The Law Society of New South Wales has welcomed the announcement. Senior vice-president Hugh Macken released a statement last week to the effect that he looks forward to working with McClelland across a range of issues impacting the legal profession.

“It is important to understand that legal practitioners in NSW are affected not just by state-based legislation, but also by national legislation and issues that govern their ability to practise law across the various state jurisdictions,” Macken said.

The senior vice-president said that a clear agenda for reform had been set prior to the election as part of the Law Society’s federal policy platform. He was confident that he will be able to work closely with the new Attorney-General to achieve these policy goals, and offered the support and resources of the Law Society of NSW to the incoming McClelland.

“As the representative of more than 20,000 solicitors in NSW, I look forward to fostering a strong working relationship with Mr McClelland and the new Rudd Labor Government,” Macken said.