On Wednesday morning, along with the Chair and immediate past Chair of the Bar’s Library Committee, Dr Paul Vout KC and Mark Robins KC, I met with Ms Laurie Atkinson, Director of the Law Library Victoria and Supreme Court Librarian. We discussed the impressive range of services and resources available to support barristers, particularly those in the early stage of their careers. By way of reminder, there are three ways to access the library’s collection:
For more information, or to discuss how you can make the most of the library’s services, please contact Ms Atkinson by email (laurie.atkinson@supcourt.vic.gov.au) or on 03 8600 2180. My thanks to Mark, Laurie and Paul for making the time to meet with me and for all that they do to support our members’ practices.
On Wednesday afternoon, I attended a business lunch hosted by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Australia) Ltd (CIArb) and supported by the Victorian Bar. The guest speaker was the Honourable Patrick Keane AC KC who delivered a very interesting address about the potential consequences of domestic consumer protection legislation on the conduct of commercial arbitrations in Australia between sophisticated multinationals. It was a very informative talk and an enjoyable event. My thanks to Dr Andrew Hanak KC (President of CIArb) for involving the Bar in the event.
Remy van de Wiel KC clocked over 50 years at the Victorian Bar earlier this month. Since signing the Bar Roll on 5 April 1973, Remy has had an illustrious career as an advocate, and has done a great deal to improve legal education in Australia and the Pacific region.
Remy says: “I would like to thank Michael Black (former Chief Justice of the Federal Court) who was my Master, and my friends and colleagues for their support. I have enjoyed and endured practice for 50 years with no regrets – Robert Richter persuaded me to come to the Bar rather than driving a truck!” A small ceremony was held at Crockett Chambers, where Remy celebrated the milestone with nearly 40 colleagues. Congratulations, Remy.
Members intending to apply for silk this year should know that applications are now open, and they will close at 5:00pm on Friday, 19 May 2023. Applicants are urged to submit their applications prior to that date. We have arranged an information session at which the Chair of the Preliminary Evaluation Committee, the Honourable Pamela Tate AM KC, will speak. It will take place via Zoom at 5:00pm on Wednesday, 3 May 2023 and you can register for the event here.
I would like to address some of the quotes attributed to some of our members in an article published in The Australian newspaper on Wednesday entitled ‘Lawyers backing Yes for money’, may it please the court.
Over the past fortnight, I have been contacted by many members of all seniorities about the proposal to amend the Australian Constitution. Some strongly support the Bar Council taking a positive stance, others urge us not to take a position. To my very clear observation, not one of those in favour of the Bar taking a positive stance has been motivated by personal financial gain. Indeed, just as with those expressing the contrary position, those in favour have expressed sincerely held opinions with respect, integrity and independence. Those very same traits, which are rightly treasured and celebrated by our Bar, were clearly evident during the preliminary Bar Council discussion we had about the Voice yesterday evening.
The article in The Australian also contained some quotes about the NSW Bar Association and the position it has adopted in relation to the Voice. On Wednesday, I spoke to the President of the NSW Bar Council, Gabrielle Bashir S.C., to say that the overwhelming majority of Victorian Bar members hold the NSW Bar, its Council and its members in the very highest esteem. I also said that many of the comments attributed to the unnamed ‘senior Victorian silk’ were offensive and wrong and should not have been made. I condemn the use of that kind of language in this context in unqualified terms. We fully respect the NSW Bar’s right to adopt a position in relation to the Voice.
We are a strong, fiercely independent college of professionals who genuinely value robust debate and the accommodation of diverse views on a wide range of topics. We are at our best when we focus on the merits of opposing views rather than seeking to impugn the motives of those with whom we disagree.
At the Bar Council meeting last night, each participant expressed his or her current view about whether or not the Bar should adopt a position in respect of the Voice. All members now have time to reflect on what they heard at the meeting before a special purpose Bar Council meeting is held on Tuesday, 9 May 2023, at which we will determine what position, if any, to take in respect of the Voice.
Finally, my thanks to Gina Schoff KC for stepping in as Acting President while I was away on leave last week.
Sam Hay KC
Applications for appointment as Senior Counsel are now open and are scheduled to close 5:00pm Friday, 19 May 2023.
Together with Sam Hay KC, President of the Victorian Bar, the Honourable Pamela Tate AM KC, will conduct an online information session for members of the Bar regarding the process of applying for, and the appointing of Silk, on Wednesday, 3 May 2023 at 5:00pm via Zoom.
All interested members are welcome to attend, and registration is essential. The seminar is open to those members who are considering applying for appointment as Silk this year, as well as members considering making an application in future years who will find value in the session.
There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions during the session.
Please register here.
The Victorian Bar strives to provide a safe, and inclusive environment for all our members. We are pleased to announce that members now have access to a new Multi Faith Prayer Room.
Room 515 is located on Level 5 of Owen Dixon Chambers East and there is easy access to bathroom facilities on the floor. The room is a dedicated space for prayer and spiritual reflection. All members are welcome to use the room for these purposes when required. It is open between 8:00am and 6:00pm, but is available via swipe card access outside of those hours. No booking is required.
We would ask all members wishing to use this facility to follow the guidelines posted in the room and to keep the room in a neat and tidy state at all times. The Bar wishes to thank BCL for providing this facility for the benefit of all members.
You should have received an email from the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSB+C) on Monday, 27 March 2023, outlining details of the practising certificate (PC) and professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal process.
LSB online went live on Monday, 27 March 2023, for the renewal of your PC. Members must renew before Friday, 30 June 2023 to continue to practise on Saturday, 1 July 2023. Members who renew after this date may incur a late renewal surcharge from the LSB+C.
The LPLC portal is expected to open on Wednesday, 5 April 2023 to renew your PII, and further information from the LPLC will be distributed on or closer to that date. The LPLC requires payment of the PII premium by Wednesday, 31 May 2023 and members are encouraged to renew online on the LPLC website.
Information on renewing practising certificates can be found on the VicBar website here.
Links for online lodgement, found on the above webpage, will be available from the VLSB+C and LPLC live dates, or you may go directly to LSB Online and the LPLC website when live.
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). You can contact the Bar office for assistance if required. LSB Online deals with all PC administrative matters, and there is no printed PC renewal form. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset this on the LSB Online login screen by selecting ‘forgot password’. You will receive an email to reset your password.
If you experience technical difficulties with LSB Online, please contact the VLSB+C via their lawyer enquiry form. 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 7105.
All members of the Bar and Judiciary are warmly invited to the Dinner on Friday, 26 May 2023, 7:00pm at the Plaza Ballroom. The event is black tie and will feature guest speaker Dr Stephen Donaghue KC, Solicitor-General of Australia.
Tickets for the event are now available. You can book individually, as a guest on an organised table, or as a table organiser.
Event: 2023 Victorian Bar Dinner
Date: Friday, 26 May 2023
Time: 7:00pm for 7:30pm start
Venue: Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne
Dress: Black Tie
Click here to purchase your ticket.
If you did not receive an invitation, please contact events@vicbar.com.au.
Please join us for a chance to get together and celebrate, as well as welcome our newest readers to the Bar.
Event details:
When? Wednesday, 10 May 2023 from 5:00pm onwards
Where? The Essoign Club, Level 1, Owen Dixon Chambers East.
This is an inclusive event, welcoming members of our LGBTQI+ community as well as allies. Wear what you want. Everyone is welcome.
If you haven’t been along before and want some company, feel free to shoot John (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.
Following on from its inaugural success in 2022, there will be another Rainbow and Inclusive Annual Dinner on Thursday, 18 May 2023 at 8:00pm.
The Dinner is an informal and unique opportunity for members of the Victorian Bar who identify as LGBTIQ or supportive allies at the Bar to come together to connect and celebrate as a proud community.
The Dinner will be at The Bowery Room, Builders Arms Hotel, 211 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. The Dinner will follow on from the launch of the Victorian Chapter of Pride in Law earlier that evening at the Victorian Supreme Court.
Tickets are strictly limited (RSVP by Monday 15 May, or until sold out), and may be purchased through this link. Please contact Chris McDermott (Chris.McDermott@vicbar.com.au) for any further queries.
The Victorian Bar invites members of the Bar and the public to a free lecture and Q&A as part of Law Week Victorian Law Week.
Discover the impact of the Palace letters case on archives law, Royal secrecy, public access to historical documents, and the Whitlam dismissal with Professor Jenny Hocking.
Date & Time: Wednesday, 17 May, 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Venue: Peter O’Callaghan QC Gallery, Ground Floor, Owen Dixon
Chambers, 205 William St, Melbourne
Registrations essential
Click here for more information and to register.
The Victorian Bar seeks expressions of interest from members of counsel to act as a representative of the Bar on the Victoria Legal Aid Collaborative Planning Committee established in 2019. Generally, members of the Committee are tasked to provide evidence-based advice and recommendations to VLA’s Board in relation to:
Membership of this Committee includes representatives of VLA, the Law Institute of Victoria, Victorian Bar, Victoria Law Foundation, Department of Justice and Community Safety, the Federation of Community Legal Centres, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Djirra. Members are usually CEOs of the organisations or alternatively a senior member representative.
Appointments are generally for a three-year period and there are four meetings per year.
The Bar’s protocol for nomination and appointment of Vic Bar members to external bodies can be viewed here.
To assist the Bar Council in selecting the best candidate for the position, your expression of interest should identify any relevant areas of experience or expertise. Please submit your expression of interest to Amy Kendall at amy.kendall@vicbar.com.au.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 5:00pm, Friday, 28 April 2023.
The Victorian Bar is offering members the annual flu vaccination in Owen Dixon Chambers East on 30 and 31 May 2023.
Bookings must be made online via the iMedical website. Instructions on how to book are here. You must be logged into the VicBar website to download the instructions.
There are a limited number of appointments available to Bar members from iMedical, and they will be allocated on a first-in, first-served basis.
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.
For more upcoming CPD events, please visit our listings 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.
The Victorian Golfing Lawyers Society invites all comers to the Peninsula Kingswood North Course on Monday, 29 May 2023 from 11:30am for the inaugural Presidents Invitational.
VGLS golfers are encouraged to invite a guest who may be a prospective VGLS member or a family member or friend who loves golf. If you are not yet a VGLS member but are a keen golfer, we welcome you.
The President’s Invitational Cup will be presented to the winning pair!
Format:
Cost: $320 per head for non-PK members, $120 for PK members and reciprocals.
RSVP Thursday, 25 May 2023.
The PK North Course is currently rated 5th best in Australia and provides a terrific challenge to golfers of all abilities. A flyover of all 18 holes can be viewed on this link.
BOOK NOW using this link.
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 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!
Click here to view special dining offers.
Click here for a special offer from JB Hi-Fi Commercial.
Click here for a special offer from HotelPlanner.
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia have provided a Lighthouse expansion update to the profession for April 2023, which can be viewed on their website here.
A Notice to the Profession has just been published regarding the new SCV Mediation Centre.
The new SCV Mediation Centre, located in the William Cooper Justice Centre, will be available for use from 15 May 2023.
This will enable the Court to resume in-person mediations.
Please note that Court Services Victoria (CSV) has released findings of a survey conducted in response to recommendation 18 of the review of sexual harassment across the Victorian courts and Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The recommendation required CSV to conduct an annual anonymous survey of all court and VCAT user groups to track progress on incidents of sexual harassment, reporting of incidents and action by bystanders.
A message regarding the findings from the Chief Justice and Chair of Courts Council, Justice Anne Ferguson, on behalf of the Victorian courts and VCAT is also available at the link above.
The Victorian Bar Library Committee has recently purchased many useful new books in a variety of areas. Come in and have a look! Owen Dixon Chambers East.
A list of some of the new arrivals are listed below. The Richard Griffith Library is a reference library and that books may not be removed from the library save for those that have been clearly marked as available for loan.
Australian master superannuation guide 2022-23
Case management and complex civil litigation
Cheshire and Fifoot law of contract
Commercial arbitration in Australia under the model law
Hanks Australian Constitutional law : materials and commentary
Jesting pilate and other papers and addresses
Keay's insolvency : personal and corporate law and practice
New South Wales civil procedure handbook 2022
Residential tenancies law and practice : New South Wales
Royal commissions and public inquiries in Australia
On 20 April 2023, the Bar was notified that Mr Howard Rapke had been appointed by the Victorian Legal Services Board (Board) as the Manager of the Law Practice under Chapter 6 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (Victoria) (Uniform Law).
Please be advised that the appointment terminated on 19 February 2023, pursuant to section 340(1)(a) of the Uniform Law.
Melbourne Law School is pleased to present you with the following free events upcoming in May:
Conversation About The Voice Series
A conversation about government, Parliament and the Voice. What would it do? How would it work?
Date & time: Tuesday, 2 May, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Location: Melbourne Law School, G08 Theatre, 185 Pelham St, Carlton & Online
Panelists: Dr Monique Ryan (Federal member for Kooyong), Mr Terry Moran AC (Former Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet), Ms Rosemary Laing (Former Clerk of the Senate) and Ms Catherine Liddle (CEO, SNAICC).
Later this year, Australians will vote in a referendum to decide whether to amend the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The amendment would create a ‘Voice’ with authority to make ‘representations’ to the Parliament or Executive government on ‘matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’. Much of the debate so far has focused on what role, if any, courts might play if the referendum is passed and a Voice is established. In practice, however, the regular operation of the Voice will depend primarily on its interaction with Parliament and the executive branch of government. As the Solicitor-General noted in the advice released on 21 April, the new constitutional provision is designed as an ‘enhancement’ of the Australian system of representative and responsible government. This second Conversation in the series organised by the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies at Melbourne Law School will explain and explore the roles that the institutions of Parliament and government might and could play in relation to the Voice. Like other events in the series, its aim is to draw on legal and other professional expertise to inform Australians about the proposal on which all of us will vote towards the end of the year. This Conversation will tackle the issues raised by the interaction between the Voice, government and Parliament in a way that is grounded in an understanding of how government and Parliament work. It will focus on each of the Houses of Parliament, the Ministers and Cabinet, and the public service. For this purpose, we will be joined by four participants with significant experience in or in dealing with Parliament and executive government. The event will be held both in person and online, on Tuesday, 2 May at 5:30pm.
For those unable to attend in person, a livestream option will be available when you register.
Further information and registration
The Struggle for Accountability and Justice in Situations of Armed Conflict – A View from the Battlefield
Date & time: Wednesday, 3 May, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Location: Melbourne Law School, G08 Theatre, 185 Pelham St, Carlton
Presenters: Yulia Gorbunova (Senior Researcher on Ukraine) & Fereshta Abbasi (Researcher in the Asia division at Human Rights Watch)
Documenting human rights abuses during armed conflict is essential if perpetrators are to be held accountable. But how is this to be done and what skills are required? Human Rights Watch has a team of researchers dedicated to this task who have been working in conflict zones. Join us as we hear from two of their experts who have been working in Ukraine and Afghanistan and learn about the challenges and abuses they have uncovered in their pursuit of justice and accountability.
We hope you can join us for this opportunity to hear the Human Rights Watch experts, Yulia Gorbunova and Fereshta Abbasi speak. Light refreshments will be served from 5:30pm with the seminar starting at 6:00pm.
This lecture is hosted by Melbourne Law School, Human Rights Watch, and Institute for International Law and the Humanities (IILAH).
Further information and registration
2023 Harold Ford Memorial Lecture
Corporate Governance – Big Ideas and Debates?
Date & time: Wednesday, 24 May, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Melbourne Law School, G08 Theatre, 185 Pelham St, Carlton & Online
Presenter: The Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon AC
Recent events and debates in and outside Australia about corporate governance may be seen as suggesting that company directors, and the laws which govern their work, are facing new and different challenges. Many of those debates have been framed by reference to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and arguably challenge traditional conceptions of corporate governance. What can Australia learn from these debates legally, practically, and commercially?
This lecture is named in honour of distinguished Melbourne Law School alumnus Professor Harold Ford, who passed away in September 2012. Professor Ford spent almost his entire career at Melbourne Law School following his appointment to the Law School in 1949. He served as Dean of the Law School in 1964 and again from 1967 to 1973. He is remembered as a gifted teacher by several generations of law students. Professor Ford also made many important contributions to law reform and co-authored a leading text titled Principles of the Law of Trusts as well as other influential books. The Harold Ford Memorial Lecture celebrates the many contributions of Professor Ford to Melbourne Law School, the legal profession, and to the development of corporate law and trusts law.
We hope you can join us for this opportunity to hear The Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon AC speak. Light refreshments will be served from 5:00pm with the lecture starting at 6:00pm.
For those unable to attend in person, a livestream option will be available when you register.
Victorian Women Lawyers has an action-packed month of events coming up in May.
A summary of these events is below, and you can register for our events here.
4 May 2023 - Members & Guests
VWL's Members & Guests event is one of the hottest networking events for the year! This year we are excited to have special guest Sashi Perera, comedian and 'recovering lawyer,' joining us fresh from performing her stellar solo show "Endings" at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
We hope you can join us for a great evening filled with canapes, catch-ups and comedy.
This event is $15 for VWL members and $30 for non-members.
Click here for more information and to register.
11 May 2023 - Tough Talks
Featuring an incredible panel of speakers, this interactive workshop will delve into difficult scenarios each of us may face in our working lives and offer up guidance on how to have uncomfortable conversation.
This event is free for VWL members and $15 for non-members.
Click here for more information and to register.
17 May 2023 - Victorian Law Week Event - Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Many people attend work each day trying to hide the physical, emotional and psychological impact of experiencing family and domestic violence – either directly themselves or as a result of seeing their children being abused in this way.
Our panel discussion will be preceded by a screening of family and domestic violence awareness-raising film The Fort, which is set in regional Victoria and tells the story of a mother and son living with family and domestic violence.
After which our panel will discuss themes raised in the film and recent changes with respect to paid family and domestic violence leave.
This event is free for everyone and is being run as part of Victorian Law Week.
Click here for more information and to register.
We are proud to announce that Bond University will present a microcredential on Medical Negligence commencing 15 May 2023, in partnership with the Australasian College of Legal Medicine.
Enrolment is now open! Click here for more information and to enrol.
A flyer is also available here.
Time/Mode:
The course is delivered over 14 weeks via a series of self-paced online modules and a two-day, online workshop.
Commences: 15 May 2023
Who can attend?
The course is available to any person holding a Bachelor's degree or higher, who's qualification requires registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (or equivalent if overseas) and/or as a legal practitioner.
The Hon Chris Maxwell AC will deliver the Society’s inaugural Paul Mullaly History and Law Lecture during Law Week 2023.
This lecture will explore the value of legal history, both as a window into social and political history and as an aid to understanding the present state of the law. By way of illustration, the lecture will highlight key aspects of criminal justice in colonial Victoria: jury trials; the role of the trial judge; and early ideas about proof and punishment; drawing on Paul Mullaly’s foundational work Crime in the Port Phillip District 1835-51.
This event will both be in person at the RHSV Gallery Downstairs, and on Zoom.
Tuesday, 16 May, 5:30pm for 6:00pm
Bookings: Link
Royal Historical Society of Victoria,
239 A'Beckett St
Melbourne
(03) 9326 9288, office@historyvictoria.org.au
On Friday, 19 May 2023, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, Colin Rimington’s new book, “History of the Criminal Justice System in Victoria”, which will be launched by The Honourable Frank Vincent AO KC.
The launch will occur in the John Phillips Room, Victoria University, Level 2, 295 Queen Street, Melbourne (enter from Little Lonsdale Street).
RSVP: crimojustice@yahoo.com by 15 May 2023.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at $40 per copy, with all proceeds going to Victoria Police Legacy.
Sisters in Crime’s 17th Law Week event: Boys behaving badly (and what to do about it). An expert panel, Elena Campbell, Ahona Guha, and Sherele Moody, chaired by Bronwyn Naylor will debate how to combat toxic masculinity and the violence perpetrated against women. Sir Zelman Cowen Centre, Victoria University, Queen Street Campus, Lecture Theatre G02, 295 Queen Street, Melbourne. Please book here by Friday, 19 May, 2:00pm.
More info here.
Please click here to view the flyer for the CIArb Introduction to International Arbitration Course on Saturday, 20 May 2023.
Guest speaker is the Honourable James Allsop AC.
Registration is now open for the International Bar Association Annual Conference 2023. Taking place at the Palais des Congrès de Paris from 29 October - 3 November 2023, this conference offers the opportunity to experience over 200 sessions on a wide range of legal topics, along with an abundance of business and networking opportunities on offer attended by some of the world’s leading lawyers.
More information about the conference programme is available on the following social media feeds:
An expression of interest process has been announced for the appointment of an external legal adviser to the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation.
Expressions of interest for the position, under a contract to commence in July 2023, are invited from suitably qualified persons. The closing date for expressions of interest is close of business on Friday, 28 April 2023.
Potential applicants are encouraged to click here for further information.
Volleyball Australia is looking to bolster its Internal Sports Tribunal with more legal practitioners. Can you help?
Volleyball Australia is the National Sporting Organisation (NSO) for indoor and beach volleyball in Australia. VA’s Internal Sports Tribunal hears matters which are not eligible to be heard by the National Sports Tribunal – this includes matters such as on-court incidents or matters which occur at a level below National. These ad-hoc hearings will be convened as needed, generally conducted virtually, outside business hours. Each Tribunal will comprise of a mix of legal practitioners and sports administrators.
We’re seeking interest from ANZSLA Members who hold a current practising certificate as a lawyer or barrister in any Australian jurisdiction to be part of VA’s Internal Sports Tribunal.
To express your interest, please contact Kate Walker (VA National Integrity Manager) at integrity@volleyball.org.au or 0435 067 668.
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.