Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria)

Monday March 19 2012

Dear Colleagues,

VWL and WBA have much pleasure in calling for nominations for the 5th Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria). This is your opportunity to give recognition to women lawyers who you believe are exceptional in what they do.

This year we are excited to present the following four awards:-

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - General Excellence(To be awarded to a woman practising in private practice (CBD, regional or suburban firm);

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - General Excellence(To be awarded to a woman practising in-house or in government);

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - General Excellence(To be awarded to a woman who is a member of the Victorian Bar, a member of the judiciary or an academic);

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - Rising StarTo be awarded to a woman who is qualified to practise in Victoria but has no more than five years practising experience.

The winners in 2010 were:

Pamela Tate SC (as she then was, now Justice Tate) (General Excellence), Jane Dixon SC (General Excellence) and Simone Cusack from the Public Interest Clearing House (PILCH)(Rising Star)

We urge you to nominate women who “stand out” for the contribution they have made.

Nominations close on Tuesday 24th April 2012 and will be presented at a special dinner on Wednesday 30th May 2012 at which our guest speaker will be Dr Helen Durham, Senior Fellow Melbourne Law School and Head, International Law and Principles, Australian Red Cross. Be part of this celebration of achievement of women in the law in Victoria, and nominate your choice by using the accompanying forms.

Yours sincerely,

Patricia Athanasiadis Suzanne KirtonConvenor ConvenorVictorian Women Lawyers Women Barristers Association

Sponsored by:

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria)

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Send the following materials, using the guidelines, by 24 April 2012

NOMINATION FORMPlease complete the enclosed nomination form and submit this together with the following documentation:

PART A 100 word profile encapsulating why the nominee should win the award

PART B Brief resume or chronological summary of nominee’s professional history

PART C Provide details of specific activities undertaken which address the selection criteria set out below

PART D Include up to three (3) references from peers

ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER

Nominees for Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - General Excellence (Private Practice) will hold a current Victorian practising certificate and be working in a private law firm;

Nominees for Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - General Excellence (In House/Government) will be lawyers working either in government or for corporate entities or statutory bodies;

Nominees for Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - General Excellence (Advocacy/Judicial/Academic) will be lawyers who principally undertake advocacy, are a member of the judiciary or an academic.

Nominees for Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) - Rising Star will be lawyers who have no more than five years practising experience.

SELECTION CRITERIA

In their respective award category, each Nominee should meet at least 3 of the following criteria*:

• The individual achievement of professional excellence;• An outstanding contribution to the advancement of women within the practice and development of law;• Encouragement and influence on other women to pursue a legal career; • Commitment to the support, encouragement and promotion of the careers of women within the legal profession including

mentoring of women within the legal profession and/or advocacy for and the establishment of flexible work practices, and or balancing children/family and work commitments;

• Understanding and support for the legal rights of all women including a commitment to either the promotion of justice and equality for all women, and/or the identification, exposure and eradication of all forms of discrimination against women in the legal system and in the community generally.

*If, as a Nominator you believe that your Nominee meets more than 3 of these criteria, please outline why, as in the event of two Nominees being on equal footing, the judges will use this additional criteria to determine the winner.

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria)

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES

The nomination form and attachments are the sole basis for the nomination. If possible, the Committee prefers to accept nominations submitted electronically. Please email your completed nominations, including the nomination form and accompanying materials to the Administrator, Victorian Women Lawyers at vwl@liv.asn.au). If submitting hard copies, send the original and one copy. Materials will not be returned. If submitting the nomination form by email, please also attach supporting documents in Word or PDF format.

MAIL TO:

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) CommitteeC/- AdministratorVictorian Women LawyersGPO Box 2314VMelbourne VIC 3001

(All nominations will be treated as confidential by VWL, WBA and the judging panel however VWL and WBA reserve the right to publish the names of the nominees prior to the Awards dinner together with details of the nominees’ profiles in VWL and WBA affiliated publications. By submitting this nomination and supporting documentation the nominee and nominator consent to

extracts from this material being used in these profiles)

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria)

NOMINATION FORM *Mandatory Fields

1. DETAILS OF THE NOMINEEPlease refer to the “Eligibility to Enter” details above to ensure your Nominee is eligible for the nominated award.

First Name* ………………………………………… Surname* ……………………………………………………………………………….Firm / Organisation* ………………………………………………………………… Position ……………………………………….Address* ……………………………………………………………………………………………….Postcode* …………………………Phone* ………………………………………… Fax ……………………………………………………Email*……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Is the nominee aware that she has been nominated? Yes No

2. SELECT THE AWARDS CATEGORY (one category per nominee)

General Excellence (Private Practice) Award

General Excellence (In-House/Government) Award

General Excellence (Advocacy/Judicial/Academic) Award

Rising Star Award

3. PROVIDE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATIONPlease attach the necessary supporting documentation indicating how the nominee meets the general and specific selection criteria. Nomina-tion materials will not be returned.

Part A 100 word profile encapsulating why the nominee should win the award

Part B Brief resume or chronological summary of nominee’s professional history

Part C Provide details of specific activities undertaken which address the selection criteria (refer page 2)

Part D Include references from peers

4. DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR

First Name* …………………………………… Surname* ………………………………………….Firm / Organisation* ……………………………… Position* …………………………….Address* …………………………………………………………….Postcode* ……………………Phone * ………………………………………… Fax ……………………………………………………Email ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. SUBMITSubmit your nomination form and supporting documentation on or before 24 April 2012 via email to vwl@liv.asn.au or by mail (original and one copy) to: Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria) Committee, c/- Administrator, Victorian Women Lawyers, GPO Box 2314V, Mel-bourne Vic 3001. If submitting the nomination form by email, please also attach supporting documents in Word or PDF format.

Women Lawyers Achievement Awards (Victoria)

SPONSORS