Welcome - His Honour Judge Paul Cosgrave
[24 May 2013]
Address by Fiona McLeod SC, Chair of the Victorian Bar Council, on Thursday 23 May 2013 at the welcome to His Honour Judge Cosgrave upon his appointment and swearing in as a judge of the County Court of Victoria is available below. Address given by Reynah Tang, President, Law Institute of Victoria is available here.
Welcome - Timothy James Ginnane SC
[24 May 2013]
On 7 May 2013, the Governor in Council appointed Timothy James Ginnane a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
The legal profession will extend a welcome to his Honour in the Banco Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria, 210 William Street Melbourne on Thursday 13 June 2013 at 9:15am.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (including wigs).
Obituary - The Honourable Barry Connell
[23 May 2013]
It is with deep regret that the Bar Council informs members of the death on Tuesday 21 May 2013 of Professor the Honourable Henry Barry (universally known as Barry) Connell. He was 84, having been born on 7 June 1928.
Appointment - Dominic Lennon
[22 May 2013]
The Governor in Council has appointed Dominic Lennon to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
His Honour was admitted to practice on 13 March 1989. He was a solicitor with the Victorian and Commonwealth Directors of Public Prosecutions; with the Banking Industry Ombudsman; and the Solicitor in Charge of the Carnarvon Office of the Aboriginal Legal Service in Western Australia for nearly 2 years.
Dominic Lennon signed the Bar Roll on 23 May 1996 and read with the late Douglas Salek.
He has served as a Captain in the Australian Army Reserve and has been a Member of the Migration Review Tribunal, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal.
His Honour will be sworn in privately today and will be initially assigned to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
Appointment and Welcome - Suzanne Juanita Jones
[22 May 2013]
The Governor-General has appointed Suzanne Juanita Jones a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia assigned to the Melbourne Registry to take up her appointment on 3 June 2013.
The legal profession will extend a welcome to Her Honour in Court Room 6A on Level 6 of the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne on: Wednesday 12 June 2013 at 9:30 am.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (without wigs).
New appointment to the Magistrates’ Court
[21 May 2013]
Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of Dominic Lennon to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
Media release below.
Appointment and Welcome - Paul James Cosgrave SC
[17 May 2013]
It was announced on 7 May 2013 that the Governor in Council had appointed Paul James Cosgrave SC a Judge of the County Court of Victoria, effective 9 May 2013.
The legal profession will extend a welcome to His Honour in the Ceremonial Courtroom, Court 3-3 of the County Court of Victoria, 250 William Street Melbourne on: Thursday 23 May 2013 at 9:15 am.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (including wigs).
Appointments to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
[16 May 2013]
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC today announced two appointments to the recently renamed Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
“It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Mr Nicholas Manousaridis and Ms Suzanne Jones as Judges of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia,” Mr Dreyfus said.
Media release below.
Appointments - Darren Bracken and David Starvaggi
[16 May 2013]
The Governor in Council and the Principal Public Interest Monitor, Brendan Murphy QC are pleased to announce the appointment today of Darren Bracken and David Starvaggi as Deputy Public Interest Monitors.
Darren Bracken has been a member of the Bar since 1998.
David Starvaggi has been a member of the Bar since 2001.
Federal budget prompts call for legal aid summit
[15 May 2013]
Victoria’s peak legal bodies, the Victorian Bar and Law Institute of Victoria, are calling for a national legal aid summit after a disappointing Federal Budget allocation to legal aid which falls well short of the profession’s consistent and ongoing calls for $76 million to avert a crisis in the justice system.
Media release below.
Victorian Bar announces 2013 Pro Bono Awards
[15 May 2013]
The Annual Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards announced during Law Week each year, were presented last night (14 May), with recipients including barristers who had worked on matters for asylum seekers, native title and the landmark High Court case which led the way for fair pay for approximately 20,000 workers with disabilities.
Media release below.
Farewell - The Honourable Peter Gray
[14 May 2013]
There is to be a ceremonial sitting of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia to mark the occasion of the retirement of the Honourable Justice Peter Ross Awdry Gray, the Senior Puisne Judge of the Court, in Court 1 of the Federal Court of Australia on Level 8 of the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne on: Friday 17 May 2013 at 4:30 pm.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (wigs are not worn in the Federal Court).
Welcome - The Honourable Justice Patrick Keane
[10 May 2013]
Address at the ceremonial sitting to welcome The Honourable Justice Patrick Keane on the occasion of his first sitting in Melbourne as a Justice of the High Court of Australia on Friday 10 May 2013 by Fiona McLeod SC, Chair of the Victorian Bar Council.
Welcome - His Honour Judge Peter Couzens
[9 May 2013]
Address by Fiona McLeod SC, Chair of the Victorian Bar Council, on Thursday 9 May 2013 at the welcome to His Honour Judge Peter Couzens upon his appointment to the County Court of Victoria and as President of the Children’s Court of Victoria is available below as well as the address by Geoffrey Bowyer, President-Elect of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Lawyers Mediation Certificate May 2013
[9 May 2013]
The Lawyers Mediation Certificate May 2013 will run from May 24, 25, 26, 31 and June 1 (Part 1) and June 2 (Part 2).
With over 200 mediators now nationally accredited under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) the Victorian Bar is one of Australia’s largest Recognised Mediator Accreditation Bodies (RMAB) for lawyers in Australia. It has amongst its members some of the most experienced lawyer mediation practitioners in the country.
The six day Lawyers Mediation Certificate (LMC) training meets the mediation education and training course requirements for national mediator accreditation under the NMAS.
See flyer below for registration.
Victorian Bar anxious about legal aid in Federal budget post State budget
[8 May 2013]
Ahead of the Federal budget announcement next week, the Victorian Bar is calling for a new National Partnership arrangement between the States and the Federal Government as a means to end the blame game over legal aid funding.
Download the media release below.
Appointment - Paul James Cosgrave SC
[7 May 2013]
The Governor in Council today appointed Paul James Cosgrave SC a Judge of the County Court of Victoria, effective 9 May 2013.
Details of the Welcome will be announced as soon as they become known.
Appointment - His Honour Judge Timothy James Ginnane
[7 May 2013]
The Governor in Council today appointed His Honour Judge Timothy James Ginnane a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, effective 4 June 2013.
Details of the Welcome will be announced as soon as they become known.
Victorian Bar welcomes study investigating ways to keep women in the law
[6 May 2013]
The Victorian Bar today welcomed the implementation of the Law Council of Australia National Attrition and Re-engagement Study (NARS) and is hopeful the research will reveal effective ways to address the causes of high attrition rates among women lawyers, and re-engage those who have left the profession.
Media release below.
State Budget must deal with consequences of Government policy, says Victorian Bar
[6 May 2013]
The Victorian Bar has warned that the State Budget to be announced this week (7 May) must include proper provision for current government policy in law and order.
“Government policies to crackdown on family violence are welcomed and should be maintained, but the budget must also deal with the swelling numbers of people appearing before the courts as a result,” said Victorian Bar Chair Fiona McLeod SC.
Welcome - The Honourable Chief Justice James Allsop
[6 May 2013]
Address at the ceremonial sitting to welcome The Honourable Chief Justice James Allsop on the occasion of his first sitting in Melbourne on Monday 6 May 2013 by Fiona McLeod SC, Chair of the Victorian Bar Council.
Lasry ruling on legal aid upheld
[3 May 2013]
The Court of Appeal today upheld a decision made in the Supreme Court by Justice Lex Lasry on 15 February to adjourn a trial involving a charge of attempted murder until the barrister for the accuse d in the case was provided with an instructing solicitor for each day of the trial.
Media release below.
Welcome - The Hon. Justice Patrick Keane
[2 May 2013]
On 20 November 2012, the Governor-General in Council appointed the Honourable Chief Justice Patrick Keane a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
The profession will extend a Welcome on the occasion of His Honour’s first sitting in Melbourne as a Justice of the High Court in the High Court Courtroom, Level 17 of the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building 305 William Street, Melbourne on Friday 10 May 2013 at 9:15 am immediately before the Special Leave applications.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (including wigs).
Welcome - His Honour Judge Peter Couzens
[2 May 2013]
On 26 March 2013, the Governor in Council appointed His Honour Magistrate Peter Couzens a Judge of the County Court of Victoria.
The legal profession will extend a welcome to His Honour in the Ceremonial Courtroom, Court 3-3 of the County Court of Victoria, 250 William Street Melbourne on: Thursday 9 May 2013 at 9:15 am.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (including wigs).
Welcome - The Hon. Chief Justice Allsop AO
[2 May 2013]
On 20 November 2012, the Governor-General in Council appointed the Honourable Justice Allsop Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia.
The profession will extend a Welcome at a ceremonial sitting of the Full Court marking the occasion of His Honour’s first sitting in Melbourne as Chief Justice in Court 1 of the Federal Court of Australia on Level 8 of the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street, Melbourne on: Monday 6 May 2013 at 9.30 am.
All counsel who are able to do so are asked to attend, robed (wigs are not worn in the Federal Court).
Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards to be announced 14 May (Law Week)
[2 May 2013]
The Victorian Bar will recognise outstanding contributions by barristers to pro bono legal assistance in the 4th annual Awards, to be announced on 14 May, during Law Week.