Show Notes
Disputes between neighbours about trees are common. They may involve dangerous branches, roots that damage property, or even poison. The law in this area is complex and difficult to find, while it is not clear to people how they can resolve their disputes without expensive and stressful legal action. That's why the VLRC recently completed a report on the law of neighbourhood tree disputes, recommending a new Act to help people resolve their problems. In this episode of 'Old Law, New Law' Nick and Gemma talk to Emma Cashen, team leader of the tree disputes inquiry, and Natalie Lilford, the Commission's community law reform manager. Transcript of this episode
More from Old Law, New Law - a podcast by the VLRC
Integrated legal assistance services can provide great support to people experiencing complex disadvantage, distress or trauma, but keeping legal information private in these circumstances can be complicated. In this episode of ‘Old Law, New Law’, Eve Gallagher, Team Leader of our Legal privilege and integrated legal assistance services inquiry, talks with VLRC Chair, Tony North and senior staff from three integrated legal assistance services in Victoria about ways of addressing these problems.
How can courts and the justice system use AI safely? The VLRC team discuss whether AI can help courts become more efficient and accessible, without losing the human element, and bearing in mind the dangers of deepfakes, hallucinations and bias.
Some 5,000 – 6,000 people serve on juries in Victoria every year. In this episode we talk to Victorian Juries Commissioner Paul Dore about his role in bringing jurors into the courtroom and what happen when they get there. This wide-ranging conversation covers the role of law reform, the impact of traumatic trials on jurors, the problem of jurors doing their own research on Google, and what can be done to improve the juror experience.
You may be surprised to learn that people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision are unable to serve on juries in Victoria. In May 2023 the VLRC published recommendations for reform that would enable more people to serve using reasonable adjustments. Nick talks to Emma Cashen and Phoebe Lindner about how Victorian juries can be made more inclusive and representative. Transcript Link to the Inclusive Juries report
If someone kicks a person in the head and they are badly hurt, the perpetrator might be charged with recklessly causing serious injury. But what does 'reckless' mean in a legal sense? The meaning in the law is not the same as in everyday speech, and differs between jurisdictions. Law courts have to work out what was going on in someone's mind at the exact moment of an action to decide if they are guilty of reckless behaviour. Nick and Gemma talk to Tony North KC, Chair of the Victorian Law Reform Commission, and members of the VLRC team that is considering recklessness in Victoria.