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In Brief Issue #1143
5Apr
I hope members enjoyed a relaxing break over the long weekend. As this has been a short week, so too is In Brief.
Feedback required
The Bar Office, the Executive, and members of the Readers’ Course Committee have been working on the implementation of the changes to the Bar Exam and the Readers’ Course that I announced last week. I encourage all members to read the Report of the 5-Year Exam Review Panel and to contact me or any member of Bar Council if they have any concerns or would like to submit feedback regarding the suggested changes to the reading requirements. Please do so by Tuesday, 16 April 2024. I have received several requests from persons who are not members of our Bar for a copy of the Report. At this stage, we have determined to publish the report only to members and certain key stakeholders. I will let you know if this changes.
Flu Shots
Annual flu vaccinations will be administered in Owen Dixon Chambers East (ODCE) on Wednesday, 29 May, and Thursday, 30 May 2024. Bookings must be made online via the iMedical website. Instructions on how to book are here. You must be logged into the VicBar website to download the instructions.
Our focus on Health and Wellbeing
This year, the Health and Wellbeing Committee is raising awareness of the importance of Heart Health during the month of May. To mark the occasion, ODCE will be home to the SiSU health station. Throughout May, we invite all members to complete the free, anonymous health assessment. The assessment takes less than five minutes and checks blood pressure, heart rate, diabetes risk, and more. For more information, please contact communications@vicbar.com.au.
Bar Dinner
Tickets are selling fast for this year’s Bar Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, 18 May, at the National Gallery of Victoria. If you would like to book a table or an individual ticket, please purchase through the booking form here.
Georgina Schoff KC
Bar Roll Number: 750
It is with deep regret that the Bar informs members of the death of Arthur William Adams KC.
Arthur signed the Bar Roll on 22 April 1965 and read with the Honourable Kenneth Joseph Jenkinson. He was a member of the Victorian Bar for 54 years.
A full obituary will be published in the coming days.
We extend our deepest sympathies to Arthur's family and friends.
You should have received an email from the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSB+C) on Monday, 25 March 2024, outlining details of the practising certificate (PC) and professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal process.
LSB Online went live on Thursday, 4 April 2024, for the renewal of your PC. Members must renew by Sunday, 30 June 2024, to continue to practise on Monday, 1 July 2024. Members who renew after this date will incur a late renewal surcharge from the VLSB+C and will be unable to practise until a new PC has been issued.
The LPLC portal went live on 4 April 2024 for LPLC Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) renewal. PII premiums are required to be paid by Friday 31 May 2024, members are now encouraged to renew online on the LPLC website. Please note: You must complete both your PII insurance and your LSB Online application for your PC to renew and issue. If you have completed your LSB online renewal in the last week, please now complete your PII insurance renewal to finalise your PC renewal for 2024/25.
Information on renewing practising certificates can be found on the VicBar website here.
Links for online lodgement will be available from the VLSB+C and LPLC live dates, or you may go directly to LSB Online and the LPLC website when live.
Please login to LSB Online and the LPLC renewal portal using your Practitioner Number as the username (your Practitioner Number will be included in the email sent to you by the VLSB+C). LSB Online deals with all PC administrative matters, and there is no printed PC renewal form. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset this on the LSB Online login screen by selecting ‘forgot password’. You will receive an email to reset your password.
If you experience technical difficulties with LSB Online, please contact the VLSB+C via their lawyer enquiry form. Frequently asked questions and LSB Online user guides can also be found here.
Should you require assistance renewing your PC, the Victorian Bar office can help you, and members who need assistance should email membership@vicbar.com.au or contact Daphne Ioannidis on (03) 9225 8326 or Mark Bryant on (03) 9225 7105.
The Peter O'Callaghan QC Gallery Foundation calls for expressions of interest from members who wish to be considered for appointment as a Director of the Foundation.
The Peter O'Callaghan QC Gallery Foundation was established to ensure that the Art and Collections Committee can continue to build the important visual history of the Bar and focuses on funding the commission of future works to the Gallery through donations and legacies from members and friends of the Bar.
Nominations close at 5:00pm, Thursday, 11 April 2024, and should be emailed to sharni.doherty@vicbar.com.au.
The Victorian Bar is offering members the annual flu vaccination in Owen Dixon Chambers East on Wednesday, 29 May, and Thursday, 30 May 2024.
Bookings must be made online via the iMedical website. Instructions on how to book are here. You must be logged into the VicBar website to download the instructions.
There are a limited number of appointments available to Bar members from iMedical, and they will be allocated on a first-in, first-served basis.
The Equality & Diversity Committee will mark the end of Ramadan with a morning tea from 9:15am - 10:15am on Wednesday, 17 April in the Peter O'Callaghan QC Gallery in Owen Dixon Chambers West.
Coffee, Tea and light refreshments will be served.
Click here to register to attend.
All members of the Bar and Judiciary are warmly invited to the Dinner on Saturday, 18 May 2024, at 7:00pm at the National Gallery of Victoria. The event is black tie and will feature guest speaker The Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones, High Court of Australia.
Tickets for the event are now available. You can book individually, as a guest on an organised table, or as a table organiser.
Event: 2024 Victorian Bar Dinner
Date: Saturday, 18 May 2024
Time: 7:00pm for 7:30pm start
Venue: National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006
Dress: Black Tie
Click here to purchase your ticket.
If you did not receive an invitation, please contact events@vicbar.com.au.
The Bar’s Library Committee are seeking members’ feedback regarding the library’s existing facilities and resources, as well as arrangements with the Law Library of Victoria.
Members are encouraged to respond to the survey so the Bar can make an informed decision regarding its library collections, new acquisition practices, and funding allocation.
The survey will close on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.
Click here to complete the survey.
Mediation is an essential part of the justice system, with a great many litigated matters being referred to mediation. Barristers and law professionals wishing to become an accredited mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System can register for the Lawyers Mediation Certificate (LMC) six-day course (on 17-19 May & 24-26 May 2024) here. Places are limited.
- Why Take Chambers with BCL? As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Victorian Bar, BCL provides a flexible and unique solution of chamber and technology support only available to members of the Bar. Click here to view our current vacancies.
The following are highlights of upcoming CPD and events for Victorian Bar members. You must be a member of the Victorian Bar and logged into the VicBar website to view these events.
- Shareholder class actions: recent developments and emerging trends is on Monday, 15 April 2024 from 5:15pm to 6:15pm. In this seminar, the Commercial Bar Class Actions Section will look at recent developments and emerging trends in shareholder class actions. This is an in-person event only for barristers. Click here to RSVP.
- Mediators Discussion Group is on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. This seminar will focus on pre-mediation intake sessions and will explore topics such as what types of issues may arise? How to approach these sessions? What can be done if one party does not wish to participate in an intake session. This is an in-person event for barristers and will also be available online via Zoom. Click here to RSVP.
For more upcoming CPD events, please visit our listings here.
The VicBar Choir invites you to join its group.
Term 2 is about to commence. All members of the Victorian Bar community are welcome including staff of Bar and Clerks.
Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm, Tuesdays.
Dates: 16 April 2024
Location: Level 11 East
Cost: $25 a week x 11 = $275 or $30 per week casual. 2024 Readers free.
Click here for the flyer.
No obvious singing talent is required to join in Bar Choir, all are welcome to give it a try. For those who are hesitant, Choir leader Richard Lawton, who currently teaches voice training for the Bar Readers’ Course, can provide individual coaching useful for both singing and oral advocacy.
For more information, contact the Bar office on 9225 7111 or reception@vicbar.com.au.
Cost inclusive of golf, use of practice facilities, prizes and After Golf Snacks. Drinks and Dinner payable individually on consumption.
Tee Off 1:15pm.
Click here to register and please advise your preferred playing partner and GA Golflink Number.
Cost: $240 for non Royal Melbourne Members.
Royal Melbourne Members and Reciprocals (with Letter of Introduction to be organised by the reciprocal member directly with the club) $80.00.
Monday 6 May 2024 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Royal Melbourne Golf Club
Cheltenham Road, Black Rock Victoria 3193
We are open daily from 7.30am – till late
Breakfast – for dine-in or takeaway.
Lunch – Daily Café Menu dine-in or takeaway.
Lunch Dine-In – A La Carte from midday.
Bar – EVERY EVENING – $5 Beer & Wine from 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Catering & Events – Special lunches, working lunches, private dinners, or something special you may have in mind. Email us at essoign@vicbar.com.au
Our new Spring Summer Menu is available here.
Victorian Bar members are encouraged to use the Member Benefits online portal, where you can access a wide variety of discounts, special offers, and member-only deals as part of your Bar membership.
The exclusive benefits are available Australia-wide and are not generally open to the public.
To activate your account and access the benefits, please click here. You must log in using your vicbar.com.au login details.
Click here for the monthly Best Buys!
Victoria Legal Aid’s pilot Equity and Diversity List was launched last week to support equitable briefing.
Barristers and advocates who self-identify with one or more diversity traits are encouraged to opt-in to the list by completing VLA’s web form.
The list is supported by the Chief Justice of Victoria, the Honourable Anne Ferguson, who says: ‘We want a legal profession that reflects the diversity of the community it serves. A profession where equal opportunity flourishes and where people can thrive.’
Read more about how the list will assist lawyers to find and brief diverse counsel for legally aided matters.
The Law Library Victoria presents regular online sessions on legal research and resources.
We record most sessions, such as The Digital Library: Legal Resources for Victorian Lawyers, for you to view in your own time.
You can browse through our past events or register for upcoming events here.
We are pleased to announce the ALAANZ 2024 Preliminary Program and Registration Brochure is now available. The ALAANZ Council and ALAANZ 2024 Conference Organising Committee are pleased to bring you this conference and have put together a program which will appeal to all.
We hope to see as many ALAANZ members and friends as we can in Brisbane this May at the conference. It has been a long time since we have been able to get together with friends & colleagues, to be amongst leaders in the Aviation Law Field, and have the opportunity to discuss topics of interest with one another and network together in a collegial environment. The conference dinner will be held at Alchemy Restaurant in Brisbane and is bound to be a memorable night.
ALAANZ is very fortunate to have many local and global aviation industry leaders who will provide presentations and participate as panellists/debates representing various disciplines across the industry including domestic and international airlines, airports, the government/ regulatory authorities, insurers, and thought leaders. This conference will provide ample opportunity to connect and reflect on the past as well as look forward to the future from industry experts who play a pivotal role in advancing the field of aviation.
The ALAANZ conference is always a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with others practicing in and passionate about the field of aviation law.
Register here.
Applications are sought from qualified persons for appointment as Senior Crown Prosecutor and Crown Prosecutor under the Public Prosecutions Act 1994. This is an exciting opportunity for suitably qualified and experienced Australian legal practitioners to undertake and support criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Victorian community.
Senior Crown Prosecutors are appointed for a minimum term of ten years with remuneration and conditions in accordance with the Public Prosecutions Act 1994. Senior Crown Prosecutors are generally senior barristers either of Senior Counsel or close to becoming Senior Counsel. Successful applicants are entitled to a motor vehicle. Section 35 of the Public Prosecutions Act 1994 sets out additional entitlements.
Crown Prosecutors are appointed for a fixed term of three years that may be renewed.
The successful appointee(s) will have access to flexible working conditions, and Crown Prosecutors may be appointed on a part-time basis.
Crown Prosecutors conduct proceedings and act as independent Counsel on behalf of the DPP in the most significant trials and appeals in the Superior Courts. Crown Prosecutors also advise, provide instructions, and assist private Counsel briefed to prosecute.
The Senior Crown Prosecutor and Crown Prosecutor sign indictments and advise the DPP on significant matters referred for advice.
The key skills and knowledge required for these roles is contained in the online position description and must be addressed in the application. Persons considering applying for this position should note that commensurate positions may be filled within 12 months of the completion of the process without any further advertisement.
To submit your expression of interest, please click here. You will need to submit a resume and cover letter.
For more information, please contact ChiefCrown@opp.vic.gov.au.
Applications close: 11:59pm on Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Victoria Law School seeks members of the Victorian Bar to join its Program Advisory Committee (PAC) at Victoria University.
Chaired by His Honour, Judge John Cain, the PAC advises on course relevance, strategic direction, and other matters referred by the Dean. The PAC operates in an advisory capacity, with members appointed for up to two years, typically serving no more than two consecutive terms.
If you're committed to shaping legal education and contributing your expertise, please submit your expression of interest directly to Professor Lidia Xynas via email: Lidia.Xynas@vu.edu.au.
Expressions of Interest close at 5:00pm on Thursday, 18 April 2024.
If you would like to contribute relevant news, events, and updates for barristers and the legal profession to In Brief, please send an email with your content to inbrief@vicbar.com.au or complete this submission form.
Deadline for the next issue:5pm, 11th April 2024