In Brief Issue #905

The practising certificate (PC) renewals cycle for 2019/20 opened on Monday 18 March 2019. The deadline for renewing your PC without incurring a surcharge is 30 April 2019.

The LPLC requires payment of the professional indemnity insurance (PII) premium by 31 May 2019. Information regarding PII was distributed to members today.

You should have received an email from the Legal Services Board (LSB) on Monday 18 March 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. 

The Victorian Bar is proud to present the 2019 Lawyer's Mediation Certification Course.  Places are limited – book now to avoid disappointment.

The course runs over 6 days in early May as an intensive and interactive educational experience.  The participants will learn negotiation strategies, participate in a number of role-playing simulations, and receive personalised feedback from highly skilled mediation practitioners.

COST:  $3075 (inc GST) for Members*

            $3590 (inc GST) for Non-members

A discount of 10% is available to participants in the March 2019 or September 2018 Reader's Courses.

DATE:  3, 4, 5 and 10, 11, 12 May 2019, 8.30 – 18.00

WHERE:  Owen Dixon Chambers East, Level 1, 205 William Street, Melbourne

CPD POINTS:  8 CPD points are available in the Ethics & Professional Responsibility; and Barrister Skills categories.

The Victorian Bar is proud to have amongst its members some of the most experienced lawyer mediation practitioners in the country. If you would like more information please click here, or register for the course please fill out the online form.

Members of the Victorian Bar are invited to adjudicate in each round of the 2019 Victorian Bar and Melbourne University Law School Open Witness Examination Competition.

Having practising barristers act as judges in the competition is highly valued by the Law School and students and provides an opportunity for students to gain insightful feedback from experienced advocates. It also provides a unique opportunity for students to learn more about the Victorian Bar through interactions with its representatives.

Round 1 commences on Monday 25 March 2019 and three Judges are required for each of the sessions listed below:
•    Monday 25 March, Round 1, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Tuesday 26 March, Round 1, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Monday 8 April, Round 2, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Tuesday 9 April, Round 2, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Monday 29 April, Round 3, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Tuesday 30 April, Round 3, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Monday 13 May, Round 4, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Tuesday 6 August, Quarter Final, 6:15PM – 9:00PM
•    Tuesday 27 August, Semi Final, 6:15PM – 9:00PM

Please click here to register your interest in judging a session

WBA will be holding its AGM on Wednesday 3 April 2019, at 1pm, in the Bar Council Chamber on Level 1 in Owen Dixon Chambers East. 

The AGM is open for all members to attend and WBA also encourages new members to attend and join. 

Further, the WBA wishes to put out a call for new committee members. Anyone interested in joining the Committee is welcome to email or call Kylie Weston-Scheuber or Georgia Berlic to discuss, or simply send a nomination form to Jess Swanwick by no later than 5pm on 29 March 2019. 

At the AGM, the Committee for 2019/2020 will be elected and other business (including accounts for the year) will be considered.

PRESENTED BY
Victoria Legal Aid & The Victorian Bar

In light of the new Bail and Remand Court at Melbourne, and almost around-the-clock courts, there is a huge demand for experienced criminal law barristers to be involved in the Victoria Legal Aid duty lawyer service.

Victoria Legal Aid has an established relationship with the Victorian Bar, with barristers regularly accepting briefs as duty lawyer in various courts around the State. We are increasing the number of briefs to the criminal bar, including remand courts and mention courts. This is a great opportunity to pursue an additional work base which will complement your daily practice.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:

• Access to support from Legal Aid lawyers while on duty
• Flexible working hours, with availabilities during the day, in the evening, and on weekends
• Working in a team environment with other Legal Aid lawyers
• Client interaction
• Satisfying work in the criminal justice area
• Extensive training and access to support materials
• Competitive rates

CHAIR
Dan Nicholson, Executive Director Criminal Law           

SPEAKERS
Sharon Keith
Kate Bundrock

DATE AND TIME
Tuesday, 2 April 2019, 5.15 - 6.15pm

VENUE
McPhee, Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East

To register go to https://www.vicbar.com.au/members/cpd/upcoming-cpds

PRESENTED BY
Children's Court Bar Association

The writing workshop is an 8-part series that is suitable for anyone who is interested in exploring their emotional world creatively through writing for relief, self-empowerment and self-awareness. It is a small, personal group and suits people who want to explore the emotional world that they inhabit in the workplace but prefer not to do so through traditional therapy.

There are 8 workshops in this series, and each week a different emotion will be creatively engaged with and explored through the writing. The workshop facilitator uses a variety of writing exercises and brief discussion. There is no obligation to engage in discussion (or share what has been written) but the opportunity is there for those who wish to.

The purpose of the workshop is to develop the ability to listen, engage with and learn from our emotional reality. At the end of the workshop participants will have a journal full of writing and many may choose to continue on with journaling as a useful modality to process emotions that arise out of their workplace on a continuing basis.

These approaches to writing through emotions can be added to a practitioners healthy coping mechanisms for unpacking their experiences and constructively working through and expressing their emotional experiences so that their emotions don’t get ’stuck’ or ‘clouded’ or vented in less productive ways.

SPEAKER
Angelina Mirabito, PhD

DATE AND TIME
April 16 & 30;

May 14 & 28;

June 11 & 25; and

July 9 & 23, at 17.00-19.00

VENUE
Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East

COST
$320 as a package OR
$45 per session

RSVP is essential for this workshop.
To register please contact: arna.delle-vergini@vicbar.com.au

A new entrance experience is currently under construction in Owen Dixon Chambers East – the original home of the bar.

Led by Peter Jopling AM QC, Chair of the Art & Collections Committee, in collaboration with Barristers’ Chambers Limited and Carr Design, the concept is complete with the revitalisation of a welcoming entrance and extension of the Art Gallery in one of our busiest and historical chambers.

After an extensive program of research, design, care and consideration the design has been complete with works having commenced in the middle of January, 2019 and include:-

• Extension of the gallery and available hanging area with the removal of the central control room,
• Relocation and a new modern design meeting and concierge area,
• Modern way finding and signage,
• A memorial wall to honour members that have served for our country.

A memorable unveiling is planned and we look forward to sharing more in further communications from BCL and the Victorian Bar, and included in, In Brief.

The program of work will take approximately 6-8 weeks to complete from 14 January, 2019.  BCL will communicate directly with all tenants with regards to any planned disruptions (if any) during this time.

Peter Jopling AM QC & Barristers’ Chamber Limited

From Bilbao Spain, the Victorian Bar Community Choir welcomes the Bizkaia Bar Choir.

You are invited to a short joint lunchtime performance.

Where: Supreme Court Library
When: Thursday 28 March 2019
Time: 1.30 – 2.00pm

Enjoy a performance of visiting Bizkaia Bar Choir from Bilbao, Spain with the Victorian Bar Community Choir.

No cost. All welcome. Please allow time to enter through Security.

Don’t miss out on these exquisite boutique wines on offer now!

These prices will not be repeated.

Download order form or email antoniof@vicbar.com.au

Cheers from the Essoign team.

Image Sharyn Madder
Millionaire’s Leap
Soft Pastel

You are warmly invited to view the current Art Exhibition at Studio 11, located on Level 11 Owen Dixon Chambers East, Conversations, featuring 73 works by local artists, Wendy Roche and Sharyn Madder.

The body of work comprises mixed media, conte, felting, eco-dyeing, watercolour, pastel, charcoal and pencil work. The exhibition offers the community of the Victorian Bar, family, friends and colleagues an opportunity to take a break and explore the work at leisure. All works are for sale, directly from the artists, commission free.

Work sheets together with artist biographies are available on Level 11. The Studio 11 initiative is run on a voluntary basis.

The exhibition runs until 4 April 2019.

It's official, the Lex Pistols will be back to perform live at the Essoign Club on Friday the 5^th of April at 6.00pm.

Click here to view the flyer.

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

Click here for March travel deals.

Click here for a new member benefit from Freedom.

Designed to cater for all abilities, our 3-stage running assessment is the most comprehensive product in Melbourne.

For Vic Bar Members price reduced from $350 to $299 until end of April 2019.

Email admin@absolutehealthperformance.com.au and mention this advertisement to redeem.

At The Essoign Club you now receive a complimentary glass of house wine with all dining room meals on Wednesdays.

The VicBar Soccer Club is competing in the 8th Bi-Annual Jurisdictions Cup - Mixed Indoor Soccer Competition on Saturday 13th April, 2019.

The Jurisdictions Cup is a friendly mixed indoor soccer competition between teams from:

Supreme Court
County Court
Magistrates Court
VCAT
VicPol Police Prosecutions 
The Victorian Bar.

The rationale behind the competition is to improve well-being and foster friendships among those working in the courts.

The entrance fees collected will be used to raise money for a charity to be decided shortly.

VicBar has won the competition trophy twice in a row, and is hoping to retain it this year. However we are desperately short of players.

I am therefore sending a call-out for women and men of the Victorian Bar of any age and any fitness level to contact me (Michael Kats) if they wish to participate.

On 8 March 2019, the Victorian Legal Services Board (‘the Board’) resolved to appoint Mr Nick Curran as Manager of Bogunovic 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 12 September 2019.

The Board determined to appoint a Manager because Mr Bogunovic, the sole principal of the Law Practice, has passed away and 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 ensure that this information is made available to all Bar members and ask that they contact Mr Curran on 03 8080 3557 or at ncurran@tglaw.com.au if they have any concerns about payment of their fees.

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.

The ABA is delighted to announce registration for its Commercial Law conference in Singapore is now open.  Open to all members of the Australian and Asia-Pacific legal professions, we invite you to register for what will be an excellent 2-day conference and social program.

Visit the Convergence 2019 website now

Payment options include credit card or EFT at a later date.  

Among the confirmed speakers are:

• The Hon Susan Kiefel AC, Chief Justice of Australia
• The Hon Sundaresh Menon, Chief Justice of Singapore
• The Hon Stephen Gageler AC, High Court of Australia
• The Hon Andrew Phang, Supreme Court of Singapore
• The Hon Dr Michael Hwang SC, Dubai International Financial Centre Courts
• The Hon Craig Colvin, Federal Court of Australia
• The Hon Jacqueline Gleeson, Federal Court of Australia
• The Hon A S Bell, President, NSW Court of Appeal
• The Hon Judith C Kelly, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory​
• The Hon John Vaughan, Supreme Court of Western Australia
• V. K. Rajah, former Attorney-General of Singapore 
• Judith Gill QC, 20 Essex Street Chambers, London Court of International Arbitration
• Fedelma C. Smith, Senior Legal Counsel, Permanent Court of Arbitration
• Kathryn Haigh, General Counsel, AUSTRAC
• Cameron Ford, Senior Corporate Counsel, Rio Tinto
• George Lim SC, Chair, Singapore International Mediation Centre
• Samuel Chacko, Legis Point LLC, Singapore
• Jimmy Chan, Clifford Chance, Hong Kong
• Dinesh Dhillon, Allen & Gledhill, Singapore
• Professor Bryan Horrigan, Dean, Faculty of Law, Monash University 
• Michelle Quigley, Group Manager, Legal & Risk, AusGroup

Registration is available from just $1,990 (excluding flights and accommodation), and a tax invoice will be sent once successfully registered. 

Unable to attend?  The ABA is also pleased to announce that you can now sponsor a barrister of under 7 years practice to attend the conference. ​

For more information, please visit the event website or contact the events team at events@austbar.asn.au.

 Please find below links to upcoming courses from the Chartered Institute of Artibitrators (Australia) Limited

• Award Writing, 23 March, Melbourne, Australia 
• Introduction To International Arbitration, 10 May, Perth, Australia
• Accelerated Route Toward Fellowship, 29 – 30 June, Sydney, Australia 

Monash Law Students' Society is launching a Queer & Women's Mentoring Program to partner students with legal professionals to:

- foster professional relations;

- provide invaluable insights into the legal profession; and  

- teach students skills and qualities needed to succeed, such as perseverance and resilience. 

The core aim of the program is to partner students and professionals with similar experiences. Mentors should identify as Female and/or LGBTQ+. 

The program is being launched on Tuesday, 26 March 2019 6.30pm to 8.30pm at La Di Da, Melbourne, 577 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC, 3000. Registration is essential as mentees will be allocated to mentors prior to the launch event. 

For further information, please contact womensofficer@monashlss.com and/or queerofficer@monashlss.com ​ 

Thursday 4 April, 1.15pm-1.45pm

This session, presented by Melbourne University Law Review, provides an overview and introduction to the 4^th edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation. The AGLC provides Australia with a uniform system of legal citation; it outlines established citation practices and indicates preferred approaches where no particular approach has been widely adopted. Attend this session to see why it is a valuable tool for legal research.

All are welcome and entry is free. To register please email library events@supcourt.vic.gov.au

Transparency International Australia’s 2019 national conference – Tackling Corruption Together: Rebuilding Trust in Australian Business and Regulators – will set the stage for public officials and business leaders to learn from each other, demonstrate good practice and champion a path towards better governance and corporate social responsibility.

Join us for the one-day conference on April 4 to focus on solutions for the private sector to tackle corruption and strengthen integrity across the financial, property and mining sectors.

For more information, visit the conference website: https://www.tacklingcorruption.org/

Friday, 12 April 2019 from 2pm – 4pm at Deakin Downtown, Tower 2, Level 12, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne

During a jury trial, jurors are asked to perform a seemingly simple task – hear the evidence put by the prosecution and defence, and then determine, based on that evidence, the guilt of the accused. But the task is not that simple – jurors are actually asked to apply the facts to the law and then, based on that assessment, determine guilt. This is a skill that lawyers train for years to develop.

Given this monumental task, how then, does the criminal justice system aid jurors in understanding the law they are asked to apply? The short answer is with the use of jury directions.

This Criminal Law Panel event brings together experts from the bench, prosecution and defence in the criminal justice system who use and rely on jury directions. They will engage in a thought-provoking discussion on this topic with each other and the students in attendance. 

Panel members
The Honourable Justice Chris Maxwell AC, President of the Court of Appeal, The Supreme Court of Victoria
Professor Felicity Gerry QC, Barrister, Victorian Bar and Professor of Practice at Deakin University Law School
Sally Flynn QC, Barrister, Victorian Bar

Following the session, there will be opportunity to network with students and legal practitioners.

Click here for further information regarding panel members and registration details.

On behalf of the Organising Committee, we invite you to the inaugural Law and New Technologies International Conference on Big Data and National Security being held in Melbourne from 29 April – 1 May 2019.

The Conference will be a forum for analysing current opportunities and challenges relating to the application of data technologies to address Australian national security and law enforcement objectives. It is structured to enable experts from various disciplines to present current research and to facilitate multi-disciplinary discussion between researchers and practitioners.

Participation will provide you with the unique opportunity to deepen your insights about the implications of new data technologies for national security and law enforcement objectives globally, and to discuss appropriate policy and legal responses to benefits and risks their application holds in this context.

The Conference will bring together jurists, legal practitioners and judges, data science and IT specialists, software engineers, policy-makers, national security and law enforcement experts.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in beautiful Melbourne and Australia in 2019.

Join us for breakfast with The Honourable Jennifer Coate AO

Commissioner for the Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission

Speaking as part of our continuing series “The Anatomy of a Royal Commission” on:

The benefits of the inquiry style of proceeding and its role in the broader legal system and policy development. 

Date:
8 May 2019

Time: 
7.15am - 8.45am
Breakfast 7.15am-7.45am
Presentation 7.45am - 8.45am

Venue:
Monash University Law Chambers, 
555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Cost:
$Free
(but please register via the link below for seating and catering purposes)

CPD Units:
Please note this seminar qualifies for 1 CPD unit
for Solicitors and Barristers.

Click here to RSVP

The Faculty of Advocates will be hosting skills training for 40 Advocates and Barristers of 0-7 years call at the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1QX on 4th to 7th June 2019.

Participants. The training is open to 20 international participants and 20 Scottish Advocates. While the subject matter is a Scottish civil claim for damages arising out of a road traffic accident, the focus is firmly on advocacy skills rather than an in-depth knowledge of Scots law, evidence or practice and procedure.

Facilitators. The training will be run by experienced Scottish and international facilitators.

What is involved in the training. The subject-matter of the exercise is a road traffic accident. A pedestrian is knocked over by a car driver on a busy street. He brings a claim for damages. The case is going to an evidential hearing (a “Proof”). The factual witnesses- the pedestrian, the driver and an independent eye witness- will require to be examined. There are skid marks on the road. The pursuer will lead an expert witness.

The course will involve:

• case analysis;
• consulting with an expert;
• the use of productions (photos, plans, reports);
• prior inconsistent statements;
• examining and cross-examining an expert witness;
• advanced cross-examination skills; and
• submissions.

Materials. Materials will be sent out at the beginning of May.

Social. The Mackenzie Building and the accommodation are in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. As well as there being plenty to do, and excellent opportunities to eat and drink together, outside the course, there will be a dinner for participants and facilitators on Thursday 6th June 2019.

Price. The price is £750. Included in the price is accommodation (4 nights), breakfasts on 4th to 7th June 2019, lunches on 4th to 7th June 2019 and a dinner on the evening of 6th June 2019. Participants will require to make their own travel arrangements.

Applications. Please register your desire to attend this course by completing the online form: https://facultyofadvocates.wufoo.com/forms/skills-training-2019-international-applicants/

Application form is also available on the Faculty of Advocates website.

2019 RESEARCH ESSAY COMPETITION

PRIZE POOL OF A$12,000

The Banking and Financial Services Law Association is the leading professional organisation for banking and financial services law in Australia and New Zealand. The BFSLA’s objects include the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge of banking and financial services law and practice in Australia and New Zealand, including by encouraging research.

To that end, each year the BFSLA invites citizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand to submit research essays on important matters in banking and financial services law and/or practice (including insolvency) that are currently topical in Australia or New Zealand, in competition for a prize pool.

The prize pool in 2019 is A$12,000.

Entries must be submitted by 5pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Friday, 5 July 2019. The winner or winners, if any, will be announced at or around the BFSLA’s annual conference, which this year will be held from Thursday, 29 August 2019 to Saturday, 31 August 2019 at the Sheraton Mirage resort on the Gold Coast.

To be eligible, entries need to display a high degree of legal scholarship and original thinking, and to be of a standard, as regards both content and presentation, that is suitable for publication in a refereed law journal.

For a full list of conditions, more information about the prize and an explanation of how to enter, go to the Association’s website, bfsla.org.

If you have any other questions about the prize, please email Julia Clancy at 2019researchprize@bfsla.org.