Each year, we conduct a short optional survey that lawyers can complete when they submit their practising certificate renewal application. These surveys are an opportunity for lawyers to share their perspectives on emerging issues and trends in the profession.
Last year, we surveyed lawyers who were completing or who had recently completed supervised legal practice (SLP). This year, we want to hear from lawyers who currently supervise, or have supervised within the last five years, lawyers under an SLP condition. Hearing from supervisors will help us form a more complete view of the way supervision works in Victorian legal practices. We will use the information from this research to develop resources to support early career lawyers and their supervisors.
The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes and participation is voluntary. Any information provided is confidential and won’t be linked to regulatory data.
Access the survey here.
More about our SLP survey
What is supervised legal practice (SLP)?
SLP refers to the period during which all newly admitted lawyers are required to practise law under the supervision of a lawyer with an unrestricted practising certificate. It lasts between 18 to 24 months.
Why is the VLSB+C interested in SLP?
Lawyers’ experiences during their period of supervised practice can have a significant ongoing personal and professional impact.
To understand more about how supervision works in Victoria’s legal workplaces, in 2023 VLSB+C embarked on a two-phased research study. The first phase involved surveying supervised lawyers about their experiences, and the second phase will involve seeking supervisors’ views about what it’s like to supervise lawyers who are under an SLP condition.
It’s important for us to understand the challenges supervisors experience (and their views about supervision generally) so that we can develop resources to support a better supervision experience for both supervisors and those they supervise.
Who can complete the survey?
The survey is open to Victorian lawyers who currently supervise a lawyer under an SLP condition, or lawyers who have done so in the last five years.
How long does the survey take?
The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Is the survey compulsory?
Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary.
When does the survey close?
Lawyers have until 30 June 2024 to complete the survey.
How can lawyers access the survey?
The survey can be completed at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JN8M98J
A survey invitation will also be made available to lawyers when they complete their practising certificate renewal application. Whether or not they decide to participate in the survey has no bearing on their renewal application.
Is the survey anonymous?
All responses will be kept strictly confidential and anonymous, and will be stored securely in accordance with our privacy policy. Results will only be reported publicly in aggregate form as de-identified data.
What will the VLSB+C do with the survey responses?
The survey responses will be used to develop resources to better support supervised lawyers in future.
Will the survey results be shared with the profession?
We will publicly share a report, comprised of both sets of survey results, towards the end of 2024.