Our annual calendar is packed full of education seminars, professional development competitions, career-focused activities, discussion forums, networking and social events. This page is regularly update to included latest news and event bulletins from LIV Young Lawyers.
LIV Young Lawyers' is proud to present the annual Victorian Golden Gavel Competition!!
Thursday 16 August
Enter now to compete on behalf of your firm The Golden Gavel Competition provides an opportunity for young lawyers to combine their wit and public speaking skills. With only 24 hours to prepare, competitors present a five minute speech on a range of comical yet hard-hitting topics. The winning entrant will have the opportunity to represent Victoria in the National Golden Gavel Competition. There are only 10 positions available, so register as a competitor now to secure you spot.
Download the registration form for more information and to register as a competitor. (pdf)
LIV Young Lawyers Blog
New for 2012
Our first blog, written by President Amanda Storey, explores the power of LIV Young Lawyers. We welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback. Future blogs will include practical tips, insights into the practice of law and important updates for law students, graduates and new lawyers.
LIV Young Lawyers 21 Challenge team
June 1 - 21
LIV Young Lawyers is taking The 21 Challenge to raise money to support homeless and at-risk young people in Australia. There are more than 32,000 young people who sleep on our streets every night and together we want to help do something about it. The 21 Challenge supports Open Family Australia, an organisation that has been working with at-risk youth for more than 30 years. By joining our team you'll be supporting Open Family Australia's outreach programs with vulnerable young people, ensuring they have the best chance to get the help they need to get off the streets. In 2011 we raised over $5000 by taking the challenge, this year we hope to double that! Join the LIV Young Lawyers team now.
YL Law Week Event - Thinking Outside the Commercial Box
Being held on Wednesday, 16 May, 6 -7.30pm, come along and be inspired to think outside the box by listening to a range of lawyers practicing in all types of law share their experiences and provide practical advice about their practice. Hear from young lawyers who work in the following practice:
-
In house Counsel
-
Community Legal Centre
-
Legal & Policy Officer
-
Criminal Law
Speakers will discuss:
-
Where they work and the type of law they practice in;
-
The actual day to day work they do; and
-
An interesting matter they have been involved in.
The purpose of the event is to give a feel for some of the less well known areas of law in which people practice i.e. those areas outside the more typical commercial / corporate legal sphere where information in regularly available. This event is free and
registrations are essential.
Download the event flier (PDF)
Law Week Mock Trial - Thursday 17 May, 5.30 - 7pm
Have you ever wondered what goes on in a trial and what roles all the different people play? Find out at this mock criminal trial presented by the LIV and the Victorian Bar. The trial will demystify the judicial process and give insight into how a criminal trial works. Those attending might be lucky enough to be selected to be part of the Jury who will determine the fate of the defendant. In the grand surrounds of the Banco Court, watch barristers, solicitors and the judiciary play out the drama of this fictional drug possession case. The defendant, Evelyn Cannon, has been charged with possession of cocaine. Will she be found guilty or innocent? The case study of DPP v Evelyn Cannon has been prepared by the Australian Advocacy Institute. The LIV and Victorian Bar thank the Australian Advocacy Institute for its generous support. The YLS involves young lawyers in this mock trial by inviting young lawyers to play the roles of instructing solicitors, prosecution, defence and witnesses who are cross examined and re-examined by counsel. More information.
Hot Topics: Money Money Money
Real Estate - Investing in property
Join the LIV Young Lawyers’ Section for the second seminar of the 2012 Hot Topics Series, being held on Wednesday 23 May. The purpose of the event is to provide young lawyers with everyday advice regarding buying property, including investment property and buying your first home. The aim of the session is to provide general advice and what you need to know when considering buying property, including tax rules, stamp duty, property inspections and working with real estate agents.
Topics Include:
-
Planning to buy property
-
How to inspect your property before buying
-
The BUYING process
-
How to get the most out of your REAL ESTATE agent
Registrations are now open, please register online or download the registration form
2012 Short Story Competition
Looking for a way to express your creative side? Enter the LIV Young Lawyers 2012 Short Story Competition. Submissions must be 1000 - 1200 words and commence with the phrase “I wish I hadn’t said that”. Entries due by 29 June. The winning entry will be published in the summer edition of the Young Lawyers Journal and receive other great prizes. All other submissions will be published online.
Download the competition flier (PDF)
2012 Health & Wellbeing Series
Session 1: Dealing with Difficult People, Tuesday 24 April, 12.30pm - 2pm
Session 2: Managing Stress & Anxiety, Wednesday 25 July, 12.30pm - 2pm
Session 3: Your Physical Health, Wednesday 31 October, 12.30pm - 2pm
Following from the success in 2011, the Young Lawyers section is once again hosting three sessions focusing on personal sustainability. The Health & Wellbeing series will explore three different topics while focusing on the health and wellbeing of new lawyers, arming them with information on these topics and the impacts on lawyers specifically in order to assist them throughout their professional and personal lives.
The focus of this series is prevention and intervention.
Download the series flier now (PDF)
Information for Regional & Suburban Young Lawyers
Are you working in regional or suburban Victoria? Did you know the YLS has a specific Regional & Suburban Young Lawyers Committee (RSYLC) which provides a vital support network for young lawyers practicing in regional Victoria or suburban Melbourne? Our objective is to assist you in developing your personal and professional skills and assist you in expanding your networks and making friends. To contact your regional or suburban representative contact the young lawyers section. Contact your YLS representative via email younglaw@liv.asn.au.
YLS Law Reform Committee Sentencing Bulletin
Both the former and current governments have rallied for changes to sentencing regimes. Some of those reforms came into operation on 1 May 2011 and include the abolition of suspended sentences and mandatory imprisonment for certain crimes. Learn about those changes by reading the Sentencing bulletin (pdf), prepared by the Law Reform Committee.
Vic Lawyers' Health Line (VLHL)
VLHL is a pilot health and wellbeing service, providing independent and confidential assistance to all Victorian legal practitioners, law students, judges and LIV members. The VLHL offers a unique combination of services, including:
-
Counselling - face-to-face and by telephone
-
Debriefing - for legal practitioners dealing with emotionally difficult cases
-
Managers Hotline - advice for legal employers dealing with employees experiencing mental health issues
-
Referrals - helping you identify appropriate services
-
Information - about mental health, admission and practising certificates.
More information.
Whitelion Bail Out 2012
Register now to support youth at risk What is the Whitelion Bail Out? Bail Out exposes participants (inmates) to life on the inside with activities that simulate prison life. Inmates will be stripped of possessions, fingerprinted, photographed and subjected to interrogation, and will also appear before a Magistrate in a mock court proceeding before being sentenced to some cell time. Each inmate needs to raise a minimum of $1,000 bail to secure their released. How can I get involved? You can Register to participate, donate to the appeal, or attend the Parole Party. More information.
LIV 2012 Legal Awards - President's Award
Vote for the Rising Star
The President's Awards celebrate outstanding law firms and individuals who truly advance the legal profession, contribute to community or demonstrate excellence in legal practice in Victoria. As nominations are judged by a panel of lawyers drawn from the legal profession, it is an opportunity for winners to be recognised by their professional peers as being the best in what they do. It is also an opportunity for you to nominate individuals or law firms that you feel should be recognised for their extraordinary achievements.
Past winners of the Rising Star award: 2011 - Kim McFarlane, Tyler Tipping & Woods, 2010 - Daniel Webb, Victoria Legal Aid, 2008 - Marika Dias, Western Suburbs Legal Service. More information.
To see what events are coming up for young lawyers visit the whatsOn calendar.