Public Law Forum

The Public Law Forum brings together leading voices in government, academia and the judiciary to explore the contemporary challenges shaping administrative and public law. Designed for public law practitioners—including those working as external advisors to Australian Governments—the Forum offers practical, insight‑driven sessions on emerging technologies, ethical legal practice, and the realities of legislative and decision‑making processes. Participants will hear from leading experts, engage with peers practising in public law, develop / hone their professional capabilities and examine the evolving frameworks that support transparent, accountable and effective public administration.

 

SESSIONS

FROM AUTOMATION TO INTELLIGENCE: UNDERSTANDING EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY IN ADMINISTATIVE LAW

1 point in core area 4 - - substantive law and procedural law

Automated decision-making (ADM) and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly considered by governments to make decisions.

The use of such tools may have significant legal, operational and social consequences. For lawyers, it is crucial to understand the distinctions between ADM and AI - how these technologies differ and operate, and how they may affect and impact long‑standing administrative principles in government decision‑making. 

This session is intended to be practical for lawyers working within government and lawyers advising government. The following topics will be covered:

• Overview of ADM and AI in government decision-making, including their differences, and how technology is currently and proposed to be applied in practice.

• Looks at upcoming reforms and strategies that continue to shape and influence how these technologies are used.

• Addresses When administrative decisions can responsibly be automated and best practice standards.

 

PROFESSOR DILAN THAMPAPILLAI

INTERIM PRO VICE CHANCELLOR (REGIONAL & METRO)
UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG

Professor Dilan Thampapillai is the Interim Pro Vice Chancellor (Regional & Metro) at the University of Wollongong. Professor Thampapillai’s areas of academic expertise are contract law, copyright law and artificial intelligence. Professor Thampapillai is also a Senior Research Associate with the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College, Cambridge. He is also an editor of the Australian Intellectual Property Journal.

 

PROFESSOR NICHOLAS DAVIS

INDUSTRY PROFESSOR OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND CO-DIRECTOR OF THE HUMAN TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY

Professor Nicholas Davis is Industry Professor of Emerging Technology and Co-Director of the Human Technology Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, where he works to ensure emerging technologies are designed and governed in ways that advance human dignity, fairness and public value. He was previously Head of Society and Innovation and a member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum and Managing Partner of SWIFT Partners in Geneva. He is co-author (with Klaus Schwab) of Shaping the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a guide to navigating at the intersection of technology and society. A Certified Professional Facilitator and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Nick is also an Associate Fellow at Oxford’s Saïd Business School, an Associate Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, a member of ASIC’s Consultative Panel, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, and a board member of the IMPROVE European Innovation Management Academy.

 

More panel members to be announced shortly. 

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LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTIONS: PRACTICAL COMPLIANCE AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1 point in core area  4 - substantive law and procedural law

This session is designed to help public law practitioners, particularly those working as external advisors to the Australian Governments understand and apply the Legal Services Directions 2025 in their day-to-day work. The Directions set out the framework for how Commonwealth legal work must be managed, including obligations around procurement, reporting, litigation conduct, and the Commonwealth’s duty to act as a model litigant. 

With the commencement of new Directions on 2 March 2026, the session will provide an overview of the changes from the 2017 Directions.  It is also proposed the session will give practical guidance on how these requirement are implemented in practice, with a strong emphasis on ethical decision-making and accountability. Participants will explore common compliance challenges—such as briefing counsel, and handling monetary claims—and learn strategies for embedding the Directions into internal processes. The discussion will also highlight the ethical dimensions of compliance, including transparency, fairness, and the responsible use of public resources. 

Led by experienced practitioners, this interactive session will combine real-world examples with insights into what courts and oversight bodies expect from government lawyers when applying the Directions. 

 

TARYN DONOHUE

PRINCIPAL LEGAL OFFICER
OFFICE OF LEGAL SERVICES  I  ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT

Taryn is acting director of the Legal Services Policy Section in the Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC). She has over fifteen years’ experience in the public sector, including working as an in-house lawyer at the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Department of Education.
Taryn joined OLSC in 2019, and currently works to support the Attorney-General as First Law Officer to administer a number of provisions in the Legal Services Direction 2017, including compliance with the model litigant obligation.

 

EMMA WEATHERALD

DIRECTOR
OFFICE OF LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATION  I  ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT

Emma is acting director of the Directions Review team in OLSC. She has been in the public sector for over 20 years, undertaking a range of policy, legislative and case work roles.
Emma joined OLSC in early 2024 to lead the review of the Legal Services Directions 2017 in response to recommendation 19.7 of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme.

 

More panel members to be announced shortly. 

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LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE: HOW THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE

1 point in core area 4 - substantive law and procedural law

Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes when laws are created or changed? This CPD session takes you inside the processes of legislative development, offering a practical and candid look at how policy ideas become legislation. 

From a catalyst and initial policy development and stakeholder consultation, through to legislation  development and approvals process, the session will unpack the key stages of law changes and the roles played by Government, lawyers, policy makers, and parliamentary counsel. It will also explore the ethical dimensions of law-making, including modern pressures, accountability, and scrutiny. 

Led by senior government lawyers, session will provide insights into the realities of working within the processes that govern and guide the development of legislation—what works well, what can go wrong, and how lawyers can add value throughout the process. 

 

SAVVAS PERTSINIDIS

DEPUTY PARLIAMENTARY COUNSEL
ACT PARLIMENTARY COUNSEL'S OFFICE

Savvas holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.
In 1992 he was admitted to the NSW Supreme Court and joined the NSWODPP where he instructed in trials, appeals and appeared extensively before the NSW Local, District and Supreme Court. On secondment he also appeared for the ACTODPP in jury trials before the ACT Supreme Court.
In 2002 he joined the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, Office of Legislative Drafting, and the ACT Parliamentary Counsel’s Office in 2008. He has worked on a substantial body of Commonwealth and Territory legislation as legislative counsel and presented training in his areas of legal expertise.
He is presently ACT Deputy Parliamentary Counsel.

 

More panel members to be announced shortly. 

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MAKING, COMMUNICATING AND REVIEWING DECISIONS

1 point in core area 4 - substantive law and procedural law

Government decisions play a significant role in the regulation of public life, and may have significant implications for persons affected by these decisions. The federal administrative law system provides a fundamentally important avenue for aggrieved persons to seek review of government decisions and promotes better decision-making.   

This CPD session is designed to assist government decision-makers and administrative lawyers to navigate common pitfalls in making and communicating decisions, and bringing or responding to judicial and merits review proceedings seeking review of government decisions.    

Justice Stelllios has gained extensive experience as both a decision-maker and reviewer of government decisions in his various roles as:

• a leading academic and former Head of the ANU Law School;  
• an advocate in difficult and high profile administrative law cases; and   
• a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

His Honour is uniquely positioned to provide valuable insights into the art and discipline of good decision making and recent changes to the Australian system of federal administrative review. 

 

THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE STELLIOS

JUDGE
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Justice James Stephen Stellios was appointed to the Federal Court on 19 December 2024.
Justice Stellios graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Economics in 1991 and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons, University Medal) in 1995. He holds a Master of Laws from Cornell University (USA) and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University. In 1995, he was admitted as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. In 2013, he was called to the New South Wales Bar.

Prior to his appointment to the Federal Court, Justice Stellios was Professor and Head of School at the Australian National University Law School. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. He is the author of The Federal Judicature: Chapter III of the Constitution (1^st ed, 2010; 2^nd ed, 2020) and The High Court and the Constitution (6^th ed, 2015, 7^th ed, 2022).

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DETAILS

• When: Friday 20 March 2026, 9:30am -2:50pm (registration from 9am) 
• Where: ACT Law Society Training Room, live streaming option available
• Cost: $300 Members, $420 Non-member, $75 Student member
• CPD: Members will earn 4 CPD points
• RSVP by Thursday 12  March
• For further information please contact events@actlawsociety.asn.au

More details will be provided shortly. 

 

Reduced rates may be available to some of our members to ensure equal training opportunities. Please make contact to discuss your eligibility.