News & Events

1Mar
Featured Event

Advocacy Instructor Training Workshop

Being an advocacy instructor is an important contribution to the profession and provides invaluable learning opportunities and improvement in ones’ own advocacy skills.

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20Feb
Featured Event

2019 Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards

An awards night to celebrate the significant pro bono contribution of Victorian Barristers and the announcement of the winners of the 2019 Pro Bono Awards for legal services benefitting our Australian community and legal system during 2017 an

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Latest News & Events

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Event
In Brief
News
12Dec
News

Notification of draft third Professional Standards Scheme of the Victorian Bar

The Victorian Bar is proud of its long association with the Professional Standards Councils. The Bar’s current Professional Standards Scheme, which was approved by the Councils in 2014, will expire on 30 June 2019.

18Feb
News

Victorian Bar supports calls for the adoption of spent convictions legislation

The Victorian Bar welcomes parliamentary debate on the Spent Convictions Bill introduced by Reason Party MP Fiona Patten.

All other Australian jurisdictions have laws that provide for the expungement of certain offences from an individual’s record where the individual has not re-offended.

15Feb
In Brief

In Brief Issue #900

Bar Council Priorities for 2019 aka “What do my annual Bar subscription fees pay for?”

Bar Council met last Sunday for a strategy day to discuss and agree our priorities for the year. We have set ambitious goals for the coming months.

Key initiatives for the year, which sit apart from the day-to-day activities that Bar Council oversees, include (among others):

12Feb
News

Welcome - The Honourable Justice Jillian Elizabeth Williams

Family Court of Australia

On 8 February 2019, the Governor-General in Council appointed Her Honour Judge Jillian Elizabeth Williams, a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, to be a Judge of the Family Court of Australia, assigned to the Melbourne Registry.

The Profession will extend a Welcome in Court 4A on Level 4 of the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne on:

Wednesday 27 February 2019 at 4:15 pm

12Feb
News

Obituary - Bernard (Barney) Cornelius Cooney

Bar Roll no: 621

It is with deep regret that the Bar Council informs members of the death last Saturday 9 February 2019 of Barney Cooney. Barney was 84 (born 11 July 1934).

Requiem Mass will be celebrated at St Ignatius’ Catholic Church, 326 Church Street, Richmond on Friday 22 February 2019 at 1:30 pm.

8Feb
In Brief

In Brief Issue #899

Royal Commission into the Management of Informants

There were further revelations this week in relation to Victoria Police’s use of informants, dating back to 1995, in circumstances involving grave duties of confidentiality by a barrister and, potentially, a number of other professionals. The Victorian Bar has no information to suggest that the other professionals are members of our Bar.

6Feb
News

Media Release - Victorian Bar supports initiative to address sexual harassment

The Victorian Bar welcomes and supports the initiative of the Victorian Legal Services Board and the Victorian Legal Servic

5Feb
News

Obituary - John Joseph Goodman

Bar Roll Numbers: 1813 and 2208

It is with deep regret that the Bar Council informs members of the death last Saturday 2 February 2019 of John Goodman. John was 89 (born 22 July 1929).

His Funeral is at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 626 Pascoe Vale Road, Oak Park on Friday 8 February 2019 at 2:30 pm.

4Feb
News

Opening of the Legal Year 2019

The Opening of the Legal Year 2019 services and event information is available here and on notice boards.

1Feb
In Brief

In Brief Issue #898

Happy New (Legal) Year to all members! I hope that, as I did, you managed to get a break, recharge and reconnect with family and friends. I wish all members of the Victorian Bar the very best in professional success and personal satisfaction in 2019.