Ms van der Plaat’s five key focus areas for the year ahead are: supporting the professions’ health and wellbeing, supporting rural and regional court systems across the state, protecting human rights in NSW, responding to the impacts of COVID-19 on the justice system, and advocating for greater court resources.

“I am keen to create and promote initiatives that celebrate not only the technical skills of lawyers, but also our values. I want to put a spotlight on solicitors who have distinguished themselves by their ethics, mentoring, supervision, or some other important personal contribution.

“This year, I want to spend as much time as possible visiting our regions, listening to our members and finding out how we can better assist them. Protecting human rights in NSW and the advancement of standalone human rights legislation in this state has long been a priority for me, and it seems to me that we have been having this conversation for a very long time,” she said.  

“Our society continues to wrestle with the tension between rights and responsibilities, and more recently between liberty and public health. This is an issue with the potential to keep going around in circles. But I am confident that, together with our membership, and at this historic moment, we can reignite a meaningful debate on this issue that raises community awareness and produces real outcomes.”

During the second NSW lockdown last year, the Law Society surveyed almost 1,500 solicitors about COVID-related changes to determine what should be kept and shouldn’t.

“The results were telling and revealed that solicitors are keen to retain many changes that have emerged during COVID-19, such as remote hearings for procedural matters and to the remote execution of some documents.

“However, there are other elements that our members believe should be returned to being dealt with face to face because administering justice is an intensely human experience,” Ms van der Plaat said.  

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“We are having ongoing conversations with the heads of jurisdiction about these findings. And we are keen to work with all arms of the profession to ensure that we are intentional about responding to COVID-induced changes.”

In addition, the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the state’s “institutions, supply chains, and society at large”, she added.

“It is easy to say that we need to invest in the justice system the same way we invest in health, education and infrastructure. It seems to be common sense to me that a holistic approach is the best approach, just as it is for any other part of our justice system. And we need to communicate to our fellow citizens how this investment provides long-term economic benefit and protects the rights of civil society.

“If there are large population explosions and housing developments in north-west Sydney, what courts do they use? This year, I will continue to advocate for greater court resources. This includes NCAT, which has seen a spike in tenancy and consumer issues during the pandemic and in other jurisdictions, where limited resources are slowing access to justice,” she said.

Finally, Ms van der Plaat added that the society’s 180th birthday allows her to see numerous opportunities for the road ahead.

“An opportunity to reach into our history and reflect upon our time-honoured values. An opportunity for us as a profession to reset those values. And an opportunity to respond to the pandemic in a way which aligns those values with thinking big and looking forward,” she said.  

“So, as I continue my presidency and outline my priorities for the year, I do so as a part of a story bigger than myself, and with a renewed sense of excitement and optimism.”