- Published:
- Monday 25 November 2024 at 12:14 pm
Congratulations to our lawyers who recently earned accredited specialisation in children’s law and criminal law.
Specialist accreditation is earned through the Law Institute Victoria Accredited Specialisation program.
Professional Support Lawyer, Crime, Jennifer Schubert said it is an exceptional achievement.
‘Obtaining accreditation involves hard work, commitment and dedication.
‘The rigorous three-tiered assessments require you to demonstrate superior knowledge, experience and proficiency with the capacity to apply that knowledge and proficiency in practice.
‘Specialisation is also a recognition of your enhanced skill level and expertise and is a significant achievement distinguishing you in your area of practice.
'We are very supportive of our staff and panel practitioners undertaking this commitment, as clients will inevitably gain from the enhanced skills and knowledge attained through specialist accreditation.'
Our new specialist accreditation lawyers
Staff who recently earned children’s law specialist accreditation include:
- Deputy Managing Lawyer, Child Protection, Karen Czarny
- Project Coordinator, Child Protection, Kate Lightfoot
- Project Coordinator, Children’s Court, Child Protection, Nayomi Naranpanawa
There were also three community legal centre staff and two Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service staff who earned children’s law specialist accreditation.
Our Criminal Law branch supported a range of lawyers to earn specialist accreditation including 18 from our organisation, 16private practitioners, seven Office of Public Prosecutions lawyers, one community legal centre lawyer and one government lawyer.
Our staff who recently earned criminal law specialist accreditation include:
- Senior Lawyer, Summary Crime, Jess Dean
- Senior Lawyer, Indictable Crime, Jennaye Dodd
- Lawyer, Frankston, Hannah Fiddelaers
- Sunshine Deputy Managing Lawyer, Ellen Howard
- Lawyer, Indictable Crime, Natasha Jayasuriya
- Senior Lawyer, Assessment and Referral Court, Bendigo, Paul Kidd
- Shepparton Deputy Managing Lawyer, Jessie Knights
- Associate Public Defender, Chambers, Naomi Low
- Senior Lawyer, Ringwood, Sarah Maskel
- Senior Lawyer, Ballarat, Andrew Mitra
- Ballarat Deputy Managing Lawyer, Gemma McInerney
- Senior Lawyer, Summary Crime, Jackson McLeod
- Senior Lawyer, Indictable Crime, Caitlin O’Gorman
- Wodonga Deputy Managing Lawyer, Simon O’Halloran
- Senior Lawyer, Geelong, Louis Robertson
- Broadmeadows Deputy Managing Lawyer, Callum Rose
- Horsham Deputy Managing Lawyer, Erica Weatherly
- Senior Lawyer, Indictable Crime, Miranda Williams
Reflections of a newly minted specialist accreditation lawyer
Deputy Managing Lawyer Erica Weatherly from our Horsham office on Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country, successfully earned specialist accreditation, but found it challenging.
‘About two thirds of the way through the study program I felt overwhelmed and considered exiting the program. However, when I canvassed the prospect of quitting I had a lot of encouragement from my office, my study group and Public Defender Amanda Hurst, who ultimately persuaded me to keep going, and embrace the mindset that I would learn a lot, regardless of passing or failing.
‘I think this is great advice for anyone attempting accredited specialisation.’
Whilst earning specialist accreditation is a significant personal achievement, Erica believes it delivers many other additional benefits.
‘I am really proud to have achieved specialisation whilst practicing in Horsham which is remote and a small practice environment. I think it’s really important for clients in remote locations to have access to high quality legal services, regardless of their postcode.
‘My employer ran an amazing study program, and I have already been able to share much of the knowledge that I gained with my team by mentoring and running training sessions.’
Pressed on whether she has any advice for lawyers considering undertaking specialist accreditation, Erica believes ‘anyone whowants to take their criminal practice to the next level should consider specialisation.’
‘I would also encourage people to think about how it fits in with their family and personal life, because it’s a big commitment!’
Our support for staff undertaking specialist accreditation
Chief Counsel of VLA Chambers, Julia Munster also recognised the large number of people within and outside Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) who worked tirelessly in the background to support those who sat the accredited specialisation exam.
Julia is the co-chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s (LIV) Accredited Specialisation Criminal Law Advisory Committee which writes and conducts the assessments and so is at arm’s length from candidates and from our study support program. However, she noted that the LIV appreciates the support that VLA and other organisations provide to specialisation candidates.
‘We thank those who contributed to the study support program, managers who adjusted rosters so candidates could devote more time to study, colleagues who didn’t sit specialisation but who took on more duties to reduce pressure on candidates, accredited specialists who assisted candidates prepare for the assessments, and the many accredited specialists and magistrates who assisted in the assessment process.
‘We also acknowledge those candidates who sat the exam, but unfortunately were unsuccessful in earning specialist accreditation on this occasion.
‘Regardless of the outcome, attempting the accredited specialisation exam is worthwhile as it strengthens skills and expertise,’ said Julia.
We currently have 52 accredited criminal law specialists, 21 accredited children's law specialists, 10 accredited family law specialists, two accredited immigration law specialists and one accredited administrative law specialist.
Law Institute Victoria is offering accredited specialisation in family law in 2025 and we are offering a study support program for staff, community legal centre and panel lawyers undertaking specialist accreditation in family law.
The study support program will commence in late January 2025 and for more information see Accredited Specialisation.
More information
To learn more about specialist accreditation, visit the Law Institute Victoria Accredited Specialisation program.
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