COVID-19 Information & Resources for the Legal Profession
The LIV is closely following the rapidly escalating COVID-19 pandemic government directives and we remain “open for business” to support members through these challenging times.
Message from the LIV Chief Executive (26 August 2020)
The LIV has been working closely with Government and other legal stakeholders to ensure the justice system can continue to operate during COVID-19. We were not, however, consulted in advance of the government introducing the State of Emergency Extension and Other Matters Bill. We note it has now been released publicly here.
While we understand the purpose of the extension of time for the State of Emergency is to provide the necessary legal infrastructure to enable the Chief Health Officer directives to be enforceable, we have also advocated that government consider a more proportionate extension of time.
We continue to meet regularly with the Department of Justice and Attorney General’s office, Heads of jurisdictions, Legal Services Commissioner, Vic Bar, LPLC to discuss COVID-19 issues arising for the profession, to provide feedback from you and on your behalf.
We have also initiated feedback directly to government on a number of key issues. We wrote to the Attorney-General in relation to how to reduce the backlog in Courts and Tribunals. We also urged the Attorney and the Department of Justice to extend the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 and related regulations as soon as practical considering the further restrictions. We have also proposed what elements of the COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 the profession would like to see retained, considered for permanent adoption or removed post COVID.
We have also actively advocated for the profession in advance and subsequent to the application of Stage 4 restrictions. There are very limited specific exceptions connected to solicitors acting in urgent court and tribunal matters as well as the administration of Justice. The administration of justice exception only applies in extremely limited and urgent circumstances such as to execute a Will or urgent power of attorney or to retrieve critical documents being held in safe custody which are needed urgently and cannot otherwise be reasonably delayed. This exception has been achieved as a direct result of the continual advocacy of the LIV on behalf of members. In addition, the Law Institute of Victoria, together with the Victorian Bar, the Courts and other stakeholders have been working with the Department of Justice and Community Safety to enable lawyers who appear before judicial officers, whether it be in person or online, to access childcare when their matters are being heard.
We continue to provide members with key information as it relates to COVID-19 as soon as we can. The following provide examples of the critical information provided over the recent weeks:
Positive feedback has been received from members, the VLSB, LPLC and government agencies.
I encourage you continue checking our COVID-19 Hub for regular updates.
Adam Awty
Chief Executive
From the LIV President, Sam Pandya
Message to members (14 July 2020)
Video update to members explaining the LIV’s advocacy efforts with the courts, directing members to the LIV's COVID-19 Information hub and urging members to stay (virtually) connected with each other and to the LIV (26 March 2020).