News & Events

21Sep
Featured Event

HONG KONG 2018 INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LAW CONFERENCE

Early-bird tickets are now on sale for the Hong Kong 2018 ICLC conference to be held on Friday the 21st and Saturday the 22nd of September in Hong Kong.

Click here for further conference information and to register.

Read more

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In Brief
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13Jul
In Brief

In Brief Issue #873

In Brief Holiday Edition

Over the next three weeks, I will be devoting most of my weekly message in In Brief to updating members on some of the signature projects currently being undertaken by the Bar Council. One of the great privileges of being President is the first-hand exposure I get to the dedication, dynamism and creativity of the members of Bar Council, the members of our many Associations and Committees, and the staff who work in the Bar Office.

So far, 2018 has been a busy year, with members of the Bar Council contributing in myriad ways through involvement in various working groups as well as the ordinary business of the Council. In all of our projects, we are guided by the vision in our Strategic Plan for the Victorian Bar: “independence, excellence, leadership, growth”. I do not see the pace letting up over the balance of the year.

6Jul
In Brief

In Brief Issue #872

In Brief

In light of the important news detailed below, the Holiday Edition of In Brief detailing work on the Bar Council’s current signature programs will be held over until next week.

29Jun
In Brief

In Brief Issue #871

Tour of Government House

Indigenous barristers and solicitors, law students and their mentors were treated to an exclusive tour of Government House this week, including the State Apartments and the artworks. There was special emphasis on the contemporary use of the House and the role of the Governor.

22Jun
In Brief

In Brief Issue #870

Wellbeing at the Victorian Bar survey

Please read on...

Yes, another reminder to complete our ‘Wellbeing at the Bar’ survey. I know there has been a lot of messaging about this over the past couple of weeks, but the survey is among the most important initiatives being undertaken at the Victorian Bar this year.

15Jun
In Brief

In Brief Issue #869

Victorian Bar joins the Law Library of Victoria

I am very pleased to be able to inform members that the Victorian Bar last week signed a service agreement with the Law Library of Victoria which will dramatically increase the library services and research materials that are available to all members.

8Jun
In Brief

In Brief Issue #868

Silk Appointment Process 2018

The Chief Justice, the Hon Anne Ferguson, this week released details of the silk appointment process for 2018. Suitably experienced lawyers who are officers of the Supreme Court of Victoria are eligible to apply to the Chief Justice to be appointed to the office of Senior Counsel.

1Jun
In Brief

In Brief Issue #867

Family and Federal Circuit Court restructure

On Tuesday, Commonwealth Attorney-General the Hon Christian Porter MP released details of the government’s plans to reform the Family and Federal Circuit Courts with effect from 1 January 2019. The plans include an effective merger of the Courts so that users will have a single port of entry, with appeals in family law matters to be heard in the Federal Court.

25May
In Brief

In Brief Issue #866

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.

18May
In Brief

In Brief Issue #865

Annual Bar Dinner - last chance to secure a ticket

Next Friday we have the annual Victorian Bar Dinner at the Plaza Ballroom. Our guest of honour is the Chief Justice of the High Court, the Hon Susan Kiefel AC. Anne Hassan will be speaking on behalf of the Bar. We will be welcoming a long list of honoured guests, including the State and Commonwealth Attorneys-General and Shadow Attorneys; The Hon Martin Pakula MP and John Pesutto MP; and the Hon Christian Porter MP and the Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP. It promises, as always, to be a great night.

11May
In Brief

In Brief Issue #864

Exordium

It was a fine week for welcomes and farewells. Transcripts are available of my speeches on behalf of the Bar for the welcome of Justice Melinda Richards and the farewell to Justice Peter Vickery, and of Paul Holdenson QC’s outstanding speech at the farewell to Justice Mark Weinberg AO.  All speeches are also able to be video-streamed from the Supreme Court website. If you weren’t there, don’t miss out on viewing Paul Holdenson’s remarkable tribute to Justice Weinberg, or Justice Weinberg’s response.