In Brief Issue #980

11Sep
Katherine Lorenz
CEO

Patience and persistence are crucial to the Bar’s success

One of the most infamous miscarriages of justice in Australia occurred in 1982, when Lindy Chamberlain was wrongly convicted of the murder of her baby, Azaria, and her husband, Michael, was wrongly convicted of being an accessory after the fact. The Chamberlains’ personal and legal ordeal was epic – through the original trial, appeals to the Federal and High Courts, four coronial inquests and the Morling Royal Commission, which finally exonerated the Chamberlains. Their convictions were quashed in 1988. The final inquest, in 2012, found that Azaria had died as the result of being attacked and taken by a dingo.  

Four members of the Victorian Bar were among the legal team who fought for justice on behalf of the Chamberlains during their long legal battle: Commander the Honourable John Winneke AC RFD QC (deceased), the Honourable John Phillips AC QC (deceased), Andrew Kirkham AM RFD QC and Brind Zichy-Woinarski QC. On Wednesday, Andrew Kirkham AM RFD QC, Victorian Bar member since 1967 and Chairman of the Bar in 1991–92, was the guest on Svenson Barristers’ CPD Conversational, talking about the landmark legal battle.

For the nearly 200 in attendance, including Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton, Andrew proffered fascinating insights into the confluence of biased media coverage and faulty forensic evidence that had tainted the Chamberlain trial, and how the couple’s legal team eventually won a pardon, an apology, quashed convictions and compensation. At Andrew’s request, the webinar will not be available for download, but, with overwhelming interest still in the case, the Bar will be re-broadcasting it, with Andrew in attendance to take questions. Stay tuned for the date. 

Andrew and his colleagues’ remarkable contribution to the Chamberlains’ defence was an exceptional chapter in the Bar’s history and speaks to their persistence, grit and professionalism. Andrew and his colleagues represent the best of the Bar’s strength and determination.

Continuing advocacy during COVID

The skill and expertise of Victorian Bar members – who defend people’s rights and help redress wrongs – form a strong pillar upon which the administration of justice rests, and this must continue unfettered. I wrote to members early in the week about our disappointment with the Premier’s COVID-19 Roadmap to Reopening, particularly in that it does not allow for a return in the short term to a degree of normality in the administration of justice. The Chamberlains’ ordeal shows that obtaining justice may be neither easy nor quick and proper legal representation is essential.

For this reason, we continue to actively advocate for the early reopening of the legal sector from Stage 4 Restrictions; that is, to ensure the proper functioning of the judicial system and civil society. We are continuing to advocate (in the first stage of reopening) for members’ access to chambers for both preparation and hearings, and for the resumption of critical onsite ancillary services, such as mailrooms, photocopiers and IT services. Additionally, to assist our members who are suffering from the financial impact of COVID-19, we will also keep advocating for the $10,000 Business Support Fund grant offered by the State Government to be extended to barristers who do not have employees, to help mitigate the significant income declines some members have faced. (Those with employees who meet the criteria here are eligible to apply.)

At a time when many barristers are enduring economic pain, I have also requested that the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner address the issue of outstanding fees owed to barristers by solicitors. In some cases, the sums owed are quite large and have been unpaid for months. We will continue to update members on the progress of this and all our advocacy efforts.

Expedited Mediation – Protocols with the County Court

In addition to our advocacy work, the Bar continues to collaborate with the courts to enhance the administration of justice in Victoria and find efficient solutions to help clear the increasing backlog of listed cases. Tony Elder and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee agreed on protocols between the Bar and the Family and Federal Circuit Courts in June to refer appropriate matters to mediation by the Bar’s nationally accredited mediator members (the original announcement is here). We’re very pleased that an increasing number of cases are being referred to mediation through the scheme.

I’m delighted to announce that an agreement is now in place with the County Court’s Commercial Division for appropriate matters before it also to be referred through the Expedited Mediation scheme. We look forward to a larger number of the Bar’s mediators bringing their skills to the mediation table to help clients resolve their disputes in a timely manner. The protocol will be released shortly.

Vicbar News & Events
Victorian Bar Entrance Exam

Looking ahead to next year, lawyers thinking about joining the Bar can now register for the Victorian Bar Entrance Exam. The exam is scheduled for Sunday 25 October 2020 from 9:30am. As foreshadowed by the 2019 Exam Review, this exam will be delivered electronically using highly secure software provided by ExamSoft, replacing the handwritten exams of previous years. 

In response to the requirements for social distancing, this exam will also be delivered remotely. Candidates will sit the exam in their own location using their own devices and will be subject to sophisticated remote identification and invigilation technology throughout the exam. Those interested should visit the Victorian Bar Entrance Examination webpage here for more information and to register. Registrations close 5:00pm on 25 September 2020.

Victorian Bar member CPD and events

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.

  • The Regulation of Barristers: Part 1 - Being ‘Fit and Proper’ is on Tuesday 15 September 2020 at 5–6:00pm. This is the first of a two-part CPD presented by the Bar’s Honorary Secretaries and will explore these questions: What does it mean to be a ‘fit and proper person’ in the context of your practice at the Bar? What are the origins of this requirement and how did it come to be embedded in the legal framework that regulates us? Why does this test exist? Click here to register. 
  • Recent High Court cases on damages is on Thursday 17 September 2020 at 1–2:00pm. This webinar will feature a discussion on two recent High Court cases dealing with damages under the Australian Consumer Law and also the ramifications of the decisions for the broader law of remedies. Click here to register. 
  • The Regulation of Barristers: Part 2 - Complaints and Investigations is on Tuesday 22 September 2020 at 5–6:00pm. This is the second of a two-part CPD presented by the members of the Counsel Committee and the Victorian Bar Investigator who will explain the background and process for complaint investigations into barristers’ conduct. Click here to register. 
  • Family Law: A chat with Judicial Officers is on Wednesday 23 September 2020 at 4:30–5:30pm. This CPD will cover the Lighthouse Project, the role of Registrars assisting in the running of duty lists in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and also the conduct of hearings via telephone and Microsoft Teams. Click here to register. 

For more upcoming CPD events, please visit our listings here.

COVID-19 Resources Weekly Update

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.

Advocacy on behalf of the Bar

We continue to lobby government and actively advocate for the early re-opening of the legal sector from Stage 4 Restrictions and to advocate for members’ access to chambers for both preparation and hearings, to childcare for all children, both onsite and at home, whether a matter is deemed an “urgent or priority” one or not, and for the resumption of critical onsite ancillary services, such as mailrooms, photocopiers, and IT services.

During Stage 4 Restrictions, our advocacy was successful in having childcare extended to our members for online hearings, and to allow members to access chambers to collect materials necessary to assist their clients in urgent and priority work. We are presently advocating for the $10,000 Business Support Fund grant offered by the State Government to be extended to barristers who do not have employees, to help mitigate the significant income declines some members have faced. (Those with employees who meet the criteria here are eligible to apply.)

The CEO has personally requested that the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner addresses the issue of outstanding fees owed to barristers by solicitors. In some cases, the sums owed are quite large and have been outstanding for months.

We will continue to update members on the progress of this and all our advocacy efforts.

Court updates

Joint statement from heads of jurisdiction of Victoria’s courts and VCAT

This morning, the Honourable Chief Justice Anne Ferguson issued a joint statement from the heads of jurisdiction of Victoria’s courts and VCAT in response to the announcement about the coronavirus Roadmap. The full statement is published on the Supreme Court website here.

County Court of Victoria

Criminal trials commencing January 2021

The Criminal Division of the Court has issued a Revised Relisting Schedule of Melbourne Criminal Trials commencing in January 2021, which is available here.

Civil subpoena practice notes

Subpoena practice note (PNCLD 9-2020) has also been updated and is available on the Court’s website here.

WebEx notification forms for prosecution and defence

The Court has produced forms to be used by the defence and prosecution to apply for a pre-trial hearing or conviction and sentence appeal to be heard remotely via video-conferencing software, Cisco WebEx Meetings (WebEx).

The prosecution WebEx notification form is here.

The defence WebEx notification form is here.

Federal Court of Australia Live Chat

Live Chat was recently launched on the Federal Court website to enable court users to chat in real time with the Federal Court Registry in enquiries related to:

  • Applying to the Court
  • Procedures or information relating to your case
  • Information and support for the Commonwealth Courts Portal, including eLodgment, or
  • General enquiries about Federal Court proceedings.

You can access Live Chat here

ABA Judicial Protocols

As a result of recent reports about federal appeal courts considering complaints about the conduct of federal judges sitting at first instance, the President of the ABA, Matthew Howard SC, has written to the Bar to remind members of the Protocols that the ABA entered into with the heads of federal jurisdictions in August 2019, and which were recently refreshed. The letter and Protocols are here.

To access each email update relating to COVID-19 that VicBar has sent members, please click here.

New Barristers’ Committee: Work opportunity referral system

In the current circumstances, many of the usual ways in which barristers interact with each other have been greatly restricted or even made impossible.  One of the effects of this is that work opportunities have not been able to flow to new barristers in the same way as previously.  

To that end, the New Barristers’ Committee (NBC) is instituting a system for the advertising of work opportunities by barristers to new barristers.  These advertisements will be placed on the New Barristers’ Slack channel - a virtual bulletin board accessible to new barristers.  The referring barrister will be contacted directly by the new barrister(s) responding to the advertisement.

If you would like to advertise a work opportunity to new barristers, please contact Tim Glass of the NBC at tim.glass@vicbar.com.au and provide the following information:

  • A summary of the work to be done
  • The area of law the work relates to
  • The expected scope and time requirements of the work to be done
  • The expected fee structure for the work, and
  • Your contact details.  

The NBC will not make any recommendations to the referring barrister as to appropriate counsel for the work opportunity, nor will the NBC make any recommendation to new barristers as to appropriate work opportunities, aside from advertising the work opportunity on the NBC Slack Channel.

VicBar’s Health & Wellbeing Program – Happy Melon Studios Dynamic Fitness Class

The Victorian Bar has organised fitness classes for members by Happy Melon Studios on Thursday 17 and 24 September and Thursday 1 October 2020 at 5–6:00pm.

The class is a fun way to improve strength and cardio fitness. Participants will get a serious full-body workout whilst invigorating the mind. More information about Happy Melon is here.

Click here to register for the classes.

VicBar’s Health & Wellbeing Program – Virtual Mat Moves: Svenson Barristers + Grounded Movement

A 45 minute movement session combining mat Pilates and clinical exercise. An opportunity for the Barristers and friends of Svenson Barristers to break up your work day with movement in the comfort and safety of your own home. Register here. The session is hosted by Charissa Fermelis, Physiotherapist and Pilates Practitioner, and founder/director of Grounded Movement.

VicBar Social Groups

Sally Flynn QC, Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Committee, has had many encouraging responses about floors and practice groups that have organised get-togethers over Zoom and in private Facebook groups, as part of the initiative to remain socially connected and check on the emotional well-being of our colleagues when we are not working from chambers. 

The Committee is seeking expressions of interest from barristers interested in setting up a WhatsApp group to connect those barristers who are carers. The group is for barristers who care for elderly or disabled parents or relatives and will allow members to offer each other support by sharing information or resources for various issues, including finding alternative living arrangements or home assistance. Please contact Sally Flynn by email if you’re interested.

Other groups you may wish to join:

Darren Ferrari is organising a Zwift group for members of VicBar. Zwift blends the fun of video games with the intensity of serious training, helping cyclists get faster. Level up in the virtual worlds of Zwift with a group that motivates each other. To join or find out more, contact Darren Ferrari on 0412 124 076 or by email at clerks@svenson.com.au.

We want to make sure no barrister is left behind, so please contact Sally at sallyflynn@vicbar.com.au to let her know what your group is doing, or if you need a hand starting a new group or finding one to join.

BCL Property & Technology Services: Updated services and cyber security awareness

To ensure the safety and security of all chambers during this challenging time, BCL Property and Technology Services will update their service delivery as of Friday 17 April 2020 until further notice. For information about this update, please see here or contact the BCL Service Desk on 9225 8888.

Cyber Security Awareness: What you need to do to keep your practice safe 

In these current uncertain times, the increased use of video conferencing, reliance on email, the use of home internet services, SMS’s from our governments, and the sudden shift into paperless practices all make it easier to fall victim to a costly scam.
 
In recent months we are aware of successful scams within the community, leading to significant financial and operations impact. There are some simple things you can do to help protect your practice:

  • Using BCL corporate-grade technology and network services (Internet & email) provides you with a managed enterprise environment with corporate-grade security platforms and sophisticated network practices.
  • SMS verification for passwords is now available. To enhance the security of barrister passwords, we have introduced SMS verification for password resets. Login to http://id.vicbar.com.au, select the “Profile” tab and click “Edit” to enter your mobile number. All password reset requests will now require this information.
  • Always check the “From” address in emails, particularly those from external parties. A difference in the Senders name compared to the From address is a clear indication of a scam email.
  • Look for suspicious characteristics in an email such as unprofessional emails with typos and spelling mistakes, or requests for ‘click here’, pay now, requests for funds, bank account details or an unnecessary sense of urgency.
  • Always use an up to date and valid anti-virus product and backup your data as outlined in the Victorian Bar Technology Minimum Standards.
  • If you are ever unsure, DO NOT open it and contact the BCL Service Desk.
  • Improve your cyber security awareness by taking a short 5-minute quiz provided by the Australian Government here.
Vicbar Life
eBrief Ready – Paperless solution for receiving briefs

If you want an easy, secure way to receive and work on your briefs electronically, then you should watch the recent Victorian Bar CPD session co-hosted with Martin Bartfeld QC, explaining the benefits of the eBrief Ready product. You can view this here.

Over 700 members from the Victorian Bar and 3500 solicitors are now using TA Law’s eBrief Ready platform to both receive and work on their briefs. 

Stephen Foley MD of TA Law said that there is no charge for using the platform during these difficult times.The Victorian Bar is also introducing a new member benefit to ensure affordable access for all its members in the future. 

If you would like to know more about eBrief Ready, you can book a consultation with the Managing Director, Stephen Foley here.

The Essoign Club – Closed for Stage 4 Restrictions

Dear Essoign members and patrons,

It is with great regret that due to the impact of Stage 4 Restrictions the Club has temporarily closed its doors. 

Thank you for your continued support during the ever-changing circumstances in 2020. Understandably the current Stage 4 Lockdown has reflected your absence from the Club. We will miss seeing you along with your story sharing, laughs and giving support to all fellow members.

The Essoign will be back once restrictions are lifted and we will keep you informed as we get closer to that date.  

Please stay safe and stay healthy. We look forward to seeing you all again very soon.

As always, thank you.

The Essoign Club

Member Benefits Australia - September exclusive member offers

Don't miss out on these exclusive member deals for September with some great offers and gift ideas.

Practice & Profession News
5th Annual Australian ADR Awards 2020 – Nominations open until 21 September

The Australian ADR Awards recognise individual and group excellence in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution. ADR expertise has developed over many decades to become a cornerstone of practice at the Bar, with strong recognition by clients of the benefits of ADR know-how.

Now in its 5th year, the prestige of the Australian ADR Awards creates an opportunity to shine a light on this significant expertise at the Bar. With 24 Awards categories, including ADR List of the Year, what better way to end the year than to celebrate the exceptional work being undertaken every day at Vic Bar.

Nominations are open until Monday, 21 September 2020. For more information and to submit a nomination, please click here.

Family Court and Federal Circuit Court of Australia – Current ongoing projects

Priority Property Pool 500

The Federal Circuit Court of Australia has introduced a new process to manage family law property disputes for cases where the value of the net property pool is under $500,000. The new process, known as the Priority Property Pool 500 (PPP500), started on 1 March 2020 and will operate for two years as a pilot program in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Parramatta. For more information, please visit the Court’s website.

The Lighthouse Project

The Lighthouse Project is a ground-breaking and innovative initiative in the way in which the Courts will screen for risk and focus on public health and improved outcomes for families involved in the family law system. A pilot for this project will commence in Adelaide, Brisbane and Parramatta and the Courts are looking to secure additional government funding to expand nationally. The project will deliver numerous benefits to litigants and practitioners, including:

  • better risk screening and early identification of at-risk clients,
  • tailored court processes and support to those litigants experiencing family violence,
  • easier access to justice – a single entry point to the Court,
  • improved outcomes for litigants with more information available to the Court from the first stages,
  • improved case management decisions leading to a reduction in the number of adjournments and court events required, and
  • opportunities to settle early through the use of alternative dispute resolution for suitable matters.

Information sessions about the project for lawyers and unrepresented litigants will commence shortly – dates and times to be advised. For more information, please visit the Court’s website.

Digital Bar Library

The Law Library of Victoria improves access to justice by providing legal information to all eligible Victorian legal practitioners online. Barristers also have access to a range of legal resources on their own computers and devices, via the Digital Bar Library on the Law Library website. You must be a registered user to access this page which provides:

  • Guides to improve your research skills (finding information, using research tools and on specific topics)
  • Subscriber-only publications and databases, and
  • Current and authorised Victorian legislation sets used in Victorian jurisdictions.

All Barristers are eligible to register for access. If you have not already registered, the Library will be in touch with you shortly by email.

The Law Library of Victoria Bulletin is produced fortnightly and summarises the latest legislation and cases for the Victorian jurisdiction, as well as High Court of Australia cases. The bulletin also includes the latest new books added to the Library collection and a selected index of articles from journals received in the Library. To subscribe visit here.

If you are on twitter, follow the library on @lawlibraryvic to be alerted to recent decisions of the Court of Appeal.

High Court (2021 Sittings) Rules 2020

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. Sittings of the Court will continue to be held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart and Perth as required. 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 Rule of Court appointing the High Court sittings for 2021 is available here.

Appointment of Manager to Yasemin Ozer trading as Ozer Lawyers

On 4 September 2020, the Victorian Legal Services Board (‘the Board’) resolved to appoint Mr Damian Neylon as Manager of the sole practitioner Yasemin Ozer trading as Ozer Lawyers (‘the Law Practice’), pursuant to section 334 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (‘Uniform Law’). The appointment is for a period of six months and expires on 2 March 2021, 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 a Manager because 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. Please contact Mr Neylon on 03 9993 0490 or at damian@neylonlegal.com.au if members have any concerns about payment of their fees.

Profession CPD & Events
Australian Arbitration Week Events: 12 – 18 October 2020

ACICA is pleased to present Australian Arbitration Week 2020 (AAW 2020) of the week of 12 October 2020. A full Calendar of Events is now available on the AAW website here, which will be kept updated as new event information is released.

ACICA, together with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia (CIArb Australia), will launch AAW2020 with Australia’s premier international arbitration event, the 2020 International Arbitration Conference featuring a line-up of speakers from across Australia and around the world. This year the conference will be offered virtually and is open to registrants around the globe. Program and speaker information is available to view on the website. You can register for the Conference here.

Please take a moment to explore the extensive program drawing together expert practitioners from around the world and dealing with an exciting range of topics including:

  • Advocacy in the Virtual Environment
  • Technology as an Enabler in International Arbitration
  • The Future of Investor-State Dispute Resolution
  • Around the Globe in 60 Minutes : Current Hot Topics in International Arbitration
  • Mega Projects in the New Normal
  • Is Third Party Funding Changing International Arbitration?
  • Enhancing Efficiencies in the Arbitral Process.

Registration, program and speaker details may be found here.

Maritime Arbitration Webinar

Arbitration has played a vital role in the resolution of maritime disputes. Since COVID has brought uncertainty and disruption to the maritime industry, greater recourse will be made to arbitration.

The Maritime Arbitration webinar covers some of the latest issues in Australia, Singapore and in the world of virtual hearings.

The webinar is on Wednesday 16 September 2020 at 5:00pm for a 5:15pm start.

Please register by 15 September 2020 by emailing MLAANZ Administrator, Anne Chahwan, at annie@vicbar.com.au.

More information about the webinar and speaker panel is here.

LAWASIA 2020 Conference Online – Webinar Series

Join LAWASIA for a series of webinars every Tuesday and Thursday, commencing on 10 September until 8 October 2020 (five consecutive weeks, nine webinars in total).

Instead of the LAWASIA physical Annual Conference, the LAWASIA 2020 Conference Online webinar series will provide an opportunity for our members to enhance their legal knowledge; collaborate and build networks with like-minded lawyers and legal organisations throughout the region; and come together to help LAWASIA fulfil its important mission of promoting the rule of law, access to justice and respect for human rights throughout Asia and the Pacific region.

LAWASIA has developed an excellent program, focusing on a range of legal issues and key areas of law, including sessions focusing on intellectual property, ADR, employment law, anti-trust and competition law, and corporate securities and investment. Panels of experts and eminent speakers from across the region have been recruited and will undoubtedly entertain, educate and enrich all those able to attend.

The LAWASIA 2020 Conference online webinar series will be free of charge. We encourage you to circulate this offering to your friends and colleagues, and we look forward to welcoming you all to the 2020 LAWASIA Conference Online!

For more information about the conference program and how to register, please click here.

Monash University webinar – Managing Management Buyouts

Monash University is offering the following free webinar: CLARS Law & Business Seminar Series - Managing Management Buyouts. This seminar will comparatively assess the regulation of buyouts by private equity firms in major jurisdictions, focusing on the duties of directors and senior managers. It will consider mechanisms for constraining misconduct by fiduciaries, including fiduciary duties, private enforcement, and mandated disclosure. It will examine current developments in the United States, including recent Delaware decisions that suggest heightened judicial concern about potential misconduct in buyouts. The free webinar is scheduled for Wednesday 23 September 2020, 10:00 – 11:15am. You can register to attend this webinar here.

Diversity Council Australia webinar recording: Move to real action on racism

VicBar members are invited to view DCA’s free recording of its webinar How organisations can move beyond tokenism to real action on racism.

COVID-19 has caused a disturbing rise in racism against Asian Australians while the US Black Lives Matter movement has shone a light on the continued injustices and inequalities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in our society. It’s clear that more action is needed to tackle racism in Australia but what role can and should employers and indeed all of us play in eradicating it and creating more inclusive workplaces and communities?

Lisa Annese, DCA’s CEO, will ask some important questions of a special guest panel to examine:

  • Why racism continues to be a problem in this country
  • How and why culturally diverse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are still excluded at work
  • How important it is to actively call out racism
  • What needs to be done to raise Indigenous and other culturally diverse voices, and
  • How well-intentioned people and institutions can move beyond tokenism to becoming a leader on change for the better.

Guest speakers include:

  • Dr Summer May Finlay, Researcher at University of Canberra and Lecturer at the University of Wollongong
  • Mohammad Al-Khafaji, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
  • Ken Woo, Partner at PwC 
  • Sam Klintworth, National Director, Amnesty International, and
  • Dr Berhan Ahmed, CEO, African Australian Multicultural Employment and Youth Services.

To view this webinar, you’ll need to be a member of Diversity Council Australia. To become a member, please register here and we will forward you the login instructions. You will need to use your VicBar email address. Current members of DCA can register to view the webinar here.

Careers & Opportunities
ILF International Fellows Program – Call for remote fellows

The International Legal Foundation (ILF) is seeking lawyers with extensive criminal defence experience and legal aid institutional know-how to join its Natalie Rea International Fellows program and provide training and capacity building to local lawyers and legal aid providers in developing and transitional legal systems through day-to-day, case-by-case mentoring.

Juvenile justice experts are particularly needed to support the development of specialised units to provide quality representation to children in conflict with the law. 

We currently have fellow positions available with our teams in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Palestine (West Bank) and Tunisia. Fellows are normally embedded within ILF’s local offices, but due to the unfolding global health emergency, fellows will work remotely for the foreseeable future. An in-country fellow role may be possible, as the situation develops and if circumstances allow.

How to apply or for more information

More information is available in this flyer.

If interested or for more information, please contact ILF at fellows@theilf.org. Applicants should send a thoughtful cover letter and resume. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interview.

Australian Bar Review seeking scholarly submissions

The Australian Bar Review is a highly regarded law journal produced by the Australian Bar Association and facilitates scholarly discussion of current issues in legal doctrine and procedure throughout Australia. Papers dealing with a national perspective of a topic are preferred, but papers of particular interest to a state or territory are not excluded from consideration. If a paper focuses on the legislation of one jurisdiction it should also include, in the text or a footnote, references to interstate equivalents. Professor the Hon. Clyde Croft AM SC is seeking submissions from members of the Victorian Bar. Senior, mid-tier and junior members are all welcome to contribute – the editorial staff are keen to foster the next generation of leaders of the Bar, as well as to acknowledge the expertise of the senior generation. 

For submission guidelines and to submit an article, please visit the website here. More information is also available in the Note to Contributors here. If you have any queries about submissions, you may contact Professor Croft via email.

‘Legal Latte’ connects law students and legal professionals

A new Monash University Law school initiative, Legal Latte, is a networking program that facilitates an initial contact between students and legal professionals so that they may arrange a casual meeting for a coffee and chat. The only commitment required is a casual catch up over coffee. Participants are encouraged to exchange details if they wish to remain in contact, but this is not necessary.

Members can learn more about the program and register here.

Deadline for the next issue:5pm, 17th September 2020