The Geelong Law Association are pleased to host a wellness webinar by Bri Hayllar, registered psychologist at Transitioning Well to our members.   Transitioning Well  How are you feeling? Flat? Just about coping? Well, you’re not alone. After more than 18 months since COVID-19 upended our industry and our lives, we’re all feeling a bit ‘Blah’. There’s no denying our industry has been one of the hardest hit in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Together we’ve dealt with disruptions before like SARS, 9/11, and even volcanic eruptions but nowhere near as severe as what we’re experiencing with COVID-19. Dealing with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic has led many of us to experience an emotion known as languishing. Languishing dulls our motivation, disrupts our ability to focus, and stops us from functioning at full capacity. If left unaddressed, it can lead to more serious mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. To support our people at this unprecedented time, we’ve partnered with Transitioning Well, leaders in work-life wellbeing support to deliver a wellness webinar.   This webinar gives you an insight into why you might be languishing and how you can overcome it. It covers: What is languishing? How is languishing different from depression, stress and burnout? Why is languishing so common during the sustained disruption of COVID-19? What are the causes of languishing? How might we help ourselves and others move from languishing towards flourishing?   You’ll leave with practical advice and guidance to help you get back to the peak of your well-being, feel more positive towards life, and function better at both work and home. We’ll be running this webinar on 23 September at 12pm, and would love if you are able to join us as we open up this important wellbeing conversation.   About the Speaker:  Bri Hayllar Bri is a registered Psychologist with a Master of Organisational Psychology. She has over fifteen years experience working in a broad range of sectors including government, education, not-for-profit and corporate – including the banking, media, retail and legal industries. An engaging presenter, she is passionate about empowering people with skills and knowledge to manage life transitions and maintain harmony between work and life. She believes wellbeing isn't just "nice to have" - it's an essential tool in achieving goals, performing optimally and living our best life.   Please see below for some additional materials that you might find informative: - Start With 'Why' - TED Talk from Simon Sinek - YouTube - Start with Why : Price Comparison on Booko - Feeling Blah During the Pandemic? It's Called Languishing - The New York Times (nytimes.com) - ‎WorkLife with Adam Grant: Bonus: That Blah You’re Feeling Is Called Languishing on Apple Podcasts - That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief (hbr.org)

As part of our wellbeing month, the Geelong Law Association have teamed up with Update Studios to provide members this FREE event - Pilates and Flow: Live with Upstate. Pilates and Flow is a fun dynamic class consisting of 28 minutes of Pilates followed by a gentle 17 minutes of flow (yoga and stretching). Members are advised to wear comfortable clothing suitable for exercise. The room is heated to 34 degrees, so please keep this in mind when choosing appropriate clothing. Shoes are not required. Dependent on COVID-19 restrictions this event will take place at Upstate Studios Geelong, 205 Moorabool Street Geelong. In the event regional Victorian is still in lockdown this event will proceed via Zoom, with details emailed to members before the event. Registered members should bring a yoga mat and drink bottle - and if the class proceeds via Zoom, keep some household items handy as weights!   Exercise is great for physical health but can also have a positive effect on wellbeing. Regular physical activity is a good way to help prevent or manage mild anxiety and depression. Keeping active can help you stay physically fit and mentally healthy, which is particularly important as members deal with the effects of COVID-19. Research shows that keeping active can help lift mood, help improve sleeping patterns, increase energy levels and help block out negative thoughts and distract people from daily worries.  The current recommendation is at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week. While this is slightly more complicated than usual with the closure of gyms and sporting clubs, it is still vital that people are exercising regularly in whatever ways they can. For more information on how you can stay active and look after your mental health, click this link. We look forward to seeing you at Upstate Studios Geelong!

Geelong Law Association in collaboration with Foley's List are excited to present a family law CPD Seminar to members - "Mediation - the good, bad and binding" presented by Belle Lane and Vanessa Bacchetti.  This CPD will be conducted via Zoom on Friday, 30 July 2021 from 1:00-2:00pm. Please register your interest by purchasing a free ticket. A Zoom link will be sent to registered members prior to the seminar. 

The Geelong Law Association is pleased to offer its Members an exciting welcome back dinner event. After not being able to host any in person events last year the Association is back with a bang. This event will be held at GMHBA Stadium on Friday 14 May 2021 from 6:30pm to 11:30pm. The event will consist of a performance by well known Australian comedian Lehmo. Lehmo’s knack for making people laugh has seen him play to audiences in New York, London, Edinburgh, Johannesburg, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong. He has performed sell out solo shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for over 10 years, as well as regularly headlining top venues in Australia and entertaining troops in the Middle East. Live music and a dance floor will also be provided on the night for even more entertainment with well-known local artist Craig Sayer set to perform. Ticket prices include the above entertainment and also include pre-dinner canapés, a two course meal consisting of a main and dessert as well as a limited bar tab. GLA Member ticket prices are: $100.00 Non GLA Member ticket prices are: $120.00 The GLA would love to see all of its Members out and about after what was a difficult year for all. Members are encouraged to bring colleagues and partners along to what is set to be a not to be missed event. Tickets are limited and sales will close on 30 April 2021 so please make sure you get in early so as to not miss out.  For tickets to the event please click here.  

Dear Members The current Committee of the Geelong Law Association (GLA) is pleased to provide you with Notice of the GLA’s Annual General Meeting 2021 (AGM). This year’s AGM will be held at Empire Grill, 66 McKillop Street, Geelong at 1.00pm on Thursday, 25 March 2021, however, if COVID-19 restrictions are implemented which prevents the AGM being held in person, the meeting will be held via Zoom.  Please RSVP by 19 March 2021 by obtaining a free ticket. Members will receive a two course lunch meal and a wine.  If any GLA members have any feedback or wish to raise any business ahead of the meeting for inclusion in the proposed agenda, please also feel free to get in touch with the Committee by replying to this invitation.  Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to vote and speak on their behalf at a general meeting.  If you wish to appoint a proxy, please provide details of the nomination in writing to the Committee.   Proposed agenda and motions Opening of the AGM: Aaron Jolly, President. Apologies: Aaron Jolly, President. Minutes of 2020 AGM: Molly Baulch, Secretary. Motion to accept the minutes of the 2020 AGM circulated under cover of this Notice. President’s Report: Aaron Jolly, President. Treasurer’s Report: Jaz Goddard, Treasurer. Treasurer’s Motions: Jaz Goddard, Treasurer. Motion to accept the financial report. Motion to set the subscription fees for 2021-2022 membership year at $25.00. Motion to appoint Nagle and Co as the auditors for the next Geelong Law Association financial year which ends 31 December 2021. Payment of honoraria: Molly Baulch, Secretary. Motion to pay honoraria of $1,000.00 to each the President, Secretary and Treasurer. Election of 2021-2022 Committee. General Business: Aaron Jolly, President. Close the AGM: Aaron Jolly, President. Members also have the opportunity to nominate for a position on the 2021-2022 committee. Attached to this notice is the nomination notice, to complete and return by email to the Secretary, Molly Baulch at Molly_Baulch@worksafe.vic.gov.au.  Attachments to this Notice: 2021 - 2022 nomination for commitee notice. Minutes of the 2020 AGM.

The Geelong Law Association is pleased to offer its members the opportunity to hear from the founders of the new low-cost arbitration scheme called the Victorian Commercial Arbitration Scheme (VCAS).  Professor the Honourable Clyde Croft AM SC, a former judge of the Supreme Court and long standing supporter of the Geelong Law Association, is a patron of the scheme. Robert Heath QC and Raini Zambelli of VCAS will join us to provide an outline of the new scheme and how it might assist your practice, and answer any questions from members.  Additional details regarding the VCAS are attached for members information. The session will entitle participants to 1 CPD point in substantive law. The session will be held via webinar between 4.30pm and 5.30pm on Monday, 22 February 2021.  Links to join the webinar (via Zoom) will be sent to registered participants on Monday 22 February ahead of the session. This session will be free of charge to members thanks to VCAS. 

The innovation of technology has rewritten the way in which the legal industry operates. More law firms and barristers' chambers are making the transition to managing their briefs on digital platforms.    Earlier this year, key GLA partner and sponsor Foley’s List became ‘eBrief Ready’ - which means that all of Foley’s barristers are now able to accept briefs digitally.   With this in mind, the GLA is pleased to provide its members with an invite from Foley's List to join other legal professionals in the Geelong area to discover how electronic briefing with eBrief Ready will significantly improve the way you work.   Co-hosted by Katharine Gladman of Foley’s List and eBrief Ready founder Stephen Foley, this webinar will: Identify the many benefits to using electronic briefs Share best practice knowledge in the electronic briefing process Vanquish any fears you may have of using the technology Outline our vision for the industry-wide adoption of electronic briefing Please register your place in the webinar by purchasing a free ticket available to all current members.   Registration for this event will close on Tuesday, 1 December 2020 and links to the webinar will be sent to registered members ahead of the session.   Date: Thursday 3 December Time: 1.00pm - 2.00pm  CPD: 1 point available

This is your invitation to attend Session 8 of GLA's 2020 Deakin Day. The annual ethics session will be presented by Marlene Ebejer of Ebejer and Associates and focus on the topic of "maintaining ethical standards during COVID-19". Participants attending the session will be entitled to one CPD point. The session will be provided free of charge to GLA members who register for a free ticket. Zoom links and session papers will follow by email update to registered participants prior to the session.  Registration for this session will close on Wednesday 28 October 2020. CPD certificates will be emailed the week following the sessions to registered participants.

This is your invitation to attend the Session 7 of GLA's 2020 Deakin Day. Session 7 will focus on Practice Management, and will be presented by Sam Tatara of Foley's List. The Session will centre on costs agreements, billing and ongoing disclosure. Participants attending the session will be entitled to one CPD point. The session will be provided free of charge to GLA members who register for a free ticket. Zoom links and session papers will follow by email update to registered participants prior to the session. Registration will close on Wednesday, 28 October 2020. CPD certificates will be emailed the week following the sessions to registered participants.

This is your invitation to attend Session 6 of GLA's 2020 Deakin Day. Session 6 will focus on the intersect between Family Law and Wills and Estates, and will be presented by Sarah Fisken and Alex Finemore of Foley's List. The Session will centre on the topics "the intersection between deceased estates and property matters" and "parenting matters involving the death of a parent." Participants attending the session will be entitled to one CPD point. The session will be provided free of charge to GLA members who register for a free ticket. Zoom links and session papers will follow by email update to registered participants prior to the session. Registration will close on Wednesday, 28 October 2020. CPD certificates will be emailed the week following the sessions to registered participants.

This is your invitation to attend Session 5 of GLA's 2020 Deakin Day. Session 5 - Criminal Law will be presented by Sandra Wendlandt and Julian Murphy of Foley's List, and will focus on the topic of Sentencing and Mental health. Participants attending the session will be entitled to one CPD point. The session will be provided free of charge to GLA members who register for a free ticket. Zoom links and session papers will follow by email update to registered participants prior to the session. Registration will close on Wednesday, 28 October 2020. CPD certificates will be emailed the week following the sessions to registered participants.

This is your invitation to attend the Session 4 of GLA's 2020 Deakin Day. Session 4 - Personal Injury will be presented by Sasha Manova and Stewart Pinkstone of Foley's List, and will focus on the Court of Appeal decision of Belgrave Heights Christian School v More [2020] VSCA 240. Participants attending the session will be entitled to one CPD point. The session will be provided free of charge to GLA members who register for a free ticket. Zoom links and session papers will follow by email update to registered participants prior to the session. Registration will close on Wednesday, 28 October 2020. CPD certificates will be emailed the week following the sessions to registered participants.