Howard Bell

Candidate for the Council of the Law Society of NSW

Howard Bell is currently a NSW Government Lawyer, a recently retired Major in the Australian Army Reserve and lecturer at Charles Sturt University. He has served in many volunteer roles over the years, including with Amnesty International, Cana Communities, Saint Vincent de Paul Society, RSL NSW and Coast Shelter.

I am inspired by this vision in which everyone has a safe, secure and happy place to live.

 

 Howard Bell, Candidate for the Council of the Law Society of NSW

Thank you for visiting my website. As a Councillor of the Law Society, I will be available to consult with you as our hard-working and dedicated solicitors across New South Wales in order to understand your issues and concerns and your personal and professional support needs. I will ensure your interests and issues as practising solicitors are proactively raised and addressed through the Council and by Law Society as a whole. I will actively encourage solicitor membership of the Society and will ensure your professional development and support needs as busy practitioners are addressed promptly, effectively and in your best interests.

With your vote I will be your empathetic listener and your strong, loud, and clear voice at the Council Table.

I will enthusiastically promote the Law Society and its members as a professional group dedicated to meeting the needs of your clients in all ways and at all times.

In addition, I will contribute directly facilitating the Law Society’s ongoing work as a thought leader in key areas of community life.

Some key focus areas include:

  • Nurturing our profession and helping our younger members to achieve their professional and personal goals

  • Promoting access to justice and alternative dispute resolution for all communities

  • Assisting and supporting Australia’s vulnerable community members

  • Promoting solutions to climate change, including the achievement of Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 and optimising our local Australian interim greenhouse gas reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.

 

Community Involvement

Amnesty International

Howard has served in numerous volunteer roles including with Amnesty International where he has been the convenor of his local action group and has also served on the NSW Regional Board of Amnesty.

Australian Army Reserve

Howard is a current serving member of the Australian Army Reserve, holding the rank of major. He has served in the Legal Corps, the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police and has had a range of instructor postings and regimental postings.

Law Society NSW

Howard has been a member of the Law Society of NSW for many years and currently sits on the Government Lawyers Committee. He has previously sat on the Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Public Law Committee and the Human Rights Committee.

Order of Australia Medal

In 2011, Howard was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the General Division in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the community through social justice and legal organisations.

Dear Dalai Lama

Howard’s letter was featured in the collection “Dear Dalai Lama” for Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday.

Tropfest

Howard and a small group of other volunteers got together one summer and created the short film “Pairs of Pairs: A Pathway to Civilisation” and entered it in Tropfest that year.

Dragon Boat Race

Each year as part of Chinese New Year Celebrations, the annual Dragon Boat Race Regatta at Darling Harbour takes place. For many years Howard successfully and enthusiastically captained both the WorkCover Race Team and Amnesty International team.

Other Involvement

Howard has served in many volunteer roles over the years, including with Amnesty International, Cana Communities and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.