This version of the Law Handbook Online is current to 30 June 2012.

The Law Handbook and Law Handbook Online can only be produced through the assistance of its many volunteer contributors, who ensure the text for each edition is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. We thank all of the following contributors to the  2012 edition for their dedication to the continued provision of accessible legal information, building on the work of their many predecessors over the lifetime of the book.

1 ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM

1.1 The legal system: Mary Anne Noone, Senior Lecturer, School of Law & Legal Studies, La Trobe University; Angus Frith, Barrister (Aboriginal law)

1.2 Courts: Greg Connellan, Magistrate; W. Benjamin Lindner, Barrister (Juries)

2 ASSISTANCE WITH LEGAL PROBLEMS

2.1 Self-representation: Jessica Richter, Lawyer, Criminal Law Division, Victoria Legal Aid

2.2 Legal representation: Joseph Barravecchio, Senior Litigation Solicitor, Accredited Commercial Litigation Specialist, Law Institute of Victoria

2.3 Legal aid: Staff at Victoria Legal Aid

2.4 Advice directory: Fitzroy Legal Service

3 ARREST, BAIL AND INTERROGATION

3.1 Disability and criminal justice: Venetia Bombas & Sam Sowerwine, Solicitors, Mental Health Legal Centre

3.2 Arrest and interrogation: Greg Connellan, Magistrate

3.3 Bail: Stephen Shirrefs, S.C

3.4 Types of crime: which court?: W. Benjamin Lindner, Barrister

3.5 Sentencing in the Magistrates' Court: Peter Lynch, Accredited Criminal Law Specialist

3.6 Appeal Costs Board: Jamie Moffat, Acting Secretary, Appeal Costs Board

4 OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

4.1 Drug offences: Stan Winford, Solicitor

4.2 Driving offences: Peter Lynch, Accredited Criminal Law Specialist

4.3 Sexual offences: Dr Ian Freckelton, Barrister & Beth McKenzie, Solicitor, Victoria Legal Aid

4.4 Infringements and fines: James Farrell, PILCH Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic

4.5 Prisoners: Richard Edney, Barrister

4.6 Criminal records: Stan Winford, Solicitor

5 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

5.1 Divorce: Noah Eidelson, Barrister

5.2 Parental responsibility, maintenance and child support: Noah Eidelson, Barrister at Law (Parental responsibility); Kamalini Jayasena, Lawyer, Victoria Legal Aid (Maintenance and Child Support)

5.3 Same-sex and de facto families: Robyn Hamilton, Lawyer, Victoria Legal Aid

5.4 Family violence: Dr Renata Alexander, Barrister, Senior Lecturer in Law, Monash University

5.5 Adoption: Catherine Burnett, Acting Manager, Home Based Care, Child Protection, Placement and Family Services, Department of Human Services

5.6 Changing your name: Chris Gunasekera, Lawyer, Peninsula Community Legal Centre Inc.

6 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

6.1 The rights and duties of young people, and

6.2 The Children's Court: Joe Gorman and James Gorman, Solicitors, Gorman & Hannan

6.3 Education law: Reeta Verma, Lecturer in Law, La Trobe University, Melbourne

7 SOCIAL SECURITY ENTITLEMENTS

7.1 Social security payments, and

7.2 Social security appeals: Len Jaffit & Michael Freedman, Lawyers, Human Rights and Civil Law Service, with Alexandra Burt, In house Advocate, Victoria Legal Aid.

8 DEBTS AND BANKSRUPTCY

8.1 Debts: Sasha Dyrenfurth, Associate, Piper Alderman Laywers

8.2 Financial counselling services: Financial and Consumer Rights Council; Fitzroy Legal Service

8.3 Bankruptcy: Tom Willcox, Solicitor, Consumer Action Law  Centre; Penelope Hill, Advice Services Manager, Consumer Action Law Centre

9 SUPERANNUATION AND TAXATION

9.1 Superannuation: Paul Bingham, Barrister

9.2 Taxation: Daniel Smedley, Principal and Accredited Specialist in Tax Law, Harwood Andrews Lawyers

10 HOME AND NEIGHBOURHOOD

10.1 Tenancy: Bill Swannie, Senior Lawyer, Tenants Union of Victoria

10.2 Neighbours and noise: Peter Cotter, Solicitor, Fitzroy Legal Service

10.3The road law for cyclists and skaters: Glenn Osboldstone, Principal Legislation Officer, WorkSafe

10.4 Internet law: Elizabeth Beal, Editorial Legal Counsel, Herald and Weekly Times Ltd

10.5 Owners Corporations: Norman Mermelstein and Neville Sanders, Accredited Owners Corporation Specialists

11 TAKING ACTION

11.1 Environmental law: Rebecca Leshinksy, Barrister

11.2 Community activism: Adrian Kennedy, Principal Solicitor, Fitzroy Legal Service and Lynne Barratt, Solicitor.

11.3 Community organisations: Tracey Atkins, Assistant Professor, Law School, University of Western Australia

12 CONSUMERS AND CONTRACTS

12.1 The law of contract: Chris Field, Western Australian Ombudsman

12.2 Consumer guarantees:  Rene van de Rijdt ,  Solicitor,  Consumer Action Law Centre

12.3 Consumer protection legislation: Gerard Brody, Senior Manager - Financial Inclusion, Brotherhood of St Laurence

12.4 Consumer remedies: Gerard Brody, Senior Manager - Financial Inclusion, Brotherhood of St Laurence (Consumer Remedies); Jacky Kefford, Member, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Small Claims); and Tony McMahon, General Manager - Dispute Resolution & Reduction, Consumer Affairs Victoria (Consumer Affairs Victoria)

13 CREDIT AND FINANCE: Tom Wilcox, Senior Solicitor, Consumer Action Law Centre

14 HOUSES AND CARS

14.1 Buying or selling a house: Dan Fitzgerald, Solicitor

14.2 Domestic building and renovation work: Mark J Attard, Partner, Monahan + Rowell Lawyers

14.3 Buying a car: David Niven, Legal Counsel, Financial Ombudsman Service

15 EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS: Craig Dowling and Neill Campbell, Barristers; Peter Rozen, Victorian Bar (Occupational health and safety)

16 DISABILITY

16.1 Disability overview: Deidre Griffiths, Principal Solicitor and Executive Officer, Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc.

16.2 Advocacy: Philip Grano, Legal Officer, Office of the Public Advocate

16.3 Physical disability: Placido Belardo, Principal Solicitor, Disability Discrimination Legal Service

16.4 Psychiatric disability: Venetia Bombas & Catherine Leslie, Solicitors, Mental Health Legal Centre Inc.

16.5 Intellectual disability: Deidre Griffiths, Principal Solicitor and Executive Officer, Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc.

16.6 Guardianship and administration; and

16.7 Powers of attorney: Philip Grano, Legal Officer, Office of the Public Advocate

17 DISCRIMINATION: (Vic) Chelsey Bell, Senior Advisor - Legal, Tessa van Duyn, Senior Advisor - Human Rights Interventions and Nicola Walker, Legal Officer, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission; (Cth) Bridget Akers, Lawyer, Australian Human Rights Commission

18 ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND COMPENSATION

18.1 Negligence and injury;

18.2 Transport accident injuries; and

18.3 Work injuries: Brian Wright, Magistrate

18.4 Assistance for victims of crime: Thracy Vinga, Barrister-at-Law

19 HEALTH AND AGED CARE

19.1 Health law: Beth Wilson, Health Services Commissioner of Victoria; Martin Botros, Legal Policy Officer, Coroners Court of Victoria.

19.2 Aged care: Belinda Evans, Senior Advocate, Elder Rights Advocacy; Max Wittick, Accredited Property Law Specialist (Retirement villages)

20 WILLS, ESTATES AND FUNERALS:Stewart F. McNab, Barrister

21 GOVERNMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL

21.1 Administrative law; and

21.2 Judicial review: Fiona L. McKenzie, Barrister

21.3 Administrative appeals tribunals: Tom Hurley, Barrister

21.4 Ombudsman: (Cth) Gabrielle Hurley; (Vic) Ombudsman Victoria

21.5 Privacy rights: (Cth)  Madeline Campbell, Senior Executive Lawyer, Australian Government Solicitors Office; (Vic) Dr Anthony Bendall, Deputy Privacy Commissioner, Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner

21.6 Freedom of information: (Cth)  Madeline Campbell, Senior Executive Lawyer, Australian Government Solicitors Office; (Vic) Melinda Robinson, Manager, FOI Coordination, Department of Justice

21.7 Complaints against the Victoria Police: Dr Ian Freckelton, Barrister, and Tamar Hopkins, Principal Solicitor, Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre

22 IMMIGRATION: Michael Clothier, Accredited Immigration Law Specialist

23 INSURANCE

23.1 Insurance: Mark J Attard, Partnerl, Monahan + Rowell Lawyers

23.2 Motor vehicle property damage: Mark Richards, Internal Dispute Resolution - General Insurance, Suncorp

24 RIGHTS AND REPUTATION

24.1 Copyright and associated rights: Annette Rubinstein, Partner, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick Lawyers

24.2 Defamation: Georgina Schoff, Barrister

LAW HANDBOOK EDITOR (online and hardcopy) (FLS): Cathy Beadnell

WEB & PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR (FLS): Lea Croyden and Fabiola Superina