to the charity (live streaming) | $10.00(GST incl.) | Register |
C) I would like to contribute to the charity (live streaming) | $20.00(GST incl.) | Register |