Our position on vaccinations and counsel

We are pleased to see the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the return of face-to-face hearings, including the resumption of jury trials.

Our organisation is committed to providing a safe work environment for our clients, staff, counsel and everyone involved in the justice system.

We are subject to Chief Health Officer directions which mean that all VLA staff attending our offices, courts and other locations, are required to be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption. In the interests of continuing to provide as safe an environment as possible we have decided that all counsel briefed by us who will be physically appearing in a court or attending onsite at a VLA office, will be required to be fully vaccinated or have received a medical exemption.

Next steps for counsel

We will not require counsel to provide proof of vaccination status but will ask that counsel confirm that they are either vaccinated or medically exempt, by sending an email to our Chambers Advocates clerk at Briefingmanager@vla.vic.gov.au by Friday 17 December 2021. This information will be managed carefully and in accordance with our privacy obligations.

We will review this position when the directions that apply to our organisation change.

More information

If you have any questions or concerns about our position on counsel vaccinations please email Executive Director Criminal Law Dan Nicholson at dan.nicholson@vla.vic.gov.au or Chief Counsel Julia Munster at julia.munster@vla.vic.gov.au