“As regional solicitors, they are trusted advisers and a crucial component of close-knit towns and rural communities and they well aware of the impact of this drought.”
By Amy Dale -
As NSW reels from one of the most severe droughts on record, the Law Society’s annual Rural Issues Conference considered how country lawyers can best serve clients in desperate times.
Climate change, land clearing, protesting and regional talent retention were also high on the agenda at the sold-out event. About 12 per cent of the state’s 34,000 solicitors live and work outside of NSW cities, and more than one in five sole practitioners is based in the country.
Unsurprisingly, the drought crisis and its implications for rural lawyers was front and centre at the conference, including in the opening keynote address from NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey.
Law Society of NSW President Elizabeth Espinosa announced that the Law Society would be contributing $50,000 via a grant to aid drought-affected farmers to access funds for legal assistance.
“NSW is in the grips of one of the most severe droughts on record with the Central West, Far West and North West regions the worst affected to date,” President Espinosa said.
“This grant is in response to feedback from our country solicitors who play a significant role in our regional areas, working tirelessly for local communities while grappling with distinct and challenging issues – often dealing with clients whose lives are made more precarious by events such as floods, droughts, bushfires and other natural disasters.
“As regional solicitors, they are trusted advisers and a crucial component of close-knit towns and rural communities and they well aware of the impact of this drought.”
Espinosa said the money would be granted to the Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW Central Region for distribution, a service that covers approximately 52 per cent of NSW.
President of the Law Socoety of NSW, Elizabeth Espinosa
Former family court judge Ian Coleman SC presented on the increasing use of helicopter surveillance and drones, particularly by mining companies, public sector agencies and animal welfare groups.
The Right to Farm Bill 2019 (NSW) is currently being debated by the NSW Legislative Council, aims to stop animal rights protests on farms through punishing unlawful entry and disruption on “inclosed lands” with a $22,000 fine and a maximum penalty of three years’ in prison.
Keith Rogers, a Partner at MinterEllison, changed tack by discussing the risks of climate change through a commercial lens – a hot topic in Australia, which second only to the US in the number of climate-related class actions currently in court, with 90 cases afoot nationwide.
Rogers detailed concerns regarding the physical and ecological impacts of climate change, managing the transition to more renewable practices as well as any liability and why “they are material issues for all clients”.
Emma Heuston, Founder and Principal Lawyer at The Remote Expert, spoke on how firms could continue to attract and retain top talent in the bush, as the drought drives workers away at a time when assistance is most needed, with innovative approaches including remote workers and document automation.
