Children's Court Bar Association

Children's Court

The Children’s Court Bar Association comprises members of Counsel who specialise in Children’s Law. Members of our Association appear regularly in the Family and Criminal Divisions of the Children’s Court, undertake appeal work arising out of this jurisdiction in both the County and Supreme Courts, and also appear in review hearings at VCAT and in matters involving the welfare of children in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

The Children’s Court Bar Association was formed in 2000. It has a membership of over 100 barristers who have either exclusive or a significant area of practice in the Family and/or Criminal Divisions of the Children’s Court of Victoria and in the higher Courts on appeal from the Children’s Court.

 

Purposes and objectives

The Association's Purposes

The purposes of the association are:

  • To promote and advocate for the professional interests of members;
  • To liaise with the Children’s Court of Victoria and other Courts, Tribunals and bodies concerned with issues of professional interest to members; 
  • To assist members in their professional practice, including by providing and promoting professional development opportunities;  
  • To provide representation for members in relation to matters which affect the interests of members generally; 
  • To represent the view of members to bodies and persons engaged in the administration of proceedings in the Courts and Tribunals in which our members practice, and in the review and development of laws, policies and practices relating to child protection and youth justice.

The Association's Objectives

The objectives of the association include:

  • responding to the Court’s requests for assistance and input
  • raising awareness of legislative and case law developments
  • providing speakers for training and conference opportunities
  • alerting barristers to practice and procedure changes
  • making representations to Victoria Legal Aid and government bodies as to the appropriateness of the proposed fee
  • scales and briefing structures
  • making submissions to law reform and parliamentary enquiries as necessary

 

Guidelines

A barrister is generally briefed to appear for parents and children at contested hearings in the Children’s Court jurisdiction by a solicitor. Victoria Legal Aid appoints panels of solicitors to undertake this task and a number of them are available at the court on a daily basis. For more information contact Victoria Legal Aid, 570 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000 or the Children’s Court of Victoria, 477 Lt Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000.