Cocktailing Professional Development

MTYBA’s first CPD event took place last night. The event was kindly hosted by Church Court Chambers. Our speakers, both of Church Court, were Shaun Espirit and Mike Fullerton. They covered both Criminal and Civil proceedings providing guidance on best practice in courts ranging from the High Court to the magistrates’, with, at one point, a short digression regarding the colourful use of language occasionally present in one of the state supreme courts of Australia.

The event provided some useful tips for those starting out in their career as well as an opportunity to share a few colourful anecdotes. For anyone who could not make it some key tips to come out of the event were:

MTYBA’s Tenancy Officer, event organiser, and head Mixologist, Michael Polak working at the bar (ba-boom tish)

1.     Always be courteous.
2.     If the evidence is good and you’ve put your case, don’t ask more questions – you can lose what you’ve got as quickly as it was gained.
3.     Watch your reputation: represent your client fearlessly, no one will hold that against you, but don’t play tricks on your opponent or refuse to assistance them where ethically appropriate.
4.     Actually read the code of conduct/ handbook, and understand the bits on court advocacy – if you do this you will, at least, not be a bad advocate!
5.     Keep a record of the good days, and the funny moments, it’ll keep you going when you read the next doom-laden prophecy for the Bar.
6.     If all else fails ask this man for a drink: