VICTORIAN BAR

VICTORIAN BAR

The professional association of barristers providing
strong, independent legal representation.

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EXCELLENCE IN THE LAW

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IN THE LAW

Specialist advocates, advisors and strategists providing
proactive advice and representation in the courts,
tribunals, mediations and arbitrations.

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THE PROFESSION

Advancing the rule of law, improving access to justice
and promoting the efficient administration of justice.

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Latest News & Events

18May
Event

All members of the Bar and Judiciary are warmly invited to the Dinner on Saturday, 18 May 2024, 7:00pm at the Plaza Ballroom. The event is black tie and will feature guest speaker the Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones of the High Court of Australia.

21Mar
Event

Charter enthusiasts, Charter sceptics and regular users of the Charter are invited to an evening of Charter trivia, discussion of the Charter’s flaws and what should be done about them.

19Mar
News

Bar Roll No: 2463

It is with deep regret that the Bar informs members of the death of the Honourable Richard Francis Edmonds AM S.C.

15Mar
In Brief

I hope that members and their families managed to keep cool and enjoyed a restful Labour Day weekend. On Saturday, happily by Zoom, I attended an Australian Bar Association Directors meeting to discuss the ABA’s budget for 2024-25. The ABA is fortunate to have healthy capital reserves which are earning good income.  It was determined that it was undesirable to fund operations, including a number of planned special projects, from capital and the Board accordingly resolved to increase capitation fees by 4%, or about $4.00 per member.

8Mar
In Brief

On Monday, I spoke at the introductory session of the March Readers’ Course to welcome the 48 Readers who will soon be members of our Bar. They are an impressive cohort who will add to the Bar's increasingly diverse cultural makeup with Readers born across the world in China, France, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom. The first week has seen them attend sessions by Rowena Orr KC, Solicitor General for the State of Victoria, on the role of a barrister, Kathleen Foley S.C. and Kateena O’Gorman S.C. on written and oral appellate advocacy, and The Hon. John Middleton AM KC, Anthony Strahan KC, Sarah Porritt, Owen Nanlohy on conduct in and out of court. The Readers’ course is a huge undertaking that relies heavily on members who give of their time and experience and to whom we all owe an immense debt of gratitude. On Monday night, the Readers were also welcomed at a function at the Essoign for the Readers and their Mentors.

1Mar
In Brief

This week, the Victorian Bar hosted two truly outstanding events. On Tuesday evening, the Art & Collections Committee and the Peter O’Callaghan QC Gallery Foundation unveiled a photograph of Barbara Hocking taken by Dr Bryan Keon-Cohen AM KC. Siobhan Ryan KC, Chair of the committee and a director of the gallery, gave a brief account of the story behind the Bar’s copy of the photograph and its many connections to the Victorian Bar. Dr Keon-Cohen took the photograph in March 1983 on Mer Island when counsel were preparing the case on behalf of Eddie Koiki Mabo and other claimants. The photo depicts Hocking, the acknowledged “intellectual architect” of the Mabo case, with the Reverend Dave Passi, Flo Kennedy, and other Mer Islanders. Hocking’s daughter, Professor Jenny Hocking AM, spoke of her mother’s career as a lawyer and her dedication to Aboriginal land rights. We also heard from Dr Keon-Cohen about the photograph and the proceedings in the High Court.

23Feb
In Brief

On Monday morning, the executive and I attended a morning tea with the Bar Office team. It was a lovely way to start the week and energy levels were extremely high, particularly amongst those who had the good fortune to attend a Taylor Swift concert or two over the weekend. The Bar Office has a punishing workload that is always accomplished with great efficiency and enthusiasm.

16Feb
In Brief

On Monday, I attended the ‘town hall’ hosted by the 5-Year Exam Review Panel. The Honourable Peter Riordan KC (Chair of the 5-Year Panel) provided an overview of the Panel’s work to date, and members were given the opportunity to raise their concerns. Some of the suggested changes discussed were setting the Exam in three parts (evidence, ethics, and procedure) and requiring candidates to re-sit only those parts that they have failed; providing candidates with the option to sit either a civil or criminal procedure exam; allowing more time for the completion of the exam; and an interview process for candidates who have been unsuccessful after three attempts. Many views were expressed, and I think it is fair to say that most were in favour of some change. I thank all of those who attended. The 5-Year Panel hopes to be able to make its recommendations to Bar Council by the end of March.

16Feb
News

Supreme Court of Victoria

A welcome ceremony to mark the appointment of the Honourable Justice Paul Cosgrave as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria will be held in Banco Court, Supreme Court of Victoria, 210 William Street, Melbourne on:

Thursday, 22 February 2024 at 9:15am

15Feb
News

Federal Court of Australia

A ceremonial sitting of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia will be held to mark the appointment of the Honourable Justice Penelope Neskovcin as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in Court 1, Level 8, Federal Court of Australia, Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne on:

Wednesday, 28 February 2024 at 9:30am

15Feb
News

Federal Court of Australia

A ceremonial sitting of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia will be held to mark the appointment of the Honourable Justice Craig Dowling as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in Court 1, Level 8, Federal Court of Australia, Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne on:

Friday, 1 March 2024 at 9:30am

9Feb
In Brief

On Monday, I appeared on behalf of the Victorian Bar to present our new silks to the High Court. The ceremony, held at the commencement of every new legal year, is significant. The new silks from each State and Territory stand in turn to take their bows, the Victorians wigless but wearing their rosettes and those from the northern States dressed up in their long ceremonial wigs. The Chief Justice remarked on what he described as the ‘subtle’ differences between the Bars on display in the courtroom and expressed the Court’s gratitude for the courtesy that the new silks showed the Court by their attendance. At the afternoon tea following the ceremony, the Victorian members of the High Court were especially generous with the time they spent meeting the silks and their families and friends. The silks were also supported by the presence of the Honourable Chief Justice William Alstergren AO and the Honourable Justice Simon Whelan, who attended as the representative of the Chief Justice of our Supreme Court. The ceremony was followed by a gala dinner held at the National Gallery.