Program Overview

• 2021 CPD Intensive – Succession Law Stream - Friday 19 Mar
  • 8:50 AM Webinar Launch
    The webinar will launch ten minutes before the intensive begins. It is recommended that you log in a few minutes early to test your settings and familiarise yourself with webinar features.
  • 9:00 AM Opening & Welcome
  • 9:05 AM Keynote Address – The Honourable Justice McMillan together with Kate Price, Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court

    Our esteemed presenter the Honourable Justice McMillan along with the Registrar of Probates Kate Price will discuss current issues pertinent in the area of succession law, including learnings from the RedCrest system which has now been in operation for 9 months. In this interactive session, you will also have the unique opportunity to submit your questions in advance for our presenters to address as part of their presentation.

    Compliance area: Practice Management & Business Skills/Professional Skills

    Keynote speakers:

    • The Honourable Justice McMillan, Supreme Court of Victoria
    • Kate Price, Registrar of Probates, Supreme Court of Victoria
      
  • 10:10 AM Wellbeing Break
  • 10:15 AM Essential Succession Law Updates

    Even in times of relative stability succession law is always developing and practitioners need to be on top of the changes to practice effectively in this area. In this session, Ursula Stanisich of the Victorian Bar will cover some of the key case law updates that have occurred over the past 12 months.

    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Presenter: Ursula Stanisich, Victorian Bar
    

  • 11:15 AM Morning Tea Break
  • 11:35 AM Practising Law in the New World: Risk management for 2021

    Risk management is always front of mind for any practitioner but 2021 is expected to bring a range of new issues not seen before in private practice. Even as we slowly begin to return to the office, it is unlikely the legal workforce will look exactly as it once did. Working from home (even if only some of the time) and increased flexibility brings with it a range of new considerations, and practices need to have systems and processes in place to avoid the risks of having employees working across multiple venues at different times.

    In this session, we will uncover some of the new risks 2021 is likely to bring and the steps practitioners can take to help to set up their practices and help avoid these.

    Compliance area: Practice Management & Business Skills

    Presenter: Stephen Bubb, Risk Manager, Legal Practitioners’ Liability Commission
    

  • 12:35 PM Lunch Break
  • 1:10 PM Issuing Proceedings in the Supreme Court v County Court: Panel discussion

    What is the process you go through to decide whether to issue proceedings in the Supreme Court or the County Court? Do you have a clear matrix you follow or is a decision made more on an ad hoc, case-by-case basis?

    Deciding which court to issue in is an everyday decision for succession law practitioners, but it’s not always as straightforward as it may seem. In this highly practical panel discussion, our panellists will engage in an open discussion about how they make this important decision. We will look at the matrix or criteria they go through when deciding whether to issue in the Supreme Court or the County Court, the rationale for the decision and why some practitioners seem to prefer one court over the other.

    Compliance area: Substantive Law/Professional Skills

    Moderator: Helen McGowan, Principal Legal Director, Halliday Solicitors

    Panellists:

    • Louise Gehrig, Partner, Piper Alderman
    • Eleanor Coates, Barrister, Victorian Bar
    • Bibi Amidzic, Director, Zion Legal, Accredited Specialist, Wills & Estates
  • 2:10 PM Wellbeing Break
  • 2:15 PM Abuse of Powers of Attorney

    Abuse of powers of attorney is a common and sometimes complex issue and practitioners need to know the steps to take when a client comes to them with an abuse matter. In this session, we take an in-depth look at the options open to claimants in this area, discover the role of the Supreme Court and VCAT when it comes to abuse of powers of attorney and analyse key cases in this space.

    Topics include:

    • The options when a suspected abuse has arisen, including the role of the Supreme Court & VCAT
    • Key cases on abuse of powers of attorney
    • Relevant law reform proposals
      

    
    

    Compliance area: Substantive Law

    Presenter: Ingrid Braun, Barrister, Victorian Bar

  • 3:15 PM Afternoon Tea Break
  • 3:30 PM Ethics in Practice

    Facilitated by LIV ethics experts Donna Cooper and Michael Dolan, this closing session brings together attendees of all three intensive streams to collaboratively discuss and formulate solutions to challenging ethical issues that can arise in daily property, family and succession law practice.

    Discussion topics include:

    • A solicitor’s paramount duty to the court and administration of justice
    • Inadvertent disclosure of confidential material
    • Confidentiality
    • Conflict of interest

    
    

    Compliance area: Ethics & Professional Responsibility

    Presenters:

    • Michael Dolan, Special Counsel, Ethics and Professional Practice, Law Institute of Victoria
    • Donna Cooper, Head of Ethics, Wellbeing and Practitioner Support, Law Institute of Victoria
      
  • 4:30 PM Close & Virtual Networking
    Following the close of the conference at 4.30pm, attendees are invited to remain online to connect and network with fellow attendees until 5.15pm.