An article I wrote and published in The Australian last Friday regarding the Law Council of Australia’s gender equitable briefing policy instantly provoked a media release from the Australian Bar Association’s president, Will Alstergren QC.

The ABA president, whom I have never met nor spoken to, stated that the views I expressed in the article “do not reflect the view of the Australian Bar Association”. I am glad he cleared that up.

However, I was somewhat perplexed as to why he would bother to issue such a missive. Perhaps I should be flattered. The article does not mention the ABA, nor does it purport to represent or misrepresent the ABA’s view. I have not served on the ABA executive nor on any committee. [...] Continue Reading…

This article is from the March 24 issue of The Australian Digital Edition. To subscribe, visit http://www.theaustralian.com.au/.

The legal profession is about to engage in a touch of social engineering . The peak body of solicitors’ and barristers’ associations, the Law Council of Australia, has published its Orwellian sounding national model gender equitable briefing policy with a target date of July 1, 2018.

The policy’s aim is to bring about “cultural and attitudinal change within the legal profession with respect to gender briefing practices” . In support of the policy the Law Council states, continuing the doublethink, that it is committed to take measures that ensure a level playing field for all members of the legal profession. The policy encourages all persons or entities who brief or select barristers: [...] Continue Reading…

Jeffrey Phillips,SC was appointed to the part-position of Defence Force Advocate in February 2015. This is a copy of a paper he delivered in Canberra in February 2017 to members of the Directorate of Military Remuneration, Defence People Group and members of the tri-services’ industrial relations cells.

I have entitled this paper “The King’s Shilling” on account of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) historical origins with the armed forces of the United Kingdom. The King’s Shilling is historical slang for the payment of one shilling given to recruits in United Kingdom in the 18th and 19th centuries, although the practice dates back to the end of the English Civil War in the 1600s. [...] Continue Reading…

Here is an video discussion I participated in with Ian Latham on the Commonwealth employment law by leaders of the profession. See more at BenchTV.

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This is an article I have written about the industrial laws applying to domestic service . It is to found in Thomson Reuters’ Workplace Review , Winter 2016 edition.

Green [...] Continue Reading…