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Victorian government launches panel to advance gender equality
A new legal services panel in Victoria will mean female barristers will have greater opportunities, in a move the state’s Attorney-General said will advance gender equality.
Lauren Croft
The Victorian Government Legal Services Panel allows government departments and agencies to purchase legal advice and representation from private law firms at competitive rates, with a number of practice areas covered, including administrative, employment, property, contracts, general commercial, and planning and environmental law.
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Legal firms can apply to be appointed to the new legal services panel for an initial fixed term of three years, starting on 1 July. The Department of Justice and Community Safety will appoint the panel through an open tender.
Firms on the new panel will have to provide an increased portion of barrister briefs and counsel fees to female barristers, with a new target of at least 50 per cent of briefs to women barristers. Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes also said that firms would be required to make reports on their diversity policy and practices as well as gender pay gaps.
“The appointment of a new legal services panel will produce high-quality, cost-competitive and consistent legal services. It will ensure that more briefs go to women barristers, boosting equal opportunity,” she said in a statement.
“The panel’s new pro bono obligations will deliver services to Victorians experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, helping those who need it most.”
Further, the panel will also aim to recognise and encourage the provision of pro bono services for vulnerable Victorians, with community legal centres to benefit from these pro bono services arrangements.
Current legal services panel firms have delivered more than $260 million in pro bono legal services since March 2016.
