Information for the Profession
Australian Registrars National Electronic Conveyancing Council (ARNECC)
Client Authorisation and Verification of Identity as a Result of COVID-19 (20 March 2020 - PDF)
Corrections Victoria
See the latest updates and information from the Corrections, Prisons & Parole HERE.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety have published a Fact Sheet for Prisoners as a guidance regarding the application of emergency management days for disruption or deprivation as a result of COVD-19 (20 April 2020 - PDF)
Practitioners are to be advised that in the event there are difficulties in contacting a client confidentially using the new phones in the prisons; the person at the prison to speak to is the ‘duty operations manager’. For example, if a prison staff member advises that a person cannot be contacted as they are in isolation or if the guard insists on remaining in the room during a confidential conversation, practitioners are to ask to be transferred to the duty operations manager who will ensure protocols are being properly adhered to.
Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria
Electronic signing and remote witnessing during coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Fair Work Australia
Coronavirus and Australian Workplace Laws: Find out about your workplace entitlements and obligations if you’re affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, including information about stand downs from work, working arrangements impacted by school closures, and pay and sick leave entitlements.
See the latest updates and information from the Fair Work Ombudsman HERE.
Fair Work Commission
See the latest updates and information from the Fair Work Commission HERE.
Foreign Investment Review Board
Due to the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, all monetary screening thresholds for any foreign investment have been temporarily reduced to $0. The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment (Threshold Test) Regulations 2020 gave effect to this temporary change and the Foreign Investment Board have issued GN 53 setting out examples of how the temporary changes could apply for different acquisitions.
JobWatch
Due to unprecedented demand on the JobWatch Telephone Information Service, JobWatch has developed the following resources:
Judicial College of Victoria
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a substantial impact on courts all around Australia. The Judicial College of Victoria have created this page to help courts, and court users, understand the different practices that have been put in place across the jurisdictions.
Summary: COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act - Victorian Courts & Tribunals (PDF)
Law Institute Victoria
LIV practice notes
Practice contingency planning and LIV guidance
The Law Institute of Victoria has released updated information, templates, guidance and links to assist legal practitioners plan for and respond to the current COVID-19 crisis. See our full range of practice contingency planning resources HERE.
View video recordings from the Law Institute of Victoria's regular COVID-19 practice continuity and contingency planning web chat and information webinars. COVID-19 news, legislation, and recommendations change fast, which will affect the currency of the information in some of these recordings.
Legal Practitioners Liability Committee (LPLC)
Deferral option for LPLC 2020/21 premium renewals (1 April 2020)
For the upcoming insurance renewal LPLC will offer all law practices (solicitors and barristers) currently insured with LPLC the option to defer payment of their renewal premium to 30 November 2020.
National COVID-19 Coordination Commission
The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission has created an online planning tool to help business develop a plan to keep their workers, customers and the community safe as they reopen or increase their activities in the weeks and months ahead.
Safe Work Australia
COVID-19 Information for Workplaces: Information on COVID-19 and work health and safety
Victoria Legal Aid
Changes to legal aid services, COVID-19 response
Victoria Police
COVID-19 - Interim phone measures for legal sector to facilitate client contact (8 May 2020 - PDF)
Victorian Bar
Victorian DHHS
See the latest updates and information from the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), HERE.
Directions from Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease) in accordance with emergency powers arising from declared state of emergency:
Victorian Small Business Commission
See the latest updates and information from the Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) for Commercial (including retail) tenants and landlords HERE.
Small business owner's guide to creating a mental health plan in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) (9 June 2020 - PDF)
Leasing advice - From the Victorian Small Business Commission (28 May 2020 - PDF)
Proforma letter of request from tenant to landlord (28 May 2020 - DOC)
Commercial tenancy relief scheme – support for tenants and landlords in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs (16 May 2020)
Commercial tenancy relief scheme - COVID-19 (16 April 2020)
Coronavirus - Issues for Small Business and their Lawyers (25 March 2020 - PDF)
Presentation from Judy O’Connell, Victorian Small Business Commissioner at LIV's Commercial Law Conference, 25 March 2020.
Victorian Small Business Commission mediation service and dealing with rent in response to COVID-19 (coronavirus)
In response to COVID-19 (coronavirus), from 25 March 2020, we’ll still be open and here to help small businesses, though will change how we provide our services. All VSBC mediations will move from in-person sessions to video conferencing or teleconferencing, until further notice.
VLSB+C
See the latest updates and information from the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSB+C), HERE.
Commissioner Update (20 March 2020 - PDF)
The Update includes:
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Notification of office closing to public
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Practicing certificate renewals
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Change to rules, regulations and processes
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If you cannot meet with your clients and need to take instructions
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If you are impacted by COVID-19.
Other Resources