In Brief Issue #856

16Mar

Law Council of Australia—National Press Club Address

On Wednesday, the President of the Law Council of Australia, Morry Bailes, and his predecessor, Fiona McLeod SC, addressed the National Press Club in Canberra in relation to the LCA’s ongoing Justice Project—an ambitious review of the state of access to justice for the most vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged Australians. The early recommendations of the project include a whole-of-government approach to reform, the introduction of a justice impact test for government policies, and substantial new funding for legal assistance and the courts. Morry Bailes highlighted, in particular, shocking figures concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incarceration. Indigenous Australians comprise just 3% of the national population, but 27% of its incarcerated population—a rise of 88% in the past decade. The televised address is available on ABC iview and I commend it to members. More information and links are in the Practice & Profession section below.

 

Ross Gillies QC portrait

The Peter O’Callaghan QC gallery was packed to overflowing on Wednesday evening as over 200 people attended the unveiling of the Bar’s new portrait of Bar legend, Ross Gillies QC. Many members of the judiciary were present, as was former Chief Justice Marilyn Warren AC QC, and no fewer than ten former Chairmen / Presidents of the Bar (excluding yours truly who was suffering badly from missing out syndrome).

The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, the Governor of Victoria, made an engaging speech about her time at the Bar, as viewed through ‘the filter of maturity’, before unveiling the portrait.

The real-life Ross then stood beside it, delivering a gravely defamatory but hilarious critique of the other portraits in the gallery, or more particularly the subjects thereof.
 

Mr Anthony Howard QC, The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Ross Gillies QC

The portrait, by Julia Ciccarone, depicts a robed-up Gillies in front of the Supreme Court—a commanding figure with expressive hands.

I thank Senior Vice-President Wendy Harris QC for representing the Bar Council at the event and Peter Jopling AM QC, the long-time Chairman of the Art & Collections Committee, for his role in securing the commission of this striking work and making a very witty speech of his own at the unveiling.
 

Ross Gillies QC, Julia Ciccarone (the artist), Wendy Harris QC, The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and Mr Anthony Howard QC

While on the topic of the gallery, don’t forget to participate in the forthcoming installation featuring current members of the Bar by popping down to the gallery over the next week or so to have your photograph taken. More details are in the Vicbar News & Events section below.
 

Indigenous Clerkship celebration

Last night the Bar hosted a celebration of the ongoing growth and success of the Indigenous Clerkship Program and met the three impressive clerks who are participating this year.

The program, which is now in its 11th year, offers paid clerkships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students to help them gain experience and insight and make valuable contacts to assist their careers.  Over three weeks, each clerk spends one week with a Judge of the Supreme Court, one week with a Judge of the Federal Court and one week with a practising barrister.
 

Stephen Myall

I was deeply saddened yesterday to learn of the sudden death of Magistrate Stephen Myall, who was known to many of our members, including some who had appeared before his Honour in the course of the week. A reminder to all, including those affected by this sad passing, that the Bar funds an independently run and confidential counselling and crisis service for the benefit of members and their families, with trained consultants available 24 hours, 7 days a week on (03) 9650 5540.

Vicbar News & Events
Calling Members to be part of VicBar Photo Essay – Peter O’Callaghan QC Gallery

Later this year the Art and Collections Committee of the Victorian Bar will exhibit a black and white photography exhibition of 1,000 barristers in the Peter O'Callaghan QC Gallery.

The Victorian Bar has changed significantly over the last 30 years. The aim of the exhibition is to highlight and promote the changes within the Bar.

The 'new' look of the bar will showcase the diversity at the bar, including barristers in all areas of law, age, gender and cultural backgrounds.

The theme of the photographs will be 'come as you are'. This may include barristers being photographed in their sporting lycra, sport lux, casual clothes, business attire, suits, robes or robes and wigs. 

Photography sessions have been scheduled to take place from 13 March 2018, to 23 March 2018 in the Peter O'Callaghan QC Gallery.

Next week's session times are as follows: 

  • Monday 19 March: 8am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 5pm
  • Tuesday 20 March: 8am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 5pm
  • Wednesday 21 March: 8am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 5pm
  • Thursday 22 March: 8am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 5pm
  • Friday 23 March: 8am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 5pm

We encourage Bar members to simply walk in and have their photo taken at a time convenient for them.

We thank you in advance for taking part!

Practising Certificate & Professional Indemnity Insurance Renewal - 2018/19

The practising certificate (PC) renewals cycle for 2018/19 will open on Monday 19 March 2018. The deadline for renewing your PC without incurring a surcharge is 30 April 2018.

The LPLC requires payment of the professional indemnity insurance (PII) premium by 31 May 2018. Further information regarding PII will be distributed to members the week beginning 9 April 2018.

You should have received an email from the Legal Services Board (LSB) outlining details of the PC and PII renewal process. (Information is also provided on the Bar’s website).  

Links for online lodgement are available through your member home page or you may go directly to LSB Online and LPLC website. Login to LSB Online and LPLC renewal using your Practitioner Number as the username (your Practitioner Number is published in the email sent to you by the LSB  or you can contact the Bar Office for assistance). If you experience technical difficulties, please contact the LSB Online help desk by email online@lsbc.vic.gov.au in the first instance.

The LSB Online service deals with all PC administrative matters. There  is no printed PC renewal form. Should you require assistance renewing your PC, the Victorian Bar Office can help you to access and use LSB Online. To make an appointment, please call Reception on 9225 7111.

The printed LPLC Applicant Declaration (PII) will be available from the LPLC’s website or from the Victorian Bar Office on Level 5 205 William Street, after 9 April 2018, however practitioners are encouraged to renew on line.

Save the date – Victorian Bar Dinner

This year's Bar Dinner will be held at the Plaza Ballroom on Friday 25 May.

Be sure you keep the date free in your diary.

Women Barristers Association (WBA) AGM

The Women Barristers Association (WBA) will be holding their AGM on 11 April 2018, at 1pm, in the conference room on level 15 in Owen Dixon Chambers West. 

The AGM is open for all members to attend and WBA also encourages new members to attend and join. 

Further, the WBA wishes to put out a call for new committee members. Anyone interested in joining the Committee is welcome to email or call Kylie Weston-Scheuber or Sandra Karabidian to discuss, or simply send a nomination form to Jess Swanwick by no later than 5pm on 7 April 2018. 

At the AGM, the Committee for 2018/2019 will be elected and other business (including accounts for the year) will be considered.

Adopt the Equitable Briefing Policy

The Victorian Bar has endorsed the Law Council of Australia’s gender equitable briefing policy, which aims to achieve a nationally consistent approach towards bringing about cultural and attitudinal change within the legal profession with respect to gender briefing practices.

Information about the Policy, including FAQs, is available on the Victorian Bar website.

The Policy is available for adoption by individual barristers by completing the form available on the Law Council’s website.

The Bar encourages all members, at all levels of seniority, to show their commitment to equitable briefing by adopting the Policy.

Call for Expressions of Interest – Bar Conciliators

The Victorian Bar is calling for Expressions of Interest from members to be appointed by Bar Council as conciliators for complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination and workplace bullying. 

The Bar is expanding the opportunity for informal and co-operative resolution of complaints about this type of conduct by its members. 

Conciliators will play a role in the informal investigation and co-operative resolution of complaints about the conduct of barristers.  This process will include complaints by other barristers or by other persons who engage with barristers. 

Conciliators will have no authority to impose co-operation, nor will they be able to determine the merits of any complaint.   If a mutually acceptable outcome cannot be achieved with the assistance of a Conciliator, then the Conciliator provides information as to other available avenues of Complaint. 

Knowledge of the law surrounding discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying is helpful but not essential.  Training will be provided to those appointed as Conciliators.

The Bar seeks to appoint a diverse panel of Conciliators from both the Senior and Junior bars including men and women across all areas of practice.

For further information about the role, please contact Jacinta Forbes QC -  jmforbes@vicbar.com.au / 9225 8905

Expressions of Interest can be submitted here.

MLS Witness Examination Competition 2018 "Judges" wanted

Members of the Victorian Bar are invited to adjudicate in each round of the 2018 Melbourne Law School Open Witness Examination Competition. Having practising barristers act as judges in the competition is highly valued by the Law School and students and provides an opportunity for students to gain insightful feedback from experienced advocates. It also provides a unique opportunity for students to learn more about the Victorian Bar through interactions with its representatives.

Round 1 commences on Monday, 19 March, 2018 and four Judges are required for each of the sessions listed below:

  • Monday, 19 March, round 1, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Tuesday, 20 March, round 1, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Monday, 9 April, round 2, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Tuesday, 10 April, round 2, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Monday, 23 April, round 3, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Tuesday, 24 April, round 3, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Monday, 7 May, round 4, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Tuesday, 8 May, round 4, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Monday, 30 July, Quarter Final, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Tuesday, 31 July, Quarter Final, 6:15PM – 8:30PM
  • Monday, 20 August, Semi Final, 6:15PM – 8:30PM

Please Click here to register your interest in judging a session.

Vicbar Life
A Unique Family Law CPD Event Presented by Darren Mort

 Monday 19 March, 2018 at 6.30 p.m. at the Alex Theatre, Fitzroy St, St. Kilda. 

Come and see two short films: 

1. The internationally award winning Family Violence Film, DEGREE OF SEPARATION 
2. TO BE LOVED - a film on Child Alienation and the impact of the family law system 

Special Guest Speakers include our former Chief Justice The Honourable Diana Bryant AO QC & Annette Gillespie CEO Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre…plus some other special guests. 

Every patron attending shall become officially credited as a Producer in the titles in our next blockbuster - TOMMY - a story about a young boy navigating his parent’s conflictual separation. Prospectus attached with further details. 

So come and have a champagne and nibble with us and enjoy this wonderful insightful event. Look forward to seeing you……and VIC BAR has granted 1 CPD Point per Hour for this special presentation

For Bookings follow this link: 
https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=354640&

Click here to download the event flyer.

Special Offer – save 20% on ‘The Duty of Care in Negligence’ by James Plunkett (Hart, 2018)

The Duty of Care in Negligence by James Plunkett offers the first book-length treatment of the subject in more than 25 years. The book aims to provide a detailed analysis and overview of the duty of care enquiry, drawing on both academic analyses and judicial experience in leading common law systems. A new structure through which duty problems can be analysed is also proposed. It is hoped that the book provides some fresh insights and clarity of the concept to the reader.

To order, go to: https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/the-duty-of-care-in-negligence-9781509914845/. Enter coupon code DUTY18 at the checkout for your special 20% discount offer on this book.

Live Jazz at the Essoign

Friday 23rd of March from 5pm.
Join us for a night of live Jazz at the Essoign.
The Ruby Rodgers Experience.
See our website for more details www.essoignevents.com.au   

Studio 11 Indigenous Art Exhibition - ​Owen Dixon Chambers East ​

Studio 11, located at Level 11, Owen Dixon Chambers East is hosting its latest exhibition featuring some 14 works by various Indigenous artists which may be enjoyed during business hours from 29 January 2018 - 29 March 2018. The works are available for sale. Catalogue sheets are located on level 11 ODC East. All members of the Victorian Bar, family, friends and colleagues are very welcome to view and enjoy the works. The most recent exhibition featured works by Melbourne artist, Fred Colla. The next exhibition will feature works by Melbourne artist, Claire Lefebvre.  

The Victorian Golfing Lawyers Society - The Sir Edmund Herring Trophy Golf Event

The Victorian Golfing Lawyers Society was established in July 2017 by a group of barristers, solicitors and Judges to promote the game of golf amongst our profession. We now have 110 members and have played three events, at Commonwealth, Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Woodlands, all of which have been very well attended. Membership is a one-off payment of $50. Details of the next event are as follows:

The Sir Edmund Herring Trophy Golf Event
at the Kingswood site of
Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club
Centre Dandenong Road
Dingley Village
On Tuesday, 3 April 2018.

This is a longstanding event contested between

Bench and Bar vs Solicitors in a 4BBB Stableford format
Tee off commences at 1.30pm
Drinks cart (cash on consumption) on course during play.
Presentations and bar snacks available immediately after play (drinks at bar prices)

VGLS committee hosts – Norman O’Bryan AM SC and Caroline Paterson

Cost: $150 per person
payable to VGLS - BSB 063 010 Account Number 1333 0550

RSVP: by 28 March 2018 please to carolinepaterson@vicbar.com.au indicating the following: your Golflink number (if I do not already have it) and your preferred playing partner, if applicable.

Trial and Error - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018

Vicbar barrister (and part time comedian) John Leung is producing a stand-up open mic for the legal industry in the 2018 Melbourne International Comedy Festival called “Trial and Error”. The show will be taking place from 10-14 April 2018. John is looking for practising lawyers or others in the legal industry who would like to try their hand at stand-up comedy for the first time. “Trial and Error" will also include experienced comedian-lawyers including John himself, Jess Moir, Andrew Portelli and Cait Johnson. All profits from the show will be donated to the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation. 

If you’re interested in flexing your comedy muscles, please contact John at themelbournerenegades@gmail.com   

BottledSnail Productions Audition Notice: The Snail in the Bottle and the Carbolic Smoke Ball - Two Famous Cases in Song

Members of the judiciary and magistracy in Victoria and barristers are invited to audition to take part in BottledSnail’s Law Week production of two short operettas based on Carbolic Smoke Ball Co and Donoghue v Stevenson set to the tune of Gilbert & Sullivan songs by law lecturer Stephen Todd. 

Performances will be open to the public and held in the Law Library of Victoria on the evenings of Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May and daytime performances on Saturday 19 May (dates to be finally confirmed). For further details, or to book an audition time, see the attached notice.  

Practice & Profession News
Victorian Legal Services Board 2018 election – Nominations closing

Nominations to stand in the 2018 Board election close at midday on Monday 19 March 2018. Any eligible barrister wishing to nominate to stand as an advocate member for the one vacant position in the election must submit their completed nomination form to the Victorian Electoral Commission by the close of nominations. Nomination forms are available from the Election Manager.

See the Board website for further details.

National Press Club Address ‘Justice State of the Nation’

This is a project that transcends party politics - it is about supporting our most vulnerable and lifting them out of disadvantage. Our visits leave a nagging certainty that we are pushing difficult social problems to the legal fringes, towards good-hearted individuals in the legal assistance sector who are struggling to provide the service they want and their clients need - and who are destined for burn-out and despair. It’s absolutely clear that a systemic lack of access to justice contributes enormously to cycles of intergenerational trauma and disadvantage within communities. Let us learn from the findings of the Justice Project concerning what is working and what is not. 

National Press Club Address lawcouncil.asn.au/media/speeches

You can catch up on iView: https://iview.abc.net.au/programs/national-press-club-address/NC1811C008S00#playing

Our Progress Report is available here https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/justice-project/progress-report

Queensland Judgments Website - Beta Version

The Queensland Judgments website is published by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for the State of Queensland and the Supreme Court Library of Queensland.

The object of this website is to publish, on behalf of the Supreme Court of Queensland, a collection of the Court’s judgments which are available to the community free of charge.

The website includes a complete set of the authorised law reports of the Supreme Court of Queensland (Queensland Reports) and a set of unreported judgments of the Court (from 2002).

The contents of the website will be expanded, over time, as we progressively digitise and publish the Queensland Supreme Court Library's collection of unreported judgments (1972 - 2001).

The website is being launched as a beta version, so it may be modified in light of user feedback received during 2018. 

Judicial College - Judicial review case note

A case note on a High Court decision that could have implications for Victoria’s Security of Payment laws is included in new publications resources released this week by the Judicial College of Victoria.

The case note deals with implied exclusion of judicial review.

Along with this case note and another about jury directions, the College has released an information sheet on the new Standard Sentencing laws.

Bench book updates for the Victorian Sentencing Manual, Victorian Criminal Charge Book and the Victorian Criminal Proceedings Manual also have been released.

This year, the College will regularly produce case notes, information sheets, and other materials on new developments, as well as updating and maintaining our bench books.

Find out more

Supreme Court of Victoria launches study resources for students

The Supreme Court of Victoria has recently launched a video and booklet for teachers and VCE Legal Studies students to help explain the roles of people who work in the courtroom, the procedures of a trial and how a trial reaches the Supreme Court. These free resources were produced in 2016 as part of a General Grant received from the Victoria Law Foundation.

The video and booklet, now available to view on the Court’s website, follows the fictional case of Justin, an 18-year old student charged with manslaughter, as he proceeds through a criminal trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria.

For more information, visit the Supreme Court’s website.

Profession CPD & Events
The County Court - Automated Writ Template Training Sessions - Melbourne and Geelong

On 21 March 2018 the County Court in association with its eFiling service provider CITEC – Confirm is releasing a new eFiling functionality. 

Practitioners needing to file a writ in the Court will be able to do so by using an automated systems generated writ document that is properly formatted and compliant with the Civil Procedure Rules. 

CITEC will provide a training session in Geelong and Melbourne on the following dates: 
Geelong Law Courts - Railway Terrace, Geelong on Wednesday 14 March 2018 at 3pm
Melbourne County Court - 250 William Street, Melbourne on Monday 19 March 2018 at 1pm (meet at the County Court reception at 12.45 for a 1pm start) 

At the training sessions you will get a chance to see first hand how the system works and ask questions. Practitioners and legal assistants are welcome to attend. 

If you have any questions please call Justin Hargreaves on 8636 6508 or email civil.counter@countycourt.vic.gov.au 

Melbourne Law School Events - ‘Brexit: Constitution, Law and Market” – Public Lecture

On behalf of Melbourne Law School, we would like to invite you to the public lecture, “Brexit: Constitution, Law and Market” presented by Professor Richard Rawlings on Tuesday 20 March at 6.00pm-7.30pm

Please see the attached flyers for more information. These lectures will take place at Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton. 

If you would like to attend this free public event, please register here. If you would like to be notified of any future events, please subscribe to our newsletter here.  

Creating Utopia Conference: Proudly Sponsored By Deakin University 22-25th March 2018

Creating Utopia: Imagining and Making Futures – Art, Architecture and Sustainability will explore the intersection between art, culture and the natural environment as the inaugural conference of the Lorne Sculpture Biennale.

Dates: Thursday, 22 March - 4:00pm to Sunday, 25 March - 12:00pm 
Location: The View Room, Lorne Hotel, 176 Great Ocean Rd, Lorne 
Emaillindyaj@unimelb.edu.au 
Tel: +61 3 8344 7437/0425 788 581

Click here to download the event flyer. 
Click here to register.

Melbourne Law School Events - The Decline of Parliamentary Democracy in a Post-Truth Era

On behalf of Melbourne Law School, we would like to invite you to the upcoming public lecture The Decline of Parliamentary Democracy in a Post-Truth Era presented by Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs on Friday 23 March 2018 from 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

We are now said to live in a 'post-truth' era, where opinion is more likely to drive political outcomes than evidence, where expertise is a subject for attack, where populism, tribalism and 'retail politics' shape public discourse. There are serious concerns that, as in the 1930s, democracy itself may be under threat.

The Integrity / Jim Carlton Lecture is jointly hosted by the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies (CCCS) at Melbourne Law School and the Accountability Round Table (ART).

If you would like to attend this free public event, please register here

If you would like to be notified of any future events, please subscribe to our newsletter here.  

Melbourne Law School Events - Launch of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness

On behalf of Melbourne Law School, we would like to invite you to the launch of Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness on Monday 26 March from 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

At this launch event, leading experts on statelessness will discuss the scale and scope of the global challenge of statelessness, the impact of statelessness, the role of the United Nations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in addressing the challenge, and the role of academic research in contributing to the eradication of statelessness.

The Melbourne Law School’s Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness has been established with the objective of undertaking research, teaching and engagement activities aimed at reducing statelessness and protecting the rights of stateless people in Australia, the Asia Pacific region, and as appropriate more broadly. The Centre on Statelessness will fill a critical gap in academic research and engagement on the issue of statelessness and is currently the only university resident and supported institute of its type.

If you would like to attend this free public event, please register here

If you would like to be notified of any future events, please subscribe to our newsletter here.  

Deakin Law School – Investing for Sustainability: Drivers and Enforcers

Deakin Law School along with the Sustainable Market Actors for Responsible Trade (SMART) will host a public seminar on the topic of investing for sustainability.

This seminar discusses possible drivers and enforcers for sustainability-oriented business and investments, identifying how to dismantle barriers to the necessary transition and strengthen emerging trends for sustainability.

Date: Tuesday, 27 March 2018
Time: 9.30am – 1.45pm (including lunch)
Venue: Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne

A copy of the seminar program is available here.

To register for this public seminar, please register here.

The 2018 Melbourne University Law Review Annual Lecture

The Annual Lecture will be held on Tuesday 27 March at 7:00pm in the David P Derham Theatre (GM15), Melbourne Law School, the University of Melbourne, 185 Pelham St Carlton 3053.

The Annual Lecture is part of an ongoing effort by the Review to increase its engagement with the legal community. In the past, we have had The Hon Justice John Middleton speak on ‘Statutory Interpretation — Mostly Common Sense?’, The Hon Justice Stephen McLeish on ‘Challenges to the Survival of the Common Law’ and The Honourable Kenneth Hayne AC on 'Government Contracts and Public Law'.

This year we are honoured to have The Hon Justice Debbie Mortimer of the Federal Court of Australia as our guest speaker for the Annual Lecture this year. The title of the lecture is 'Some thoughts on writing judgments in, and for, contemporary Australia'. Below is a description of her Honour's lecture:

As in other walks of life the pace of work for, and productivity demands on, courts and judges have increased. While the obligation to explain an exercise of judicial power through published reasons is a critical obligation, the challenge for courts and judges in contemporary Australia is how to reconcile that obligation with the need to give parties outcomes to their litigation in a timely way, and to ensure that explanations for the exercise of judicial power are accessible and understandable. In her lecture, Justice Mortimer proposes to offer a perspective on these challenges.

No RSVPs are necessary. Drinks and canapés will be served in the foyer of the Law School after the event. 

Melbourne TEC Chambers - 3-speaker Construction Law Seminar at 5pm on 28 March 2018

MTECC is hosting a 3-speaker seminar on 28 March 2018 at the RACV Club from 5pm to 7pm. The speakers are Hugh Foxcroft QC on Recent Developments in SOP Act Jurisdictional Challenges, Andrew Downie on Expert Evidence in TEC Litigation and Michael Whitten QC on Recent Developments in Recourse to Bank Guarantees. Drinks and canapés will be served on arrival and following the seminar. There are limited seats. Please RSVP to whitten@chancery.com.au or info@mtecc.com.au.

Melbourne Law School Events - ‘Charities, Politics and Tax”: 2018 George Turner Lecture and Randomistas Book Launch

On behalf of Melbourne Law School, we would like to invite you to the following events: 

2018 George Turner Lecture, “Charities, Politics and Tax” presented by Justice Susan Glazebrook DNZM onWednesday 28 March, 6:30-7:30pm

Randomistas Book Launch presented by Andrew Leigh on Thursday 8 March, 5:30-6:30pm

Please see the attached flyers for more information. The lecture and book launch will take place at Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton. 

If you would like to be notified of any future events, please subscribe to our newsletter here.  

"Legal Reasoning and Written Advocacy” International Advocacy Training Council conference in South Africa - 2 and 3 April

The IATC and South African bar will be hosting a Legal Reasoning & Written Advocacy Conference on the 2nd and 3rd April 2018 at the Wallenberg in Stellenbosch (near Capetown). 
Will clear and effective legal reasoning and writing survive the relentless onslaught of social media and the tyranny of the twitterati? 

Speakers includeThe Rt. Hon. The Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Former President the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; Justice Geraldine Andrews (UK); Justice Glenn Martin, Supreme Court (Qld); Justice Ann Ainslie-Wallace (Fam Crt App); Phillip Greenwood SC ( NSW) and speakers from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, will be involved in presentations and panel discussions. 

Judges, advocates, attorneys, university teachers and all legal professionals involved in the teaching of advocacy skills, should find the conference very interesting. 

The conference will stimulate debate and explore solutions to the state of legal reasoning and writing in the advocates’ profession and the judiciary. 
Please visit the below link to view the speakers and to register online. 
http://www.sabar.co.za/advocacy-training/IATC-Conference2018.html 

The Law Library of Victoria - Switch On… Setting up legal alerts

Thursday 5 April, 1.15pm-1.40pm

The Law Library of Victoria invites you to attend our Switch On… information sessions. These twenty-five minute sessions are suited to judicial officers, court staff, legal professionals, law students, and anyone with an interest in law.

This session will highlight some of the best legal alerts freely available. We will demonstrate how to create alerts so you can stay up to date on the latest case law, legislation developments, and legal news. These include alerts provided by the Law Library of Victoria, JADE, the High Court of Australia, TimeBase, the Victorian Government, and a variety of social media.

For more information or to RSVP please email libraryevents@supcourt.vic.gov.au

Monash University - Increased Regulation of Litigation Funding - a Timely Crackdown or a Regulatory 'solution' in Search of a Problem?

Both the Victorian Law Reform Commission and the Australian Law Reform Commission are currently enquiring into the issue of regulation of litigation funding in class actions. The keynote speakers and the panel members will discuss the pros and cons of such regulation and the issues to be considered with reference to both overseas and Australian experience. 

Date: Monday 9 April, 2018 
Time: 2.00pm - 5.00pm 
Venue: Court 8A, Federal Court of  Australia, Owen Dixon Commonwealth  Law Courts Building, 305 William St,  Melbourne 
RSVP: To register, please go to litigationaprilseminar.eventbrite.com.au by Tuesday 20 March

Click here to download the event flyer.

Competition Law Conference 2018

Competition Law Conference 2018

This annual one-day Conference will be held in Sydney on Saturday 5 May 2018 at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel, Sydney.

The Conference, which has been held since 1989, continues to attract about 100 registrants, including Federal Court Judges, Judges from New Zealand, regulators from Australia and New Zealand, lawyers from both Australia and New Zealand, economists and academics.

The Hon. Justice Lindsay Foster will address the conference as the Keynote Speaker on the topic: “Concerted Practices; A Contravention without a definition”

Venue: Sheraton on the Park, Sydney
Date: Saturday 5 May 2018
Time: 9.15 am to 4.30 pm (registration opens at 8.45am)
CPD Strand: Substantive Law, Practice & Procedure
CPD Points: 5 (one point per hour excluding breaks)

For further details, and to download the full programme and registration form, please follow this link or email chrishodgekiss@bigpond.com

 

7th LAWASIA Family Law & Children's Rights Conference

Date: 6-8 June 2018, Vientiane, Laos 
Venue: Crowne Plaza Vientiane 
Website: http://www.lawasia.asn.au/familylaw2018.html  
Theme: ‘Family Law: Realities, Expectations and Hope’ 
Registration: Opening in February 

Keynote Speaker: The Honourable John Pascoe AC CVO 

The conference will focus on a range of cross border family law and children’ rights issues including: 
 

  • trafficking of the vulnerable;
  • surrogacy and ethical challenges;
  • impact of social media on family law;
  • support for families and children in distress;
  • effective negotiations and understanding the client, the lawyer and the child;
  • technology in family law practice;
  • International family law and Conventions;
  • the protection of vulnerable members of the family;
  • estrangement and alienation and future world – family law in the next decade.


Please visit the conference website to register and for more information on travel, accommodation and the conference program: http://www.lawasia.asn.au/familylaw2018.html   

Melbourne Law School Events - Public Law Conference

Date: 11-13 July 2018
Venue: Melbourne Law School

From 11 to 13 July 2018, Melbourne Law School will hold the third biennial Public Law Conference, co-organised by the University of Melbourne and the University of Cambridge. The theme of the 2018 conference is ‘The Frontiers of Public Law’. The Public Law series is the pre-eminent regular forum for the discussion of public law matters in the common law world. The first two conferences in the series were held at Cambridge in 2014 and 2016. The 2018 conference will feature approximately 80 speakers, including leading judges, practitioners and scholars from across the common law world, and bring together over 300 delegates to discuss the most important issues in public law today. Keynote speakers include Lord Mance (UKSC), Hon Mr Kenneth Hayne (formerly HCA), Justice Debbie Mortimer (FCA), Sir Jack Beatson (English Court of Appeal), Justice Grant Huscroft (Ontario Court of Appeal), Justice Matthew Palmer (NZ High Court), Prof Cheryl Saunders (Melbourne), Prof David Feldman (Cambridge), Prof Anne Davies (Oxford), Prof Carol Harlow (LSE), Prof Mark Aronson (UNSW), Prof Anne Twomey (Sydney), Prof Benedict Kingsbury (NYU), and Prof Megan Davis (UNSW).

For further information and to register please visit our website: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/public-law-conference

Melbourne Law School Events - Obligations IX Conference

Date: 17-20 July 2018
Venue: Melbourne Law School

From 17-20 July 2018, Melbourne Law School will host the 9th biennial Obligations Conference in conjunction with the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford. The biennial Obligations Conferences bring together scholars and practitioners from throughout the common law world to discuss current issues in contract law, the law of torts, equity, and unjust enrichment. The Obligations Conference is the leading international forum for discussion of these subject areas. Approximately 90 presentations will be made over the three days of the conference, including keynote presentations by Professor Andrew Burrows (Oxford), the Hon Justice James Edelman (High Court of Australia), the Hon Justice Michelle Gordon (High Court of Australia), Professor Birke Häcker (Oxford), the Hon Justice Mark Leeming (NSW Court of Appeal), Professor Matthew Harding (Melbourne), and Professor Liam Murphy (NYU).

For further information and to register please visit our website: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/obligations9

Careers & Opportunities
Seeking Young Lawyers for Inaugural Australian Forbes '30 under 30'

The Law Council has been approached by a writer, who is compiling a shortlist for the inaugural Australian '30 Under 30' Forbes magazine list.

The writer is seeking at least one individual from the Australian legal sector who is exceling within the legal profession, and may be a changemaker, disrupter, innovator, entrepreneur, or leader that deserves to be recognise for their achievements in the Forbes publication.

To qualify for the inaugural Australian '30 Under 30' list individuals must be:

  • Highly successful in their endeavours.
  • Deeply respected by their peers.
  • Making an impact on Australia and the world.
  • Aged 29 or under on December 31, 2018.

Individuals are to be suggested no later than 19 March 2018 to krystal.james@lawcouncil.asn.au.

Law Council of Australia - The Tom Yuncken Young Construction Lawyer Award 2018​​

In 2018, the Victorian Construction & Infrastructure Committee of the Law Council of Australia will again award the Tom Yuncken Young Construction Lawyer Award, which was established in 2008 in memory of Allens Arthur Robinson partner and construction lawyer Tom Yuncken.

While previously a Victorian award, this is now a national award and open to all eligible Australian young construction lawyers.

Please see the attached flyer for details regarding eligibility, award criteria, award procedures, and the nomination process.

Nominations close on 28 April 2018.

Deadline for the next issue:5pm, 22nd March 2018