COVID-19 outbreak updates
This page will be updated as new information becomes available. If you have an issue with the page, or would like to suggest further content, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
As part of the Society's COVID-19 Safety Plan, all visitors to the Society's office and guests at events are required to either scan the displayed QR Code or sign in upon arrival to allow for COVID-19 contact tracing if such a need arises.
+ Law Society NT updates
UPDATE 4/2021:
Written Monday 16 August 2021
The Law Society NT’s office will be closed until 1.00 pm, Thursday 19 August (at this time) in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions announced today.
If your matter is urgent, we can still be contacted by telephone on (08) 8981 5104 and staff can be contacted via email.
Further updates will be provided as they come to hand.
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UPDATE 3/2021:
Written Friday 2 July 2021
Please be advised that the Law Society NT’s office will be open for business as usual from 8.30 am, Monday 5 July.
The Society has a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place which includes the use of The Territory Check In app as well as hand sanitisation stations and a 1.5 metre physical distancing requirement.
It is now mandatory for NT businesses to ensure that all visitors sign into the Check In app (or via a pen and paper system) – regardless of the amount of time spent on the premises.
Some restrictions will remain in place across the Territory until 1.00 pm, Friday 9 July. For a complete list of the restrictions, please visit the NT Government’s Coronavirus website here.
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UPDATE 2/2021:
Written Tuesday 29 June 2021
Due the extended lockdown period announced yesterday, the Law Society NT’s office will be closed until 1pm, Friday 2 July (at this time) in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.
If your matter is urgent, you can still telephone (08) 8981 5104 or email staff.
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UPDATE 1/2021:
Written Monday 28 June 2021
The Law Society NT office is closed until Wednesday 30 June (at this time) in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions.
If your matter is urgent, we can still be contacted by telephone on (08) 8981 5104 and staff can be contacted via email.
Please be advised that notices regarding the latest court operations have been released and can be found on the Supreme Court of the NT website and the NT Local Court website.
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COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN
Written Friday 11 June 2020
The Society has prepared the office premesis to meet health/safety requirements to ensure the wellbeing of both staff/visitors and as a result, has developed a COVID-19 Safety Plan.
On Tuesday 9 June 2020, the Society underwent a site inspection and was deemed compliant.
View the Statement of Committment here.
The Society asks that that all visitors to the office please be mindful of the 1.5 metre physical distancing requirement and to make use of the hand sanitisation stations located throughout the premesis.
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ADVICE 3: PRACTISING CERTIFICATE RENEWALS AND FEES
Written Wednesday 29 April 2020
The Law Society Northern Territory is aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on legal practitioners and firms across the Northern Territory.
The Society has been looking at measures that may assist the local legal profession where possible and notes steps taken in other Australian jurisdictions to support and provide financial and other assistance.
Northern Territory annual practising certificate fees and the Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund annual contribution are not set by the Society but are determined each year by a statutory process under the Legal Profession Act 2006. Membership of the Society is included as part of the practising certificate fee.
This means that the Society has no ability to reduce practising certificate fees or Society membership fees as has been occurring in other jurisdictions.
The Society is however considering other measures that it may be able to take to support the local profession including financial support in the form of a free CPD program. Further information regarding this initiative will be provided in the near future.
The Society also reminds practitioners of its free confidential LawCare counselling service offered through Employee Assistance Service Australia which can be accessed on 1800 193 123.
In addition the Society fully appreciates the difficulties being experienced by some practitioners and firms throughout the Northern Territory due to COVID-19 and welcomes contact from practitioners to increase its awareness of these issues and any potential responses.
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ADVICE 2: CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Written Friday 27 March 2020
The Law Society NT continues to closely monitor the developing COVID-19 situation with a view to ensure it takes all action required to protect the health and wellbeing of the profession, Society staff and anyone entering its premises. Set out below are the arrangements to be put in place by the Society as from Monday 30 March 2020.
Law Society NT office
Please note that whilst the Society remains operational, as from Monday 30 March 2020, many of its staff will be working from home.
As a result, from Monday 30 March 2020, the Society’s office will be closed to visitors until further notice.
Throughout this period, the Society can still be contacted by telephone and email and will continue to undertake and offer all its operational functions. The closure of this office will mean that there will be no face-to-face events, CPDs or visitor contact. Physical deliveries may be received by prior arrangement if necessary.
CPD arrangements
The Society reminds everyone that their Annual CPD Certificates are due on Tuesday 31 March 2020.
As previously advised, the Society recognises that for the current CPD year, members may need (or choose) to complete more than five of their CPD units through private study of audio/visual material. As a result, for the 2019-20 CPD year only, the Society will not be enforcing the five-unit cap on private study of audio/visual material as set out in the CPD Guide for Practitioners.
Members are encouraged to view the Society’s DVD listings and order CPD DVDs, click here to download the order form.
For any information regarding your CPD certificates please still continue to contact Leonie Stokes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
At this time, it is the intention of the Society to continue to provide scheduled and schedule new CPDs though these will be provided through Zoom and not face-to-face until further notice. This arrangement is subject to change. Updates will be provided as and when required.
Future updates
Please note that the Law Society NT will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation as it develops and will provides updates as required.
In the meantime, please refer to information provided on the Secure NT or the Federal Department of Health websites via the links below. Secure NT also have a Facebook page which provides up to date and accurate information.
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LAW WEEK 2020 CANCELLED
Written Friday 27 February 2020
Due to the evolving situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Council has decided to cancel Law Week. All activities will be cancelled with the exception of Ethical Pursuit with Julian Morrow, which will be re-scheduled once operations return to normal.
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EXTERNAL EXAMINATION (EE) REPORTS
Written Friday 27 March 2020
The Society acknowledges the impact that COVID-19 will have on law practices over the coming months. Many law practice offices may be closed as staff are encouraged to work from home in line with social-distancing requirements. It is understood that this is likely to present difficulties for practices in allowing their appointed external examiner the physical access required to highly confidential trust accounting records and related files often kept in law practice offices. These files often cannot be removed from offices and are necessary for external examiners to carry out the annual review required under the Legal Profession Act 2006.
In light of these circumstances, the Council of the Society has adopted a policy that it will not take regulatory action in relation to law practices which submit their EE report by 1 September 2020, being within 3 months of the due date of 1 June 2020. Law practices are encouraged to comply with the current due date where possible but this concession is effective immediately and will be subject to review as the COVID-19 situation develops.
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ADVICE 1: CURRENT ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Written Wednesday 18 March 2020
The Law Society NT is closely monitoring the developing COVID-19 situation with a view to ensure it takes all action required to protect the health and wellbeing of the profession, Law Society staff and anyone entering its premises. Set out below are the current arrangements put in place by the Society.
Law Society NT office
Please note that the Law Society NT office remains open for business.
However, if you have travelled overseas in the past 14 days, have come into direct contact with coronavirus or live with someone who has, the Law Society NT respectfully requests that you do not enter its premises at 3/6 Lindsay Street, Darwin.
If this applies to you, please call your Law Society NT contact or Reception on 08 8981 5104 to reschedule your meeting.
CPD arrangements
The Law Society NT is continuing to monitor both Federal and Northern Territory Government information and updates and in particular notes the most recent advice relating to gatherings of less than 100 people.
Notwithstanding this advice and based on an assessment utilising the recently released NT Health COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool, the Society has made the decision to continue to provide face-to-face CPDs.
Whilst you can attend in person, we do remind everyone that you can attend CPDs via zoom. To register for a zoom ticket, select the 'ZOOM' ticket option. The Zoom link will be sent to you the day prior to the CPD. For any queries regarding CPD events please contact the Society's Events & CPD Coordinator, Carolyn Zombolas This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Given the current special circumstances, the Society recognises that members may need (or choose) to complete more than five of their CPD units through private study of audio/visual material. As a result, for the 2019-20 CPD year only, the Society will not be enforcing the five-unit cap on private study of audio/visual material as set out in the CPD Guide for Practitioners.
Members are encouraged to view the Society’s DVD listings and order CPD DVDs, click here to download the order form.
Future updates
Please note that the Law Society NT will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation as it develops and will provides updates as required.
In the meantime, please refer to information provided on the Secure NT or the Federal Department of Health websites via the links below.
Secure NT also have a Facebook page which provides up to date and accurate information.
For any information regarding your CPD certificates please still continue to contact the Society's Licensing Officer, Leonie Stokes This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
+ Court updates
Please visit the following websites for the latest updates:
29/06/21: COVID-19 updated arrangements for Local Court during lockdown
28/06/21: Notice to NTCAT users - COVID-19 measures
27/06/21: COVID-19 arrangements for Local Court during lockdown
27/06/21: Courts and Tribunals COVID-19 response
27/06/21: Courts and Tribunals COVID-19 response
- NT Local Court COVID-19 Practice Directions
- Supreme Court of the NT COVID-19 Response
- NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal updates
- Federal Court of Australia updates
- Family Court of Australia updates
+ Legal profession updates
If members would like to provide an update on the status of their organisation, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Law Council of Australia - Information for the legal profession on the COVID-19 outbreak
- Law Council of Australia and Australian Medical Association - Rights and Responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act
+ Government information and updates
- NT Government - Coronavirus (Covid-19) website
- Australian Government - Coronavirus (Covid-19) website
- Department of Health - News and media
- Department of Health - Current situation and case numbers
- Fair Work Ombudsman - Workplace obligations and entitlements
- Australian Government Services Australia - Payments and services during coronavirus
- Safe Work Australia - COVID-19 information for workplaces
- NT WorkSafe - Advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+ World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO gives real-time updates regarding the Covid-19 situation from across the globe and gives a range of information including how to protect yourself. Page is updated daily with developments.
+ Your health & wellbeing
Your health and wellbeing as well as that of your co-workers and families may come under strain in the coming months and that is completely understandable given the worldwide situation.
You are not alone. Please reach out and contact someone.
LawCare: Caring for the legal profession in the NT
Note that EASA is currently offering assistance via video-link.
The Society funds a professional, confidential and free counselling service for our members and their immediate family, provided through Employee Assistance Service Australia (EASA).
If you are experiencing workplace, personal or emotional issues which are affecting your work or personal life, please call LawCare via the EASA Program 24-hour support line on 1800 193 123
or visit their website at www.easa.org.au.
When booking an appointment, please inform the operator that you are a Law Society NT member.
This service is completely confidential. The Society will only receive statistical information on the numbers accessing the service.
Additional support:
- Beyond Blue - Telephone 1300 224 636
- Lifeline - Telephone 13 11 14 or text (6 pm to midnight, 7 nights) 0477 131 114
- Black Dog Institute
- MensLine Australia - Telephone 1300 789 978 or learn more about the MensLine online chat and video counselling service
- Headspace - a meditation-made-simple app
- Managing your mental health at home during Covid-19 - printable resource
- myCompass - learn new ways to deal with poor mental health - interactive activities
- This Way Up - (also offering free access to all courses until 30th of April)