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In Brief Issue #1106
9Jun
On Monday morning, I attended a virtual roundtable hosted by the Centre for Legal Innovation. The topic was Generative AI in Legal Practice from a Regulators’ perspective. The session was attended by a number of regulators from around Australia. It is pretty clear that the topic is on everyone’s radar. It is also clear that the use of AI in legal practice will have ethical, regulatory and cost implications in the near term, including for barristers. While the technology is still in its early stages, it is evolving rapidly. In my view, AI will profoundly affect how we practise law in the coming years. We will have to make sure we stay up to date with developments.
On Monday afternoon, along with David Hallowes S.C., I met with Julie Edwards and her team from Jesuit Social Services about the Ignatius Learning Centre, which is aimed at assisting boys between 15 – 17 years of age who are already in the criminal justice system. If you have juvenile clients in that age bracket who may be assisted by a tailored educational setting, you may wish to keep the service in mind. You can find out more about it here. My thanks to Julie and her team for reaching out to us to inform us about the program.
On Wednesday, I had lunch with Professor Bryan Horrigan, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Monash University. We discussed the Open Justice Project, which is a collaboration between the Bar and Monash which pairs law students and barristers for the purposes of working on pro bono cases. The Honourable Chris Maxwell AC is the Patron of the Project and I’m pleased to say that it is going very well. Bryan and I discussed a few more ideas for collaboration which we will try to progress.
On Wednesday evening, I attended a Farewell Reception for her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, CVO, which was hosted by the Honourable Chief Justice William Alstergren AO. It was a very well attended event to mark her Excellency’s long and dedicated service to the people of Victoria as Governor since July 2015. The Governor and Mr Howard AM KC have been fantastic supporters of our Bar. Despite very heavy workloads, they have found time to attend many of our important events and functions. On behalf of the Bar, I would like to express my gratitude to them both and wish them all the very best for whatever comes next.
The member poll about the proposed Voice to Parliament closed yesterday. Members really engaged with it. In fact, 79.3% of eligible members participated. Motion 2 received 1008 votes, while motion 1 received 714 votes, and 45 members abstained from voting. I would like to thank Lana Collaris, Marcus Clarke KC, Peter Hanks KC and Rachel Doyle S.C. (the proposers of the competing motions) for helping me to put the motions to members in an efficient and effective way. And my thanks also go to members who participated in what was a very important debate.
The winter 2023 edition of Bar News is almost done. Under the editorship of Banjo McLachlan, Luke Merrick, Maree Norton and Jesse Rudd, the VBN team has done a great job pulling it together. Having seen a little of the process, I can tell you that a lot of work is required to get each edition to print. Delivery should occur in the next few weeks. My thanks to everyone who has contributed.
Next week, I have a Law Institute of Victoria quarterly meeting with their President and CEO, and I will attend the launch of the John Middleton Scholarship, which has been established by the Melbourne Law School. (Surprisingly, it is not being held at the Flower Drum.) I will also be meeting with Maria Dew KC, President of the New Zealand Bar Association, after our planned meeting this week had to be rescheduled.
Next week is also International Men’s Health Week. Celebrated every year around the world in the middle of June, it aims to highlight the importance of men's health – not just physical health, but also mental health and social wellbeing. The theme of Men's Health Week 2023 is Healthy Habits, which focuses on encouraging men and boys to build healthy habits by identifying small changes that can be made to benefit health and wellbeing. Find out more here.
I hope you all enjoy the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Sam Hay KC
Members must renew their PC before 30 June to continue to practise on 1 July. Members who renew after this date may incur a late renewal surcharge from the LSB+C.
The deadline for renewing your PII premium was 31 May 2023, and if you have not already done so, please renew online here. You must renew your insurance to first to complete the PC renewal.
Information on renewing practising certificates can be found on the VicBar website here.
Links for online lodgement, which can be found on the above webpage, will be available from the LSB+C and LPLC live dates, or you may go directly to LSB Online and the LPLC website.
Login to LSB Online and the LPLC renewal portal using your Practitioner Number as the username (your Practitioner Number will be included in the email sent to you by the VLSB+C, or you can contact the Bar office for assistance). LSB Online deals with all PC administrative matters, and there is no printed PC renewal form.
Once you have completed the renewal process, you will receive an email from the LSB to confirm that your PC has been issued. You will then be able to download it via LSB Online.
If you experience technical difficulties with LSB online, please contact the VLSB+C via their lawyer enquiry form in the first instance. In addition, answers to frequently asked questions and LSB online user guides can be found here.
Should you require assistance renewing your PC, the Victorian Bar office can help you, and members who need assistance should email membership@vicbar.com.au or contact Daphne Ioannidis on (03) 9225 8326 or Mark Bryant on (03) 9225 7111.
Are you under 6 years' call? Don’t miss this afternoon of specialised sessions and networking!
The conference will feature an Introduction from the President of the Bar, Sam Hay KC and will feature an address by the Attorney-General, the Honourable Jaclyn Symes MP.
Focused on the important matter of how to develop your practice at the Bar, the program will include sessions on useful tips for building and developing your practice. Hear from industry experts as they share their insights on briefing practices for regulatory bodies, and financial management for sole traders. At the time of registration, participants will have the opportunity to submit questions for the Silks Q&A session themed, “You Can’t Ask That”.
The event will conclude with a post-conference networking function for presenters and guests, junior silks, and members of the Junior Bar.
Registration ends 16 June 2023
This is an in-person only event.
When:
Friday, 23 June, 2023 - 1:30pm to 5:30pm
Where:
Neil McPhee Room, Level 1 Owen Dixon Chambers East, 205 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
3 CPD point(s):
Ethics & Professional Responsibility; Practice management & business skills;
Price:
$75.00
This event is proudly supported by LegalSuper, Legal Home Loans, and LexisNexis.
The Bar Council is calling for expressions of interest from members of 15+ years seniority interested in serving on the Readers' Course Committee.
The Committee has responsibility for matters related to the management and administration of the Readers’ Course of the Victorian Bar.
The roles of the Committee include:
- Determining the content of the Readers’ Course and overseeing its organisation and delivery;
- Overseeing the conduct and assessment of the Entrance Exam for the Readers’ Course;
- Coordinating training for instructors in the Readers’ Course;
- Publishing statements from time to time describing the role and duties of a mentor; and
- Reviewing the Application and Reading Regulations and, making appropriate recommendations to the Education and Professional Development Executive.
The Bar’s protocol for appointments to VicBar Committees can be viewed here.
To assist the Bar Council in selecting the best candidates for the positions, your expression of interest should identify any relevant areas of experience or expertise.
Please submit your expression of interest to Amy Kendall, Senior Executive Assistant, at amy.kendall@vicbar.com.au.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 5:00pm, Friday, 9 June 2023.
- To continue using BCL's Technology Services all members of the Bar must accept the new BCL Communications and Technology Terms and Conditions by 30 June 2023. If not accepted, access to your BCL technology services may be removed. Click here to read and accept.
- If you’re traveling overseas make sure you can access your BCL technology services such as your @vicbar.com.au email and Microsoft 365 from abroad. Click here to set up international access.
- Manage and pay for all your BCL software subscriptions in one place including newly available Dropbox Enterprise. Click here to see our recent communication.
- Why Take Chambers with BCL? As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Victorian Bar, BCL provides a flexible and unique solution of chamber and technology support only available to members of the Bar. Click here to view our current vacancies.
The following are highlights of upcoming CPD and events for Victorian Bar members. You must be a member of the Victorian Bar and logged into the VicBar website to view these events.
- After Causation, Measurement - the varied ways of measuring loss in shareholder class actions is on 14 June 2023 from 5:15pm-6:15pm. After questions of causation have been dealt with, the final (and arguably most important) question in any shareholder class action is the appropriate measure of loss for class members. This CPD will examine some of the many different ways in which that loss can be measured, including alternatives to the well-known approach in Potts v Miller. This is an in-person event and will also be available online via live stream. Click here to RSVP.
For more upcoming CPD events, please visit our listings here.
Please join us for a chance to get together and celebrate, as we celebrate Pride Month.
Event details:
When? Thursday, 15 June 2023 from 5:00pm onwards
Where? The Douglas Club, 472 Bourke Street (Equity Chambers).
This is an inclusive event, welcoming members of our LGBTQI+ community as well as friends and allies. Wear what you want. Everyone is welcome.
If you haven’t been along before and want some company, feel free to shoot John Heard (john.heard@vicbar.com.au) or Beth Warnock (beth.warnock@vicbar.com.au) an email and they will look out for you on the night.
Since the Covid pandemic, a range of digital technologies have been used by barristers in their practice. These include video conferencing platforms for online hearings, electronic filing portals and internet and technology services provided by BCL (Barristers’ Chambers Limited). Members are asked to participate in a brief survey to measure the overall use and impact of digital technologies, with answers set to contribute to how widespread the technologies are used moving forward. To participate in the survey, click the link here.
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street is offering Bar members an exclusive discount on accommodation, as well as on food and beverages.
This exclusive accommodation discount of 15%, also includes 15% discount on food and beverages, and is available by clicking the link here.
Enter the code VICBAR to get a 15% off when dining in.
T&C's apply. Discounts are not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Percentage off is valid for a maximum discount of $150 per bill. Blackout dates apply.
Offer is valid until 31 August 2023.
Dear Essoign Club Members,
The Essoign Board have agreed to keep the cost of The Essoign Club Membership for the upcoming 2023/2024 year, as per the previous year. We would like to thank you for the support throughout the year.
We are open daily from 7:30am – till late
Breakfast – for dine-in or takeaway.
Lunch – Daily Café Menu take away or delivery.
Lunch Dine-In – A La Carte from midday.
Bar – EVERY EVENING – $5 Beer & Wine from 4:30pm – 5:30pm with light snacks available.
Catering & Events – For all occasions including:
Breakfasts
Cocktail Parties
Dinners
Platters for:
Lunches
Morning & Afternoon tea
Or something special you may have in mind.
See Catering and Events Pack here.
Email us at essoign@vicbar.com.au
Victorian Bar members are encouraged to use the Member Benefits online portal, where you can access a wide variety of discounts, special offers, and member-only deals as part of your Bar membership.
The exclusive benefits are available Australia-wide and are not generally open to the public.
To activate your account and access the benefits, please click here. You must log in using your vicbar.com.au login details.
Click here to access the monthly Best Buys, including Mother's Day offers!
Click here for a special Limited Time offer on Cotton On Group eGift Cards.
Click here for a special Limited Time offer on MYOB Business.
The Governor in Council has recently appointed Sam Hay KC and Jacinta Lewin as new legal practitioner members of the Victorian Legal Services Board. Incumbent Board member, Liz Harris, was also re-appointed for a further four-year term.
Our Chairperson, Fiona Bennett, has issued a statement about these appointments.
The Judicial College of Victoria has updated its Sentencing Manual – Case Summaries resource to include County Court sentencing decisions from July to December 2021.
These summaries describe the principal facts of the decisions and identify the final sentencing outcome for each case.
This update comprises 570+ recently published sentencing decisions, including:
- 223 property and dishonesty offence summaries
- 110 sexual offence summaries
- 89 drug offence summaries
- 73 causing injury and other offences against a person summaries
Additionally, the College is currently summarising all 2022 County Court sentencing decisions, which will be published incrementally by the end of this year.
Have you heard about the Richard Griffith Library but have never visited? Held in person at the Richard Griffith Library, this short 15-minute tour with a Law Library Victoria Reference Librarian, will demonstrate how to access the library, point out collections and provide an overview of online subscriptions.
Location: Richard Griffith Library, Level 1, Owen Dixon East
Thursday, 15 June 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 22 June 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 29 June 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 20 July 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 24 August 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 21 September 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 26 October 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Thursday, 23 November 2023, 1:15pm to 1:30pm Tour of the Richard Griffith Library
Registrations for the 2023 ABA Conference, ‘CORNERSTONE 2023’ are now open. The conference will be held at the Langham Hotel on the Gold Coast between 21-23 September. This year’s theme is “The Rule of Law”, which was chosen in response to the many issues facing Australia and the region that raise concerns or threats, for which the Rule of Law provides protection against under our system of government. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You can register here.
Free for Vic barristers, HeinOnline is a major legal database. In this lunchtime webinar we'll show you what it has and how to use it, including UK law reports, US and Canadian legal material, Australian journals, plus hidden gems.
World Refugee Day is about focusing on the rights of refugees, their needs and how we can create solutions for inclusivity and understanding. This year the theme of World Refugee Day is ‘Finding Freedom’ a sentiment that is near and dear to many refugees around the world.
Sir Zelman Cowen Centre and HOST International understand that we can do more for refugees in Australia and that we can only take a step in the right direction by hearing from the community and Aid organisations.
For this, we are hosting a joint event on 22 June 2023 at 5:30pm to celebrate the World Refugee Day by a conversation with UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative. Come be part of this important discussion, network with likeminded individuals and show your commitment to finding freedom for humanity.
Venue: Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, 295 Queen St, Melbourne (entrance via Little Lonsdale St)
Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Click here to view the flyer.
We are thrilled to announce that LAWASIA and The Bar Association of India have officially opened registrations for the highly anticipated 36th LAWASIA Conference which will be held in the vibrant city of Bengaluru, India, from 24 to 27 November 2023.
The LAWASIA annual conference has a long and proud tradition of bringing together legal professionals from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, to exchange ideas and expertise, and to explore the latest developments in law, including Family Law, Human Rights & Rule of Law, Business Law, Environmental Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property.
Register at early bird rates HERE.
As a Lawyer in the Common Law Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria, your role will involve supporting judicial officers in managing common law group proceedings, as well as proceedings in the Major Torts and Professional Liability Lists.
This is a specialist role and presents an exciting opportunity to work in the Supreme Court of Victoria and gain invaluable experience in its civil jurisdiction and closely observe the work of advocates and the judiciary. The role will entail exposure to large-scale, complex and high-profile litigation, with some administrative responsibilities within the Court.
Click here for more information and to apply.
The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the ‘Charter’) requires the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee of the Parliament of Victoria to review proposed laws and report to the Parliament whether such laws are incompatible with the Charter rights.
The Committee seeks expressions of interest from qualified human rights academics, experts or practitioners to act as the Committee’s human rights legal consultant. A thorough knowledge of the Charter, international instruments and relevant human rights laws and landmark decisions in other jurisdictions is mandatory. An ability to scrutinise legislation and prepare relevant advice effectively and quickly is essential.
Prospective applicants may obtain the key selection criteria from and information on how to submit an expression of interest from recruitment@parliament.vic.gov.au
Expressions of interest close on 12 June 2023.
Monash Law is one of the largest and most dynamic law schools in Australia. We seek Expressions of Interest in working with our team of experienced educators and leading academics.
As a casual (sessional) academic staff member you are an important part of the faculty’s teaching program. You will assist the Law Faculty to maintain a high quality in teaching and learning and to satisfy students’ learning requirements for units and courses, and increase flexibility in subject offerings.
You are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest application if you have obtained an Australian law degree with excellent results, have relevant experience and you have the capability to work within our teaching teams. Casual work may be available in seminar teaching, tutoring and marking, in private and public law units and clinical offerings at Clayton and in the City Chambers. We have particular need for tutors in Torts, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Civil Procedure and Administrative Law, for classes during business hours.
Please contact us via our Expression of Interest portal.
If you would like to contribute relevant news, events, and updates for barristers and the legal profession to In Brief, please send an email with your content to inbrief@vicbar.com.au or complete this submission form.
Deadline for the next issue:5pm, 15th June 2023