The secret sauce is to control the controllable as best you can. Master the essential skills for the criminal law advocacy. Navigate the importance of strategic non-court advocacy. Gain guidance on getting your evidence admitted, cross examination, pleas and sentencing. Be prepared. Setting your case on the right path may mean the difference for you and your client.

Presenters

Nicole Spicer, Lead Counsel, Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office
Nicole is Lead Counsel in the Inquiries, Prosecutions and Administrative Law branch at the Victorian Government Solicitors Office (VGSO). She is currently involved in advising the State of Victoria in connection with its responses to the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission. She has previously worked over an extended period of time in the field of criminal and quasi-criminal litigation. Prior to moving to the VGSO she was a supervising lawyer and mentor at Stary Norton Halphen Lawyers. She has been an LIV accredited specialist in criminal law since 2002, a past co-chair of the Criminal Law Section.


Dr. Felicity Gerry KC, Barrister, Crockett Chambers
Dr Felicity Gerry KC is an international barrister at Crockett Chambers, Melbourne, Libertas Chambers London, and Professor of Legal Practice at Deakin University. Labelled “The International Dynamo”, Felicity has been recognised for her work across jurisdictions on career defining cases including in the UK Supreme Court on #jointenterprise law, the High Court of Australia on rights to second appeal, a due diligence memorandum on investment listing on SGX for Justice for Myanmar, which led to the $82m divestment of the Golden City scheme and for her role in saving a trafficked woman from death row in Indonesia. She is leading the legal petition for Christine Keeler to receive a posthumous pardon after the fallout of one of Britain’s biggest ever political scandal, The Profumo Affair, in the 1960s. Her successful petition for mercy for Zak Grieve, a young Indigenous man in Australia, has been described as “rock star lawyering”. Admitted in the International Criminal Court (ICC) & Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) in The Hague, in England & Wales and Australia (Victoria & High Court Roll) and has had ad hoc admission in Hong Kong and Gibraltar. Currently defending at the ICC on the Al Hassan team and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers leading the Bahtijari team and has led for the defence in major terrorism and homicide trials. Felicity holds a PhD on human trafficking and is regularly called upon to handle complex and sensitive matters at trial and on appeal. She has appeared on all major news channels and is an expert on issues relating to women and law, technology and law and reform of justice systems. She is currently Senior Anti-Human Trafficking Expert Consultant and Trainer for Lawyers Without Borders.


Melinda Walker,Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law
Melinda was admitted to practice in 2000, commenced sole practice in 2003 and has conducted her practice for the past 19 years. She attained Accredited Criminal Law Specialisation in 2014 and was Co-Chair of the Executive Committee for the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria (“LIV”) 2017-2021. In 2017 Melinda was appointed the Chair of the Bail Reform Committee on behalf of the Law Institute of Victoria to make submissions to the Honourable Justice Coghlan who presided over the Bail review. She was also LIV representative at the Bail Reform Project, Criminal Justice Strategy & Coordination – Bail Reform Implementation Working Group convened by the Department of Justice & Regulation 2017-2018 to identify priorities for the development of the “Coghlan Recommendations” and consider proposals for action and appeared before the Coroners Court inquest into the death of Veronica Nelson as a member of expert panel on bail law. Melinda has extensive experience and knowledge of all jurisdictions and have appeared as counsel and instructor in all courts. I have represented many Indigenous clients and appeared in Koori Court both in the Magistrates’ Court and County Court jurisdictions. She has now been involved in the services of Law for close to 30 years in various capacities. This includes paid and volunteer work. Melinda is an active participant in law reform in the areas of bail, family violence, sentencing, youth, policy and procedure.


Jim McGarvie, Partner, Stary, Norton, Halphen Criminal Law Specialists
Jim McGarvie is a Partner at Stary Norton Halphen. He has a diverse range of experience in all areas of criminal law, including appearing in contested hearings, committals and trials.