Description
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour in Ethics & Professional Responsibility
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topics, so you have no annual limits to the number of points/hours you can claim with this format of learning. Please verify with your CPD rules
Chair
Amanda Comelli, Partner, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers; NSW Accredited Specialist in Business Law
Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Moving From an “Avoiding Liability” Approach to a Work Place Health and Safety “Risk Identification and Management” Approach
With the implementation of:
- new workplace health and safety (WHS) codes of practice in 2023 in many Australian jurisdictions which set out the proactive steps law firms need to take to manage the psychosocial hazards in the workplace; and
- the Respect @ Work changes which impose a positive duty to eliminate discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation; and
law firms, and lawyers can no longer afford to only take reactive steps to avoid possible liability. Their ethical obligations as a lawyer requires more.
This session seeks to inform legal practices of what they need to do to ensure a firm is discharging their duties under the WHS Laws and considers why under these WHS Laws and a solicitor’s ethical obligations legal practitioners need to ensure proactive steps are taken to eliminate risks to health and safety at work and to others.
Presented by Gemma Sharp, Special Counsel, Cooper Grace Ward
Presenters
Gemma Sharp, Special Counsel, Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers
As a special counsel in Cooper Grace Ward’s workplace relations and safety team, Gemma brings over 10 years’ experience providing advice on employment, industrial discrimination, and health and safety matters. Gemma advises a range of clients across various industries, including retail, finance, early childhood and education, transport, and religious organisations on issues such as: compliance and duties under workplace health and safety legislation; unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment; the operation of employment contracts and restraint of trade provisions; independent contractor and employee distinctions; award and enterprise agreement applicability and provisions; dismissal risks and strategies; management of ill and injured employees; workers’ compensation claims; and general protections claims. In the past 12 months, Gemma has provided clients with a wide range of advice on legal issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in relation to its ongoing impacts for employers.
Amanda Comelli, Partner, Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Amanda is a Law Society of NSW Accredited Specialist in Business Law and currently sits on the Law Society's Specialist Accreditation Advisory Committee for Business Law. With more than 10 years' experience as a business lawyer, Amanda provides commercial and corporate law, tax law and estate planning advice to businesses and business owners. Amanda likes to keep her practice broad, to provide her clients with well-rounded and practical legal advice. Amanda has acted for a range of clients including both private and public companies, accountants, financial planners, retailers, business owners, manufacturers, individuals (including high net worth individuals) and not-for-profit organisations. She is also a founder of the Women in Tax Discussion Group, which is hosted monthly by Brown Wright Stein, as a forum for female tax professionals to meet and discuss recent key changes in tax law in a relaxed and supportive environment. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys travel, fitness, and spending time with her family. She has also represented Australia in several international karate tournaments!
