Sound decision‑making lies at the heart of public confidence, fairness and defensibility. Even the most robust decision can be undermined if the reasons are unclear, poorly structured or difficult for readers to follow. Clear, well‑reasoned written decisions not only withstand legal scrutiny — they also instil confidence in those affected by them, including lawyers, stakeholders and members of the public.
This highly practical and interactive session will strengthen your ability to make and explain decisions with clarity, precision and authority. You will learn how to structure written reasons logically from start to finish, articulate your reasoning clearly, and tailor your language to your intended audience — whether legally trained or not.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Professional Skills
9.30am to 12.45pm Decision Making and Reason Writing Workshop
Through real‑world examples and expert guidance, you will be equipped to:
- What are reasons for decisions
- Structure decisions coherently, from beginning to end
- Determine what must (and must not) be addressed in written reasons
- Develop an appropriate style and voice for decision‑writing
- Write reader‑focused decisions that are clear and gain tips and tricks from experience
- Select words and sentence structures that enhance your decision writing
- Use your written reasons to persuade
- Recognise and overcome traditional legal writing habits that undermine clarity, conciseness and transparency
The workshop will be led by two highly experienced professionals and presenters. Chris O'Neil is a former judge with deep expertise in decision‑making and training decision writers. Bob Milstein brings more than 20 years’ experience in teaching and provides clear writing training to a range of technical writing cultures. Together, they offer a rare combination of legal authority and practical writing expertise to help you produce decisions that are clear, confident and defensible.
Your Facilitators:
Bob Milstein, Principal, Milstein & Associates
Chris O'Neil, Barrister; Mediator; Former Judge of the County Court of Victoria; Former Member, Judicial Services Commission
About your Workshop Facilitators:
Bob Milstein, Principal, Milstein & Associates
Bob is a practicing health lawyer, with a background in medical negligence litigation. He is also involved in a business that provides training on clear writing/plain English writing.
Chris O’Neil
Chris joined the Victorian Bar in 1991, practising in various areas of common law and Coronial Inquests. He has commenced practice as a mediator. In 2007, he was appointed as a Judge of the County Court. He held the position of Judge in charge of the Common Law Division from 2015 to 2018 and served as the Judge in charge of the Appeals and Post Sentence Applications List from 2019 to 2021. Chris taught judgment writing within the County Court, He retired from the County Court Bench in December 2021. He was appointed a sessional member of the Post Sentence Authority in 2022. In 2023, he was appointed to the Judicial Services Commission to investigate matters under the Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016.
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD points in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
Presenters
Bob Milstein, Principal, Milstein & Associates
Bob is a practicing health lawyer, with a background in medical negligence litigation. He is also involved in a business that provides training on clear writing/plain English writing. With a background in professional medical negligence litigation, Bob has long been aware that clear communication — or its absence — often lies at the heart of legal disputes. This awareness triggered his original interest in plain legal communication. His involvement in open disclosure goes back many years, to when he was the primary author of the legal review that underpinned and informed the creation of the original National Open Disclosure Standard (as it was then known).
Chris O’Neil, Barrister; Mediator; Former Judge of the County Court of Victoria; Former Member, Judicial Services Commission
Christopher O’Neill was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1979. He began his career as a solicitor in general practice. He joined the Victorian Bar in 1991, practising in various areas of common law, including personal injury actions, torts, insurance law, medical negligence claims, professional disciplinary tribunals, and Coronial Inquests. He also regularly undertook mediations in those areas. In 2007, he was appointed as a Judge of the County Court, where he served in both common law and criminal jurisdictions. He held the position of Judge in charge of the Common Law Division from 2015 to 2018 and served as the Judge in charge of the Appeals and Post Sentence Applications List from 2019 to 2021. Over the years, he has taught advocacy as part of the Victorian Bar’s South Pacific Advocacy Training Program in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He has also lectured in the Victorian Bar’s Bar Readers’ Course and taught judgment writing within the County Court, through the Judicial College of Victoria and to various other legal institutions. He retired from the County Court Bench in December 2021. He was appointed a sessional member of the Post Sentence Authority in 2022. In 2023, he was appointed to the Judicial Services Commission to investigate matters under the Judicial Commission of Victoria Act 2016. He has commenced practice as a mediator, focusing on medical negligence, common law in particular personal injury, institutional abuse and professional liability claims.
