InBrief

The Bar Association's Duty Barrister Scheme has been in operation for the last 22 years. As of 1 July 2016 there is a Duty Barrister Room on Level 7 at John Maddison Tower for civil matters. The scheme will continue to cater for criminal matters at the Downing Centre.

The District Court was of the view that as all civil matters are now dealt with at JMT it was much more practical and cohesive for the duty barristers to be located in the building rather than making clients walk to the duty barristers at the Downing Centre to receive assistance.

The three courts in the JMT that will be attended by the duty barristers are court 7A, 7B and 4A. 7A deals with Assessor’s Small Claims hearings, 7B with Magistrates Directions and Motion Lists, and 4A with the Registrar’s Call-over List. As the Registrar’s Call-over List does not take place on Mondays, a referral system will be in place where counter staff may refer matters to the duty barrister for advice.

Rostered barristers at John Maddison Tower will have the same facilities as those at the Downing Centre. The roster has been split so that there will be two duty barristers rostered on each day at both the Downing Centre and JMT.