Media Release – 32 New Readers Join the Victorian Bar and Commence their Careers as Barristers

The President of the Victorian Bar, Wendy Harris QC, said “We are pleased to receive into our Bar 32 enthusiastic, experienced legal professionals who will, no doubt, make an outstanding contribution to the Victorian Bar and the community. I would particularly like to commend this cohort of Readers, for taking the brave step of joining the Bar in the midst of a pandemic.

“They join a vibrant and diverse college of barristers who serve the community and contribute to the administration of justice. I’d also like to express gratitude to their mentors, experienced members of the Bar who will guide and support the barristers throughout their first seven-months of practice.”

CEO of the Victorian Bar, Katherine Lorenz, said “This ceremony represents a monumental achievement for these new barristers. As Readers, they completed more than 140 online workshops, webinars and moots, despite the distractions that come with blending home and work life. We were delighted that we were able to offer the Readers’ Course entirely remotely, so that these 32 new barristers could sign the Bar Roll and commence their practices as they had anticipated. We look forward to seeing these new barristers flourish in their careers at the Victorian Bar.”

The following barristers have joined the Bar:

The Victorian Bar was also very pleased to have been able to extend the Readers’ Course to two interstate participants, Helen Luu and Mardi Conduit, who will be joining the South Australian Bar. Another Reader, Chris O’Donnell, who completed the Course virtually from his home in Moscow, will be signing the Bar Roll when he returns to Melbourne.