Recorded Interactive Webinar: 3 CPD Compulsory Programs for Property Lawyers – Ethics, Professional Skills, Practice Management

This webinar comprises 3 one-hour sessions covering each of the compulsory CPD subjects for lawyers for the CPD year ending 31 March 2026.

Session 1: Professional Skills

Contracting with GST in Mind: Drafting and Risk Management Skills for Property Lawyers

Getting GST wrong in property transactions is rarely just a tax problem — it’s a drafting, advisory, and risk management issue. Property lawyers need the professional skills to structure contracts clearly, allocate risks fairly, and guide clients through complex GST scenarios. This session shifts the focus from tax theory to practical lawyering, equipping practitioners with the tools to identify risks early and manage them effectively in contracts and negotiations. It covers:

• Identifying GST risk in the deal – how to frame the right questions for clients, counterparties, and advisers.
• Drafting GST clauses with clarity – inclusive vs exclusive pricing, risk allocation, and avoiding ambiguity.
• Managing the margin scheme and going concern concessions – ensuring eligibility and documenting elections to protect clients.
• Mixed-use property and apportionment – practical approaches to structuring and recording agreements.
• Settlement compliance and ATO scrutiny – what lawyers need to build into contracts to withstand regulator attention.
• Learning from common drafting errors – real-world examples and strategies to avoid repeating them.
• Communication skills with clients and counterparties – explaining GST implications in plain language and negotiating outcomes.

Session 2: Practice Management & Business Skills

Transparency Under the Microscope: Preparing your Property Practice for AML/CTF Transformation 

You might already know the fundamentals about the upcoming AML reforms, however the real challenge lies in putting them into practice. With sweeping changes taking effect from 1 July, this session goes beyond the basics to focus on the operational realities of compliance in a property law practice. Learn how to translate regulatory requirements into workable systems and strategies, including: including:

• Recognising warning signs and red flags that should trigger enhanced scrutiny in property transactions.
• Establishing comprehensive customer verification and identity confirmation processes.
• Meeting disclosure requirements and developing effective internal operational protocols.
• Creating systematic documentation practices and preparing for regulatory examinations.
• Conducting enterprise-wide risk evaluations and building comprehensive regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Examining real-world scenarios and addressing professional responsibility dilemmas faced by practitioners.

Session 3: Ethics

Ethical Crossroads in Property Law: Managing Conflicts, Confidentiality and Client Pressures 

Property transactions can place lawyers at the frontline of ethical dilemmas. Whether balancing duties to multiple parties, managing conflicts of interest in conveyancing, or navigating client pressures to “cut corners,” property practitioners face real risks to their professional standing and compliance obligations. This session examines the common – and often subtle – ethical issues arising in property practice, providing practical guidance for lawyers to safeguard themselves while serving their clients. It covers:

• Conflicts of interest in property transactions – acting for multiple parties, identifying when informed consent is not enough, and recent regulator guidance.
• Managing client pressure – how to respond when clients ask for shortcuts (e.g., backdating documents, overlooking disclosure, or bypassing verification of identity).
• Confidentiality and information sharing – risks when dealing with families, developers, agents, or related parties.
• Upholding integrity in property documentation – the ethical consequences of backdating, “fixing” execution errors, or overlooking defects in contracts, leases, or transfers.
• Case studies and disciplinary decisions – lessons from recent tribunal and court cases where property lawyers faced sanctions.
• Practical strategies – checklists, systems, and communication tools to embed ethical decision-making in daily practice.