Legalsuper 5th Annual North Queensland Symposium 2012

The Legalsuper 5^th Annual North Queensland Symposium 2012 is billed by the QLS as “a one stop shop for practitioners to gain 10 CPD points.”

It is… And it is a lot more…

Much can be gained (for barristers as well as solicitors) from papers on topics as significant to practitioners as:

• Mediation skills;
• Latest cases on succession law;
• Updates to property law;
• The emerging criminal jurisdiction on OH&S failures;
• Employment law updates;
• ASIC news for commercial litigators;
• UCPR updates;
• Assessment of damages workshops; and
• Personal resilience in the profession.

The speakers are top drawer. Many are from the Bench and the Bar. Justice Margaret McMurdo and Justice David North will be providing a judicial perspective of lawyers’ duties. Their insightful views, their warmth and their wit are well known. Judge John Baulch SC — with his many insights into Townsville – is chairing some of the sessions. Richard Douglas SC — a much-respected ‘old boy’ of North Queensland – is discussing procedure; former Bar Association President, Tony Glynn SC, is delivering the paper on crime and OH&S; Ian Hanger QC is delivering the paper on mediation; and Caite Brewer is discussing succession law.

The line-up of solicitors is equally as impressive. Featured speakers and chairs include: Dr John de Groot, the QLS President, on succession; Dr Anne Purcell on ADR; Paul Radford, Partner at Connolly Suthers; Bill Potts and Cameron Browne of Potts Lawyers; Brett Bassett and Lesley Symons from ASIC; and Anthony Anastas of Corrs.

(As an academic/barrister, I am much-humbled to be in this company talking about: workplace policy; the QANTAS dispute; and changes in trade union accountability laws after the HSU upheaval, allegedly involving Craig Thomson and some ladies at a most unusual address.)

For those seeking an informative year-end event, which accrues 10 CPD points, Legalsuper is well worth considering. The venue is Rydges Southbank, Townsville – a hotel close-ish to the shores of the Coral Sea and definitely in the heart of the restaurant precinct — on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 November 2012 from 9am both days. Registration may be made at:

Qls.com.au/north-qld-symposium

And the $605 early bird price lasts until 12 October.

The conference dinner on the Friday night should be enjoyable. And if delegates want to stay in Townsville for the remainder of the weekend, there are some interesting things to see and do, ranging from: visiting Reef HQ and its wonderful Turtle Hospital; through to visiting Queens Gardens (with its gardens-within-gardens and bird aviary); walking along the beautiful Strand; and taking a trip to Magnetic Island (and SCUBA diving). Good Townsville shops range from Bluebell Trading (which has some quaint and interesting homewares eg locally-made tea cosies and cushions) through to the Sunday markets on Flinders Street. Favourite restaurants (of mine and most people) include: The C Bar, The Rhino Bar and Michels through to ‘Betty Blue and the Lemon Tart’, Absolute Tea, Juliette’s Gelato Shop and The Strand Kiosk (which makes a great burger I enjoy once a fortnight or so on the picnic tables that line the shore of the sea.)

Dr Louise Floyd

Director of Research

James Cook Law School

(and Barrister, Supreme Court of Queensland)

For further information visit www.qls.com.au/Home  .

CPD Details:

1 CPD point per hour of attendance
3 CPD points per hour of presentation
Mandatory strands include Ethics, Advocacy and Practice Management
Accreditation Code NQC12.