CA2 (Professional Skills)
This is Piddington’s online CPD library for professional skills. These sessions include input from judges, silks and senior lawyers on issues as diverse as advocacy, career longevity, conferral, witness outlines and more.
If you are looking for other online CPD sessions click the following:
Please note:
Some sessions were recorded before 1 April 2023. In accordance with Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act (2022), Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules (2015) and Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Barristers) Rules (2015), the sessions and questions are regularly reviewed for relevance, and changed or deleted where appropriate.
Unless otherwise marked, all of our sessions are considered “interactive”.
The Hon Rene Le Miere KC: What Judges Want
Now off the bench, the Hon Rene Le Miere KC reflects on an almost two-decade judicial career.
Mr Le Miere shares insights on preparation, advocacy and ethics in how to be a better lawyer, support your clients and achieve resolutions.
CPD allocation: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills) and 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Out of Office: Craig Sanderson
Craig Sanderson served as a Master of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1996 until his retirement in June 2023. Across the course of his service, he became a prominent and revered judicial officer across a very wide range of matters.
In this session, free from the constraints of judicial office, Mr Sanderson, as he now is, will share his reflections on his time, including considering the role of Master, developments in law and practice generally. He provides remarks and takes questions from attendees, led by Amy Pascoe.
Kate McDonald, then the Acting Master, provides closing remarks.
CPD points: 0.5 in CA2 (Professional Skills) and 0.5 in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility)
Recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Guiding clients with FASD and related health issues through the justice system
Magistrate Alana Padmanabham (Children's Court of Western Australia) and Dr Hayley Passmore (Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia) give an overview of what FASD is, the impact it has on clients, how to better communicate with them and maintaining their engagement through legal proceedings.
CPD allocation: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
The In’s and Out’s of Expert Evidence
Registrar Tania Jeyamohan (District Court of Western Australia) works through assessing, applying and examining expert evidence. She considers the purpose of the intended expert evidence, role and duties of the expert, strategy around involving an expert as well as issues of privilege & confidentiality.
CPD allocation: 0.5 CPD points in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
READING FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS - ISSUES FOR LITIGATION
In litigation, financial documents take on a new dimension with consideration to case theory, strategy and whether litigation will meet client goals all coming into play.
That is why we have our next financial documents CPD session focused on litigation. Kim Lendich SC (Francis Burt Chambers) will cover how to approach and consider financial documents in litigation and the courtroom while Rhiannon Clews (Pitcher Partners) will consider analysing structures, statements, financial information and preparation of financial reports.
CPD points: 0.5 in CA2 (Professional Skills) and 0.5 in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
Affidavit Moorditj Mia
Explore the fundamentals of affidavits across two sessions.
In session one, join the Hon Justice Kenneth Martin and Matthew Howard SC as they walk through some expectations from judicial officers, ethical issues and preparation standards.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
In session two, join Samantha Nadilo (Fourth Floor Chambers) and Mintie Tantiprasut (Lemonis/Tantiprasut Lawyers) for a practical walkthrough on how they prepare affidavits, client management and issues to be mindful of.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
A discussion with Richard Beasley SC
Richard Beasley SC is a leading silk, with a prominent practice in environmental and public law. He has been Senior Counsel Assisting various inquiries, including on covid-19, the Murray-Darling river and more.
Outside of his legal successes, Mr Beasley SC wrote Hell Has Harbour Views.
Here he discusses ethical challenges and how they have developed, his work on major inquiries and environmental law.
CPD points: 0.5 CPD points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 CPD points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility)
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT COSTS (BUT WERE TOO AFRAID TO ASK)
Clare Thompson SC and Verity Long-Droppert (both Francis Burt Chambers) provide an overview of the essentials every lawyer should know about legal costs.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.
WITNESS OUTLINES WITH THE HON JUSTICE KENNETH MARTIN AND KIM LENDICH
Recorded at a workshop, Martin J and Lendich explain what is required in witness outlines from the perspective of the court and counsel, giving targeted practical tips for practitioners.
CPD points: 1 point in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
Serving clients in a trauma-informed manner
Alice Barter (Aboriginal Legal Service) considers supporting clients through matters and the resilience tactics lawyers can consider, especially for those working on pro bono matters. Ms Barter leads a discussion with other attendees.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
Gathering Evidence and Instructions - Indigenous Languages, English and the Law
Introduced by Gningala Yarran-Mark, the first Indigenous person to be an associate to a superior court judge, Deanne Lightfoot (Aboriginal Interpreting WA), Professor Diana Eades (University of New England) and Melita Medcalf (Legal Aid WA) discuss the use of Indigenous languages in the justice system, how to engage interpreters, taking instructions and cultural issues that arise between lawyers and Indigenous clients.
CPD points: 1 point in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
A view from the District Court
Their Honours Judges Troy Sweeney SC, David MacLean and Mara Barone SC consider what they have learned on the Bench, what they are seeing and how advocates can be more persuasive before them.
With candour and humour, their Honours office insight into what makes a good advocate and what practitioners should be wary of.
CPD points: 0.5 CPD points in CA2 (Professional Skills), 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
FIONA MCLEOD AO SC ON PRACTICE, PERSEVERANCE AND PEOPLE
Fiona McLeod AO SC (Victorian Bar) discusses the developments she has seen in the law over her 30-year career, including challenges and opportunities for lawyers. She talks about her own experiences with collegiality and the role of support in sustaining a long career.
McLeod AO SC is a former president of the Law Council of Australia, Australian Bar Association and Australian Women Lawyers.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills) and 0.5 points in CA3 (Ethics and Professional Responsibility).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
DNA Evidence - a how-to guide
Sam Vandongen SC and Penny Cooper (PathWest) walk through how to use DNA evidence, what to expect when you receive it and what additional information should be requesting.
Mr Vandongen SC also considers courtroom application of DNA evidence and how to question it.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills); 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
Matters before the Children’s Court
Her Honour Magistrate Wendy Hughes, Simon Freitag SC (as he then was) and prosecutor Clare Cullen share their experiences in the Children’s Court - what works and what doesn’t, engaging the client, telling their story and contextual factors that make an impact.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills) and 0.5 points in CA4 (Substantive Law).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
NEGOTIATION IN A MEDIATION ENVIRONMENT WITH HIS HONOUR JUDGE MICHAEL GETHING
Gething DCJ considers negotiations and mediations in a humorous and insightful presentation.
CPD points: 1 point in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
Reading financial documents - a guide for lawyers
Lawyers and numbers don't always go well together. Spreadsheets, financial accounts and audits can seem like a foreign language, but is an essential skill to understand.
Rhiannon Clews (Pitcher Partners) covers profit and less, balance sheets and notes to financial statements.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA1 (Practice Management); 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
WITNESS OUTLINES WITH THE HON JUSTICE JOHN VAUGHAN
Vaughan JA explains witness outlines with regard to the Supreme Court of Western Australia’s Practice Directions.
CPD points: 1 point in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
CONFERRAL WITH PHILIPPA HONEY AND CLINTON RUSSELL
Philippa Honey and Clinton Russell outline processes for conferral.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021.
PRACTITIONER CONDUCT IN HEARINGS WITH HEATHER MILLAR
Barrister Heather Millar gives advice and provides clear examples of how to be a better advocate.
CPD points: 0.5 points in CA2 (Professional Skills).
Recorded between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019.