Updating our position on vaccinations and counsel

As COVID-19 restrictions in the justice sector continue to ease we are updating our processes for counsel briefed by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA).

We continue to require counsel briefed by us, who are physically appearing in court or attending one of our offices, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This helps us to provide a safe working environment for our clients, staff, counsel and justice sector colleagues.

All VLA staff attending our offices, courts and other locations also continue to be required to be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption, in line with government requirements.

Updated requirements

Thank you to those counsel who advised us of their vaccination status as requested in December 2021.

Given the very high rates of vaccination within the Victorian community we no longer require barristers to confirm in writing that they are vaccinated.

Instead, we trust that in accepting a brief from VLA you are acting in good faith and confirming that you have met our vaccination requirements.

The information collected from barristers since December 2021 about their vaccination status will be destroyed and won’t be used for any other purpose.

More information

If you have any questions or concerns about our position on counsel vaccination requirements 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.