Latest Legal Blogs : community
What is an Accredited Specialist?
We posted the fantastic news that Julie Bligh had received the Queensland Law Society’s Award for “Highest Achiever” in Family Law Specialist Accreditation 2019. People have since asked – what is an Accredited Specialist? Specialist Accreditation provides a nationally recognised “mark of excellence” for high level competence and knowledge. Connolly Suthers has more Accredited Specialists than any other firm in Townsville. We have Accredited Specialists in Personal Injuries, Succession Law (Wills and Estates), Property Law and Family Law. So how does a Solicitor become an Accredited Specialist? The Queensland Law Society accepts applications only from experienced Solicitors who have recognised ability in a particular area of law. Their ability has to be confirmed by Solicitors or Barristers who don’t work in the same firm – that is, peer recognition of expertise. But that’s only the start! There is a grueling assessment process, and this year the majority of experienced professionals did not get through. It’s that tough. The Queensland Law Society describes the assessment as a “rigorous, peer-reviewed and practical skills competency based accreditation program”. The Society says the Specialist Accreditation Scheme aims to benefit the public by offering “reliable means of identifying practitioners who are recognised by their peers as having special competence in particular areas of practice”. And goes on to say “Solicitors who are Accredited as Specialist are recognised as having: Enhanced skills; Superior knowledge; Significant experience; And a high proficiency. In established legal speciality areas. You can obtain advice locally, confident that our solicitors are experts in their fields.
Chief Justice presents award
The Chief Justice of Queensland has presented our own Julie Bligh with an award in Brisbane. Julie received the “Highest Achiever” award in Family Law Specialist Accreditation in 2019. The Queensland Law Society hosted its annual Accredited Specialist Breakfast at the Brisbane Town Hall, attended by Judges, Barristers and Solicitors. The event honours those who have gained Specialist Accreditation in their areas of practice. We are doubly proud of Julie: she now holds two Specialist Accreditations (Family Law and Personal Injuries Law). And both times she was the highest achiever in the assessment process. There are over 12,000 solicitors in Queensland but only 16 have two Specialist Accreditations, so it is great to see a Townsville solicitor with that recognition. We asked Julie: how did she prepare for the tough assessment process? “Despite being a Solicitor for almost 25 years and specialising in Family Law, I did more than a years’ study in areas including Tax, Trusts and corporate restructuring. When told that I had passed my first thought was relief. All the candidates are experienced Family Lawyers, making me especially proud to be the highest achiever. This recognition confirms that solicitors in regional areas are the equal of any.” It certainly shows that you can obtain legal advice in North Queensland with confidence. We are very proud of our family law team.
Changes to witnessing requirements for Land Title Documents
If you are a registered Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations or Solicitor working with Title Registry documents, then you should be aware of the changes to the witnessing requirements which come into effect on 30th September 2019. The Department of Natural Recourses, Mines and Energy (Land Title Office) have released important changes to the requirements for witnessing relevant land title documents, such as transfers and mortgages. A guide to the changes to the witnessing requirements can be found in the new Part 61 of the Land Title Practice Manual (LTPM), specifically section 61-2300 which outlines the obligations of witnesses. Whilst, only a draft copy has been released you can find a link to the relevant Part 61 of the LTPM here. It is likely that witnessing officers are already undertaking adequate steps to verify the identity of the individual signing a document before them. However, from 30 September 2019 it is now a legal requirement to undertake a series of steps to confirm the true identity of the individual and keep written records of the steps undertaking and the documents sighted.
The Digital Afterlife - Social Media
Social media is a huge aspect of our day to day lives. From Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Tumblr, WhatsApp – the list goes on and on. Whilst making a social media account can all be done with the click of a button (and more often than not without spending a cent), the cost of dealing with social media on death can cost your estate a hefty legal bill if you haven’t put a plan into place about what happens to your social media accounts on your death. There has been a string of recent litigation trying to untangle the complex issues about ownership of social media accounts and the content of the account on death. So what really happens to your social media account when you pass away? We have picked the top three social media platforms and given a run down on what happens to your account on death.
Survival tips for law students with Ji Burton
Surviving as a Law student is all about trial and error. We asked one of our young and upcoming solicitors, Ji Burton about the tips and tricks he developed throughout his studies to assist you. Ji Joined the Connolly Suthers team in 2018 after graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from James Cook University. He now works within our litigation department assisting with personal compensation and superannuation claims. So without further ado here are Ji's top tips! Transcribe those recordings It’s no secret Lecturers only want to read on an exam paper what they’ve taught you throughout the Semester. Taking the time to accurately transcribe a Lecture can be tedious and very time consuming (with lots of pausing and rewinding), but is always a very rewarding task when it comes time for SWOTVAC. Stay on top of these and it will make your SWOTVAC a lot more productive! You will actually have time to absorb and apply your material to practice exams.
What Good is a Lawyer?
What’s another name for a lawyer? What about “Ambulance Chaser”, “Shark” or “Ambidexter”? What is black and brown and looks good on a lawyer? A doberman. Yes, we’ve all heard the jokes but why is it that the public holds lawyers in such low esteem? Why do people seem to agree that it is perfectly acceptable to dislike lawyers? Isn’t it odd that people are happy to see a doctor for medical advice, an accountant for financial advice, but NOT a lawyer for legal advice? While we might not all be as good looking as Gregory Peck’s Atticus Finch, as resilient as Hilary Clinton or as wise as Mahatma Gandhi (yes all lawyers), do we really deserve this universal dislike? Or do we have Shakespeare to blame for the bar room taunts? It was he who discredited the profession when he famously proclaimed in Henry IV: - The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers! The truth is, regardless of the social stigma, lawyers are here to help you and they are around when you need them most. Despite the nicknames, most people will seek assistance from a lawyer at least once during their lifetime. Whether it be to buy or sell property, prepare a legal will or trust, deal with bad debt or support families through difficult changes, a lawyer can be called upon for advice and assistance through many of the major events in your life. Unlike your mate Fred at the pub, your lawyer might not always say what you want to hear or tip-toe around your moods, but your lawyer will act in your best interests, with integrity and morality and provide you with an honest summary of your options and the likely outcomes of your situation. It is your lawyer’s business to understand your business, your legal needs, your personal circumstances and your ambitions and goals. A lawyer will demystify the many confusing aspects of the law and help you when you need it most. As Richard Gere said to his lawyer in the cult movie Pretty Woman (a favourite), “You're my lawyer, Phil, you do my worrying for me”. In closing ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I ask you again, what good is a lawyer? I’ll tell you: good when the outcome matters.