In recent months, Warner and Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) have faced the wrath of the profession as the VLA has tightened its eligibility guidelines to address what is expected to be a $3 million deficit.

Late last month, the president of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV), Reynah Tang, said its relationship with the VLA had reached a “new low ebb”.

“The changes introduced by VLA in January without consultation have in effect given us a two-tier justice system – one for those who can afford it and a lesser one for legal aid clients,” said Tang.

Tang’s comments came after the LIV and VLA were involved in a bitter dispute over its decision not to fund a defendant accused of attempted murder last month.

LCA president Joe Catanzariti, who has previously criticised the Federal Government for a reduction in its proportion of legal aid funding, said Australia is currently experiencing diminishing levels of access to justice.

“We have continually talked about more funding for legal aid – but we are getting nowhere,” Catanzariti told Lawyers Weekly in an interview in January.

In addition to Warner, notable speakers include John Cain, the managing partner of Herbert Geer and a former Victorian Government Solicitor, Saul Holt SC the chief counsel at the VLA and Nicholas Cowdery QC, the former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions.

The national Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC and shadow Attorney-General George Brandis SC will also debate their respective party’s policies on access to justice.

Lucy Scott-Moncrief, the president of the Law Society of England and Wales, will also be speaking.