2024 AGLS Conference

The conference will be held on Thursday 17 October 2024 as a hybrid event. You can attend either:

  • in person at the Hotel Realm in Barton, Canberra
  • virtually through an online portal.

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Individual tickets are $240 to attend in person and $140 to attend online. Note:

  • Receive a 10% discount if you purchase a group registration of 10 or more tickets from the same entity. This reduces the individual ticket price to $216 in person or $126 online. This offer will end on Wednesday 25 September 2024.
  • All ticket prices are GST inclusive.
  • In-person registrations are limited to 30 attendees per entity. There is no limit for virtual registrations.
  • In-person tickets have sold out for past conferences. Anyone seeking to purchase in-person tickets is advised to do so as soon as possible after registrations open.

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The multifaceted nature of legal risk in government

The 2024 AGLS Conference theme, ‘The multifaceted nature of legal risk in government’, aims to highlight the range of risks that government lawyers navigate in their day-to-day work and the environment in which they operate. 

The theme will be explored through sessions on:

  • approaches to in-house legal advising
  • the new Administrative Review Tribunal
  • wellbeing and managing psychosocial hazards while working as a government lawyer
  • recruiting and retaining diverse staff within government legal roles.

Conference program 

View full program

  • The master of ceremonies is Genevieve Jacobs AM, experienced journalist and Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her services to broadcasting and the community.
  • The keynote speaker is Graeme Innes AM, former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, current Chancellor of Central Queensland University and board member at the National Disability Insurance Agency.  
  • Michael Hawkins AM, Inaugural CEO and Principal Registrar, Administrative Review Tribunal, and Sara Samios, First Assistant Secretary, Administrative Review Taskforce, Attorney-General’s Department, will discuss the new Administrative Review Tribunal – in theory and practice.
  • Andrew Buckland, Chief General Counsel, Australian Government Solicitor, will explore modern approaches to government legal advice. This will include a Q&A session facilitated by Kathryn Haigh, First Assistant Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department.
  • Desi Vlahos, Chief Executive Officer, Wellceum, and Scott Pearsall, Registrar, Australian National University, will explore wellbeing as a government lawyer, including what the data indicates and the role of work redesign in managing psychosocial hazards.
  • There will be a panel session to discuss recruiting and retaining diverse staff within government legal roles with:
    • Nu Nu Win, Sir Roland Wilson Scholar, Australian National University
    • Marian Agbinya, Assistant Secretary, Department of Home Affairs
    • Trent Wallace, Head of First Nations Strategy, Ashurst
  • Tim Ffrench, AGLS Board Chair and General Counsel, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations will provide the closing address.

Event details

  • The event will be delivered face to face at the Hotel Realm in Barton, Canberra and via the EventsAir platform.
  • Attendees registered to attend virtually will receive an individual link to access the event through an IP address. There is no need to download or install any apps to a PC. The link will be sent before the event, with an opportunity to test accessibility of the platform. The conference manager will work with attendees to resolve any issues that arise.
  • The sessions will be recorded and accessible to all attendees (in-person and virtual) for 3 weeks following the conference.
  • Attendees will be able to claim Continuing Professional Development points. Further information will be provided once the program is finalised.
  • The program includes opportunities to connect, chat and meet with other attendees regardless of whether attending virtually or face to face, and for attendees to ask questions of speakers during interactive Q&As at the end of each session.