Expression of interest

This form is for those practising members of The Law Society of New South Wales who seek appointment to the Mediators Panel and/or the FLSS Panel.

Mediators Panel members will be eligible to mediate in matters referred to The Law Society of New South Wales under The Law Society Mediation Program. Members will also be eligible for Presidential appointments and/or nominations pursuant to Court Orders and contractual provisions.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Solicitors seeking appointment to the Mediators Panel must meet the following requirements:

• Be a member of The Law Society of New South Wales;
• Hold a current Practising Certificate (or interstate equivalent) and appropriate professional indemnity insurance to act as a mediator;
• Have a minimum of 5 years practice as a solicitor; and
• Hold national accreditation under National Mediator Accreditation System (“NMAS”).

The Law Society of New South Wales encourages solicitors from diverse backgrounds, especially those from rural areas, to apply for inclusion in the Mediators Panel. To this end, we may exercise our discretion to allow membership to the panel.

For example:

• If an applicant has experience that does not meet all the required criteria and is located in a regional location, or the inclusion of that person may offer greater diversity to the panel; or
• In the case of minor deviation from the criteria, or if an applicant has other equivalent experience, the President and the Chief Executive Officer of The Law Society of New South Wales may exercise a discretion to allow membership to the panel.

Successful applicants will be appointed to the Mediators Panel for a period of two years.

Please note that appointment to the Mediators Panel will lapse automatically upon ceasing to hold a Practising Certificate, appropriate indemnity insurance or national accreditation.

Please also note that appointment to the Mediators Panel does not guarantee mediation work.

The Family Law Settlement Service (“FLSS”) is a mediation program that is a joint initiative between the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court and The Law Society of New South Wales. It is administered by the Law Society’s Access to Justice Department. The program is designed to avoid the costs, uncertainty and delays of having a dispute determined at a final hearing.

The panel consists of solicitors who are also qualified mediators. You will be required to conduct conflict of interest checks before agreeing to be appointed to the matter to ensure impartiality. There will also be certain reporting requirements that you will need to adhere to, for example, to advise the outcome of the mediation.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Practitioners seeking appointment to the FLSS Panel must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be appointed to the Law Society’s Mediators Panel; and
• Have demonstrated, in the 3 years prior to appointment to the FLSS Panel, a substantial involvement in the area of Family Law; and
• Have devoted time to this area of practice, in each year of the past 3 years, that is not less than 25% of normal full-time practice; OR
• Is accepted for inclusion in the FLSS Panel on the basis of appropriate Family Law mediation and litigation experience as determined by the President of The Law Society of New South Wales or his or her delegate.
• For referrals under the FLSS for parenting matters, practitioners must also be qualified Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners (“FDRPs”).

Successful applicants will be appointed to the FLSS Panel for a period of two years.

• Applications to join the Mediators Panel and the FLSS Panel (“the panels”) will be determined by the President and the Chief Executive Officer of The Law Society of New South Wales.
• Proof of national accreditation, qualifications and experience will be required.
• The list of mediators appointed to the panels will be published on The Law Society of New South Wales website.
• Successful applicants to the panels will be appointed for a period of two years.

Applicants seeking appointment to the Mediators Panel and/or the FLSS Panel for 2022-2023 should submit an Expression of Interest form by Friday, 14 January 2022 at 5:00pm.

OR

I declare that the information and particulars set out in this application are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. The undertakings and agreements I make in 1 through 8 above are made by way of deed poll in favour of The Law Society of New South Wales.