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In Brief Issue #1026
3Sep
Child minding restrictions
I hardly need to remind members of the unwelcome news last Friday that access to in-home child minding for preschool children was restricted. As I indicated on Monday evening, talks were ongoing in an effort to remove that restriction. On Tuesday, I met with senior representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice and Community Safety via Zoom to further discuss this unannounced and unwarranted alteration to child minding arrangements. DJCS, which assisted in setting up the meeting, understand and support the Bar’s position. Unfortunately, the meeting did not achieve much. We are yet to see the latest restrictions in print, but the Victorian Premier’s update suggests that the effective ban on in-home child minding for school-age children will only be lifted for families where both parents are, or the single parent is, an authorised worker. Clearly, this change (assuming it occurs) will only assist a minority.
Moreover, the logic of requiring one parent to be an authorised worker to access in-home child minding for a pre-schooler, but both for a school-age child, is elusive. We will report any changes to the restrictions as soon as they come to hand and continue with representations on your behalf. Unfortunately, in the meantime, the administration of justice suffers.
Health and wellbeing resources for members
I appreciate the hardship faced by many members during this extended lockdown. As well as the financial and mental strain, difficulties with child minding and home schooling, the lack of social interaction, and the inability to play sport interfere with the whole balance of life. May I take the opportunity to remind members to please avail themselves of the range of assistance the Bar provides to members, particularly the Bar’s excellent Health and Wellbeing Portal.
Financial assistance for members
The Victorian Government’s Small Business Covid Hardship Fund is accepting applications until Friday, 10 September. Grants are available if you have suffered a 70% drop in turnover.
The Barristers Benevolent Fund can provide loans and/or grants in necessitous circumstances.
BCL will consider deferment/waiver of some portion of your Chambers rental. Click here to view the COVID-19 BCL Rent Relief Scheme with details on eligibility, criteria, and application form.
Last but by no means least, reach out to your colleagues and talk to them. R U OK? DAY is Thursday, 9 September – your conversation could change a life.
Finally, if you have any suggestions on how the Bar can help further, please contact either the Bar office or any individual Bar Councillor to discuss.
Christopher Blanden QC
An afternoon of specialised sessions and socialising, open to barristers of less than six years’ call.
This year the Junior Bar Conference will focus on the important question of how to develop a practice at the Bar - a question of critical importance with the impact of COVID-19 on the legal industry.
The program will include a plenary session for all attendees on how to develop and maintain a practice and how to ensure your practice is financially viable. Specialised sessions on building different practice areas will then follow.
The day ends with a post-conference networking function for presenters and guests, junior silks and members of the junior bar.
- Date: Friday, 5 November 2021
- Time: 1:30-5:30pm. Drinks from 5:30pm.
- Venue: Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East, 205 William Street, Melbourne.
Registrations open soon.
Proudly supported by legalsuper
The Victorian Bar is conducting a survey to ascertain the extent to which its members are actively involved in the field of arbitration. This includes Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), World Bank’s Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Commercial, Domestic, Family Law and sports law arbitration.
If you are involved in arbitration of any sort or seek to develop a practice in arbitration, please complete the survey here.
The survey should not take more than a few minutes to complete. Please complete the survey by Wednesday, 15 September 2021.
This survey is intended to allow the Victorian Bar to collect relevant data to formulate policies and initiatives to assist members to further develop their arbitration practices.
Now that we find ourselves in an extended lockdown again, members may continue to experience increased professional, financial, and personal pressures. For others, lockdown fatigue may be taking a toll on their mental health. Everyone's experience of this pandemic is unique yet valid.
During this time, members are reminded to take advantage of the resources and services that the Bar offers to members and their families.
Resources
Please visit the Bar's health and wellbeing portal for helpful information, resources, and coping strategies for issues relevant to members.
Counselling
The Bar provides five free, entirely confidential counselling sessions to all barristers and their immediate families. The services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are two alternatives on this front:
- Bernadette Healy and her associates at Re-Vision Group. Bernadette has many years of experience as a psychologist dealing with Bar members. Call 03 9650 5540.
- Converge International is another independent crisis and counselling service delivered by qualified psychologists and counsellors. Call 1300 687 327.
R U OK? Day on 9 September – a conversation could change a life
It is critical now more than ever to check in with your colleagues, families and friends. The simple question "Are you OK?" is a great way to encourage people to express themselves and talk about their struggles.
A helpful video can be found here for those wanting to know what to say after "R U OK?"
Sally Flynn QC
Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Committee
The Law Council of Australia (LCA) has invited the Victorian Bar to nominate a person for the 2021 Law Council’s President’s Award.
Members are invited to put forward their suggestions on whom the Bar Council should nominate for the Award. The eligibility criteria for the Award is available to read here.
Please email Miranda.Tulloch@vicbar.com.au with your suggestions and include a CV and a statement about the nominee’s achievements and how he or she fits the eligibility criteria by COB Thursday, 9 September 2021. This will enable the Bar Council sufficient time to meet and consider all suggestions and submit a nomination to the LCA in early October.
Background
Each year, five of the Law Council’s most recent Past Presidents participate in a judging panel for the President’s Award. This is a prestigious annual award conferred in recognition of an Australian lawyer’s outstanding contribution to the public or other service. The Award is presented at the Law Council’s Gala Dinner. The judging panel will convene to consider the nominations following the close of nominations. The Law Council Gala Dinner is scheduled for Thursday, 25 November 2021, held at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
Previous recipients of the President’s Award are (2007) Mr Lex Lasry QC, (2008) The Hon Ted Mullighan QC, (2009) Mr Bret Walker SC, (2010) Mr Colin McDonald QC, (2011) Ms Debbie Mortimer SC, (2012) Mr Mark Woods, (2013) Ms Elizabeth Heenan, (2014) Mr Geoffrey Eames AM QC and Ms Raelene Webb QC, (2015) Mr Ian Kennedy AM, (2016) Mr Julian McMahon, (2017) Mr David Neal SC, (2018) Mr Phillip Boulten SC, (2019) Ms Haley Allan and Mr Bill Mitchell and, (2020) Mr Stephen Keim SC.
Bar members are encouraged to check the Member Noticeboard page for items available from other members.
If you have any items available to sell or give away to other members, please contact Daniel Cousens at daniel.cousens@vicbar.com.au, with a description of the items as well as photos if available.
Members working on pro bono matters can once again seek assistance from selected Monash University law students through the Open Justice Project. Students can assist with legal and paralegal tasks, such as legal research, simple drafting, and preparing chronologies or summaries of evidence. The Project is now in its second intake; during the first intake, barristers reported that they received very high-quality assistance on a wide range of matters. Barristers seeking the assistance of a student for a pro bono matter should complete the request form on the Open Justice Project webpage.
The Open Justice Project is a collaboration between the Victorian Bar and the Monash Faculty of Law. It establishes a panel of later year undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Faculty who provide pro bono legal assistance (such as research and paralegal assistance) to barristers in pro bono matters. The Patron of the Project is the Honourable Chris Maxwell AC, President of the Court of Appeal. For further information about the Project, members can see the Open Justice Project webpage here.
Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme Regulations 2021
The new Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme Regulations 2021 were passed on Tuesday, 24 August 2021 and are effective from Wednesday, 28 July 2021 to Saturday, 15 January 2022.
Click here to view the COVID-19 BCL Rent Relief Scheme with details on eligibility, criteria and application form.
BCL’s ability to continue to provide this relief and support to those most in need depends on the support of those Bar members who can continue to pay rent.
If you have any questions, please contact BCL by email at bclrentrelief@vicbar.com.au.
COVIDSafe
Please refer to Staying COVIDSafe at BCL for all information, communications, helpful links to COVID safe plans and restrictions as they happen and what we all need to do.
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.
- Non-refoulement obligations in character cancellation matters is on Thursday, 9 September, 5:30-7:00pm. This is the third of three training sessions under the AAT Limited Assistance Scheme established by the Visa Cancellations Working Group and will be presented by leading migration law practitioners with expertise in AAT visa cancellation matters. This is an online-only event. Click here to register.
- NBC Foundations Series - Intervention Orders is on Wednesday, 22 September, 5:15-6:15pm. This session will deal with the practical and legal workings of the intervention order jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. This session is only for members and is an online-only event. Click here to register.
For more upcoming CPD events, please visit our listings 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.
Dear Essoign Members,
The Essoign Club will remain open from 7:00am and operate as a takeaway and delivery as per the current restrictions.
We will have coffee, juices, soft drinks, salads and sandwiches on offer, along with daily specials and take away beer or wine.
A daily menu will continue to be sent to our members.
As always, we would like to thank you for your support.
See you soon!
The Victorian has announced an extension of the State-wide lockdown until and including Thursday, 23 September 2021.
The Supreme Court of Victoria has published a joint jurisdictional statement from the Chief Justice on behalf of the Victorian courts and VCAT in response to the increased regional restrictions. You can access the statement here.
For up-to-date information about the Courts’ responses, please visit their websites:
- Federal Court of Australia – see here.
- Family Court of Australia – see here.
- Federal Circuit Court of Australia – see here.
- Supreme Court of Victoria – see here.
- County Court of Victoria – see here.
- Magistrates’ Court of Victoria – see here.
County Court of Victoria
The Court has reviewed the operational court settings, and the following will apply until further notice.
Melbourne criminal jury trials
Jury trials in Melbourne remain suspended during the lockdown period.
This means all Melbourne criminal jury trials listed during the weeks commencing Monday 30 August, and 6, 13 and 20 September 2021 will be vacated.
Trials that were listed during this period will be listed for a call over before a Listing Judge. The Court will be in contact with the parties soon in relation to a call over date.
The purpose of the call over will be to discuss with the parties options for relisting the trial and to ascertain whether there is any pre-trial and pre-recording of evidence that can be done during the lockdown period.The Court’s intention is to utilise this time to ensure that matters will either be ready for empanelment on day one of the re-listed trial date by refining any outstanding issues in dispute or, in appropriate circumstances, resolving the case.
Melbourne - criminal judge alone trials
One trial by judge alone, which is midstream, will continue. Given its equivalence with jury trials, the interests of justice demand that it proceeds to a conclusion as efficiently as possible.
Circuit including jury trials
The current lockdown extension is State-wide. However, the Premier has said:
“While these restrictions are implemented state-wide for now, we will review the epidemiological conditions and subject to public health advice, we will consider easing parts of regional Victoria next week.”
In light of this, circuit work from Monday, 6 September 2021, will remain as it is for the moment. The Court’s capacity to run jury trials on circuit will depend on the detail of the prevailing restrictions which are put in place, even if there is some easing of restrictions within the regions.
Melbourne and circuit – onsite attendance by practitioners and other court users
The operational court settings that have been in place since Wednesday, 18 August 2021, will remain.
This means only matters of urgency or priority can be conducted by the Court onsite and only where there is no reasonable alternative. The restrictions explicitly limit the attendance of court users (practitioners, parties and others) to the extent necessary to support the functioning of the court.
Onsite attendance at a Melbourne or circuit court by any practitioner or court user will be very much by exception and will require approval of the Chief Judge, coordinated through the chambers of the presiding judge.
Parties with matters listed during the lockdown period should contact the presiding judge's chambers in the event of any uncertainty and before travelling to circuit if the case is a circuit matter.
Melbourne and circuit - Mask wearing
Mask wearing is at Setting 2 for cases which are conducted onsite, namely those in a speaking role, including counsel, are not required to wear a mask, but all other participants and other court users must wear a mask. Mask setting 2 extends to all circuit matters.
Melbourne and circuit - letters of authority
The profession should obtain any letter of authority or work permit to attend onsite at court from their respective organisations, should this be required.
An accused’s bail papers will suffice to attend onsite at court.
The Justices of the High Court of Australia have made a Rule of Court appointing the High Court sittings for 2022. The Rule of Court is available here. The Rule of Court appoints the Full Court sittings to be held in Canberra throughout the year and the days on which special leave applications will be heard. Where required, and if practicable, sittings of the Court will continue to be held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart and Perth. Additional sittings may also be held on other days as required, for example, in matters requiring expedition. These sittings will be appointed by the Chief Justice pursuant to Rule 6.04.2 of the High Court Rules 2004.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia commenced on Wednesday, 1 September 2021.
A key part of the Courts’ reform agenda has been the harmonisation of the Family Law Rules 2004 and the Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001 insofar as they relate to the family law and child support jurisdictions.
I am very pleased to inform you that those Rules, as well as the Rules for general federal law and bankruptcy proceedings in the FCFCOA Division 2, have all been made and sent for registration on the Federal Register of Legislation. All of the rules of court commence on 1 September 2021.
Below is a brief summary of the new rule instruments.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021
These rules are the harmonised family law rules. They are made under the Division 1 power to make rules of court in section 76 of the FCFCOA Act, and in the first instance, only apply to the FCFCOA Division 1. They are adopted to apply in the FCFCOA Division 2 by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021, and in other courts exercising jurisdiction under the Family Law Act, such as State and Territory courts, by the Family Law (State and Territory Courts) Rules 2021. They are referred to and defined as the ‘Family Law Rules 2021’ in the practice directions, forms and on the website.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021
These rules adopt the harmonised family law rules for the FCFCOA Division 2. They are made under the Division 2 power to make rules of court in section 217 of the FCFCOA Act. Aside from adopting the Family Law Rules 2021, there are a small number of additional rules contained in these rules dealing with:
- Transfers from Division 2 to Division 1;
- The retention of the existing FCC scale of costs for family law or child support proceedings (with updated amounts), which may be applied instead of the scale of costs in Schedule 3 to the Family Law Rules 2021;
- The delegation of Division 2 specific powers to registrars.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (General Federal Law) Rules 2021
These rules are the relevant provisions of the Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001 that applied to general federal law proceedings renumbered and updated where necessary. The Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001 are automatically repealed by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021 on 1 September 2021.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Bankruptcy) Rules 2021
These rules are the provisions of the Federal Circuit Court(Bankruptcy) Rules 2016 that applied to bankruptcy proceedings renumbered and updated where necessary. The Federal Circuit Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2016 are automatically repealed by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021 on 1 September 2021.
5. Family Law Repeal Rules 2021
These rules repeal the Family Law Rules 2004.
- Family Law (State and Territory Courts) Rules 2021
These rules are the standard rules of court made under section 123 of the Family Law Act for all other courts exercising jurisdiction under the Family Law Act aside from the FCFCOA. This instrument also incorporates the recently made Family Court Rules 2021 (WA) as the rules of court that apply in the Family Court of Western Australia and the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, and clarifies that those rules prevail in proceedings in the WA courts to the extent of any inconsistency with these Rules.
Cross-reference tables
Cross reference tables have been drafted that indicate where provisions of the FLRs or FCCRs can be found in the new rules, or if they have been omitted. These are:
- Cross-reference table between the Family Law Rules 2004 and Family Law Rules 2021
- Cross-reference table between the Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001 and the Family Law Rules 2021, and
- Cross-reference table between the Federal Circuit Court Rules 2001 and the FCFC Div 2 General Federal Law Rules 2021.
Transitional arrangements
A practice direction has also been drafted to deal with transitional arrangements, and how the rules should apply to proceedings commenced before Wednesday, 1 September 2021 and not yet determined. Generally speaking, the new rules apply to all new proceedings from 1 September, and all existing proceedings not finally determined before 1 September. However, the Court retains the discretion to dispense with compliance with any provision of the new rules at all times, including where application of the new rules would operate unfairly or cause injustice.
If you have any questions or queries about the Rules of Court, please contact Assistant Registrar and Executive Legal & Policy Adviser – Jordan Di Carlo jordan.dicarlo@familycourt.gov.au.
Please click here for the August 2021 edition of the Lighthouse Project newsletter.
This edition (attached) provides important information surrounding the changes to the Lighthouse Project with the commencement of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Further, the newsletter highlights the benefit the Lighthouse Project plays in assisting with the early identification of matters suitable for Family Dispute Resolution and focuses on one of the many types of early dispute resolution events that can assist parties in settling their matter without the need for lengthy litigation.
We would also welcome any feedback or questions you have on the Project and they can be sent to this email – LighthouseProject@fcfcoa.gov.au.
KordaMentha and the Australian Bar Association are seeking views of practitioners about concurrent evidence practices in Australia.
If you have first-hand experience with concurrent evidence and would like to be part of the survey, we encourage you to participate.
LPLC has just published a new risk management resource for barristers. Good Counsel - Practice Risk Guide for Barristers provides details of the types of mistakes made by barristers based on the professional indemnity claims made in Victoria since LPLC began insuring barristers in 2005, and provides recommendations on how to avoid those mistakes. The guide also provides links to risk management checklists and a list of cases relevant to conflicts and personal costs orders. LPLC welcomes discussion with any Victorian barristers about the contents of this Practice Risk Guide. Contact can be directed to the LPLC Chief Risk Manager or to any of the LPLC Claims Solicitors on 9672 3800 or email lplc@lplc.com.au.
Reinforce your argument with authoritative legal resources available to you 24/7 at the Richard Griffith Library and the Digital Bar Library.
The collections are curated by law librarians who can also assist you with case research, database selection, and research strategies.
Find out more at lawlibrary.vic.gov.au.
In September, the International Bar Association presents three upcoming webinars presented by the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum (APF). Registration is free for IBA members, and we hope that one or more sessions below match your interests:
- Practical and cultural differences of litigating in Asia (Thursday, 9 September, 10:00am SGT) – Get an overview of the impact of cultural differences and practicalities of litigating in different jurisdictions in Asia. A virtual networking session follows this session for attendees to join and chat with the panellists and other participants.
- China and Europe: current challenges and future changes of investments (Wednesday, 15 September, 9:00am BST) – Organised by the China Working Group of the IBA APF, our panellists will relay their first-hand experiences and opinions on the economic relationship between China and Europe, along with its development, changes, challenges, and trends.
- Navigating international transactions in the new tax world: investments, tax havens, digital tax and the G20 tax deal (Friday, 17 September, 12:30pm BST) – Presented by the India Working Group of the IBA APF and supported by the IBA Taxes Committee, our panellists will speak on the current tax situation in India, the changes in investment structures, aspects of the BEPS programme and the future of tax on digital multinationals.
Please click on the above session titles for further details. To register for free, please click Book online from the webinar webpage and log in to MyIBA using your registered email address. If you have forgotten your login details, please click forgot password and enter your registered email address. You should then receive an email to reset your password.
We look forward to you joining us. If you have any questions, please contact me at maria.chew@int-bar.org.
The National Environmental Law Association is holding its annual conference online this year over four afternoons in September.
Session 2 - 'Legal strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions'
Friday, 10 September 2021 from 4:00-5:30 pm AEST (via zoom)
- Ilona Millar, Global head – climate change, Baker McKenzie
- Assoc Prof Bridget Lewis, School of Law, Queensland University of Technology
Tickets
Individual sessions - $50 non-members, $30 members.
We encourage you to join or renew your membership - $80pa for individuals
More information, including registration, is available here.
Become a NELA member here.
We are thrilled to announce that the registrations for the LAWASIA 2021 Virtual Annual Conference are officially open!
Are you ready to live a fully immersive event experience where you will be able to move freely across multiple sessions, have meaningful connections by interacting across various networking lounges and meeting spaces, all from your home jurisdiction?
Don't wait and book your spot today for this unique virtual event! Visit the conference website and check out the registration fees to find out which category you fall into!
If you wish to avail of our exclusive discounted member rates, we’ve got you covered! Sign up or renew your LAWASIA Membership here.
We look forward to welcoming you to the LAWASIA 2021 Virtual Annual Conference and hope that this year’s conference will challenge and inspire you through insightful discussion, meaningful connection, and engagement!
To learn more about the conference and register, please click here.
The Common Law Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria seeks a legally qualified individual to join a team of lawyers and registry officers providing end-to-end case management support to the Division's specialist lists and the judicial officers charged with their management.
The successful applicant will have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience in the Court's civil jurisdiction and a unique insight into the operation of the Court.
As Legal and Policy Officer, you will work closely with the Principal Judge, judicial registrars and deputy registrars of the Common Law Division. You will undertake and coordinate research, policy advice and reports on areas of priority to the Court to ensure its smooth running and to identify and address emerging issues and trends in litigation.
For further information on this position and to submit your application, please visit click here by Sunday, 12 September 2021.
- Full time, ongoing role
- $124,033 + 10% superannuation (VPS 6 position), and
- The role is based in the Melbourne CBD, with remote hybrid working options available.
The Supreme Court of Victoria is seeking a Costs Registrar to preside in the Costs Court which hears and determines costs disputes arising from litigation in the Supreme Court, County Court, Magistrates Court and VCAT, and cost disputes between solicitors and clients pursuant to the legal profession legislation.
To be successful in this role, you should be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge and application of the law, rules and procedure pertaining to legal costs disputes, an ability to exercise sound judgment under pressure, personal authority and integrity, a high level of verbal and written communication skills as well as interpersonal skills required to work in a multi-disciplined environment.
Duties include:
- Preside in taxation hearings in party/party legal costs disputes (Supreme Court, County Court, Magistrates Court and VCAT) and those pursuant to the legal profession legislation;
- Conduct mediations in all legal costs disputes before the Costs Court;
- Undertake assessments of disputed legal costs pursuant to the Supreme Court Rules; and
- Contribute to the operation of the Costs Court by maintaining the integrity of taxation records, identifying and managing issues impacting the Costs Court and providing written and verbal expert advice as required.
Applicants are not required to separately address the key selection criteria.
For any enquiries regarding this position, please contact Judicial Registrar Conidi at chambers.conidi@supcourt.vic.gov.au.
For further information on this position and to submit your application, please visit careers.vic.gov.au by Tuesday, 7 September 2021.
An opportunity exists for a highly experienced legal practitioner to be appointed as the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Northern Territory.
The right candidate will be an exceptional senior legal practitioner with an admission period of at least 10 years, and:
- Possess an ability to operate with professional integrity and
independently make sound decisions at the highest level. - Be capable of communicating effectively with the public, judicial officers, police, government agencies, and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
- Have substantial practical experience in criminal law and highly developed
legal and advocacy skills. - Proven budget and people management capabilities.
Expressions of interest with supporting details and referees should be addressed to:
Gemma Lake
Acting CEO, Department of the
Attorney-General and Justice
GPO Box 1722
Darwin NT 0801
Or email to AGD.ExecCorrespondence@nt.gov.au
The closing date is Thursday, 30 September 2021.
Enquiries should be directed to Ms Lake on telephone (08) 8935 7400.
Further information about the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions can be found at dpp.nt.gov.au.
The Bar received an invitation from the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) to provide a nomination for appointment to the CLA Council. The current composition of the Council is available here. For further information about the nomination, please click here.
One of the prerequisites to be able to nominate is CLA membership. The Bar is currently not a CLA member organisation, and members who have individual CLA membership are encouraged to submit a nomination. You can access the form by clicking here.
The CLA is a membership organisation for professional lawyers, academics and students practising within the Commonwealth. It also welcomes international lawyers and academics with an interest in its works. The Council is the governing body of the CLA, with a membership of the Council a highly prestigious appointment, bringing credit and Commonwealth-wide recognition to the individual concerned and to his/her parent institution and country.
Please note that nomination does not guarantee election, as the full CLA membership will participate in an e-vote in December 2021 to select the final composition of the Council.
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, 9th September 2021