Members may have seen an advertisement in the weekend paper for the position of Executive Director of the Bar office. Both the title and some of the functions of the person we will engage in running the administrative side of the Bar have changed. The changes are in line with the current Bar Council's view that the Bar Council and Bar office's respective functions needed to be differently and better delineated. We hope to complete the process of engaging a new person for this role in the next few weeks and will advise members accordingly.
This landmark initiative of the Victorian Bar is designed to provide in-depth information and practical resources to support the physical and mental wellbeing of its members, their families, and colleagues.
Thankfully, we have emerged from the recent lockdown on schedule and the Courts and Chambers have reopened. Online hearings largely continued uninterrupted.
As previously indicated, the Bar Council met last Saturday, 6 February for a strategy day to discuss a range of issues which have and will affect our practices and the operation of the Bar. It was a very useful exercise, conducted in good spirit. Hopefully, the fruits of the day will become apparent to members in the near future.
On Monday, I had the very great honour to represent our Bar at a Special Sitting to welcome the Honourable Justice Steward as a Justice of the High Court in Canberra. Notwithstanding travel restrictions and the need for Border Entry Permits to get home, a significant number of Barristers and Judges from Victoria made the journey to mark His Honour’s appointment to the Court. Although numbers were limited as a result of COVID-19 restrictions in the ACT, it was a fitting occasion, particularly as we are unlikely to see another Victorian appointment to the Court for some time. We wish His Honour well in the long and distinguished career that will no doubt follow. The speech I made is available to read here.
Welcome back to chambers, those who have returned. I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday and is preparing for the year ahead. The sight of a number of barristers in robes, out and about in public is at least a positive sign.
A strategy day will be one of the first undertakings of the Bar Council in the new year. We have fixed Saturday, 6 February 2021 as an appropriate date.
By-election
On behalf of members, may I extend our congratulations to Peter Chadwick QC on his recent election to the Bar Council. May I also thank all those who nominated for the election.