Who is on the Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List

Only barristers on the Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List can be briefed for major criminal trials of longer than 15 days. In all other criminal trials, an exception is required from Victoria Legal Aid in advance to brief barristers who are not on the Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List.

The Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List operates in harmony with the Victorian Bar Indictable Crime Certificate accreditation scheme. This is reflected in one of the key entry criteria for membership on the list, which requires the barrister to apply for or maintain an Indictable Crime Certificate.

Briefing a barrister

Victoria Legal Aid expects practitioners to exercise their professional judgement and employ a sensible briefing practice in selecting appropriately qualified barristers for different trials.

A practitioner must obtain approval from Victoria Legal Aid prior to briefing Senior Counsel. If a practitioner briefs Senior Counsel without the appropriate grant of legal assistance, counsel will be paid at Senior Junior rates in accordance with the fees in Table F and Table M.

Also see Briefing Victoria Legal Aid Chambers to engage the services of our advocates.

Who is on the list

The Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List includes barristers who have applied to be on the list and have satisfied the entry requirements for membership. While Victoria Legal Aid is confident that all preferred barristers are qualified to conduct criminal trials, they all have different levels of experience and expertise.

The list includes members from the Victorian Bar and public defenders from Victoria Legal Aid Chambers.

Members from the Victorian Bar

Public defenders from Victoria Legal Aid Chambers

More information

For more information to assist practitioners with understanding the changes to briefing a barrister for a criminal trial and navigating the changes to ATLAS, please see:

• Guideline 4 – trials in the County and Supreme courts
• Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List frequently asked questions (docx, 143.78 KB)
• user guide ATLAS Changes to the Simplified Process – Indictable Crime – Trial application form (docx, 428.53 KB).