28 May 2025
In this edition:
- Commissioner’s message
- New framework for a shared pathway towards better lawyer wellbeing in Victoria
- Lawyer wellbeing research informs pathway for systemic change
- Vicarious trauma in the workplace – discussion paper
- Have you applied to renew your practising certificate?
- Sexual harassment – where to seek help
- Supporting housing justice for Victorians who need it most
- Other news
Commissioner’s message
We as a profession have spent a lot of time exploring the issue of poor lawyer wellbeing. Until now, much of the focus, in terms of solutions, has been on what individuals can do to improve their own wellbeing. While those steps are important, this is a problem that requires a whole of system solution. That’s why I was delighted in April to launch a first for Victoria’s legal sector – the Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change framework. This is an important step forward in our collective efforts to drive genuine and lasting system-level change.
This work has been led by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner and designed collaboratively by thousands of people across the legal sector. To all lawyers who participated, thank you for sharing your experiences and expertise during the co-design process – it simply could not have been done without you. There is already a lot of work underway to drive change, and I encourage everyone to read about this framework below to identify how existing work aligns, or where further focus is needed.
Another issue that continues to affect the wellbeing of the legal profession is sexual harassment. This is why I spoke at the launch of Women’s Legal's report on challenging disrespect and inequality in the legal profession. My message to lawyers about sexual harassment is clear – it is unacceptable. Remember that if you have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, we want to hear about it. We have a specialised team who are here to help. I encourage you to read more below about making a complaint to us, and look at the Women's Legal resources to help you prevent gendered violence at work.
Protecting and empowering consumers is one of our core strategic objectives, and our independent Consumer Panel helps us bridge the gap between consumer needs and the services provided by the legal profession. The panel also offers consumer insights to inform our regulatory decision making. The panel recently underwent a refresh, and I warmly welcome our new members Kat George (appointed as Chair), Adeel Nabeebux, Ado Barker, Genevieve Grant, Jeannie Marie Paterson and Simon Katterl. The Panel also includes Hugh McDonald as the Victoria Law Foundation representative, and Catherine Wolthuizen as the Legal Services Board representative. We look forward to working with our new advisory body of experts to gain a better understanding of what our community needs and expects from the legal profession, and from us as its regulator.
Fiona McLeay
Board CEO and Commissioner
New framework for a shared pathway towards better lawyer wellbeing in Victoria
We’re pleased to have launched a new co-designed framework to help us all move in the same direction, improving lawyer wellbeing.
The Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change framework draws on the experiences and expertise of all levels of Victoria’s legal sector.
It maps:
- the most impactful drivers of poor lawyer wellbeing at different levels of the system – from high client expectations and a lack of collegiality, through to high workloads and a culture of perfectionism
- where effort should be focused to make the most significant and lasting change – at the sector, organisational, interpersonal and individual levels, now and into the future.
It also puts forward a longer-term vision of a connected and empathetic profession that values wellbeing, while delivering legal services to a high standard.
We invite all parts of Victoria’s legal sector to join us in taking a closer look at this framework and to consider the practical actions you can take to improve lawyer wellbeing.
Access our communication resources, including:
- the Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change framework
- our helpful explainer video and workplace resources
- the full report.
The VLSB+C’s role
Keeping lawyers safe and well while delivering high-quality services is a key priority for us and the entire legal sector. As part of our contribution to driving systems change, we are supporting research that will inform the actions the sector takes, and helping to build our shared understanding of vicarious trauma in the legal profession (read more below).
We will continue to examine the impact our regulatory role has on wellbeing, and support the implementation of this important framework across the sector. Over time, we will provide resources and guidelines, fund pilot projects to drive change where it will be most effective, and encourage and lead sector collaboration.
Lawyer wellbeing research informs pathway for systemic change
We’re pleased to have supported a new report on lawyer wellbeing from a team of multi-disciplinary researchers at Australian National University and the University of Melbourne.
The Lawyer wellbeing, workplace experiences and ethics: a research report examines how the wellbeing of lawyers is influenced by the workplace dimensions of perceived ethical climate, experiences of incivility, and the availability of workplace psychosocial supports.
This report highlights common factors that are also articulated in the Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change framework.
We supported this research along with our Uniform Law partners – The Law Society of New South Wales and the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. The need for this kind of continued collaboration was highlighted in the research finding no significant difference in the results across jurisdictions.
About 2,000 lawyers took part in this important research, and we thank you for taking the time to share your valuable insights.
We invite you to join us in considering these results, particularly the specific recommendations and suggested areas for action.
Read more, and access the full report
Vicarious trauma in the workplace – discussion paper
Often, lawyers are exposed to other people’s traumatic experiences as part of their day-to-day work. And we know this can result in a range of cumulative and harmful symptoms, known as vicarious trauma.
We commissioned Phoenix Australia to author a discussion paper that would build on the collective understanding of vicarious trauma in the legal profession, and how best to address it.
This discussion paper calls out the need for action at all levels of the legal system, aligning with the approach put forward in the Lawyer Wellbeing Systems Theory of Change framework.
This project was undertaken with our Uniform Law Partners – The Law Society of New South Wales, the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia – as well as the Law Institute of Victoria, working in collaboration with our Lawyer Wellbeing Program.
By sharing this paper with the legal sector, we’re aiming to inform greater evidenced-based, proactive action to reduce the harm of vicarious trauma for lawyers and legal staff.
Access Vicarious trauma in the legal profession: Discussion paper – including details of individual and organisational actions that can be taken to ‘prevent, prepare, respond and recover’ when managing the risk of vicarious trauma.
Have you applied to renew your practising certificate?
So far more than 20,000 lawyers have applied to renew their practising certificate, and we’re working hard to process all the applications we’ve received.
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Certificate pending? |
Once you’ve applied to renew, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for us to issue you with a new practising certificate. It might be pending because:
If there were no changes to your practising certificate type, and you’ve paid your fees and any required insurance by 30 June 2025, you can continue to practise on your current certificate beyond 30 June until we issue you with a new one. |
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Paying by BPAY? |
Make sure you leave enough time for the payment to process. We can’t progress your application until we’ve received payment in full. If we don’t receive payment by 30 June 2025, your application will be invalid and you’ll need to submit a new application, which will incur a 200% surcharge. You also won’t be able to practise from 1 July until we’ve issued you with a new certificate. |
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Need help? |
Access our practical resources. If you’re still having trouble, get in touch with us via our lawyer enquiry form or by calling (03) 9679 8001. |
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Not renewing? |
If you’re retiring, going on extended leave or otherwise won’t need a practising certificate from 30 June, complete the ‘Not Renewing’ form through LSB Online. This will remove you from our reminder mailing list. If you return to legal practice, you’ll be eligible to apply for a new practising certificate without incurring a surcharge. |
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Received an SMS? |
Towards the end of the renewal period, we send SMS reminders to lawyers. We will never ask for your password, or any personal or payment details via SMS. Stay vigilant and make sure you‘re on our official website or LSB Online portal before entering any details. |
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Wanting to remove your supervised legal practice (SLP) condition? |
To avoid delays in us processing your practising certificate renewal application:
We’ll notify you when your condition has been removed. |
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Thought of a contingency plan? |
If you’re a sole practitioner or legal director, it’s a good idea to have a contingency plan for your law practice. You can submit your plan when applying to renew your practising certificate. |
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Feedback? |
After you submit your application, we’ll invite you to complete a short, voluntary survey about you experience in applying to renew your practising certificate. We encourage you to take part so we can make sure we keep tailoring our processes and communications to best meet your needs. |
Sexual harassment in the legal profession
Where to seek help
If you have experienced sexual harassment in the legal profession, it can be very distressing and feel overwhelming. You may not know what to do or who can help, and you may feel powerless to stop it from happening again.
If you have experienced or witnessed this conduct, we know it can be hard to speak up and feel confident that what you say will make a difference. Whether you want to make an official complaint or not, coming forward and reporting sexual harassment to us does make a difference.
The VLSB+C has a dedicated, specialised team who are trained in handling complaints about sexual harassment.
Know you can email us – we’re here to listen and answer any questions you might have. We can offer you guidance on your particular situation and walk you through your options. We can also talk about the actions we may take – which can include an informal warning or deciding that the behaviour amounts to professional misconduct.
You can use our anonymous and secure online reporting tool, which allows you to control how much information you share with us and what you want us to then do – if anything at all. However you choose to contact us, your story can help us effect change. If you don’t feel ready to talk with our team, we encourage you to speak with a friend, a mentor or your GP, or explore other trusted supports.
Sexual harassment is not ‘just what happens in the workplace’ or a ‘private matter’. It’s unacceptable, and we will investigate any complaints about lawyers engaging in this conduct.
Find out more about making a complaint
Challenging disrespect and inequality
Legal workplaces have an obligation to make sure all employees are valued and treated as equals, regardless of their gender. Understanding what drives gendered violence and how to take preventative action is essential to creating safer workplaces.
We encourage you to access Women’s Legal’s resources, including:
- a new report, Challenging disrespect and inequality in the legal profession, that highlights the barriers and enablers to reporting sexual harassment
- resources for employees and employers on how to engage in meaningful prevention
- a CPD-claimable video series, where you can hear more from Fiona McLeay about the VLSB+C’s view on sexual harassment in the legal profession, what we are doing to meet these challenges, and what happens if you make a complaint to our team.
Supporting housing justice for Victorians who need it most
More than 30 organisations will share in $14 million worth of grants to deliver 10 projects that will support legal assistance for those facing housing issues in Victoria.
Our recent Change Grants round was designed to respond to identified needs, with the aim of supporting Victorians who are experiencing legal issues related to housing.
We invited applicants from across the justice and housing sectors to partner and develop proposals to address housing provider accountability, renter rights and improved housing support for communities in the most vulnerable situations.
The grants round drew a diverse range of proposals. Funded projects include partnerships to help:
- women and children who have experienced family violence and are at risk of falling into insecure housing and homelessness
- young people with interrelated experiences of family violence and homelessness
- Victorians who live in regional, rural and remote communities
- victim-survivors of family violence, over 55s and new Victorians who are under mortgage stress and at risk of bankruptcy
- people living with mental illness, living in disability accommodation or experiencing long-term homelessness.
Change Grants were funded through the Public Purpose Fund, which the Victorian Legal Services Board is responsible for managing.
Find out more about these housing justice projects, and our broader Grants Program.
Other news updates
Victorian Bar
Fiona McLeod AO SC honoured for pro bono work
Fiona McLeod AO SC was recognised for her outstanding pro bono advocacy at the 2025 Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards. Ms McLeod has devoted significant time over many years to important pro bono matters relating to climate change, human trafficking, modern slavery and justice for First Nations clients.
The Victorian Bar has a proud culture and tradition of providing pro bono assistance, which gives vulnerable members of the community the opportunity to access justice and pursue their rights under Australian law. Read more about the awards, and the 15 barristers who were recognised across 10 award categories.
Victoria Law Foundation
New paper highlights link between ill health, debt and legal issues
Victoria Law Foundation has released new analysis of the Public Understanding of Law Survey (PULS) – their ground-breaking research to understand legal capability, attitudes and experience of the law in Victoria. The analysis shows that people with long-term illness or disability, and/or elevated levels of mental distress, have higher numbers of problems that last longer and are more severe.
People in these categories are more likely than others to have debt, money and family problems, which often present in combination with other legal issues. The analysis shows that responding to the evidence through effective policy and practices could make a significant difference to many people – access the short paper.
Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee
Cybersecurity – reduce your risk
Legal work, from communicating with clients through to filing court documents, is conducted on technology platforms. Understanding technology basics, as well as staying across cybersecurity developments, is an essential skill for all lawyers.
To help keep technology issues top of mind and reduce the risk of claims against you, access the Legal Practitioners’ Liability Committee’s recent articles:
- Data leakage: Prevention better than cure
- Managing the risks of AI in law practices
- Cybersecurity best practice for retaining and deleting electronic files
- The importance of a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan
International Bar Association
Gender Parity in the legal profession – have your say
The International Bar Association and LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation are collaborating on an ambitious global project to identify the disparity between men and women at senior levels in the legal profession, and determine whether initiatives for addressing this disparity are working.
Phase 2 of the project includes a global survey seeking views from all women lawyers, judges and academics about a variety of topics, from their experience in the legal profession and their career satisfaction through to reasons for staying, moving or leaving altogether – complete the anonymous survey now.
Law Library Victoria
CPD webinar: Drafting Legislation
On 18 June, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel will join the Law Library for an insightful webinar that will enhance your understanding of the Victorian legislation drafting process. Taking part will earn you 1 CPD point under Professional Skills – book now.
Ballarat practitioners – unlock the Digital Library
The Law Library will visit Ballarat on 13 June to present a free CPD session on the Digital Library. Discover how to maximise its trusted legal resources and expert research guidance for your practice. Lunch will be included, and you will earn 1 CPD point under Professional Skills – book now.