In Brief Issue #957

3Apr
Katherine Lorenz
CEO

Looking outside and forward

At a time when we’re all grappling with the coronavirus pandemic it’s important that we don’t overlook other pressing issues around us.

This week, the Sentencing Advisory Council launched the Crossover Kids: Vulnerable Children in the Youth Justice System Report 2. This is the second in a series of three reports that focuses on children who have had contact with both the child protection system and youth justice system and aims to understand the regional patterns and differences in crossover kids’ interactions with the authorities. It’s an interesting report, especially relevant for those who work with vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

The Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner also released a report this week exploring sexual harassment in the Victorian legal sector. The report is worrying in the degree of sexual harassment identified in Victoria’s legal profession, with more than one in three lawyers having experienced sexual harassment at work, and many harassed within the previous 12 months. Unfortunately, the Bar is well represented within these numbers. We are exploring formal training for members and other initiatives to shift workplace norms and improve culture.  In this context, the President will be speaking to the Readers about organisational culture, or ‘how we go about doing what we do’ in a session after Easter.    

On a more positive note, the Readers’ Course is continuing through ‘Zoom’ and other electronic teaching methods and the Readers continue to impress me with their determination to complete the course and get their practising certificates as barristers. This is notwithstanding the many challenges and uncertainties they have dealt with since beginning the course on 5 March, right at the start of the coronavirus pandemonium.  This exceptional group of people have shown amazing resilience and patience during the course and have adapted to the many challenges that the restrictions have caused with great grace.  Please reach out to our (soon to be) newest members of the Bar when you can — they will need plenty of support and mentoring in the coming months as they commence practice. 

The September 2020 Readers’ Course will be proceeding and we are currently re-inventing the course structure and delivery mode to ensure that a highly interactive and complete course can be offered to Readers by remote delivery, in the event that COVID-19 restrictions are still in place.

We are confident that once the current restrictions are lifted that life will soon revert to normal and those lawyers who are called to the Bar will have a bright future in a legal landscape that is more technologically agile than ever before.  In anticipation, the Bar Readers’ Exam will be fully electronic and will be held on 25 October.   

We’ve also settled a provisional date for the ‘postponed’ Victorian Bar Dinner. We had been planning for the dinner to be held in May, but we have now rescheduled it for 16 October at the Plaza Ballroom.  I am certainly looking forward to coming out of isolation and celebrating the achievements of the Bar through this difficult time.

Finally, we are still planning to offer members flu shots on 23 April 2020 provided we have sufficient interest from our members.

As you know, medical experts are encouraging members of the community to get their flu vaccinations.  Even during the current restrictions, we can attend at 205 William Street to receive our vaccinations in accordance with the government directives.  Of course, we will ensure that appropriate social distancing is in place during the day. In order that we can make arrangements, if you do envisage coming into ODCE to receive the flu shot, please click here.

Vicbar News & Events
Leave no barrister behind initiative

Earlier this week, Sally Flynn QC, Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Committee, outlined a new initiative to remain socially connected and check on the emotional well-being of our colleagues when we are not working from chambers. 

The Bar is calling for volunteers to coordinate group activities online with their chambers or interest group, and to let us know what you are doing so we can share your ideas with others. We want to make sure no barrister is left behind. We ask that the coordinator for each chambers, floor or social group get in touch with Sally at sallyflynn@vicbar.com.au. She can help you start regular activities with your group. If you don’t keep chambers and would like to be involved, let Sally know and she will put you in touch with other barristers. 

New groups you may wish to join:

 

COVID-19 resources

We understand that members are worried about the risks of COVID-19. Please see the new section on our member website, designed to answer some questions you may have, point you to government information websites, and let you know what VicBar and BCL are doing to assist members.

Applications for Senior Counsel 2020

The Supreme Court has announced that applications for Senior Counsel for 2020 will close on Friday 1 May 2020.

Information for members considering applying for silk includes:

If you have any questions about the application process, including how to fill in your application form or if you would like to have a confidential discussion about making an application, please send an email to silk@vicbar.com.au.

Victorian Bar Member CPD Reminder

Due to current concerns with COVID-19, you will see that some CPD seminars are being postponed. Where possible, CPDs will be filmed and made available on our electronic platforms.  In the meantime, attendance is not required.

Bar members were required to complete 10 points of CPDs by 31 March 2020. If you have not yet completed the requisite points, please check what is available on the CPD section of the member website, and/or take up the NSW Bar Association’s generous offer of access for Victorian Bar members to its CPD catalogue. Login details for Victorian Bar members are here.

Vicbar Life
The Essoign takeaway and home menus

To all our members we would like to thank you for your support in these challenging times for us all. We will continue to operate as a TAKEAWAY only venue daily from 7.00am until further notice. On offer we will have coffee, juices, soft drinks, salads and sandwiches along with daily specials and take away beer or wine.

Pre-lunch orders for pick up or delivery via email to essoign@vicbar.com.au by 11.30am. Delivery to Chambers also includes alcoholic beverages. Let us know if you need us to include some complimentary glassware for you.

In addition to our Daily Takeaway Menu offering we also have a Stock Up For Home Menu.

The Essoign also provides home-made staples, created by our Essoign chefs with the freshest of ingredients, to take home frozen.

Orders must be in by midday Monday 6 April 2020.

See menu attached for more details.

Please do continue to support the club during this difficult period. Once again we would like to thank you for your support in these challenging times for us all. Please ensure you are practising social distancing when visiting the club!

Practice & Profession News
AHRC report: Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces

The Australian Human Rights Commission has published the report of its National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces

Respect@Work, the Commission’s report of the National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces 2020.

Summary of outcomes.

The Inquiry examined the nature and prevalence of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, the drivers of this harassment and measures to address and prevent sexual harassment.

The Law Council of Australia intends to provide a submission in response to the recommendations made in the report and will be seeking the views of constituent bodies, including the Victorian Bar.

Appointment of Manager to Armour Legal Pty Ltd

On 23 March 2020, the Victorian Legal Services Board (‘the Board’) resolved to appoint Mr Matthew Critchley as Manager of the incorporated legal practice of Mr Michael Pena-Rees, Armour Legal Pty Ltd, trading as ‘Armour Legal’ (‘the Law Practice’), pursuant to section 334 of the Uniform Law. The appointment is for a period of approximately nine months and expires on 20 December 2020, unless the Board determines to extend the appointment or the appointment otherwise ceases in accordance with section 340 of the Uniform Law.

The Board determined to appoint the Manager on the bases that the Law Practice has committed a serious irregularity in respect of trust money and that Mr Pena-Rees, the Law Practice’s Legal Director and Principal, has failed to properly attend to the affairs of the Law Practice. In these circumstances, the Board is satisfied that there is a need for an independent person to be appointed to take over professional and operational responsibility for the Law Practice.

Members of the Victorian Bar who have recently been briefed and/or undertaken work for the Law Practice may be impacted by this appointment. Victorian Bar members should contact Mr Critchley on (03) 9672 3258 or by email on matthew.critchley@corrs.com.au if they have any concerns about payment of their fees.

You will be notified upon the termination of the management. If you wish to discuss this matter further with the Board, please contact Chantalle Toussaint on (03) 9679 8165 or via email at ctoussaint@lsbc.vic.gov.au.

Careers & Opportunities
Judicial Registrar Appointments

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Honourable Anne Ferguson, seeks expressions of interest from qualified persons for appointment as a judicial registrar of the Supreme Court.

Positions

Judicial registrars are members of the Court, appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Attorney-General. There are currently two judicial registrar positions vacant at the Supreme Court of Victoria.

View the position descriptions on the Legal Careers website:

Judicial Registrar – Criminal Division

Judicial Registrar – Commercial

FURTHER INFORMATION

All expressions of interest must be received by no later than close of business on Monday 6 April 2020.

The positions are located in Melbourne. All expressions of interest are treated confidentially. Enquiries can be made to Viv MacGillivray on (03) 8600 2403.

Expressions of interest marked ‘Private and Confidential’ should be addressed to:

The Honourable Chief Justice Anne Ferguson

Supreme Court of Victoria

210 William Street

Melbourne VIC 3000

Alternatively, they can be sent by email to Ms Viv MacGillivray, Executive Associate to the Chief Justice, viv.macgillivray@supcourt.vic.gov.au

LAWASIA request for Human Rights Update contributions

LAWASIA is seeking contributions from its members about local human rights issues for their monthly e-newsletter Human Rights Update. LAWASIA publishes one or two contributions in each issue. Potential contributors should submit a written piece of approximately three paragraphs in length on recent developments in human rights in their jurisdiction. For example, contributors may summarise major judgments, provide information about new or amended statutes, or discuss social initiatives. Each contributor should also provide a profile photo to be published with their article. Please send contributions, or suggestions, to Julie Do, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, at julie.do@lawasia.asn.au by 20 April 2020.

Deadline for the next issue:5pm, 8th April 2020