Law Week Launch & ACT Golden Gavel

Law Week is an annual event held in May across Australia to promote public understanding of the law and its role in society. Each year in Canberra the Law Society and its partners run a range of events to celebrate and engage the local legal profession, and to educate the public about the role of lawyers in our society. 

Law Week is made possible with the support of Lawcover, the principal Law Week sponsor — they have been a longstanding supporter of Law Week, and we thank them for their ongoing sponsorship.

If you have any questions about Law Week in the ACT, please contact Member Assist on 02 6274 0333 or memberassist@actlawsociety.asn.au

Law Week, along with the ACT Law Society Foundation, raises money each year for a local Canberra charity. In 2024, we are supporting Lifeline Canberra. 

Lifeline Canberra exists to support people in crisis and save the lives of those experiencing thoughts of suicide. Skilled volunteers provide 24/7 support via local crisis support service on 13 11 14. Telephone crisis support workers listen with care and acceptance, whatever the circumstance. 

The Society has chosen this charity because we know the value in having a service support people in their most dire moments. 

Law Week events include fully paid as well as free events.

Free events operate on an 'entry by donation' basis, we have listed free events with optional 'contributions', so that attendess can choose to contribute to the cost of running of the event as they see fit. 

Profits from Law Week every year are disbursed to the Law Week charity, via the ACT Law Society Foundation.

The ACT Law Society Foundation was originally seeded with three years’ worth of Law Week profit (2013, 2014 and 2015), matched by Law Society funds. Each year, around September, the Foundation's annual disbursement is paid directly to the Law Week charity. The corpus of the Foundation is grown by splitting Law Week profits between the Law Week charity and the Foundation (generally a 50/50 split, up to the disbursement amount). This arrangement ensures that the Foundation will continue to grow, allowing greater disbursements in future.

Fees are payable upon registration. 30 days payment invoices are available to members at the discretion of the Law Society. A 1.2% surcharge may be incurred on payments processed via credit/debit card. The Society reserves the right to cancel or alter events at its discretion, and in such circumstances, attendees will be notified via email. 

Definitions — 'Registration' means any booking given to the Society in writing, on our website, or by phone. 'Member' means any member of the ACT Law Society, including associate members and honorary members. 'New Lawyer' means any member who has held a practising certificate for five years or less. 'CLC' means any member working for a recognised community legal centre, or holding a volunteer practising certificate. 'Student' means any member holding a student membership.

All cancellations must be made in writing, and all cancellations will incur a fee, however, no charge will be incurred for substituting another person. Outside of the cancellation periods given below, a $10 administration fee will be incurred for any cancellation made. If a registered attendee fails to attend without notifying the Society in writing, no credit or refund will be offered and 100% of the total cost will be retained by the Society. 

CPD Events — In the case of CPD events held at an venue other than the Law Society, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event. In the case of CPD events held at the Law Society, for cancellations made up to two working days prior to the event, 50% of the total cost will be retained by the Society as a cancellation fee and the balance may be used as a credit towards other CPD events or be refunded. If you choose to keep a credit it will remain valid for 12 months from the event date, after which time it will expire. For cancellations within two working days of the event, no refunds or credits will be applicable. 

Webinars — In the case of live or on-demand webinars, as connection details are sent when registration is completed, no refund or cancellation is available. 

Social events — In the case of social events, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event.