Junior Bar Report
Welcome to the very first Junior Bar Report. The target readership for this column are barristers of not more than five years’ standing. Rather than use descriptors such as ‘junior, junior’, ‘baby juniors’ or ‘five-year barristers’, I will hereafter simply refer to such counsel as junior barristers … and hope that everyone remembers who I’m talking about.
By my rough calculation, junior barristers currently make up about 25% of the total membership of the Bar Association of Queensland. I currently serve on the Council of the Bar to represent the interests of junior barristers and, as such, this column (and the associated Forum) represents a real opportunity for junior barristers to express their timely and considered views on the issues that affect them. Do junior barristers receive adequate training? Does the pupillage system work or should it be changed? How does a junior barrister stay in work? How should a junior barrister deal with practical problems such as finding chambers or managing an overdraft?
It is my intention for this column to address topics such as these and, in the process, hopefully spark some discussion on the Forum. I welcome any comments on the Forum regarding this, and future columns. Indeed, I encourage junior barristers to make use of that facility.
It won’t all be serious stuff though. I am happy to receive and relay any and all anecdotes, photographs, rumours and news from the social scene. On that note, I went along to drinks in the Bar Common Room on Friday, 23 February 2007 for barristers of not more than 3 years’ standing. It was a very well attended event, with many Bar Council members and Silk present to hand out some advice over a few beers. Personally, I thought it was a great way to welcome those who had just completed the Bar Practice Course and to meet our peers. I hope that it remains a fixture on the calendar in the future. I should also say that the drinks proved a fertile hunting ground for Bar cricket recruitment, with the President giving the team an admirable plug. It was only a matter of time before persistence and alcohol claimed some victims and I commend Tony Moynihan SC and David Meredith for not recanting the following Monday morning despite their lack of whites or, in their words, “talent”. Despite their misgivings, I am sure they will give the New South Welshmen something to talk about…
Chris Crawford
The South-Western Downs Bar
This is the first time that someone has asked for a report from the South-West Downs Region, and I am grateful for the opportunity.
There are five members of the bar association that have chambers in the Downs Region. One of our members, namely Phillip Crook, practises out of Warwick. Robbie Davies, Julie Michael, Scott Lynch and myself all have chambers in Toowoomba.
The region is well served by the Judiciary. In a normal calendar year the Supreme Court goes on Circuit and visits Toowoomba (4 weeks) and Roma (1 week). The District Court visits various centres namely, Toowoomba (22 weeks), Warwick (6 weeks), Stanthorpe (2 weeks), Roma (8 weeks), Dalby (3 weeks), Charleville/Cunnamulla (6 weeks), Kingaroy (10 weeks) and Goondiwindi (4 weeks).
There are two permanent Magistrates in Toowoomba and one permanent Magistrate in Warwick, Dalby, Charleville and Kingaroy, each of whom visits the various towns in their local jurisdiction.
We are all looking forward to the first edition of Hearsay to be launched at the BAQ Conference to be held at the Gold Coast on 17 and 18 March 2007.
A number of us will be venturing down the mountain to meet a number of you at the Gold Coast. We look forward to seeing you there.
If any counsel is visiting Toowoomba, I would like to extend an open invitation to join me in a little drink and chat. I can be contacted on 0408 871135 and we can indulge “in vino veritas”.
Frank Martin
The Gold Coast Bar
Although relatively small in number, the Gold Coast Bar Association is a proud association boasting many senior members of the Queensland Bar.
Late last year at a swearing in ceremony for Magistrate Graham Lee, I heard a senior local member of the Bar explain how the Gold Coast Bar has evolved in recent years. It was said that, “In years gone by, the Gold Coast Bar was thought of by others as a shallow sandy stretch of water at the southern tip of South Stradbroke Island, dangerous to negotiate, with murky waters and to be avoided at all cost” .
However, I am pleased to say that the Gold Coast Bar is far removed from that description and in reality is a Bar which has a wealth of experience with a large number of experienced practising Barristers and at least two large chamber groups.
The local Bar has always been home to a well respected local District Court Bench and Magistracy in the past. The local District Court bench has recently undergone a change with two of the three local Judges (Rackemann DCJ and Dearden DCJ) departing for Brisbane and Beenleigh respectively. The Association thanks the Judges for their contribution to the local profession and wishes them all the best in their new districts.
His Honour Judge Newton has remained as the long standing resident Judge, and it was with great pleasure that the Gold Coast Bar Association held a welcoming lunch for His Honour Judge Wall QC on 23 February 2007.
His Honour was welcomed as the newest resident District Court Judge. His Honour Judge Newton was an Honoured guest of the association as well.
Judge Wall QC was welcomed by way of a gathering of the association executive of Bernie Reily (President), Dane Thornburgh (Secretary), Mark Whitbread (Treasurer) and other members of the Association.
His Honour was welcomed in true Gold Coast style at the Southport Yacht Club. The afternoon was spent with members mixing with their Honours while enjoying the splendid view over the vast fleet of vessels which call the Yacht Club home, as well as sampling some of the Coast’s best seafood, and some fine wines.
Bernie Reily delivered a welcoming speech to His Honour and Judge Wall QC kindly exercised his right of reply, which set the tone for the afternoon.
His Honour read from a transcript of one of his first matters here on the Gold Coast in which the accused was quick to discuss what he saw as the Judges professionalism, and was extremely impressed with the way His Honour ran his Court. the following is an excerpt:
HIS HONOUR ——- And you are discharged………
ACCUSED——– Thank you, your Honour. And thank you for being a fair and unbiased judge in the matter, thank you very much.
HIS HONOUR——– That’s what I’m here for.
ACCUSED———- Yeah, well, it’s very rare that you get it these days, Sir, refreshing to see.
HIS HONOUR—— Thank you.
ACCUSED——– And your sense of humour, your Honour.
While the afternoon was a chance for senior members of the Bar such as Matt Pope to discuss previous experiences he had shared with Judge Wall QC at the Townsville Bar, the afternoon was also a great opportunity for the local Bar to renew acquaintances and introduce themselves to His Honour, as well as spend some social time with Judge Newton.
Judge Wall QC comes to the Southport bench with a wealth of experience and the Bar looks forward to appearing before His Honour.
Her Honour Judge Kingham has also been transferred to Southport, however Her Honour was unfortunately unable to attend the welcoming lunch. Although disappointed that Her Honour was unable to attend, it does provide an excuse to hold another welcoming lunch in Judge Kingham’s honour in the near future.
Dane Thornburgh
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