Law Institute of Victoria

On 22 March 1859, a group of 26 solicitors in Melbourne founded the institute at a meeting. The first president was David Ogilvy.[1] From 1859, the institute's offices were located in Collins Street, and in 1883 the offices were relocated to the law courts complex in Lonsdale Street. In 1905, Flos Greig became the first woman to be admitted to practise as a solicitor in Victoria, and shortly after, was the first female member of the institute. In 1927, the first issue of the Law Institute Journal (LIJ) was published by the institute. In 1933, the institute became a constituent member of the newly formed Law Council of Australia.

In 1947, the Legal Profession Practice Act 1946, an act of the Parliament of Victoria, officially confirmed the institute's role as the regulating body for the legal profession in Victoria. By 1948, almost all solicitors in Victoria had become members of the institute. In 1961 the institute relocated to premises in Little Bourke Street, but after fire destroyed the building in 1978, the institute moved to 470 Bourke Street, a site which previously hosted the first meeting of the Victorian Legislative Council on 13 November 1851. In 2019 the LIV relocated its offices and member facilities to Level 13, 140 William Street.

In 1991, Gail Owen became the first female president of the institute. Former presidents of the institute include Alfred Brooks Malleson, Arthur Palmer Blake, John Gavan Duffy (brother of Frank and son of Charles), Sir Arthur Robinson, William Slater, Bernard Teague and John Cain II.

In 1996, the Legal Profession Practice Act 1946 was replaced by the Legal Practice Act 1996. In 2005, the Legal Practice Act 1996 was repealed and replaced by the Legal Profession Act 2004, the current legislation regulating the legal profession in Victoria.

John Cain, son of the 41st Premier of Victoria, John Cain, was CEO from 2002 to 2006.[2]

After John Cain, Michael Brett Young was CEO for eight years until 2015, when he was replaced by Nerida Wallace.[3] Wallace left the role of CEO in July 2018 and was replaced by Adam Awty, who had previously spent 18 years at CPA Australia, who served in an interim role from July until October when they were appointed to the position on a permanent basis.[4] In May 2021 Awty, whilst still serving as CEO, joined the board of legalsuper, a superannuation fund for the Australian legal profession.[5]

In 2019 the LIV published: Solicitors and the Law Institute In Victoria 1835-2019: Pathway To A Respected Profession, by leading legal history scholar and author, Dr. Simon Smith.[6]

The Law Institute Journal (LIJ) is a monthly legal journal published by the institute. It carries information about changes to the rules of practice, and the rules of the courts, as well as general commentary on legal issues. The first issue was published in July 1927.

• Smith, Dr Simon (2019). Solicitors and the Law Institute in Victoria 1835-2019 : pathway to a respected profession. Melbourne 3000, VIC. ISBN 978-0-646-80619-8. OCLC 1110009881.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

• Law Institute website