Australian Bar Association

Combating ‘broification’, ‘Baby Reindeer’-like workplace conduct, and the entrenched gender pay gap

New mandatory equality and wellbeing barrister training proposed by the Australian Bar Association could help fight...

06 March 2025

By Penny Thew

Value of briefs to women barristers still too low, despite ‘positive’ signs for equality targets

“The pay gap remains too wide”: There is reason for optimism about greater gender inclusivity at the Australian...

20 February 2025

By Jerome Doraisamy

Judicial independence ‘not a luxury or privilege to dispense with’, report finds

When it comes to the extent of judicial independence in Australia, a new report has found that “there is much to be...

02 December 2024

By Jerome Doraisamy

Barristers must be exempt from AML/CTF regime, bar associations argue

Bar associations have “critical concerns” about the inclusion of barristers in the proposed expanded regime for...

21 October 2024

By Jerome Doraisamy

Australian Bar Association announces new executive team

In addition to securing the position of president and vice-presidents, the Australian Bar Association created the role...

18 December 2023

By Naomi Neilson

Barristers encouraged by Commonwealth’s progress on equitable briefing

Recently released data from the Attorney-General’s Department show a “notable positive performance” from the...

04 December 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

Former Bar Association president named Supreme Court judge in WA

Matthew Howard SC, who has served as the president of both the Australian Bar and WA Bar associations, has been...

26 June 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

Inquiry bombshells, budget reflections and Voice viewpoints: What’s hot in law this week (8-12 May)

A major public inquiry is heating up, and senior lawyers are having their say on the Voice. Here is your weekly...

13 May 2023

By Lawyers Weekly

Former Bar Association presidents call shadow A-G’s Voice comments ‘wrong’, ‘not correct’

In an interview with News Corp earlier this week, Senator Michaelia Cash said that the proposed Voice to Parliament...

11 May 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

Former ABA, LCA presidents throw support behind Voice

Six silks, all of whom have served as presidents of the Australian Bar Association or Law Council of Australia, have...

27 April 2023

By Jess Feyder

2023 ‘presents several opportunities for barristers’

When it comes to learning and development, the coming year offers enormous scope for growth, say two bar association...

16 January 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

23 new SCs named in Victoria

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria has announced the appointment of 23 new senior counsel in the Garden...

03 November 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

Prosecution of lawyer-turned-whistleblower ‘unjust and anti-democratic’

David McBride will soon face his defence hearing regarding his whistleblowing on war crimes allegedly committed by...

27 October 2022

By Jess Feyder

What role will lawyers play in the Voice to Parliament referendum?

Within this term of Parliament, the Albanese government will hold a referendum on whether to enshrine an Aboriginal...

06 October 2022

By Jess Feyder

Lawyers laud ‘historic’ appointment of Jayne Jagot to High Court

Legal advocates and member associations are celebrating the appointment of Justice Jayne Jagot to the High Court of...

29 September 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

Smaller firms ‘sitting ducks’ following Optus data breach

Following a massive data breach leaving the personal information of potentially millions of Optus customers...

28 September 2022

By Lauren Croft

Queen’s Counsel to become King’s Counsel

In a statement issued first to Lawyers Weekly, the Australian Bar Association (ABA) has confirmed that persons...

09 September 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

Barristers should be ‘enormously proud’ of how they’ve managed the pandemic years

Australian barristers have seen a “generation’s worth” of evolution in the space of two years, Dr Matt Collins QC...

05 September 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

‘Steady decline in gender disparity’ offers encouraging signs for women at the bar

Whilst female practitioners remain “significantly under-represented” among the barristerial cohort — a concern...

22 August 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

‘Entirely inappropriate’: Legal orgs continue to hit back at PM

Governments in Australia wouldn’t get far having “no truck” with lawyers, say legal member...

12 May 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy