LIV Services & Support
The LIV is closely following the COVID-19 pandemic government directives and we remain “open for business” to support members through these challenging times:
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We have created this Information Hub to be the one-stop source of information for the legal profession
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Relevant staff and teams are working remotely to deliver member services
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CPD and education programs have been moved to online formats
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LIV Practice Contingency Planning resources and Practice Notes on witnessing and signing documents are available HERE.
We remain available to help with any queries you may have.
Contents:
Quick Contacts
First and foremost your wellbeing and that of your colleagues is the most important consideration.
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Know the signs of the coronavirus and be vigilant
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Ensure staff have a good understanding of infection control principles
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Share regular COVID-19 updates in your workplace using reliably sourced material
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Consider alternative work model, like working from home
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Discuss a plan of action with your staff/colleagues
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Understand the constant media coverage can heighten anxiety and share tips for coping with coronavirus anxiety
LIV Professional Wellbeing: Recognising and responding to ‘Social Isolation' (Post 23 March 2020)
LIV Member Employee Assistance Program
24/7 support and counselling is available for LIV Members (provided by Converge International). You can call 1300 687 327 for confidential advice anytime.
Communications and LIV's response
Please check our website, daily LawNews email and social media channels for the latest information. See below for past announcements and resources:
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Letter from the LIV to Attorney-General Jill Hennessy re COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2020 (17 September 2020 - PDF)
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Letter from the LIV to Attorney-General Jill Hennessy re Roadmap to Recovery and the Victorian Legal System (15 September 2020 - PDF)
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Letter (response) from the Hon Jill Hennessy MP, Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety to Sam Pandya, President, LIV (8 September 2020 - PDF)
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Letter from the LIV to Hon Jill Hennessy, MP. Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety re COVID-19 and the Victorian Legal System (23 July 2020 - PDF)
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Letter from the LIV to Hon Jill Hennessy, MP, Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety re Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (State of Emergency Extension and Other Matters Bill 2020) (26 August 2020 - PDF)
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Legal assistance boost during COVID-19 welcomed (11 May 2020)
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Letter from the LIV to Hon Jill Hennessy, MP, Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety re Covid-19 Omnibus Emergency Measures Bill 2020 (22 April 2020)
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Letter from the LIV to the Hon Jill Hennessy MP, Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety–Re. Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions and effect on Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Probate and Administration of Estates (7 April 2020 - PDF)
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Letter from the LIV to the Hon Jill Hennessy MP, Victorian Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety–Re. COVID-19 and the Victorian Legal System (26 March 2020 - PDF)
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Letter from the LIV to The Hon Christian Porter MP, Attorney-General for the Commonwealth of Australia–Re. Assistance to legal and justice sector in light of COVID-19 (25 March 2020 - PDF)
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COVID-19 Practice Contingency Planning (23 March 2020)
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Legal Practice Management Course: Response to COVID-19 (19 March 2020)
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Update from the LIV CEO on COVID-19 (17 March 2020)
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Message from the LIV CEO_ Coronovirus (COVID-19) Heath Alert (11 March 2020)
Access to Member Facilities
We are seeking to limit external visitors to levels 12 and 13, 140 William Street and our member facilities are unavailable until further notice.
External room hire
We will not be taking any external room hire bookings until further notice.
LIV Library
The LIV Library will be closed for external visitors until further notice. During this period, LIV Library services and support will include remote access to databases, catalogue search and other resources. Until further notice new requests for borrowing will not be completed, however current loans have been extended until our office reopens. The Library Archive service is suspended for online archive requests, however urgent requests will be assessed on a case by case basis, as will online requests for the document supply and research service. All queries and requests for support should be directed to library@liv.asn.au.
Law Books bookshop and online store
The LIV Law Books bookshop is closed and we are experiencing delays in the processing and delivery of online orders. In an effort to keep our team safe, bookshop staff are only periodically going to the bookshop to process online orders. As a result, there will be a delay in dispatching orders, and a further delay from Australia Post, who are also taking longer than usual to process and deliver items.
LIV Activitites and CPD
CPD
Face to face CPD sessions and other activities will cease until further notice. We are offering our CPD activities remotely (via Webinars and Online Videos) working with our presenters to minimise the impact on your learning.
If you have already booked to attend a CPD session or conference, we will automatically transfer your booking to webinar attendance. Should you not receive a specific email about your registration, please contact register@liv.asn.au or 03 9607 9311.
Member social events
All social events are cancelled or postponed. Registrants for the events will be contacted by email.
Committee meetings
No committee or section meetings will be held face-to-face until further notice. Our Legal Policy and Young Lawyers sections are in contact with committee chairs that have meetings scheduled within the next month to ask whether meetings can be postponed, cancelled or held via email or teleconference.
2020 Accredited Specialisation Program
The LIV is working to ensure the continuity of the 2020 accredited specialisation program. We understand that our members are experiencing unforeseen disruption to their work practices due to COVID-19. To assist, we are extending the application timeframes for this year’s program. Click here for more information.
We are also working to provide additional candidate support through learning resources and digital access for study groups and are developing plans to continue the delivery of the assessments, exploring digital delivery of the written examination and oral assessments.
Please contact special@liv.asn.au or 03 9607 9460 if you have any questions.
Member Services & Support
See HERE for the latest information and updates for LIV Membership, including fee reduction announced for 2020-21 membership year (announced 28 April 2020).
Ethics advice line and practice management support
We will continue to offer these services. For ethics support call 03 9607 9336 and for practice support call 03 9607 9378 or you can email the team on practicesupport@liv.asn.au. No external face-to-face visits will be undertaken until further notice.
LIV Practice Notes, Practice Contingency resources and other information for the profession, available HERE.
Law Institute Journal (LIJ)
The LIJ will be temporarily published in digital format only due to COVID-19. Digital links will be sent to members and subscibers on the first working day of the month.
The LIV is committed to bringing members the LIJ as it has done monthly since July 1927. To ensure that you get your copy:
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Check that your email details on your profile are up to date HERE.
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If you have previously unsubscribed from LIV email communications you can update your preferences to receive the LIJ HERE.
The August LIJ is out now!
Legal Referral Service
The LIV’s Find Your Lawyer Referral Service will continue to operate via phone (03) 9607 9550, email referrals@liv.asn.au and online.