- Victorian Bar
The Victorian Bar is the
bar association for theAustralia n State of Victoria. It's members arebarrister s registered to practice in Victoria. As of19 January 2006 , there are 1627 counsel practising as members of the Victorian Bar.ref|num_counsel Once a barrister has been admitted to practice by theSupreme Court of Victoria , he or she is usually eligible to join the Victorian Bar. The Victorian Bar is affiliated with the Australian Bar Association and is a member of theLaw Council of Australia .The first association of barristers in Victoria was formed in 1884, although the first barristers admitted to practice in Victoria were appointed in 1841. A group of barristers composed rules of practice and regulations for interacting with
solicitor s and clients. On20 June 1900 an official Bar Council was established, and a Bar Roll was started. By 1902, all barristers practising inMelbourne had signed the Roll. To this day, new barristers sign the roll once they are admitted to the bar.Barristers' Chambers Limited (BCL), a company owned by the Victorian Bar Council, owns a number of complexes of barristers' chambers in
Melbourne . It was established in 1959 Many barristers have their chambers in these complexes. TheOwen Dixon Chambers East and West and theDouglas Menzies Chambers, both located directly opposite the Supreme Court building in William Street, are owned by BCL.In 2001, the Victorian Bar launched a Legal Assistance Scheme in association with the
Public Interest Law Clearing House , in order to coordinate "pro bono " work among barristers in Victoria.Chief Justice of Australia Murray Gleeson praised the Bar for its effort to "making access to justice not only a catch-phrase but a practical reality for many people."ref|lasReferences
# cite web | title=Size and Composition | work=Victorian Bar | url=http://www.vicbar.com.au/2_1_5.html | accessdaymonth=19 January | accessyear=2006
# cite web | title=Murray Gleeson - Launch of the Victorian Bar Legal Assistance Scheme | work=High Court of Australia | url=http://www.hcourt.gov.au/speeches/cj/cj_vicbar.htm | accessdaymonth=19 January | accessyear=2006ee also
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Bar council External links
* [http://www.vicbar.com.au/ http://www.vicbar.com.au/] - the Victorian Bar's website
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