In Brief Issue #1159

Bar Roll No: 3203

It is with deep regret that the Bar informs members of the death of David Langmead.

David signed the Bar Roll on 28 May 1998 and read with Robert W Hinkley. He was a member of the Victorian Bar for 26 years.

A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of David will be held at WD Rose Brighton, 139 Marriage Road, Brighton East on:

Tuesday, 30 July 2024 at 2:00pm

Following the Memorial Service, there will be drinks in the ANZAC Room at the Caulfield RSL, 4 St Georges Road, Elsternwick at 4:00pm.

We extend our deepest sympathy to David’s family and friends.

Bar Roll No: 1778

Malcolm Gray, born on 22 September 1953, was a valued member of the Victorian Bar for 41 years. Malcolm was born in Brighton, Victoria to his two devoted parents Jack and Phyllis, as the middle sibling between Susan and Roger.

Malcolm possessed a lifelong love of learning stemming from his time at Brighton Primary and Brighton Grammar. He sought fit to pursue studies in Economics and Law at Monash University in 1972, which would subsequently set the foundation for his successful career at the Bar. Always known to have a passion for reading, Malcolm retained a breadth of knowledge and was renowned for his engaging conversations regarding a broad range of topics.

Malcolm signed the Bar Roll on 19 May 1983 and read with Peter Rattray KC. He was known to his peers as a reliable source of grounding energy and a “safe pair of hands”. Malcolm has been recalled as being a reliable source of wisdom and advice delivered with sincerity, humour and empathy.

Malcolm had a notable passion for sharing his legal expertise by teaching junior barristers, seasonal clerks and graduates. He was always willing to guide those who were learning the profession in a humorous and friendly manner which made him a pleasure to engage with.

He lived a life full of international travel, exploration, and dining on delicious food and wine, always seeking to live life to its fullest.

Malcolm’s passing is an immense loss to all who loved and cared for him.

Malcolm will be dearly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

Vale Malcolm.

Bar Roll No: 2663

Gerard Long, born on 5 July 1961, was an esteemed member of the Victorian Bar for 27 years. Gerard was born in Sydney, before moving to Melbourne with his family during early childhood. As the eldest of five siblings, he maintained a close relationship with his brothers and sisters. During his secondary education at Melbourne Grammar, Gerard participated passionately in sports and eventually became the Captain of the school soccer team in his final year.

Gerard pursued a law degree at Melbourne University, graduating in 1984. He began his professional career at Coopers & Lybrand before being admitted to practice law in July 1987. In 1989, Gerard moved back to Sydney and was admitted to practice in New South Wales in February 1990. He later returned to Victoria, where he signed the Bar Roll on 7 August 1991. Throughout his career, Gerard primarily practiced in criminal law within the Magistrates' Court and later in the Children’s Court.

Gerard retired in 2018 after a long and impactful career. He was well-known for his affection for his schnauzers, having owned many over the years.

Gerard will be deeply missed by his numerous friends, four siblings, and colleagues in the legal profession, with whom he often enjoyed a well-deserved debrief at the Mint.

Vale Gerard.

Applications for the next intake of the Bar’s technology Reverse Mentoring Scheme open today. The scheme involves pairing barristers under five years’ call (the mentors) with more senior barristers who wish to develop their technological and digital skills (the mentees).

The scheme will facilitate meaningful professional connections between junior and senior barristers and enable them to gain valuable insight into how both juniors and leaders can take advantage of the technological and digital opportunities of online and remote practice, including facilitating collaborative working between them.

The scheme will run for at least three months. The pairs will aim to meet at least three times, but the number of meetings and how often they meet is up to each pair to agree.

In addition to specific goals set by the pairs, all mentees will have developed or improved the following skills as part of their interaction with their mentor:

1. Planning for cybersecurity and digital document security.
2. Managing matters and briefs by email.
3. Accepting electronic briefs.
4. Using digital documents in court hearings.
5. Editing PDF documents: mark ups, highlights, tabs/bookmarks etc.
6. Formatting Word documents: headings, tables of contents, bullets and numbering etc.
7. Using all main video conferencing platforms relevant to the practice area.
8. Risk management planning: including working from home, internet outages, damage to devices and losing files.
9. Establishing which devices, tools and software may be relevant and useful to the practice area.

This year you can make a joint application by a junior and senior pair who would like to work together.  Otherwise, the Information and Technology Committee, which is administering this scheme, will make the matches and will aim to match mentors and mentees in the same practice areas if possible. Depending on demand, selected practice areas and choice of technology (PC/Mac), the Committee may also create groups of three.

If you are interested in joining the first intake of this scheme as a mentor or mentee, please submit this application form here. The deadline for initial applications is Friday 16 August 2024.

Expressions of Interest are sought from interested members for appointment to the Department of Justice and Community Safety’s NLAP (National Legal Assistance Partnership) Governance Committee.

The NLAP is an agreement between the Commonwealth, States, and Territories that recognises mutual interests and responsibilities in the provision of legal assistance services to help people experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability.

The NLAP Victorian Governance Committee (Committee) supports the coordinated engagement of Victoria’s responses to key priorities relating to the NLAP. The Committee works together on identifying the issues and priorities of the legal assistance sector within Victoria. The Committee reports to the Attorney-General via DJCS executive structure. Committee members consist of representatives from: DJCS, Courts, Civil and Criminal Law (chair), DJCS, Aboriginal Justice, Victoria Legal Aid, Federation of Community Legal Centres, Victoria Law Foundation, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and Djirra.

Click here for further information.

The Bar’s protocol for nomination and appointment of Vic Bar members to external bodies can be viewed here.

Please forward your expression of interest to sharni.doherty@vicbar.com.au. The closing date is Tuesday, 6 August 2024.

Members of the Bar are invited to the inaugural session of a new In Conversation series designed to stimulate debate in a casual conversational setting.

Join host Jeremy Ruskin KC to explore our first In Conversation titled: Robes and Religion.

Ruskin KC will lead a discussion among the panel members and the attendees on questions such as: Is there still a place for religious ceremonies such as the Red Mass to mark the opening of the Legal Year ? Why tinker with a centuries-old tradition ? Is it OK to wear barristers’ robes to religious ceremonies ? Can we reflect on ethics and morals without bringing religion into it ?

Host:

• Jeremy Ruskin KC

Panel members:

• Jack Rush AO RFD KC
• Rachel Doyle SC
• Premala Thiagarajan
• Min Guo  

Essential facts about the In Conversation series:

• This is not a CPD; this is a conversation. All debate is to be respectful.
• This event will not be streamed and will not be recorded. Strictly Chatham House rules.
• Time and place: Thursday, 15 August 2024; Neil McPhee Room; 1:10pm to 1:50pm.
• Sandwich lunch and coffee will be served to all participants – you can return to court and chambers by 2:00pm with food and caffeine on board!

Members of the Bar are invited to a “town hall” meeting where they can ask questions of BCL and the Bar Council regarding the acquisition of 200 Queen Street, Melbourne.

This is a momentous decision and one that we consider will ensure the sustainability of the BCL model, now and into the future.

Members are encouraged to submit questions here prior to the town hall. This will enable the panel to cover as many issues as possible on the evening.

PANEL:

The Honourable John Digby KC, Georgina Schoff KC, Elizabeth Bennett SC, Colin Mandy SC, Sarah Keating, Sam Hay KC and Paul Clark.

DATE AND TIME

4:30 – 5:30pm, Tuesday, 30 July 2024

VENUE

Neil McPhee Room, Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East, 205 William Street, Melbourne

The Victorian Bar's International Advocacy Training Committee’s Train the Trainer Program, which will develop the advocacy skills of twenty lawyers from the Pacific Rim, kicks off on Monday, 29 July.

Any members of the Bar interested in attending a dinner on 7 August for the Pacific Rim delegation are encouraged to book here. Fiona McLeod AO SC will be the keynote speaker for the dinner and will address the delegation on the importance of the Rule of Law.  

This will be a great networking event and all members of the Bar are welcome to join. 

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle James. 

• Are you traveling overseas soon? With many of the Bar traveling overseas, it is important to ensure you’ve set up international access for your @vicbar email and other online services. Click here to read more.
• 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 read more about the benefits of having chambers with BCL and click here to view our current vacancies.

All members of the Victorian Bar community, including staff of Bar and Clerks are welcome to join the choir. No obvious singing talent is required! You’ll find that the choir is friendly, and singing is fun and relaxing, which is a highlight of the week.

Term 3 dates: 16 July to 24 September 2024 (no choir 30 July). 

Time: 1:00pm-2:00pm, Tuesdays.

Location: Level 11 East

Cost: $275 a term. 2024 Readers free.

Click here for the flyer. Pro rata subscriptions are available if you join mid term. For more information, contact the Bar office on 9225 7111 or reception@vicbar.com.au.

Studio 11 Melbourne – Exhibition by Michael LYE Amor Fati is currently open for viewing from 15 July – 20 September 2024.

Michael Lye is an Asian-Australian Artist based in Narrm/Melbourne. Working in digital, painting, printmaking, and installation fields, his work discusses race, philosophical, and scientific explorations using playfully abstract and minimalistic formations.

Either blissfully colourful or grotesquely visceral, Lye builds upon his own position as a multi-race artist to discuss background stereotypes towards minorities in society, whilst focusing on generational displacement and its consequential environmental impacts. This exhibition is founded on the exploration of spiritual and scientific explanations of our existence, breaking down the barrenness of humanity and the raw nature of reality. It reflects on the cold state of humanity, aiming to illustrate how humanity is in a constant state of flux, often driven by a destructive and selfish mindset.

The series juxtaposes desolate spaces, voids of human devastation, with a foreboding darkness of reality. These spaces transcend third-dimensional reality, delving into spiritual and scientific interpretations of the afterlife. Cold, monument-like forms serve as central elements, reflecting how humanity perceives life and death in brutalist terms. Inspired by wartime imagery, structures in this exhibition utilize radar, bunker, and crosshair iconography to symbolise both the emptiness and the beauty of human mortality.

By integrating elements of national flag construction, this exhibition challenges the concept of country borders. It urges humanity to strive for moral integrity and to recognise the importance of human life.

Dear Members,

We are open daily from 7:30am – till late.

Breakfast - for dine-in or takeaway

Lunch – Daily Café Menu dine-in or takeaway

Lunch Dine-In - A La Carte from midday

Bar – EVERY EVENING  - $5 Beer & Wine from 4:30pm – 5:30pm

Essoign Coffee Cart - Daily from 7:30am

Ground Floor Owen Dixon West

Catering & Events - Special lunches, working lunches, private dinners, or something special you may have in mind. Email us at essoign@vicbar.com.au

See our Catering and Events Package here.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (CDPP) has recently published the seventh edition of the Sentencing of Federal Offenders in Australia - A Guide for Practitioners.

This comprehensive sentencing Guide reflects the law as at 14 June 2024, and has been updated by Des Lane of the Victorian Bar, with valuable assistance from Grace Devereaux of the Queensland Bar and prosecutors from the CDPP. It is an essential resource not only for CDPP lawyers, but for other legal practitioners, judicial officers, and others who deal with sentencing of federal offenders.

Melbourne Law School is pleased to present the following free public law lectures in July-August 2024:

Allen Missen Oration

‘The Time has come for a National Human Rights Act’

Presented by Josh Burns, Federal Member for Macnamara

On 30 May, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights released its much-anticipated report on its Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework. It outlined 17 detailed recommendations to reinvigorate this Framework and strengthen Australia’s commitment to human rights. Its core recommendation was the adoption of a National Human Rights Act. Josh Burns, MP, was the Chair of this Committee, which received 335 submissions and heard from 87 witnesses. Join us to hear from Josh as he outlines the nature, scope and justification for a National Human Rights Act and the other recommendations of the Committee.

Date & time: Tuesday, 30 July 2024 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

Location: Rooms 202/03, Melbourne Law School  

Information and registration: Please click here

2024 The Sir George Turner Lecture (Melbourne and Sydney)

‘Risk & Regulation in Sustainability: Global Lessons for Australia.’

Presented by Allison Herren Lee, Former US Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission

Almost all organisations - and their advisers - are having to confront rapidly changing contexts and transitioning economies. Companies, financial markets and governments are all having to navigate the challenges presented by climate change, energy transition, cost of living pressures, geopolitical instability, showing up in volatility and uncertainty in markets and in increasing litigation. The regulatory and reporting environment is also responding to shifting expectations about disclosure, performance, and responsibility for social and environmental factors. Former US Securities & Exchange Commission Acting Chair, Allison Herren Lee, will deliver the Sir George Turner Lecture, speaking on the global shifts in regulation in sustainability risks, state of play in the US, and the steps leaders need to be taking now to be responsive and future-fit in this fast-moving global environment.

The keynote address will be followed by a session moderated by Harold Ford Professor of Commercial Law, Professor Rosemary Langford, in discussion with Commissioner Lee and Professor Rosemary Addis AM followed by audience Q&A.

This lecture will be delivered in Melbourne and Sydney. Please see below for further details on each location.

Melbourne lecture:

Date & time: Tuesday, 13 August 2024 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

Location: Woodward Conference Centre, Level 10, Law Building, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton

Information and registration: Please click here

Sydney lecture:

Date & time: Thursday, 15 August 2024 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm.

Location: Allens, Level 28, Deutsche Bank Place, Phillip Street, Sydney

Information and registration: Please click here

Flos Greig Lecture 2024 

‘If I had my time over, would I study Law?’

Presented by The Honourable Linda Dessau AC CVO, former Governor of Victoria

Occasionally, we should all pause, to reflect on what might have been had we taken a different path in our professional life and choices. In this Lecture, the Hon Linda Dessau AC CVO, former Governor of Victoria, contemplates the pros and cons of having studied and practised Law for a significant part of her career.

The Flos Greig Lecture is named after Grata Flos Matilda Greig, the first woman to be admitted to legal practice in Australia. Greig’s determination advanced gender equality in the legal profession in Australia in the early twentieth century, paving the way for other women to follow suit. Upon graduating from the Melbourne Law School in 1903, Greig undertook her articles with Frank Cornwall, later continuing her career with Cornwalls law firm. We are delighted to have Cornwalls’ involvement in this lecture series, recognising Greig’s pioneering spirit which transformed the basis of admission to the Australian legal profession.

Date & time: Thursday, 22 August 2024 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.

Location: Woodward Conference Centre, Level 10, Law Building, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton

Information and registration: Please click here

Please find here an invitation from the Judges of the Federal Court of Australia inviting practitioners to a seminar to be held both in-person at the Brisbane and Sydney Registries and also livestreamed nationally on Wednesday, 11 September 2024.