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In Brief Issue #1092
3Mar
On Tuesday afternoon, Amanda Utt (Executive Director) and I attended a meeting of the Victorian Legal Services Board (VLSB) to update its members about the current operation of the Bar and foreshadow some of the projects we intend to seek funding for in the coming year. It was a very positive meeting. A number of board members asked insightful questions, particularly about how our more junior members are faring, post pandemic. It is clear the Board has a real interest in our members’ welfare and the resilience of their practices. Fiona McLeay, the Legal Services Commissioner who sits on the VLSB and is also its CEO, will be coming to meet with the Bar Council Executive to discuss the delegated functions we perform for the Board. The relationship between the Bar and the Commissioner and her office is strong, collaborative and open. It is working really well.
On Wednesday, I welcomed participants at the Lexology Live Melbourne event held in the Neil McPhee QC room. The event’s theme was ‘Managing legal and compliance risks in an uncertain business environment’, and included panel discussions about how Australian businesses can build ransomware resilience in 2023, Australia’s new privacy landscape, and how to navigate the risks and challenges in Australia’s new workplaces. The day’s sessions were a great success.
Also on Wednesday, I attended the farewell ceremony for his Honour Judge James Parrish of the County Court to thank him for his long service. Having signed the Bar Roll in 1978, his Honour developed an outstanding practice in workers’ compensation and personal injury litigation. He was appointed in November 2009 and served with distinction in both the civil and criminal jurisdictions. On behalf of the Bar, I wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.
Yesterday, I met with State Opposition Leader John Pesutto MP and Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien MP (who is a member of our Bar). We discussed the Bar’s position on the Human Source Management Bill, as well as several other matters relevant to the criminal justice system in this State. We agreed to stay in touch during the coming year so that the Bar’s position on matters concerning legislative reform can be quickly and clearly conveyed. I thank John and Michael for making the time to meet with me.
Yesterday afternoon, as part of our efforts to oppose the registration of lawyers as informants, I met with David Limbrick MP, who is a Member of the Legislative Council. The Bill is scheduled for debate next week. We have been working very closely with the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) and the Centre for Public Integrity (CPI) to explain to members of the Upper House why the Bill should not be passed in its current form. Many people have been part of that effort, but I would particularly like to thank Sue McNicol AM KC, Donna Cooper (and her team) from the LIV, and the Hon. Stephen Charles AO KC and Catherine Williams (Research Director) from the CPI.
There was also a welcome ceremony yesterday for his Honour Mark Champion of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2). His Honour’s appointment was announced in December last year. The welcome speech was delivered by one of the Bar’s Vice Presidents, Georgina Schoff KC, on behalf of the Victorian Bar and the Australian Bar Association. His Honour first signed the Bar Roll on 25 May 2000. As a barrister, he aspired to provide frank, commercial, practical and timely advice. He met (and in fact exceeded) those expectations for over 20 years. I have no doubt he will make an excellent judicial officer. I wish him a long and happy tenure as a judge.
Next week, I am looking forward to several events, including the Women Barristers’ Association Breakfast with the Stars on 7 March, on the eve of International Women’s Day on 8 March. The WBA is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year; a significant milestone. The Victorian Bar is a leader in gender diversity within the profession, and it’s encouraging to see more women entering our ranks. There is still more accomplish, but we can take pride in the fact that women now account for 33 per cent of Victorian barristers, compared to just 5.5 per cent in 1980. Of members who have been at the Bar for 15 years or fewer, women make up 43.4 per cent of our cohort.
An event for the unveiling of the portraits of the Honourable Justice Susan Kenny AM and the Honourable Justice Kate McMillan will take place next week at the Peter O’Callaghan QC Gallery. These are always great events, and we can take a substantial amount of pride in our collection, which contains important works by leading Australian artists. After that event, I’m heading to CommBar’s Annual Cocktail Party at the Commonwealth Law Courts.
Next week will also see an event for Victorian practitioners to farewell Chief Justice Allsop AC. His Honour was called to the NSW Bar in 1981, took Silk in 1994, and had a distinguished 20-year career before being sworn in as Justice of the Federal Court of Australia in 2001, the first former Federal Court associate appointee. His Honour went on to serve as the President of the NSW Court of Appeal before returning to the Federal Court as Chief Justice in March 2013. On any measure, it has been a remarkable judicial career. I sincerely thank the Chief Justice for his service and wish him a long and fulfilling retirement.
Law Week is drawing nearer, which is a state-wide program of events to make learning about the law easier for the public. I want to encourage as many of our members as possible to register an event, or register for an event, scheduled to take place between 16-21 May.
The themes for 2023 are:
- Do you have issues with your house and home?
- Have you got issues with something you bought?
- Standing up for your rights (issues with fines, infringements, employment and more)
- Do you have a family or relationship issue?
- Do you want to learn more about Victoria’s legal system?
A wrap-up of the 2022 events can be found in this video.
RU OK Day is Thursday, 14 September. That is six months away, and it’s been six months since the last RU OK Day, which brings us to about the midway point between the two. Practise at the Bar can be rough. Any day is a good day to seek out those who you think might be struggling to offer help. The Bar has a wealth of resources, including our Peer Support Barristers, and the services provided by Converge and the Revision Group.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. As always, please get in touch with me if you need to.
Sam Hay KC
Federal Court of Australia
A sitting to mark the retirement of the Honourable Chief Justice James Allsop AC of the Federal Court of Australia will be held on:
Wednesday, 8 March 2023 at 9:30am
Court 1, Level 8, Federal Court of Australia
Please RSVP to Tameea Lock at FCA.Invitations@fedcourt.gov.au.
Due to the anticipated number of attendees it is suggested you allow plenty of time to pass through the security entrance at the Court.
Individuals may choose to wear masks.
Expressions of Interest are sought from members to be nominated by the Bar to the Victorian Government for appointment to the Firearms Appeals Committee.
The Firearms Appeals Committee (the Committee) is an independent statutory appeals body established under section 154(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (Vic). The function of the Committee is to review firearm licensing decisions of the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police in the circumstances in which a right to review is given to any person by or under the Act.
The Committee is to consist of 15 persons appointed by the Governor-in-Council. Of the persons appointed to the Committee, there are to be five legal members, five ministerial members and five members from the prescribed shooting organisations.
The Victorian Government has requested the Bar nominate up to five members, of which one may be appointed to the committee for a three-year term with possible reappointment.
Expressions of Interest will be considered by the Executive, in accordance with the Victorian Bar’s external appointments protocol and a recommendation of the requisite three nominations will be provided to the Bar Council for approval at its next meeting.
Please send your Expression of Interest by email to miranda.tulloch@vicbar.com.au. In the email, please provide:
- A copy of your current curriculum vitae (requested by the Minister)
- your expertise that is relevant to the general attributes of the role (which are set out in the position description)
- your previous contribution to or involvement with the Committee, if applicable
The information provided will assist the Bar Council to select the best candidates for the position.
The closing date for Expressions of Interest is 5:00pm, Friday 3 March 2023.
The Bar Council is seeking nominations for one (1) non-Executive LCA Director to the Law Council Finance, Risk & Audit Committee, with expertise relevant to the Committee’s Terms of Reference.
The Bar’s protocol for nomination and appointment of Vic Bar members to external bodies can be viewed here. You are encouraged to provide a detailed expression of interest, which should identify any relevant areas of experience or expertise. This will assist the Bar Council to select the best candidate for the position.
Please forward your expression of interest to policy@vicbar.com.au. The closing date for EOIs is 5:00pm, Friday, 3 March 2023.
Parallel Universes: The Curious Dearth of Trans-Tasman Citation
Date: Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Host: Melbourne Law School
Location: Law G08, Law Building (106)
Cost: Free
2023 James Merralls Fellowship in Law Lecture presented by The Hon. Justice Stephen Kós.
Despite Australia’s proximity to New Zealand, and the two countries’ shared common law backgrounds, they seldom cite each other’s case law. Justice Stephen Kós, of the New Zealand Supreme Court, has examined trends in citation over the last 70 years on both sides of the Tasman. A modest high point of mutual legal interest emerged in the 1980s/90s. Thereafter mutual indifference largely resumed. The main focus of the lecture is on legal history. It looks in particular at areas where Australian case law has proved influential in New Zealand, and the contextual reasons explaining the curious dearth of trans-Tasman citation.
This lecture is taking place in Melbourne, at Melbourne Law School
Click here for more information and to register.
The varied stresses and pressures associated with work at the Bar can often lead to feelings of unease, stress and anxiety. If as a member you continue to experience any kind of professional, financial, or personal stress, it’s important to remember that maintaining good mental health is a vital part of your professional life.
You can always make the most of the resources and services that the Bar offers to members and their families.
Resources
Please visit the Bar's health and wellbeing portal for helpful information, resources, and coping strategies for issues relevant to members.
Counselling
The Bar provides five free, entirely confidential counselling sessions to all barristers and their immediate families. The services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are two alternatives on this front:
- The team at Re-Vision Group have multiple years’ experience dealing with Bar members, and their issues and concerns. Call 03 9650 5540.
- Converge International is another independent crisis and counselling service delivered by qualified psychologists and counsellors. Call 1300 687 327.
The Victorian Bar News Editorial Committee is calling for contributions for the 2023 Winter edition (No. 173).
The VBN is our Bar’s twice-yearly magazine. While its content is curated by its editorial committee, it is driven by the Bar’s members and friends.
There are no limits around the form, so please let the stories and photographs flow. The committee is always interested in reviews and contributions to Verbatim.
Contributions (and any related questions) should be directed to vbneditors@vicbar.com.au. Earlier in time, contributions are more likely to be published in the coming edition.
Victorian Bar News Editorial Committee
The Women Barristers’ Association and Victorian Women Lawyers are proud to present the 2023 Dame Roma Mitchell Memorial Lunch.
In celebration of International Women's Day, we invite our members and the wider legal community to a two course lunch and in-depth discussion on the 2023 United Nations International Women's Day theme, Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future.
This annual lunch is held in memory of Dame Roma Flinders Mitchell, the first Australian woman to be appointed Queen's Counsel, judge, chancellor of an Australian university and State Governor.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Jane Caro AM is a Walkley award winning Australian columnist, author, novelist, feminist, public education activist and social commentator. In a past life, she was a multi-award winning advertising copywriter and an academic.
Zoe Condliffe is the founder and CEO of She’s a Crowd, an innovative platform where data activists are compiling a dataset about gender-based violence. She is also a gender advocate and researcher.
For further details, view the event flyer here.
This event is proudly sponsored by Gatehouse Legal Recruitment.
DATE: Thursday, 9 March 2023
TIME: 12:00pm - 2:30pm
LOCATION: Melbourne Town Hall
COST: $120 - Members
$150 - Non-member
$1200 - table of 10
Register here
Help set our priorities for 2023. Click here to tell us what you would like to see BCL focus on.
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.
- Update in Planning, Environment and Land Valuation Law is on 6 March 2023 from 5:15pm-6:15pm. The purpose of the presentation is to provide an update in Planning Environment and Valuation Law and Principles. This will include an update on recent case law developments. This is an online-only event. Click here to RSVP.
- Section 100A, Part IVA and Guardian: insights from the Full Court is on 7 March 2023 from 5:15pm-6:15pm. This CPD is on the recent Full Federal Court decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Guardian AIT Pty Ltd ATF Australian Investment Trust [2023] FCAFC 3. This session will take a detailed look at the case, and consider its significance for the application of section 100A and Part IVA in future disputes. This is an in-person event and will also be available online via livestream. Click here to RSVP.
- Enhancing and transcribing indistinct forensic audio: From problems to solutions? is on 9 March 2023 from 5:30pm-6:30pm. In this seminar, Professor Helen Fraser who is known for her pioneering research in forensic transcription, will review relevant scientific findings and consider how these can be harnessed for forensic purposes - then discuss what reforms are needed to ensure the courts are not 'assisted' by misleading interpretations of forensic audio. This is an in-person event and will also be available online via zoom. Click here to RSVP.
- Indictable crime in the Children's Court is on 22 March 2023 from 5:00pm-6:00pm. In this seminar, you will learn from experienced advocates about when indictable matters may be uplifted from the Children's Court to higher jurisdictions, what considerations apply to summary jurisdiction applications and what principles apply to children being sentenced in the County or Supreme Courts. This is an online-only event. Click here to RSVP.
- Mediating and negotiating in Testator’s Family Maintenance (TFM) Disputes in the County Court of Victoria is on 23 March 2023 from 5:15pm-6:15pm. In this seminar, barristers Eleanor Coates and Samantha Cipriano draw on their experience as mediators and barristers to present some practical tips in preparing for mediation (as counsel as mediator) and resolving TFM Disputes. This is an online-only event for barristers. Click here to RSVP.
For more upcoming CPD events, please visit our listings here.
Are you looking to clear out your wardrobe after the Summer break?
In recognition of International Women’s Day, WBA is conducting a clothing drive for donations to Fitted for Work — an organisation that helps women, non-binary and gender diverse jobseekers experiencing disadvantage secure employment.
Part of their pre- and post-employment services includes providing jobseekers with work-appropriate attire.
Donations of good-quality workwear, including suits, blouses, skirts and pants, as well as shoes in good condition are welcome.
Some of the donations (vintage and designer clothing) are sold to raise funds for the organisation.
In addition, Fitted for Work provides a number of women with good quality second-hand handbags filled with toiletries as a gift; donations of handbags in good condition, and unused toiletries and makeup would also be very welcome.
Items needed as a matter of priority currently are:
Pants and blazers-contemporary styles, black and navy blue, sizes 14-20
Blouses – sleeves preferred, sizes 14-20
Cardigans – neutral and block colours, sizes 12-22
Black shoes – all sizes
Camisoles and tank tops – black, white or nude, all sizes
Mascara
Deodorant
Heel grips and insoles
If you have any of the above that you would like to donate, please deliver them to the following people (please call first, to make sure we are in chambers!) by Friday 10 March 2022.
Sandra Karabidian – 1016 Owen Dixon West (9225 6493) skarabidian@vicbar.com.au
Chapman’s List Barristers – Marked attention: Sandra Karabidian, LG Owen Dixon West (9225 7666)
Following in the footsteps of the successful 'Bar Mums' network, Bar Dads aims to be an informal support network for barrister dads and carers at the Victorian Bar.
We aim to support dads to successfully balance their responsibilities as parents, carers and counsel. If you have a question, need some advice or support, or just want to broaden your networks at the Bar then please consider joining us.
For more information please contact Haroon Hassan.
Bar Dads will hold its first coffee catch-up on Thursday, 9 March at 10:30am at the Essoign.
The Tigers@Law are proud to present their opening event for the 2023 AFL season, The Midfield Muscle Hustle. Come and hear Richmond’s General Manager of Football Talent (List Manager), Blair Hartley talk about all things Richmond including the additions of Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper to the midfield, Dusty’s pre-season form and the announcement of Dylan Grimes and Toby Nankervis as co-captains for their second year.
Blair came to the Tigers with coach Damien Hardwick approximately 14 years ago. He has been a key player in the development of Richmond’s playing list over that time, and in the on- and off-field success of the current Tiger dynasty. He is an insightful and passionate speaker – this event is not to be missed. All Tiger supporters are welcome.
When: Breakfast, Wednesday, 8 March 2023 between 7:30 – 9:00am
Venue: The Essoign, Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East, 205 William Street, Melbourne
Cost: $75 per person. EFT to BSB 033 120 Account No 391844 Account Name ‘Tigers@Law’ (please provide your name in the reference details) or pay cash on the day.
RSVP: to events@greenslist.com.au by Friday, 3 March 2023.
Interested in Tigers@Law events: contact Simon Rubenstein on 9225 7432.
Launch function featuring the great Anthony Koutoufides!
Date: Thursday, 9 March 2023.
Time: 7:30am
Venue: Essoign Club
Cost: $35 per head
Please wear your Carlton beanies, scarves, etc.
Grab your spot by transferring $35 to:
JR3N Pty Ltd
Commonwealth Bank
BSB: 063009
Acc No. 1051 0434
The VicBar Choir invites you to join its group. A new term is about to commence.
Time: 1–2:00pm, Thursdays.
Dates: 2 March to 6 April 2023
Cost: $30 a week (Please ask for a discount if you need one) – $150 a term.
For more information, contact the Bar office on 9225 7111 or reception@vicbar.com.au.
Click here for the flyer.
Dear Essoign Club Members,
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 5pm till late with light snacks available.
Catering & Events - Special lunches, working lunches, private dinners or something special you may have in mind. 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 for the monthly Best Buys!
Click here for a special offer from Goodlife Health Clubs.
Click here to sign up for The Good Guys Commercial pricing discounts.
New court process focuses on the safety of children and their families by identifying and addressing issues of family violence and other risks.
Lighthouse risk screening and the Evatt List commenced nationally on 28 November 2022. In the first two months since its expansion the Courts have already:
- Sent over 1700 confidential risk screens;
- Completed over 600 confidential case file reviews and triage interviews; and
- Placed over 130 matters on the Evatt List.
This is an encouraging response by parties and the profession as screening at the start of the case will ensure that the Courts can quickly identify, assess and help families impacted by family violence and other family safety risks. The Courts thank the profession for the early support of this important initiative. With the expansion now well underway, the Courts call upon the profession, and those working in the family law sector, to familiarise themselves with this important family safety initiative and to communicate the process and benefits with their clients.
The purpose of this update is to focus on the key benefits of screening, provide frequently asked questions and answers the Courts have received, and advise where to go for further information, resources and training. The Lighthouse (and importantly, its objectives) received widespread support at a launch held in Sydney late last year. A recording of the launch, and a video compilation of the television media coverage, is available from the Courts’ website.
To see the rest of this update click here.
Intervention order appeals from the Magistrates’ Court to the County Court of Victoria pursuant to the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) are no longer to be conducted by way of a rehearing de novo. The decision of Justice John Dixon of the Supreme Court of Victoria in AAA and County Court of Victoria & Ors [2023] VSC 13 (handed down on 31 January 2023 and found here) provides that:
- the appellate jurisdiction is only enlivened upon the identification of a legal, factual or discretionary error (please note: this does not alter the strict 30-day filing period);
- the appeal is to now be conducted as a traditional appeal, whereby the evidence adduced in the lower court is and may remain the sole focus of the appellate court; and
- additional evidence may be admissible, subject to the discretion of the Court.
There are likely to be many consequences flowing from this decision. We will alert members to a forthcoming law journal article dealing with the decision.
Please see Practice Direction No. 1 of 2023, which has been published on the MCV website this morning.
This Practice Direction revokes Practice Direction No. 3 of 2011 (Audio and Visual Standards for Material Presented in Court).
Going forward, this information will be located on the MCV website rather than in a Practice Direction, so that it can be readily updated as the Court’s technology capacity changes over time.
The new Bendigo Law Courts building was officially opened on Friday 24 February by Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, in the presence of the Honourable Chief Justice Anne Ferguson, other Heads of Jurisdiction, and the Bendigo community, including Bendigo's Traditional Owners, the Dja Dja Wurrung people.
Click here for more information.
Log in to the Digital Library to access key legal content no matter where you are. An essential resource is The Laws of Australia from Thomson Reuters:
- Complete library of legal principles covering over 330 topics in detail
- Quickly acquaint yourself with unfamiliar areas of law
Areas of law include:
- Administrative Law
- Civil Procedure
- Criminal Procedure
- Criminal Sentencing
- Family Law
- Professional Liability
- Wills and Estate Administration
To access Laws of Australia and other expert commentary in the Digital Library, register and log in to the Law Library website.
Sponsored Content
Brian Lee, former Senior Clerk at 20 Essex Chambers in London together with Nicole O’Hare, Managing Director and Founder of LawConnexion, are delivering two Masterclasses for barristers interested in practice growth, relationship building and better brand recognition.
In March 2023, learn about Mastering Solicitor Client Relationships and in April 2023, discover The Art of Rainmaking and Strategic Networking in the Post Pandemic World.
These Masterclasses are designed for barristers wanting to implement contemporary techniques successfully being used globally and will address growing barristers’ practices locally and overseas.
Click here to view the flyer for more information.
The MCLA is holding its annual Lenten retreat on Sunday 5 March, led by its chaplain Fr Cameron Forbes. Fr Cameron will deliver talks on "Interior Freedom: The secret to living a calm and fulfilling life in times of stress".
Please click here for details.
The Australian Academy of Law is holding a panel discussion on the proposed wording for the constitutional amendment to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Australian Constitution as well as the overall context and purpose of the amendment, and on the kind of implementing legislation that could be enacted if the amendment is approved. The event is on Wednesday, 15 March 2023 at Norton Rose Fulbright Lawyers, Level 38, 477 Collins Street Melbourne. It will also be available online.
Please click here to view the flyer for more information and to register.
Respect @ work: How to be strategic and meet compliance
with Shirli Kirschner and David Bryson
At the core of the change in the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Act 2022 is the obligation imposed on the employer or a person conducting a business or undertaking in ensuring their workplaces are free of sexual harassment. This is an opportunity to promote a positive workplace culture.
Session One: For business leaders
15 March 2023 | Online | Register here
- Overview of the changes and obligations
- Leadership, data, safe spaces and resolution of issues – what the Sex Discrimination Commissioner recommends
- Seven key elements for a strategic change and inclusive culture unpacked, including policies, leadership, data and problem solving.
Session Two: For dispute resolution practitioners
22 March 2023 | Online | Register here
Where do the opportunities lie for dispute resolution practitioners including trainers, mediators and investigators and how can you access these opportunities?
- Overview of the changes and obligations
- What are the opportunities for mediators, investigators and trainers
- Steps for moving forward - an action plan
We are pleased to announce the ALAANZ 2023 Preliminary Program and Registration Brochure is now available. This will be the first time ALAANZ has held an in person conference since 2019 prior to the COVID pandemic. The ALAANZ Council and ALAANZ 2023 Conference Organising Committee are pleased to bring you this conference and have put together a program which will appeal to all.
We hope to see as many ALAANZ members and friends as we can in Sydney this May at the conference. It has been a long time since we have been able to get together with friends & colleagues, to be amongst leaders in the Aviation Law Field, and have the opportunity to discuss topics of interest with one another and network together in a collegial environment. The conference dinner will be held at The Mint in Sydney and is bound to be a memorable night.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Sponsors and Supporters who have assisted ALAANZ to bring you the 2023 conference.
Visit the conference website here.
All registrations are online. Please register online here.
AIFLAM Arbitration Training Course - 5 and 6 May 2023
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
For further information click here.
To download a flyer click here.
AIFLAM NMAS Mediation Course - 8-12 May and 27 May 2023
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
For further information click here.
To download a flyer click here.
We have the great pleasure to announce that LAWASIA and the Sabah Law Society have officially opened registrations for the 12th LAWASIA Employment Law Conference which will be held as a face-to-face event in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Malaysia, from 8 to 10 June 2023.
We are excited to bring together professionals from around the region to discuss the latest developments and trends in employment law. The 2.5-day forum will offer a topical, practical and intensive program, providing lawyers in the region a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge of employment law. With the theme "The New Normal: Employment Law in Asia Pacific in 2023”, the conference's program will comprise of keynote addresses and focused business sessions on practical issues currently topical for employment lawyers across our region, including those with an interest in issues at the interface with commercial law.
Click here to register.
The Courts of the Future Network in conjunction with Monash University Law Faculty & the Victorian Juries Commissioner’s Office will be hosting a conference on Friday, 9 June 2023 at Monash Law Chambers (Melbourne CBD). The theme for the conference is ‘Emerging Challenges in the Management of Sexual Assault Trials.’
Recent high-profile sexual assault trials have highlighted the numerous problems that all participants in the criminal trial process encounter when prosecuting this type of crime.
We are keen to explore the challenges in the management of sexual assault trials, beginning with reporting the crime through to appealing jury verdicts.
Australian and international perspectives will be discussed.
Practitioners and researchers, if you have a unique perspective and you would like to share at the conference, please email the relevant details, including a summary of your proposed contribution and a brief CV to Associate Professor Horan (Jacqui.Horan@monash.edu) before 6 March 2023. Registration details are forthcoming.
The Government is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons who want to be considered for appointment to the AAT as a full-time Member (Level 2). These members will be appointed for a fixed term of up to two years and the process will be conducted in accordance with the new AAT Appointment Guidelines.
The majority of the new members will work primarily in the Migration and Refugee Division. Some of the appointees will work primarily in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Division or the Social Security and Child Support Division. Vacancies in other divisions may also be filled if the need arises.
All members appointed through this process will transition to the new administrative review body when it is established for the remainder of their terms.
Click here for more information.
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, 9th March 2023