Please note: The State of The Victorian Bar Survey for 2023 is now CLOSED. Once again thank you to all the barristers who participated in it. 2023 STATE OF THE BAR SURVEY Once again, we sincerely appreciate your time in completing this survey. It will be in three parts and take approximately 12-15 minutes to complete. All answers are strictly confidential. Part 1) Work practices Part 2) Health and wellbeing Part 3) Demographic information If you have any difficulties completing the survey, please contact Duncan Buchanan, Director of Adept Research, by email at duncan@adeptresearch.com.au WORK PRACTICES Q1. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, has there been any change to the timing of when you are briefed by solicitors? Yes, earlier in a legal matter or proceeding Yes, later in a legal matter or proceeding No noticeable change Some of these questions will ask you to type in a percentage number. Please do so in the boxes provided to the right. Q2. For 2022/23, what was the approximate percentage of days you were in and out of court? (This should amount to 100%) In court (i.e. trials/contested hearings, including arbitrations): Out of court (i.e. paperwork preparation, short directions hearings, mediations): Q3. For 2022/23, what was the approximate percentage of your time spent working in regional Victoria? This can include both in court and out of court activities. In regional Victoria: Q4. For 2022/23, what was the approximate percentage allocation of your time by practice area?(This should amount to 100%) Commercial Criminal Family Personal Injuries Administrative/Public law Other (please type in below) Q5. Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, are you currently receiving briefs at a pre-pandemic level? More than pre-pandemic. Yes, about the same. Close to pre-pandemic. No. Unsure. Q6. For 2022/23, what was the approximate percentage allocation of your billable time by client type? (This should amount to 100%) Individual clients Corporate clients Government bodies e.g. AGS/VGSO/SRO/Work Cover authority Legal Aid and OPP Q7. For 2022/23, what was the approximate percentage allocation of your billable time by brief type? (This should amount to 100%) Briefs from large law firms (top tier) Briefs from medium to small law firms Direct access briefs Legal Aid and OPP In House Corporate Counsel Q8. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, has your ability to accept briefs increased due to the use of online video conferencing facilities and online court appearances? Yes, locally only. Yes, locally and interstate. No. Other (please type in below) Q9. What percentage of time did you spend working from home pre- and post-pandemic? Pre-pandemic % Post-pandemic % Q10. Approximately, how many hours of pro bono work for clients have you undertaken in the last 6 months? 0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 40 plus Q11. Approximately how many hours of volunteer work have you undertaken for either the Victorian Bar or community service organisations in the last 12 months? 0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 40 plus Q12. Have you given any pro bono advice with respect to section 18 (compellability) or section 128 (privilege in respect of self-incrimination) of the Evidence Act 2008 in the last 12 months? If yes, approximately how many hours have you spent on those matters? None 0 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 40 plus Q13. In the last six months, when you have been briefed to appear with a leader or junior, approximately what percentage of those barristers were: (This should amount to 100%) Female juniors (less than 10 years' call) Male juniors (less than 10 years' call) Female seniors (silk or more than 10 years' call) Male seniors (silk or more than 10 years' call) Q14. In the last six months, by seniority and gender, what percentage of barristers did you recommend be briefed? (This should amount to 100%) Female junior (less than 10 years' call) Male junior (less than 10 years' call) Female senior (silk or more than 10 years' call) Male senior (silk or more than 10 years' call) HEALTH AND WELLBEING Here are a series of statements concerning health and wellbeing. We acknowledge that this is a sensitive topic. So we once again confirm the confidentiality of any answers that you may choose to provide here. Also if there are any questions that make you feel uncomfortable, then feel free to skip over them and move onto the next question. Quality of life Q15. I am content with my life in general. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q16. I am content with my life as a barrister. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q17. My colleagues understand and try to help me with pressures outside of work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Not comfortable asking for help Felt no need to ask Q18. The Victorian Bar understands and tries to help me with pressures outside of work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Not aware that help was available Q19. I am generally happy with my ability to do my work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q20. I feel involved in decisions that affect me at work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q21. I am happy with my work conditions. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q22. I experience stress at work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q23. I have access to ways of dealing with workplace stress. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q24. I am satisfied with the overall quality of my working life. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Workplace wellbeing Q25. Given my experience, I am paid fairly for the job that I do. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q26. I enjoy my work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q27. I get a sense of achievement from doing my job. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q28. I can get the sleep I need every night. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q29. I am satisfied with my job as a whole. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Personal wellbeing Q30. I am strongly self-critical. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q31. I feel emotionally strong and resilient and can recognise and manage the things that cause me stress. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q32. I have confidence in my work and can be trusted to deliver work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Mental health We acknowledge that this is a sensitive topic. We once again confirm the confidentiality of any answers that you may choose to provide here. Also, if there are any questions that make you feel uncomfortable, please feel free to skip over them and move on to the next question. How would you respond to the following statements? Q33. My job impacts on my mental health in a positive way. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q34. Can you please elaborate on this answer for us? Q35. I have strategies to care for my mental health at work. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Q36. Can you elaborate on this answer for us? Q37. I feel there are ways the Victorian Bar could better support barristers' mental health. Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree Not aware of this Q38. In my view, the top three things that the Victorian Bar could do to better support barristers' mental health are (can be less than three if you prefer): 1 2 3 Q39. I would be interested in participating in events organised by the Bar to improve my workplace mental health, such as: (you can selected more than one answer): Meditation seminar Wellness retreat Information sessions Small-group peer discussion on work topics Small-group peer debriefing Peer group physical exercise Peer interest groups on non-work topics (e.g. book club, philosophical discussion) Other Open question Q40. How could your quality of work life be improved? DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Demographic information and Diversity at the Bar. Once again, we reiterate that all answers are confidential. Q41. Years' call Prefer not to say 0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 Q42. Age Prefer not to say 30 or below 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71 or above Gender and identity Q43. How do you identify: Prefer not to say Man Woman Transgender man/trans man Transgender woman/trans woman Non-binary, nonconforming or neither exclusively male nor female Additional gender category (or other) Q44. I identify as LGBTIQ+: Prefer not to say - skip next question Yes -- continue to next question No -- skip next question Q45. If yes, I do so on the basis of: Prefer not to say Sexuality Gender identity Other Cultural diversity Q46. I am of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage: Prefer not to say No Yes, Aboriginal Yes, Torres Strait Islander Yes, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Q47. I was born in... Prefer not to say Australia New Zealand UK Ireland Scandinavia North-Western Europe Southern and Eastern Europe North Africa and Middle East South-East Asia North-East Asia Southern and Central Asia North America Central America South America Sub-Saharan Africa Pacific Islands Other Q48. My parent(s), guardian(s) or caregiver(s) were born in... Prefer not to say Australia New Zealand UK Ireland Scandinavia North-Western Europe Southern and Eastern Europe North Africa and Middle East South-East Asia North-East Asia Southern and Central Asia North America Central America South America Sub-Saharan Africa Pacific Islands Other Q49. I identify culturally as... Prefer not to say Australian New Zealand UK Ireland Scandinavian North-Western European Southern and Eastern European North Africa and Middle Eastern South-East Asian North-East Asian Southern and Central Asian North American Central American South American Sub-Saharan African Pacific Islands Other Q50. I speak the following languages at home: Prefer not to say English Mandarin Vietnamese Greek Punjabi Italian Arabic Cantonese Hindi Sinhalese Spanish Urdu Turkish Tamil Macedonian Tagalog Malayalam Telugu Gujarati Filipino Persian (excluding Dari) Nepali Hazaraghi Croatian French Russian Indonesian Serbian Khmer Korean German Bengali Thai Maltese Polish Samoan Japanese Dari Assyrian Neo-Aramaic Portuguese Other Q51. My religion is... Prefer not to say No religion Catholic Anglican Islam Christianity Hinduism Uniting Church Buddhism Eastern Orthodox Presbyterian and Reformed Baptist Pentecostal Sikhism Lutheran Other Protestant Judaism Other Socio-economic diversity Q52. I attended the following schooling: (You can choose more than 1 answer) Prefer not to say State school Private school Catholic school Alternative school, e.g. Steiner Home schooling Other Q53. My taxable personal income range for the financial year ending 30 June 2023 was: Prefer not to say 0-$18,200 $18,200-$45,000 $45,001-$120,000 $120,000-$180,001 $180,001+ Q54. I am financially responsible for persons outside my household. Prefer not to say Yes No Q55. I was the first person in my family (including parents, adoptive parents or guardians, step-parents, siblings, grandparents) to have: (You can choose more than 1 answer) Prefer not to say A university degree A law degree Been admitted as a lawyer Been a barrister Caring responsibilities/disability Q56. I have caring responsibilities described as: (You can choose more than 1 answer) Prefer not to say Childcare Elder care Care for a person with a disability Other Q57. I identify as a person with a disability that is: (You can choose more than 1 answer) No disability Prefer not to say Physical Learning Mental health Visual Hearing Other Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Workplace Bullying Q58. In the last 12 months, do you believe you have been subjected to any of the following (all within the meaning of the Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015)? (You can choose more than 1 answer) Discrimination Sexual harassment Bullying None of the above - Skip to Q 66 Q59. If you chose more than one answer, please refer to the most recent example here. Was the person responsible for that conduct from within, or external to the Bar? External to the Bar - Skip the next question From within the Bar Q60. If the person was from within the Bar, were they A more senior barrister A less senior barrister Other What was the gender and approximate age of the person who behaved that way? Q61. Gender Male Female Q62. Age group Under 30 years 31 -- 40 years 41 -- 50 years 51- 60 years Over 60 years Q63. If yes, what did you experience? (You can choose more than 1 answer) Incivility; Verbal abuse; Intimidation and/or threats; Exclusion or isolation; Interference with my personal property and/or work equipment; Withholding essential information for me to do my job; Being assigned meaningless tasks unrelated to my job; Being given impossible assignments; Denied work; Sexually suggestive comments or jokes that made me feel offended; Intrusive questions about my private life or physical appearance; Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing; Inappropriate physical contact; Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates; Sexual gestures, indecent exposure or inappropriate display of the body; Repeated or inappropriate advances on email, social networking websites or internet chat rooms; Sexually explicit email or SMS message; Request or pressure for sex or other sexual act; Sexually explicit pictures, posters or gifts that made me feel offended; Inappropriate staring or leering that made me feel intimidated; Other Q64. If you experienced discrimination, in your opinion was it based on? (You can choose more than 1 answer) Gender Age Race Other Q65. Thinking back over the past 5 years, did you experience any of the following? (You can choose more than 1 answer) Discrimination Sexual harassment Bullying None of the above As you see what happens around you. Q66. In the last 12 months, have you witnessed any of the following forms of inappropriate behaviour? (You can choose more than answer) Discrimination Sexual harassment Bullying None of the above -- Skip to Q 72 Q67. If you chose more than one answer, please describe the most recent example here. Was the person responsible for that conduct from within, or external to the Bar? External to the Bar -- Skip to Q 69 From within the Bar -- -- continue Q68. If the person was from within the Bar, were they: A more senior barrister A less senior barrister Other What was the gender and approximate age of the person who behaved in that way? Q69. Gender Male Female Q70. Age group Under 30 years 31 -- 40 years 41 -- 50 years 51- 60 years Over 60 years Q71. If yes, what did you witness? (You can choose more than 1 answer) Incivility; Verbal abuse; Intimidation and/or threats; Exclusion or isolation; Interference with my personal property and/or work equipment; Withholding essential information for me to do my job; Being assigned meaningless tasks unrelated to my job; Being given impossible assignments; Denied work; Sexually suggestive comments or jokes that made me feel offended; Intrusive questions about my private life or physical appearance; Unwelcome touching, hugging, cornering or kissing; Inappropriate physical contact; Repeated or inappropriate invitations to go out on dates; Sexual gestures, indecent exposure or inappropriate display of the body; Repeated or inappropriate advances on email, social networking websites or internet chat rooms; Sexually explicit email or SMS message; Request or pressure for sex or other sexual act; Sexually explicit pictures, posters or gifts that made me feel offended; Inappropriate staring or leering that made me feel intimidated; Other (please type in below) Q72. Thinking back over the past 5 years, did you witness any of the following? (You can choose more than 1 answer) Discrimination Sexual harassment Bullying None of the above Q73. Have you experienced and/or witnessed judicial bullying over the course of your career? Prefer not to say -- Skip to the end of the survey Yes, I have been a victim of judicial bullying Yes, I have witnessed judicial bullying Yes, I have been a victim of judicial bullying and witnessed judicial bullying No -- Skip to Q 76 I honestly cannot recall -- Skip to Q 76 Q74. If yes to the above, when did you experience and/or witness judicial bullying? In the last 12 months In the last 5 years More than 5 years ago Other: Q75. What was the jurisdiction where the conduct occurred? (You can choose more than one answer) Magistrates Court County Court Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Federal Court High Court Other (includes VCAT, AAT, Coroners Court and Fair Work Australia) Q76. Are there are other comments you would like to make regarding the state of the Victorian Bar? Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Once you are satisfied with your answers, please click submit.