An essential webinar covering topical updates from legal and forensic experts. Explore diverse subjects including the urgent needed reform in drug driving laws, uncovering legislative inequities, the absence of impairment-linked frameworks, and limited defences. Gain insights into crash reconstruction, drink driving defence strategies, and mastering the art of conducting pleas. Elevate your legal expertise in within this evolving legal landscape.
Chair:
Chris Edwards, Barrister, Chapman’s List
9.00am to 10.00am Drink Driving Defences, Refusals, Blood Samples, and E-Scooter Offences
- Exploring defence strategies for drink driving cases, with a special emphasis on refusal offences and blood sample cases
- Understanding the legal aspects of E-scooter offences, including drink driving, and how to protect your rights in these situations
Presented by Sean Hardy, Barrister, 88 Dudley Street, West Melbourne
10.00am to 11.00am Expert Evidence in Traffic Offences: The Experts Perspective
- What a lawyer should be asking for with respect to the analysis of driving offences in which the Major Collision Investigation Unit (MCIU) or the Traffic Police are prosecuting
- The common crash reconstruction issues and the new technologies that are now becoming more common: scanning, video analysis and event data recorders
Presented by Dr Shane Richardson, Delta-V Expert
11.15am to 12.15pm Conducting Pleas in Traffic Offences
- What to pay particular attention to when taking instructions
- Understanding the different forms of driving offences and their consequences
- Ensuring correct advice on penalty and disqualification range
- How to conduct an effective plea of guilty
- Advising on eligibility of work licenses
- Running the plea: tips and common traps
Presented by Sean Hardy, Barrister, Isaacs Chambers
12.15pm to 1.15pm Drug Driving Laws – The Urgent Need for Reform
- The inequity of drug driving legislation, with a specific focus on cannabis users
- Absence of an impairment-linked framework in drug driving regulations
- Examining the limited legal defences in Australia and the pressing call for reform
- Daily ramifications: the widespread revocation of driver's licenses in Australia due to drug detection
Presented by Greg Barns SC, Republic Chambers
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is based on VIC legislation
11.00am to 11.15am Break
Presenters
Mr. Greg Barns SC, Republic Chambers
Greg Barns graduated BA LLB from Monash University in 1984. He was a member of the Victorian Bar where he practiced in criminal law from 1986-, 89 and has been a member of the Tasmanian Bar since 2003. Greg was chief of staff and senior adviser to several federal and state Liberal Party leaders and ministers from 1989-99. He is also the former National Chair of the Australian Republican Movement and was National President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance in 2011-12. Greg has written three books on Australian politics, is a Spokesman of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, a member of the Australian Defence Lawyers Alliance and Chair of the Tasmanian Prisoners Legal Service. He is an adviser to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks. Greg writes a weekly column in the Hobart Mercury. Writes regularly for Crikey and is editor of Counsel, the Tasmanian Bar journal.
Dr Shane Richardson, Principal Forensic Engineer (Managing Director), Delta-V Expert
Shane is the Principal Forensic Engineer at Delta-V Experts. Shane has provided expert evidence in the Supreme, County, Magistrates and Coroners Courts across Australia (and in Courts in Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and New Zealand) related to collision/incident investigations for Criminal and Civil matters. Shane is a Mechanical Engineer with more than 30 years' experience and is a Chartered Professional Engineer (Engineers Australia) and is registered in: Amusement Rides and Devices In-Service Inspection; Biomedical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Structural Engineering. He has published national and international technical papers on crash investigations.
Mr. Sean Hardy, Barrister, 88 Dudley Street, West Melbourne
Sean P. Hardy graduated in arts and law from Monash University in 1989. After completing Articles, he signed the bar roll in 1991. Since then he has practiced as a barrister in a number of jurisdictions, including motor traffic law, insurance cases, building and construction, and administrative law. Sean has appeared before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in numerous appeals and orders to review against decisions of Magistrates and Tribunals. Sean is experienced in defending all types of traffic matters with a particular emphasis on offences that carry mandatory licence loss. He opposes the constant erosion of the court's sentencing discretions resulting from ever escalating mandatory sentencing legislation. Sean has studied in France and Germany and in 1990 he worked for a British law firm in Hong Kong. In the early 90s he was a competitive cyclist, represented Australia. He became a professional cyclist to ride the SunTour. These days he avoids incurring many speeding or parking fines by cycling to work each day.,
Mr. Chris Edwards, Barrister, Chapman’s List
Chris is an experienced barrister specialising in Criminal Law and appearing in a wide range of criminal and quasi-criminal cases. With a strong background in both trial and non-trial work, his expertise extends to providing legal advice and representing clients in quasi-criminal and regulatory matters. Chris’s professional journey includes working for reputable law firms, government agencies, and indigenous justice organisations, equipping him with a diverse skill set and extensive courtroom experience.
