Private practitioners encouraged to join in achieving equitable briefing objectives in 2023

We are committed to progressing our Equitable Briefing Strategy into 2023 and are looking forward to private practitioners joining us in achieving the six objectives of the strategy:

1. Setting and achieving equitable briefing targets
2. Considering equitable briefing when selecting barristers
3. Applying equitable briefing principles when we engage for services
4. Promoting diversity through training and development opportunities
5. Engaging with external agencies, stakeholders and the public to promote diversity
6. Monitoring and reporting transparently about our performance.

In October 2022 we shared our 2021–22 VLA in-house briefing data, which showed that 46 per cent of counsel across our practice areas were women. However, the fees paid to women counsel and the number of matters briefed to women counsel were lower.

Many private practitioners have already expressed strong support for briefing women and diverse counsel. In 2023, we will encourage private practitioners to join us in briefing more women and diverse counsel and will count all VLA funded matters in our briefing targets. We will provide a range of supports including training, development and opportunities to learn more about diverse counsel.

Executive project lead and Chief Counsel Julia Munster says the Equitable Briefing Strategy is one of a number of great initiatives for private practitioners to promote diversity and inclusion.

‘Clients come from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. By driving change to create more opportunities for women and diverse groups within the legal profession, we hope to address longstanding inequality and better represent both our clients and the diversity of the communities we serve.’

VLA is a signatory to the Law Council of Australia’s Equitable Briefing Policy and the Law Institute of Victoria’s Charter for the Advancement of Women. We developed our Equitable Briefing Strategy to guide fairer briefing practices. It is one avenue to create more opportunities and promoting greater diversity within the legal profession.

Please look out for further communications from us in the new year about how you can join us in creating more opportunities for women and diverse counsel within the legal profession.