The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law is an international non-governmental association of judges, legislators, lawyers, academics, governmental officials, police and corrections professionals who have come together to work actively on the administration of criminal justice both in their own jurisdiction and internationally.

The 32nd Annual Conference of the ISRCL was held this week in Brisbane, and tackled issues of Bribery and Corruption. The focus was on the scope of the problem, corruption prevention, risk management, investigation and law enforcement strategies, legislative reform and policies, international responses and evidentiary issues.

Our very own Rachael Taylor presented at the Conference today on Ethical Conundrums.

For more information on the 2019 ISRCL Conference, please click here.

#ISRCL #combattingbriberyandcorruption

Yesterday, the Queensland Government agreed to a $190 million settlement in a class action claim brought by lead applicant Hans Pearson, marking an important step in the reconciliation process. The case is Australia's fifth largest class action settlement, and the largest involving Indigenous people outside native title claims.

Joshua Creamer has been involved with the case for a number of years. Congratulations to Joshua and the rest of the legal team on this important victory.

Picture: Hans Pearson

Each year, the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland Committee recognises inspirational women in law, who are from or in Queensland, who have inspired them in their career and life.

Our Cairns Counsel, Melia Benn, has been included on the WLAQ's Inspo List for 2019 - congratulations Melia!

You can read about it here.

Peter and Joshua have once again been recognised in Doyles Guide Legal Rankings.

Peter is a Recommended Employment & WHS Barrister - Queensland - see the listing here.

Joshua is a Leading Native Title Barrister - Australia - see the listing here.

Congratulations Peter and Joshua!

Griffith Chambers' own John Merrell has been sworn in as Deputy President of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and the Industrial Court of Queensland.

John's appointment follows his almost 20 year career as a Barrister specialising in Industrial Relations and Employment Law.

You can read about his appointment by Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace here.

Congratulations John - a well deserved appointment.

Joshua Creamer has once again been recognised as one of the top Native Title Barristers in Australia in the Chambers Asia-Pacific legal rankings for 2019.

You can read Joshua's review here.

Congratulations Joshua!

We are seeking a temporary Barristers' PA/Secretary for a period of 4 months, with the possibility of extension for further months.

Position starts 14 January 2019. See our Seek ad here.

Our Chambers has a room available for rent. If you are interested, please see our BAQ classified ad or contact Kylie Hillard by email or phone 3210 1188.

Eoin Mac Giolla Ri and Kylie Hillard have once again been recognised in Doyles Guide as Leading Criminal Law Barristers in Queensland.

You can see the Doyles listing here.

Congratulations Eoin and Kylie.

At Monday's launch of the NRL's Indigenous Round, Newcastle Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce lauded the contribution Indigenous players have made to rugby league.

This weekend, players from all 16 NRL clubs will wear jerseys with Indigenous-inspired designs.

Joshua Creamer, in his capacity as Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council Member, said the NRL "was the first national sporting organisation to commit to a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) back in 2008".

"As an Indigenous man and rugby league fan, I'm proud to see the game continually using its positive influence to drive social change in Indigenous communities throughout Australia and beyond," he said.

"Not just this week, but every single day."

You can read the article here.

The Queensland Government has agreed to pay $30 million and deliver a formal apology to Palm Island residents to settle a landmark class action in the federal court.

Joshua Creamer was briefed to appear on behalf of the applicants as junior counsel.

Read the article here.

Kylie Hillard has assisted in saving an elderly Sunshine Coast woman from her looming eviction, in a case before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Read the article here.

A coronial inquest in central Queensland is considering whether neck compression or restraint that causes death should be treated in a similar way to one-punch strikes to the head.

Griffith Chambers' Kylie Hillard is representing the Women's Legal Service at the inquest.

Read the article here.

Griffith Chambers' Peter Roney QC and John Merrell have been recognised in Doyles Guide as Leading Employment & WHS Barristers - Queensland 2018.

In addition, John Merrell is ranked as only one of five Queensland Barristers, including Silks, who are listed at the National level in this category as leaders in their field in Australia across the Bar Association of each State.

You can see the Doyles listing here.

Congratulations Peter and John.

Joshua Creamer has been recognised in Doyles Guide as a Leading Native Title Barrister – Australia, 2018.

You can see the listing here.

Congratulations Joshua!

On 8 November 2017, Danae was a presenter at the LawSense seminar on Law for Mental Health Practitioners Qld. Almost 90% of attendees rated Danae's performance as an 8 out of 10 or higher.

Attendees also made the following comments about her presentation:

· Thorough and clear

· Excellent, practical, very helpful

· To the point, practical and clear info

· Useful interesting content

· Best session of the day so far. Very relevant to seniors

· Helpful good speaker learned a lot

· Excellent delivery of a very helpful topic

· Finally, a speaker who was directly relevant to the audience and understood our circumstances. Thank you!

· Great advice and very relevant

· Very helpful and an interesting presenter

· Fab presentation - made it very interesting, lovely lady really liked her

· Great information and clear

· Very helpful, engaging presenter

· Very clear and concise info, thank you!

· Shame cut short by previous speaker, good info and speaker

Well done Danae!

Joshua Creamer has been recognised as one of the top Native Title Barristers in Australia in the Chambers Asia-Pacific legal rankings for 2018.

You can read Joshua's review here.

Congratulations Joshua!

Danae Younger has started a new position as an Adjunct Lecturer at the College of Law.

Congratulations Danae!

Joshua Creamer has been named by the Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC as the winner of the 2017 National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year Award.

Congratulations Joshua!

Danae Younger is a presenter at a LawSense seminar on Law for Mental Health Practitioners Qld, to be held at Pullman King George Square on 8 November 2017.

The seminar will address key legal issues and risks for psychologists, counsellors and mental health nurses. Danae's topic is "Responding to Information Requests, Subpoenas and Preparing for Court Appearances".

For more information, contact LawSense on (02) 8034 6471 or at www.lawsense.com.au.

Five of our Barristers have been included in the Doyle's Guide Barrister Rankings for 2017.

Peter Roney and John Merrell: Leading Employment & WHS Barristers - Queensland, 2017.

John Merrell: Leading Employment & WHS Junior Counsel - Australia, 2017.

Eoin Mac Giolla Ri and Kylie Hillard: Leading Criminal Law Barristers - Queensland 2017.

Joshua Creamer: Leading Native Title Barristers - Australia, 2017.

Congratulations Peter, John, Eoin, Kylie and Josh.

Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr Anthony Lynham has announced that barrister Joshua Creamer has been appointed to the Legal Aid Board of Queensland.

Dr Lynham said it was fitting that Mr Creamer's appointment came in NAIDOC Week.

Read the rest of the article here.

I have been a barrister now for five years and I have worked in various courts for over a decade. I'm one of only about a dozen Indigenous Australians practicing as a barrister in Australia and during my career I have defended a number of Indigenous children in criminal matters.

Read the whole IndigenousX article here.

Former workers within Queensland's youth detention centres are claiming to have been sacked for speaking out about violence inside the institutions. ...

Indigenous barrister Joshua Creamer and others in the legal profession are calling on the royal commission in Northern Territory to include Queensland and other states.

Read the article here, and see the video "Royal commission should examine Queensland too, says Indigenous barrister".

The government's new metadata regime should be amended to prevent perpetrators of domestic violence accessing this information, Kylie Hillard writes.

Read the whole Lawyers Weekly article here.

ASIC has this week sent letters to 30,000 companies inviting them to participate in a project which is billed as the world's largest specific research into whistle-blowing in the corporate sector. It involves two surveys of the country's largest employers. One survey to be conducted between August and November involves asking managers about their attitude to whistleblowing and separately asking employees what they think.

Read the whole article here.

After an 18 month holiday from QCAT, in what was definitely not an April fool's joke, on 1 April the Attorney General Yvette D'Ath reappointed Peter to QCAT to sit for 5 years in the Human Rights division where he had sat for over a decade.

Read the whole article here.

Based on peer-based surveys as well as interviews with clients, peers and relevant industry bodies I have been been listed in the 2016 Doyles Guide to the Australian Legal Profession ...

Read the whole article here.

This year’s Federal Budget threatens to compromise those affected by domestic violence, barrister Kylie Hillard writes.

Read the whole Lawyers Weekly article here.