Women Lawyers NSW

The peak body representing women lawyers in NSW for the advancement of women in the legal profession.

14 April 2008

Dear Members & Colleagues

We hope you had the opportunity to participate in some of the events that took place during Law Week, and thank those of you who attended our Law as a Career: Coming to the Bar seminar and contributed to its success.

Our national representative body, Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) is holding its second National Conference on 13-14 June at the Hotel Sofitel in Melbourne. The theme of the Conference is "Creating Justice". The Conference will be opened at a Welcome Reception at the Supreme Court of Victoria by the Honourable Marilyn Warrren AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and the Honourable Rob Hulls, Attorney General of Victoria. Distinguished panels of speakers will address a range of topics. Registrations for the Conference are now open. Please click here for program and registration brochure. Detailed information is available online at http://www.dcconferences.com.au/awl.

WLA is currently seeking mentors from a range of backgrounds for the inaugural University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Law Student Society women's mentoring program, to attend a once-off evening function at UTS. Please see below for further details.

AWL will be making a written submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave. Your comments, case studies, and other information would be greatly valued. Please see below for further details. Please click here for the AWL press release.

Yours faithfully,

Lee-May Saw
President

UTSLSS Women in Law Mentoring Night
Thursday 15 May 2008, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
UTS Faculty of Law Board Room, Level 2 Building 5, Quay Street Ultimo
Map: http://www.uts.edu.au/about/mapsdirections/citymap.html

Inaugural speed-dating style mentoring program for female students at UTS Law School. Organised by UTS Law Student Society and supported by WLA. To share your insights into working in the profession with UTS students from a range of years, degrees and experiences, contact Kathryn McKenzie, Executive Officer, at executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au or phone 4392 1185 to confirm your attendance.

AWL Submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave
The terms of the reference for the Productity Commission's Inquiry are available online at http://www.alp.org.au/media/0208/msewrfcstres170.php. Click here for an Issues Paper for the Inquiry.

Please email Kathryn McKenzie, Executive Officer at executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au with comments, case studies, and information that AWL might consider in preparing its submission.

Submission in Response to the National Employment Standards Exposure Draft.
The WLA Workplace Practices Subcommittee has made a written submission to the Workplace Relations Policy Group, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, in resoponse to the National Employment Standards Exposure Draft.

WLA supports the introduction of a legislated right to request flexible working arrangements. Many thanks to the Workplace Practices Subcommittee in preparing the submission. Please click here for the full submission.

20th Women, Management and Employment Relations Conference.
Held in Sydney 24-25 July 2008, this conference is the leading Women's Conference in Australia and WLANSW is proud to be a sponsorship partner. 2008 themes: Diversity & Equity, Leadership, Salary Gap, Workplace Culture & Flexibility. For further information www.lmsf.mq.edu.au/wmer.

10 DOUBLE MOVIE PASSES valid over the Advanced Screening Weekend, Friday 9th May – Sunday 11th May, for the first 10 WLANSW members to email executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au with the subject heading "UN Secret", compliments of Dendy Films. Please note that only the winners will be contacted. IN CINEMAS May 15. Adapted by Claude Miller from Philippe Grimbert's autobiographical novel, this is a splendid and moving saga of a Jewish family in post-war Paris, told through the eyes of a frail & intelligent young boy who senses something is amiss with his beautiful parents (Cécile De France & Patrick Bruel).

SPECIAL ADVANCED FILM SCREENING INVITATION : THEN SHE FOUND ME
Hudson and Hopscotch Films will be holding a special advanced film screening for:
6.45pm sharp, Wednesday 7th May, 2008
GU GEORGE ST, 505-525 George St, Sydney

To attend this screening simply RSVP to rsvp@hopscotchfilms.com.au with your fullname and postal address and include “WOMENS ASSOC.” in the subject field Limited tickets; successful RSVPers will be notified. IN CINEMAS - MAY 15

Actress Helen Hunt makes her directing debut with "Then She Found Me", a funny and very touching story about the way we create families both by blood and by choice. April Epner’s (Hunt) world is turned upside down in quick succession when her immature husband (Matthew Broderick) announces he's leaving her and the brash, overbearing Bernice (Bette Midler) enters her life claiming to be her biological mother. If this isn’t enough trouble, she finds herself falling for a charming Englishman (Colin Firth). April is a thoroughly modern woman in a thoroughly modern crisis and the only person who understands her is a mother that she has just met and who is a bit of a handful.

OTHER EVENTS & NEWS:

Common Ground: we have more in common than we think
The Centre for Policy Development's Common Ground: Paid Maternity Leave event to be held in Sydney at Customs House on 5.30 for 6pm Wednesday April 23rd brings together Sharan Burrow of the ACTU and Tony Steven of the Council of Small Business to discuss how employers and employees can work together to ensure that all working women have access to paid maternity leave. Please see attached invitation for details. No charge; RSVPs are essential by 18 April.
CPD_Common_Ground_Paid_Maternity_Leave.pdf

This year’s Life Changing Ball will be held on Saturday 14th June at Hilton Sydney and is shaping up to be another outstanding event. Launched in 2005, and now in its fourth year, the annual Life Changing Ball continues to be a sell out each year. Renowned for its brilliant themeing, entertainment and innovation, this prestigious red carpet event will certainly be a “Life Changing Experience” for all 500 guests. To achieve our target for national expansion, we aim to exceed all expectations for monies raised on the night to enable the continuation the successful SISTER2sister Program. Corporate Tables & Individual Tickets are now on sale – click here for the booking form.

Please feel free to pass this email onto colleagues and ensure they are on our email list for future updates and invitations.

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For more information contact us
Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales Inc.
DX7304 Wyong / 14A Lonsdale Close, Lake Haven NSW 2263
Ph: (02) 4392 1185 Fax: (02) 4392 9410
Email: executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au URL: http://www.womenlawyersnsw.org.au

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