ICJV Bar Reader Fellowship

Every year, the International Commission of Jurists Victoria invites one person from the Asia-Pacific region to complete a one-month fellowship based in Melbourne. The ICJV Fellow is a lawyer from the Asia Pacific region working in an area related to human rights and the rule of law. The fellowship provides the successful candidate with an opportunity for a productive exchange of knowledge between Australia and their home jurisdiction.

The Fellow gains unique exposure to the Victorian litigation system including opportunities to:

  • engage with Judges in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court and County Court;

  • engage with barristers who work in areas relevant to the Fellow’s professional and/or research interests;

  • participate in other engagements tailored to accommodate the particular professional and/or research interests of the Fellow, including with Community Legal Centres and other Community Society Organisations; and

  • observe trials and other proceedings across all courts in Victoria;

  • attend advocacy training with the Victorian Bar Reader’s Course for new barristers.

The Fellow is invited to share their work and/or research interests with Australian legal practitioners in formal and informal settings, to enable constructive dialogue and develop mutual awareness of common challenges.

ICJV Fellowship Alumni

2022: Run Saray, Director, Legal Aid of Cambodia

2019: Collin Andrew, Barrister, Malaysia

2018: Ranitha Gnanarajah, Manager, Legal Unit, Centre for Human Rights and Development, Sri Lanka

2017: Mabel Leong, Solicitor, Malaysia

2016: Alghiffari Aqsa, Director, The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), Indonesia

Eligibility criteria

  • Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English;

  • Candidates must have a Bachelor of Laws or other qualifying law degree from a recognised tertiary institution;

  • Candidates must be admitted to legal practice in their home country;

  • Candidates must have at least 3 years of experience as a lawyer;

  • Candidates must have a relevant professional experience and/or research interest in an area of law that impacts upon human rights or the rule of law.

Applications are not presently open, but please email executive@icjvictoria.org or sign up for our mailing list to receive updates.