On 1 April 2004 , t he Victorian Bar Council adopted the Equality of Opportunity Briefing Policy (also called the Model Briefing Policy).  The policy requests clients, barristers' clerks and solicitors take reasonable st ep s to identify and genuinely consider engaging female barristers as counsel, and to monitor and r ep ort on the nature and rate of engagement of women as counsel.

"In our quiet crusade against the persistent status-quo, in both its overt and more subversive forms, we must look to leaders and mentors across the generations.  A career in the law for a woman is truly fulfilling and rewarding. But it cannot occur in a vacuum. The links in the chain, made by the helping hand of our role models and mentors, must continue to span the generations." - Chief Justice Marilyn Warren

"In recent years, the appointment of women to judicial office has begun to redress the imbalance on the Bench, but has had the unfortunate side effect of d ep leting the Bar of some of its most senior women. Nevertheless, having women in positions of seniority has a trickle-down effect upon the entire profession, and provides young lawyers with role models." Solicitor-General Pamela Tate SC

Key Dates

"Women advocates are not being regularly briefed in more complex and senior matters and are thereby being denied the same opportunity for career advancement afforded to male advocates." - Caroline Kirton, President of Australian Women Lawyers

"We are clearly not getting equality of opportunity in briefing practices if women are rarely appearing in criminal and commercial matters in superior courts." - Justice Marcia Neave