In Brief Issue #866

25May

Annual Bar Dinner tonight

For those of you reading this in advance, I am looking forward to seeing you at tonight’s annual Bar dinner at the Plaza Ballroom. It promises to be a memorable night, with no fewer than 47 honoured guests; our guest speakers, the Chief Justice of the High Court, the Hon Susan Kiefel AC and our own Anne Hassan; Commonwealth and State Attorneys-General and shadow Attorneys-General; many heads of jurisdictions and other judicial officers; most of the Presidents of the other Australian independent Bars; and around 500 of our number. After dinner entertainment will feature the Victorian Bench and Bar’s legendary band, the Lex Pistols.


Wellbeing & The Bar Survey

In early June, the Victorian Bar will launch an online health and wellbeing survey which is designed to ‘take the pulse’ of members of our Bar.  The ‘Wellbeing at the Victorian Bar’ survey findings will be used to develop and implement proactive preventative steps and resources that enable us to better support the health and wellbeing of our members.

We have been assisted with the design and delivery of the survey by a team from the University of Portsmouth in the UK which conducted similar work on behalf of the New South Wales Bar. The Bar of England and Wales also conducted a similar survey of its members in 2014.

Your support is important. We aim to get at least 1,000 responses—we need comprehensive and meaningful data, both from those experiencing difficulties and those who are not, in order to ensure our programs are appropriately tailored. I urge all members to look out for further messages about the survey in coming weeks and to take part.


Mandatory sentencing and judicial discretion

The Victorian Bar spoke out this week against incursions on judicial discretion and extensions to mandatory sentencing, prompted by dreadful attacks on emergency services workers. As I said in the Bar’s press release, “populist, ‘tough on crime’ responses by our politicians are an unprincipled race to the bottom. Mandatory sentencing and reducing judicial discretion deprive our judges and magistrates of the ability to dispense justice in the circumstances of the particular case, bringing their experience and wisdom to the complicated task of balancing punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation and fairness.”  In this election year, the Victorian Bar will continue to call out all sides of politics when they undermine the independence of the State’s hard working judicial officers.


Indigenous Justice Committee—forthcoming CPD

Next week is National Reconciliation week. On Monday, the Bar’s Indigenous Justice Committee will present an important seminar with a panel of speakers on the national scourge that is the Indigenous incarceration rate, following the tabling of the recent Australian Law Reform Commission report on that subject.

There are many other events to mark National Reconciliation week, including cultural walks from the Koorie Heritage Trust centre at Federation Square and featured exhibitions at the Melbourne Museum Bunjilaka Centre. For more information, see the Reconciliation Australia website.


Appointments

Congratulations to Kevin Lyons QC on his appointment as Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The profession will extend a welcome at a ceremonial sitting in the Banco Court on Wednesday, 30 May 2018 at 9:15 am.

Congratulations also to Tara Hartnett and Tom Wardell on their appointment as Magistrates. They were sworn in privately by Chief Justice Ferguson last week. Details of their ceremonial welcomes are to be advised.

Vicbar News & Events
Hong Kong 2018 International Commercial Law Conference (HK 2018 ICLC) - Register online

Early-bird registrations are ON SALE NOW for the Hong Kong 2018 International Commercial Law Conference – see our website to register and for details on the program, accommodation and flights.

Young CommBar Hong Kong 2018 ICLC Speaking Competition - Win a free Trip to Hong Kong!

Win a trip to attend the Hong Kong 2018 International Commercial Law Conference www.hk2018iclc.com

Prize Includes: 

  • economy return airfare;
  • complimentary full conference registration; and
  • the opportunity to participate in the Hong Kong 2018 ICLC as a panel member for one of the conference sessions. 

To win, submit a 3-page written submission on one of the following topics:

  1. Is Privacy Dead? Use and Misuse of Sensitive Data 

    Is there a right to privacy, or even an entitlement to be forgotten?
    Does or can the common law provide an answer to this question?
    How can clients in litigation protect or obtain sensitive data from online platforms and from holders of such? 
    How safe is your client’s Ashley Madison profile? 
    And how safe are the details of your client’s bank account in Panama which were used to set up their Ashley Madison account?

     
  2. ‘Words Without Borders: Defamation and the Internet’
    What constitutes publication on the internet? 
    Do special rules apply for Google, Wikipedia and Facebook, or is Webb v Bloch still good law? 
    The internet is now more often than not the new defamation battlefield rather than print and broadcast media. 
    How can convenors of online platforms or blogs, social media account holders or users and social media providers be held to account for content published online which they ultimately are able to control?

Key Dates:

  • Submit application to hk2018iclc@vicbar.com.au before close of business on Friday 25 May 2018;
  • Finalists shortlisted 7 June 2018;
  • Speaking Competition on Thursday 14 June 2018.  

Submissions must address the nominated topic and explain why the entrant should present on the topic, comprise of no more than 3 A4 pages in Times New Roman, size 12 font and 1.5 line spacing. Please submit in electronic form as a word document. 
Finalists will be invited to compete at a function on Thursday 14June, 2018 attended by fellow barristers and young solicitor to be followed by a drinks function. 

The competition is an excellent way for the junior commercial bar to promote itself amongst its solicitor peers.

* Competition is open to barristers who are members of CommBar and as at 1 January 2018, are less than 5 years call to the Victorian Bar, and less than 10 years since admission as a legal practitioner in an Australian state or territory. 
 

Junior Bar Conference 1 June 2018 - Register online

We are pleased to advise that registration is now open for the next Junior Bar Conference for 1 June 2018 in the Neil McPhee Room. Remember, this year we are increasing the range and inviting barristers who have practiced for up to 10 years.

This years program includes:

Breakfast with Bar Council

Networking Lunch with Junior Silks

Three General Sessions on:

  • Future Directions of the Victorian Bar presented by Dr Matthew Collins QC, President Victorian Bar
  • The Rules of Statutory Interpretation
  • Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Four Masterclass options to choose from:

  1. Courtroom Conduct & Advocacy
  2. Dealing with Expert Witnesses and Expert Evidence
  3. How to Become the Junior Barrister of Choice
  4. Hearsay Evidence

Click here to register.

Registration closes 24 May 2018.

PC & PII Renewal 2018/19 - $88 surcharge applies for renewals made between 1 May - 31 May

PC renewals made between 1 May and 31 May will incur an $88 surcharge. 

The LPLC requires payment of the professional indemnity insurance (PII) premium by 31 May 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, members who wish to attend the Bar office for assistance please do so between 9am - 3pm or contact Daphne Ioannidis on 9225 8326 to make an appointment.

The forms for LPLC Applicant Declaration (PII) are now available from the LPLC’s website or from the Victorian Bar Office on Level 5 205 William Street, however, practitioners are encouraged to renew online.

Optional Top Up insurance for barristers is available through Affinity Brokers. Inquiries to Affinity should be directed to Mary Spanos on (03)8587 7760 or mspanos@affinity.com.au.
Links to the application form and other relevant documents: 

Commanding the Room Workshop

In this practical workshop with Richard Lawton, you will develop skills in:-

  • Vocal delivery strength
  • Communication style
  • Body language awareness
  • Breath control for handling nerves
  • Tips for delivering a clear story

Numbers are strictly limited to enable individual coaching and small group practice.

Where: Neil McPhee Room, Level 1 Owen Dixon Chambers East, 205 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia   
When: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 - 17:00to 19:00
Cost: $100

Click here to register. 

Re-engagement lunch

A Re-engagement lunch will take place at 1pm on 19 June 2018 in the Bar Council Chamber, Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East.

The purpose of the lunch will be to bring together members of the Bar currently on parental leave, recently returned from parental leave or planning to take parental leave, to discuss how to approach practice after a period of leave, refresh knowledge of practice requirements, and to facilitate reconnection with colleagues.

If you wish to join the lunch please email policy@vicbar.com.au by 1 June and a formal invitation will be sent.

Lawyers Mediation Certificate Course

The Victorian Bar

The Lawyers' Mediation Certificate course will be held in June 2018.

Days: Friday to Sunday, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24 June 2018

Cost: 
Vic Bar Members:         $2,900 (inc $264 GST) 
Non-Vic Bar Members: $3,300 (inc $300 GST)

A further discount of 10% is available to participants in the March 2018 or September 2017 Readers' Courses.

Registrations are limited to 18 participants. 

Please contact education@vicbar.com.au for more details.  

Download the Lawyers Mediation Certificate Registration flyer. 

Speaker(s): Dr Peter Condliffe, Dr Elizabeth Brophy & Tony Neal QC

When: Friday, June 15, 2018 - 09:00 to Sunday, June 24, 2018 - 17:00

Where: Neil McPhee Room, Level 1 Owen Dixon Chambers East, 205 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

8 CPD point(s): Ethics & Professional Responsibility; Barristers Skills;

Vicbar Life
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival Gala Cocktail Party - Thursday 31 May 7pm at Red Scooter

Hosted by Wendy Touhy and featuring a special address by former Aussie Rules footballer, Jason Ball, join us at this year’s Gala Cocktail Party on Thursday 31 May at 7pm at Red Scooter and help support the festival! For tickets, go to https://2018.hraff.org.au/events/gala/ 

The Essoign - SELECTUS Exhibition

You are invited to the Official Opening of Clara Davies’ photographic exhibition, "SELECTUS", at The Essoign Club on Tuesday, 12 June 2018 from 5.00pm.

The exhibition will be officially opened by travel photographer, Richard I'Anson, Canon Master Australia and author of the Lonely Planet Guide to Travel Photography.

Clara’s passion for photography has seen her build a portfolio of images from her travels. In the past five years Clara has ventured to more than 45 countries across all seven continents. Clara has chosen to journey to some of the most wild and remote regions of our planet including Antarctica, South Georgia, the Arctic (even all the way to the North Pole), Patagonia, remote Russia, South America, Africa and the Middle East. Clara’s goal has been to capture the unique beauty of these places.

On the night Clara will be presenting a selection of her favourite images as limited edition photographic prints; all of which have been fine art printed and custom framed.

I hope you can join us on the night for a drink and a chat, and to take a quick journey around the world to some of those places that you might not have already visited.

RSVP no later than Monday 4th June davies@burtdavies.com.au.

Click here to view the event flyer. 

The Essoign - Celebrating 150 years of Henschke wines at the Essoign

Join us on Tuesday 19th June for a three course dinner with matching Henschke wines.

The Henschke family now sixth-generation will take you on a journey of their worldwide recognized exceptional quality wines, innovation and sustainability of their vineyard.

Limited spaces available and bookings are essential. Book at www.trybooking.com/VZLV  See attached for more information or to make a booking. For any enquiries please contact Marijana Hegedis on 9225 6748.

Click here to view the event flyer. 

Studio 11 Art Exhibition - ​Claire Lefebvre ​

Art Exhibition at Level 11 Owen Dixon Chambers East (aka Studio 11). Barristers on Level 11 of ODC East invite you to come view solo art exhibition by Melbourne Artist, Claire Lefebvre, "Lush. Layer Light", featuring some 20 works, comprising a series of paintings and limited edition prints which use layering techniques and mark making such as dots and lines. The works explore human emotion and perception as well as the material potential of acrylic paint, ink and various gloss and matte mediums. The paintings allude to architectural and biological forms, with surfaces which invite touch.

The exhibition runs from 16 April - 29 June. The works are for sale with no commission payable. Worksheets are found on level 11 East. Come up, have a break and just admire the work which is there to be enjoyed and shared.  

"Studio 11" as it is colloquially referred to hosts art exhibitions on a term by term, voluntary basis. The aim is to allow all members of the Victorian Bar, colleagues, clients, staff, family and friends to easily access, enjoy and celebrate various original art by local artists in the work environment.

Practice & Profession News
Update on the National Court Framework re Registrars and Registrar Titles

The Federal Court has informed the Bar that new Registrar titles, commensurate with the important roles performed by registrars, will apply from Monday, 28 May 2018. 

The new titles are set out on the Federal Court Website in a National Court framework Update, together with information on the progress of the National Court Framework, which is being extended to apply to the important legal work undertaken by registrars of the Court, including how that work is allocated and managed nationally.

Sentencing Advisory Council recommends Victorian community involvement in creating sentencing guidelines

A proposed community-based sentencing council could help restore public confidence in sentencing by making it ‘more consistent, transparent and reflective of community standards’, according to a report released today.

Click here to view the media release. 

Profession CPD & Events
Melbourne Law School Events - Damages in contract and the injured party’s contribution to its own loss

Date: Tuesday 29 May, 2018
Time: 6:00 pm - 7.00pm
Venue: Level 10 Boardroom accessed via Level 9 stairs

In awarding compensation for breach of contract, the law pays regard to the injured party’s involvement in events resulting in its loss. Familiar principles include intervening causation, mitigation (particularly, the avoidable loss rule) and contributory negligence. The second of these tends to feature more prominently in the law of contract than the first. But some judges and commentators say that the avoidable loss rule is merely an aspect of intervening causation.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Monash University - Law in the digital world

The age of technology and cyberspace has given rise to fascinating legal issues including in relation to privacy, big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain. Regulators are attempting to understand and keep up. This expert panel will consider some of the evolving issues that confront lawyers.

Date: Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Time: 5.15pm – 6.15pm
Venue: Court 8A, Federal Court of Australia, Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne
RSVP: Monday 4 June 2018, online at http://www.monash.edu/law/research/centres/clars 

Click here to download the event flyer. 

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 - Chief Justice of the Family Court (AUSTRALIA) 

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  

Victoria Law Foundation Better Information Workshop - Plain language and community legal education

In this session you will learn the key principles of good community legal education. In a quickly changing communication landscape these principals underpin producing work across different formats – print, online and video.

When: Thursday 21 June 2018
Time: 9:30 am–12:00 pm
Where: Victoria Law Foundation Level 5, 43 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Cost: Free

Click here for more information and to register. 

Deakin Law School : Only offenders can stop reoffending - Join speaker Mark Johnson, MBE

Where: Geelong Corporate Centre, Deakin University Waterfront Campus, Sally Walker Building, Cunningham Street, Geelong
When: Wednesday, 27 June 2018, 2pm – 4pm

Mark has a history of crime, homelessness and drug abuse. He has since become a leading figure in the criminal justice reform movement both in the United Kingdom and internationally. Mark’s organisation, User Voice, is led by ex-offenders and works to transform the criminal justice system - see: http://www.uservoice.org.
He is supporting an innovative peer mentoring pilot program in Geelong, a partnership between User Voice, Deakin University, Give Where You Live Foundation, Ian Potter Foundation, Helen McPherson Smith Trust, and the Department of Justice and Regulation.

Register by 18 June by contacting: claire.seppings@deakin.edu.au

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - Accelerated Route Towards Fellowship Course 23 -24 June 2018

Fast track your way to a career in international commercial arbitration. Registrations are now open for the 2018 CIArb Accelerated Route Towards Fellowship (ARF) course which will be held from 23 - 24 June 2018 at the Melbourne Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Centre.  Delivered by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) this course is intended for suitably qualified candidates who are practising lawyers with at least 10 years’ standing and who have  experience in arbitration.  The Course syllabus is based on international arbitration law and it is essential that candidates have at least a reasonable working knowledge of the UNCITRAL Model Law and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. CIArb accreditation carries a global qualification in the growing practice of international arbitration.   Places are limited. For further details and to register please click here.

Melbourne Law School Events - Public Law Conference

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

From 11 - 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

ASEAN Law Conference 2018 in Singapore

The ASEAN Law Association is pleased to invite you to attend the 13th ASEAN Law Association General Assembly in Singapore, and The ASEAN Law Conference which will be held in conjunction with the 13th ALA General Assembly, from 25 – 28 July 2018.

The theme of The ASEAN Law Conference is "The Power of ONE: Unlocking Opportunities in ASEAN through Law". ALA’s vision for the Conference is to create and curate a world-class legal conference focused on thought-leadership issues pertaining to ASEAN, specifically regarding cross-border commercial and legal opportunities and challenges in the ASEAN Economic Community (“AEC”). In line with this vision, luminaries from ASEAN Member States and beyond have been invited to speak at the Conference on topics including the opportunities and challenges in the AEC, free trade agreements and bilateral investment agreements in ASEAN, competition law, disruptive technologies and financial integration. More than 500 legal professionals hailing from the ASEAN Member States and beyond are expected to attend the Conference.

Click here for more information and to register. 

The Commercial Law Association of Australia - 30th anniversary Journal of Contract Law conference

When: 27 July, 2018
Where: The Gallery Room, Mitchell Wing, NSW State Library

The Hon Justice Gleeson, Justice Andrew Phang, Associate Professor Goh Yihan, Assistant Professor Eliza Mik, Professor Elisabeth Peden, Professor Woody Hunter, Professor Greg Tolhurst, Associate Professor Katy Barnett, Associate Professor Wayne Courtney, Emeritus Professor John Carter

Click here for more information and to register. 

2018 International Criminal Law Congress

The International Criminal Law Congress is being held in the beautiful Byron Bay between 3 and 7 October 2018.  The conference is well regarded as a premier criminal law conference, boasting some very impressive speakers.  It is a fantastic opportunity to meet other criminal law solicitors and barristers from all over Australia and discuss current issues in criminal law.

Early bird tickets are now available by clicking here.

Social highlights include the welcome drinks at Elements on Byron, the Lawyers Long Lunch on Friday and Congress Dinner on Saturday not to be missed for their networking and conviviality. 

Upcoming Family Law conferences

Havana Cuba

There will be a family law conference held in Havana Cuba from 7th to 12th April 2019. The conference will take place at the Grand Hotel Kempinski, it will include  papers from various barristers, solicitors and others who deal with family law. There will be time to see the city and partake in cultural activities”

Click here to download the conference flyer.  
 

Arctic Conference

 Following on from our successful conference in Antarctica in January 2017 there will be a further family Law conference in the Arctic in July 2020. There will be time on board the new ship, the Greg Mortimer, to hold a conference and also partake in the activities on and off the ship.”

Click here to download the conference flyer.  
 

Bali Conference

The 9th annual Family Law conference in Bali is to be held from 8th to 11th  June at the Oberoi Hotel. This conference will include a session on negotiation which may be of interest to those who do not practice in family law, and attendees at this conference will be from the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria.

Click here to download the conference flyer.  

Careers & Opportunities
The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence Course

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) in conjunction with Centre for Cultural Competence Australia have developed a cultural competency course titled “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence Course”. The course is mapped to three units of core competency and on completion participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Centre for Cultural Competence Australia. Participants will also receive a resource pack for their ongoing learning and reference, this will include course notes made during the course, personalised action plan, together with a number of fact sheets and additional

resources.

This course has been developed for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and for people living and working anywhere within Australia. Whether you are delivering services specifically to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or someone working with the general public or you just want to know more about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people you live with, this course is for you.

It has been developed as a first step in a training pathway and as a pre-cursor to face-to-face, local and role specific cultural training. The course is designed to develop capabilities and build cultural competence whatever your level of knowledge in Aboriginal cultural education.

The cost is $192.50 per person.

We would encourage you to consider undertaking the course in order to develop your ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in and out of the justice system, for further details please access https://vals.ccca.com.au.

2018 William Ah Ket Scholarship

Applications are open for the 2018 William Ah Ket Scholarship.  The annual scholarship is open to final year law students, law graduates undertaking practical legal training and young lawyers with no more than five years’ post-admission experience. The Applicants are required to write a paper researching a topic relating to equality, diversity and the legal profession (or law). The William Ah Ket Scholarship has been devised by the Asian Australian Lawyers Association and is sponsored by Maddocks.  Click here for more information.

The Victorian Government - Expressions of Interest in the position of Crown Counsel

The Victorian Government seeks expressions of interest in the position of Crown Counsel, initially for 12 months, with the possibility of extension.

Crown Counsel is a full time, public office created under the prerogative power of the Crown. Appointment as Crown Counsel is made by the Governor in Council.

A Victorian Crown Counsel provides legal advice to, and appears as counsel for, the (Victorian) Attorney-General and the Executive Government of Victoria. This may extend to:

  • providing high-level legal advice to the Secretary, Department of Justice and Regulation and, by arrangement with the Attorney-General, the Premier, other Ministers, and other departments and agencies;
  • appearing as counsel for the Secretary, Department of Justice and Regulation and, by arrangement with the Attorney-General, for the Premier, other Ministers, other departments and agencies, in courts, tribunals and inquiries,
  • conducting reviews and investigations at the direction of the Attorney-General; and
  • performing other related duties, as required by the Attorney-General.

Substantial experience as a senior member of the Australian legal profession, including advocacy in superior courts, is essential. Demonstrated expertise in legal practice in Victoria would be useful. Candidates must be aware of the need, and demonstrate capacity, to manage effectively any conflicts of interest that arise during their term in office.

Remuneration for the role may be subject to negotiation, but is typically equivalent to that for Victorian Public Service Executive Officers (band 2).

Expressions of interest, consisting of a brief covering letter and Curriculum Vitae (CV), should be submitted by 31 May 2018, either via email to: civillaw@justice.vic.gov.au or via post, to:

Mr Donald Speagle
Deputy Secretary, Civil Justice Department of Justice and Regulation 121 Exhibition Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000 

For further information, please ring Donald Speagle, Deputy Secretary, Civil Justice, Department of Justice and Regulation: (03) 8684 7825. 

Australian ADR Awards 2018

The 3rd annual Australian ADR Awards 2018 recognise both individual and team excellence in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Nominations for the Awards are open until 7 June 2018. We encourage your nominations. Details of the multiple Award categories and nominations forms are on the Australian Disputes Centre website HERE. Tickets to the Awards Gala Dinner on 10 August are also on sale on the website HERE. Partners are welcome.

Language, Communication and the Legal Process Postgraduate - LAW 5443

It’s not just the barrister standing up in the courtroom who must hone his or her use of language. Language is critical at all stages of the legal process. In this unit, you will learn how language can produce problems in the justice system and how to use language more effectively. 

Led by experts drawing upon decades of legal and linguistic experience, this unit will develop your skills in the following areas:

  • Conducting effective interviews with clients and witnesses
  • Witness statements and affidavits
  • Producing effective documents
  • Questioning witnesses
  • Courtroom communication
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Vulnerable people in the legal process
  • Using linguistic expertise

Click here to download the course flyer. 

Bayside P-12 College in Newport is seeking a barrister to present to Year 10 students

Bayside P-12 College in Newport is seeking a barrister volunteer to present to its Year 10 students on Wednesday 13 June 2018 between 11:00 am and 12:40 pm, regarding a career at the Bar. Interested volunteers should contact Kat Brazenor of the Student Engagement Committee at brazenor@vicbar.com.au.

LCA Business Law Section - Scholarships

Baxt Prize

The Baxt Prize honours the contribution of Professor Robert (‘Bob’) Baxt AO to business law in Australia. The 2018 Baxt Prize will be awarded for a research paper of outstanding quality dealing with any aspect of penalties in corporate and commercial regulation. The value of the Baxt Prize is $7500.00.

Click here to view the prize flyer.

Click here to download the application form. 

Scholarship entries close at 5pm, 30 August 2018 AEST.


Forsyth Pose Scholarship

The Forsyth/Pose Scholarship is offered by the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia (BLS) for papers on a topic in the field of taxation law. It was offered for the first time in 2013 to commemorate leading taxation law practitioners Neil Forsyth QC and Kevin Pose. Both were
long-standing members of the BLS specialist Taxation Committee.

Click here to view the scholarship flyer.

Click here to download the application form. 

Scholarship entries close at 5pm, 30 August 2018 AEST.


Gaire Blunt Scholarship

The Gaire Blunt Scholarship is offered by the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia (BLS) for papers on a topic in the field of competition law. First awarded in 2008, it commemorates Gaire Blunt, a leading competition law practitioner and a partner at Allen Allen & Hemsley (now Allens) from 1970 to 2005.

Click here to view the scholarship flyer.

Click here to download the application form. 

Scholarship entries close at 5pm, 30 August 2018 AEST.


Santow Scholarship

The Santow Scholarship is offered by the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia (BLS) for papers on a topic in the field of corporations law. Offered for the first time in 2014, it commemorates the Hon Kim Santow AO, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and prior to that a leading corporations law practitioner at Freehills.

Click here to view the scholarship flyer.

Click here to download the application form. 

Scholarship entries close at 5pm, 30 August 2018 AEST.

Australian Academy of Law - Notice of Annual Essay Prize 2018

The Australian Academy of Law is pleased to announce the offering of its Annual Essay Prize for 2018.

The Prize is open to anyone, wherever resident, who is studying or has studied legal subjects at a tertiary level, or who is working or has worked in a law based occupation. There is no limit by reference to the age or seniority or experience of, or position held by, a person who may submit an entry. Accordingly, judicial officers, legal practitioners, legal academics and law students are all eligible to submit an essay.

The amount of the Prize is $10,000.

The essay topic for the Prize in 2018 is as follows:

“Rights and freedoms under the Australian Constitution: what are they and do they meet the needs of contemporary Australian society?”

The deadline for the submission of an essay is 31 August 2018 and persons intending to submit an essay must notify the Academy of that intention in writing via the Academy’s website to be received by 30 June 2018. Both of these time limits are strictly observed, as the Rules Governing the Annual Essay Prize make clear.

Those Rules can be accessed on the Academy’s website: www.academyoflaw.org.au

Refer to the Academy’s website also for further information about notification of intention to enter and about the actual submission of an entry.

Cyngler Consulting - National Mediator Accreditation

Registrations are now open for our June 6 day National Mediator Accreditation program scheduled in Melbourne. The program gives participants the opportunity to learn Conflict Transformation skills and receive their mediator training assessment as required by the National Mediator Accreditation System and upon successful assessment apply to become a Nationally Accredited Mediator.

Click on the below link for more information and to register.

National Mediator Accreditation Course
June 22 to 27 Melbourne

Visit our website www.cynglerconsulting.com for more information or join our mailing list to keep informed on courses that are coming up.

Deadline for the next issue:5pm, 31st May 2018