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LIV Management & Governance

LIV Council & Executive Information

Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) Council

Subject to the Corporations Act and provisions of the Law Institute of Victoria Limited Constitution, the Council is the supreme policy making forum for the Institute. 

The Council’s role is:

  • To take a lead in determining the objectives, policies and strategic direction of the Institute
  • To ensure compliance with statutory requirements
  • To communicate and liaise with members and other relevant parties
  • To monitor organisational performance

Composition of the LIV Council

Council consists of 18 practitioners from the following categories:

Subject to Clause 45.1 of the Constitution the Council at all times the Council comprises the following number of members from the categories specified below, so far as is practicable:

(1)

3 members of the Company being City Legal Practitioners;

(2)

3 members of the Company being Suburban Legal Practitioners;

(3) 

3 members of the Company being Country Legal Practitioners;

(4)  

1 member of the Company being a Corporate Legal Practitioner;

(5)

1 member of the Company being a Legal Aid Practitioner; and

(6)

7 other members of the Company who may fall into any of the above 5 categories.

45.2 

Despite the requirement that there must be a certain minimum number of Council members fulfilling the categories set out in clause 45.1, the Council members are elected by the vote of the entire membership as one electorate and do not represent the particular category that they fulfil and do represent the entire membership.

45.3 

In order to give effect to clause 46.5, the number of Council members may exceed 18.

45.4

At all times a Council member must hold a current local practising certificate unless the Council determines otherwise.

LIV Executive (Office Bearers)

Pursuant to Article 51.1 of Constitution the LIV Council delegates its authority to the Executive (Office Bearers) to implement Council policies and decisions or deal with the day to day matters where exigencies preclude deferral to the next Council meeting, or to which specific Council policies apply.

The LIV Executive (Office Bearers) consists of 5 members

(1)  

the President;

(2) 

the President Elect;

(3)    

the Vice President;

(4)

the Immediate Past President; and

(5)

an additional member of the Council (“Fifth Executive Member”).

49.2  

The President Elect holds seniority over the Vice President.

49.3 

The more senior available of the President Elect or Vice-President shall discharge the duties of the President where the President is unable to do so.

50.1

The office bearers constitute the Executive of the Company.

50.2 

In the event that one of the office bearer positions in clause 49.1 is not filled or becomes vacant, the Council may elect another member of Council to the Executive in lieu of the relevant position in accordance with clause 56.3 and clause 54.

LIV Constitution

The Law Institute of Victoria Limited Constitution (pdf) was adopted by special resolution at the Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 16 November 2011.

LIV Portfolio’s

There are 7 Portfolios, consistent with the internal management structure of the LIV, namely:

Corporate Governance Portfolio   
Bruce Pippett – Chair)
 
Member Services, Marketing and Communications Portfolio
Danny Barlow – Chair
 
Education Portfolio 
Lucy Terracall – Chair
 
Future Focus Portfolio      
Reynah Tang – Chair
 
Constituent Liaison Portfolio
Caroline Counsel – Chair
 
Professional Standards & Regulation Portfolio 
Michael Holcroft – Chair
 
Justice Portfolio
Mark Woods – Chair

LIV Committees of Council

Committees of Council tend to cover areas that are of interest to the profession as a whole or to the Governance of the organisation.  Committees of Council are a structure which enables committees to be formed and disbanded as required.  Committees may also approach the Council for approval to form a Section. 

There are 14 Committees of Council:

Access to Justice Committee                                         
Mark Woods – Chair
 
Accident Compensation Committee                                  
Harry Gill – Chair
 
Audit Committee                                                          
Michael Holcroft – Chair
 
Awards Committee                                                       
Caroline Counsel – Chair
 
Costs Policy Committee                                                   
Bruce Pippett – Chair
 
CPD Compliance Advisory Committee                               
Jo Kerr – Chair
 
Country Law Association Committee                                
Mark Woods – Chair
 
Ethics Committee                                                         
Richard Fleming – Chair
 
Law Institute Journal Editorial Committee                         
Reynah Tang – Chair
 
Medico Legal Joint Standing Committee                          
Dominique Saunders & Jane Stephens
 
Rules of Practice Committee                                          
Steven Stevens – Chair
 
Specialisation Board                                                     
David Brett – Chair
 
Suburban Law Association Committee                             
Bruce Pippett – Chair

Each year the incoming President reconstitutes the committees of Council and ensures that committees are established in accordance with Clause 85 to 87 of the LIV Constitution:

85.

 Committees of Council

85.1

 

The Council may delegate any of its powers to:

(1)

standing committees:

(2)

ad hoc committees; or

(3) 

 

any other person as permitted by the Corporations Act

 

And may revoke the delegation

85.2

 

A Committee formed under clause 85.1 or a person must, in exercising the powers so delegated, conform to any regulations from time to time imposed on it by the Council.

85.3

Otherwise the meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of 2 or more members are governed by the provisions in this constitution regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Council, in      so far as they are applicable.

86.

Membership of Committees

86.1

The committees of the Council may consist of Council members only, or of Council members and other persons whether members of the Company or not.

86.2

The Council has the power to appoint and remove members of committees of the Council.

86.3

The President is an ex officio member of all committees of the Council.

87.

Validation of Acts of Council Members

87.1 

All acts done at a meeting of the Council or of a committee of the Council or by a person acting as a Council member or delegate are, although it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment or continuance in office, was qualified to be a Council member or delegate and was entitled to vote.

Role of Management     

The role of LIV management is:
  •  

To put in place policies and procedures to ensure the company fulfils its obligations under Corporations law as delegated by the Council

  •  

To achieve strategic and operational outcomes

  •  

To communicate with members to determine their needs and put in place mechanisms to meet those needs through appropriate service provision

  •  

To keep abreast of government legislation and potential legislation and ensure that the LIV has a role in formulating policy to the benefit of its members and the community

  •  

To fulfil the regulatory role as delegated by the LSB/LSC

  •  

To assist Council in maintaining a public profile for the LIV as the peak legal body in Victoria

  •  

To ensure Council are kept informed of relevant issues and of organisational performance

Further information

If you would like any further detail about the process or what being a member of Council involves, of if you would like to discuss this with the CEO or a current Council member please do not hesitate to contact:-

Executive Secretary to Council
Jody Culey
Ph: (03) 9607 9372
Email: jculey@liv.asn.au

CEO
Mr Michael Brett Young
Ph: (03) 9607 9368
Email: ceo@liv.asn.au

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