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Victorian Bar and County Court reach agreement for mediation services
The commercial division of the County Court of Victoria has approved protocols by the Victorian Bar to refer matters to its mediators and assist clients out of the courtroom.
Naomi Neilson
The Victorian Bar has welcomed approval by the County Court to redirect some clients and their lawyers to appropriate, nationally accredited barrister mediators to assist with resolving their disputes out of court and support the court in handling heavy case loads.
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The protocol was developed to provide a method for the court to request that the Victorian Bar’s president nominates nationally accredited mediators to manage the urgent matters that cannot make it to the courtroom or in the event that the parties are not able to agree on a mediator. It will apply to commercial division proceedings.
Head of the commercial division of the County Court, his honour Edward Woodward, said of the changes: “I am very pleased that the Victorian Bar has been able to support the court in developing protocols, which will help litigants to achieve timely resolution.”
Victorian Bar CEO Katherine Lorenz said she was delighted that nationally accredited mediator Tony Elder and the alternative disputes resolution committee were able to assist the County Court in developing the scheme to provide expeditious avenues.
“We look forward to the Victorian Bar’s mediators bringing their skills to the mediation table to help clients resolve their disputes in an efficient matter,” Ms Lorenz said.
