Law Society staff and councillors jostle for space on the ledges as more flee the premises … Regional Women Lawyers ruckus … Concentration of power alienates young lawyers and smaller firms … Escrow accounts for barristers create jitters … Prospective streamlined discipline process … Fresh hell … From our intrepid reporter Theodora 

Michelle Meares, a Terrigal solicitor, has departed from the council amid recriminations that she was involved in the creation of a new organisation called NSW Regional Women Lawyers. 

It’s a support group for female lawyers in remote, rural and regional areas, promoting access to the same “benefits and opportunities as their CBD Sydney counterparts”. 

The first conference of RWL was held last month in Orange and attended by about 30 lawyers, who listened to some talks and had a few drinks and nibbles. 

The powers that be in Phillip Street were incandescent, fearing that Regional Women Lawyers would trample all over the Law Society’s patch. 

Meares was told that conflicts could arise and that the society was seeking external legal advice. Section 191 of the Corporations Act, dealing with directors duties to disclose, was bandied about. 

“A director of a company who has a material personal interest in a matter that relates to the affairs of the company must give the other directors notice of the interest …” 

The ruckus over regional women having the affront to support each other saw her depart the governing body of the solicitors’ club, close her firm and sign up for the bar. 

We sought comment from Ms Meares but she thought better of returning our phone call and email. 

On Anzac Day (April 25), Danny Bricknell also resigned as a Law Society councillor, effective immediately. 

He said the unfair treatment of Michelle Meares by the society “disturbed me greatly”. 

Bricknell was concerned that the council has alienated young lawyers and the regional societies. 

“Both are core to the society’s future … What I have observed in recent times has caused me increasing discomfort, particularly as it is clear that this is a direction that council is not interested in changing.” 

This is in the content of the increased stranglehold the big city law shops are having on the society. 

See our report from October on the restructure of the council – reducing the voice of pesky members from the boondocks. 

The Large Firm Society 
Vote early, vote often 

Bricknell concluded his letter of resignation, saying: 

“Overall, I do not wish to be associated with or aligned with actions and a direction that is not in line with my beliefs. I find it increasingly difficult to explain to disgruntled members, decisions and actions by the council and the society with which I do not agree.” 

Danny Bricknell did not reply to our email and the Law Society declined to comment. 

Other contentions are blowing through the Street of Shame. 

The Law Society is highly jittery about the increased use by barristers of escrow accounts, allowing briefs to hold clients money. 

If this catches on it is unthinkable what might happen to solicitors’ traditional turf.

The bar’s escrow service is being managed by NAB: 

“A free only banking service provided by NAB exclusively to NSW barristers to securely hold money for barristers’ fees until the work is done.” 

All the details are here – including this scary bit: 

“The escrow service can hold monies paid directly by the client with the solicitor being relieved of the cost and risk of maintaining trust accounts for barristers’ fees.” 

It also relieves barristers of agitation while waiting until the solicitor transfers the loot. 

At the same time the Law Society is looking over its shoulder as Michael Daley, the new attorney general, contemplates the duplication inherent in the process of handling complaints and discipline. 

It’s entirely possible he might like to find extra money for legal aid by consolidating the hydra-headed lawyers’ disciplinary regime and handing the whole lot of the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner.  

This would relieve the society of dealing with lunatic complainants who lost their case, and importantly it would see the loss of a ton of revenue, staff, clout and wherewithal. 

All this as people continue to race for the exits at 170 Phillip Street.