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'The law is open to anyone', says bar president
Despite the debate surrounding the influx of law students in Australia, the High Court, the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Victorian Bar Association have come together to reiterate the value of having more people in the profession.
Emma Musgrave
At a recent information day held in Broadmeadows, 200 year 11 and 12 students heard from High Court Justice Michelle Gordon, Supreme Court of Victoria Chief Justice Marilyn Warren AC, and Paul Anastassiou QC, president of the Victorian Bar.
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All three parties reinforced the importance of education and career options for young people within the legal industry.
“The law is open to anyone, from any background,” said Mr Anastassiou QC.
“Talent and hard work are the criteria for a career in the law.
“Today more than 50 per cent of law graduates are women, just under 30 per cent of the Victorian Bar are women, the bar has a growing number of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and among the bar we speak more than 37 languages.”
Also present at the event was Hume Mayor Councillor Helen Patsikatheodorou, who encouraged students to look beyond what they think they know about working as a barrister.
“Being a barrister is so much more than just representing clients in court – it involves strategic case management, providing better outcomes in dispute resolution and all aspects of case management and procedure,” said Ms Patsikatheodorou.
“Barristers have specialist expertise in the law and help to shape it through their work in advocacy and policy submissions and their contribution to legal reforms.”
