Litigation Issues for All Government Lawyers
Issues covered include: litigation, government, Modern Government Litigant, prosecuter, witness evidence
Description
As a government lawyer you may not litigate all day, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to deal with disputes, navigate appeals of decisions or delve into litigation practices from time to time. So what exactly do government lawyers need to be aware of should litigation arise? The ethical parameters of the Model Government litigant; preparing public sector witnesses; understanding the extent of government privilege and immunities obligations and more.
Attend and earn 4 CPD points including:
2 CPD points in Competency Area 2: Professional Skills
2 CPD points in Competency Area 3: Ethics & Professional Responsibility
Chair: Brenda Robbins, Barrister, Sir Clifford Grant Chambers
Competency Area 3: Ethics & Professional Responsibility
9.00am to 10.00am: The Model of a Modern Government Litigant
- What justifies a requirement for government to litigate differently?
- What does being a modern model litigant require?
- Why does it matter and what can go wrong?
- At what points in litigation do these issues most often arise and require greater vigilance?
Presented by Arran Gerrard, Senior Lawyer, Australian Government Solicitor
Competency Area 3: Ethics & Professional Responsibility
10.00am to 11.00am: Bound by Ethics: The Model Litigant as Prosecutor
- What it means to be fearless but fair
- Ethics of presenting the case
- Prosecution policies
- The continuing role of Apostilides (1984 154 CLR 563 and the Common Law)
- The prosecutor’s role in sentencing
- Prosecutors as Ministers of Justice?
Presented by Fiona Reading, former Senior Federal Prosecutor, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
11.00am to 11.15am: Morning Tea
Competency Area 2: Professional Skills
11.15am to 12.15pm: Preparing Public Sector Witnesses Required to Give Evidence: Guidance and Advice
A detailed guide to best practices for preparing a public sector witness to give evidence before:
- A court
- A Royal Commission
- The Ombudsman or other integrity body
- Parliament
Presented by Stephen Wright SC, Francis Burt Chambers
Presentation prepared by Patrina Clohessy, Deputy Crown Solicitor and Chief Counsel and Amanda Meisenhelter, Assistant Crown Solicitor, Crown Law Queensland
Competency Area 2: Professional Skills
12.15pm to 1.15pm: Understanding and Working with Privileges Applying to Government
- Issues with legal professional privilege for government
- Public interest immunity
- Executive privilege
Presented by Matthew Pudovskis, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Venue
Mercure Perth
Level 1, 10 Irwin St
Perth 6000
WA
Australia