Barrister Information

Profile

FAMILY LAW BARRISTER  

Michele Brooks (nee Bates) is a Family Law Barrister who has been practising exclusively in Family Law since 1997, having been a Solicitor and Director at Harwood Andrews Lawyers in Geelong and Melbourne for nearly a decade pior to coming to the Bar in 2006.  

ADVANCED MEDIATOR

Michele is an Advanced Mediator - AMDRAS Nationally Accredited, having first been accredited in 2011. She is also accredited as a Victorian Bar Advanced Mediator (VBAM). Michele works as a sessional Trainer, Coach/Facilitator and Assessor for AIFLAM (Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators) in their AMDRAS Mediation National Accreditation  Course.  Michele is frequently appointed as a court-ordered Mediator to assist parties in resolving their family law disputes.

ARBITRATION

Michele is also a nationally certified Family Law Arbitrator under Regulation 67B of the Family Law Regulations 1984, by the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM). 

LITIGATION & ADVICE 

Michele has expertise in all areas of family law litigation, with extensive experience appearing in Melbourne, Regional and Circuit sittings of both the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) and  State / Magistrates' Courts. Michele accepts briefs to appear in Court, at Mediations and other Dispute Resolution Events., to Draft and Settle Documents and to Advise in a wide range of family law matters.

As a Family Lawyer, Mediator, Litigator and registered Arbitrator, Michele has almost three decades of experience working with people going through a most difficult time in their lives.  She is passionate about using her expertise to assist parties to advance their disputes in a decisive and timely manner through Court where necessary and to avoid the stress and cost of unnecessarily prolonged litigation wherever possible. 

ADJUNCT LECTURER - Master of Applied Law (Family Law) – College of Law

Since 2013 Michele has been employed as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Masters of Applied Law (Family Law) course, at the College of Law.  In addition to lecturing, Michele has been employed by the College in the past to create curriculum and assessment content and update lecturing materials for the Masters Course. Michele has also presented numerous workshops and webinars for College of Law. 

Michele prides herself on being thorough, proactive and straightforward in all her professional dealings.

PUBLICATIONS/ LEGAL PAPERS

Author of various newspaper articles, brochures and booklets in relation to family law including the following  legal papers delivered/presented:

 

PROFESSIONAL WORK IN THE COMMUNITY 

Michele has been actively involved in the family law community for almost three decades:

  • Member (approx 25 years) of the “Family Lawyers Expert Panel” convened by Relationships Australia Victoria The panel meets regularly with RAV Mediators and panel members provide advice to Mediation clients by referral from RAV.
  • Presenter of family law papers as a guest speaker for major legal CPD providers in Melbourne including the College of Law, TEN, Legalwise, the Leo Cussen Centre for Law, as well as to community and professional groups around Melbourne and regional Victoria. 
  • Founding member of the “Intervention Order Support Scheme” piloted by Springvale Monash Legal Service Inc at the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in 1994
  • Founding member of “Crimes Compensation Assistance Scheme” piloted at the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA) in 1995.
  • Regular past volunteer solicitor at Community Legal Centres in both Melbourne and Geelong. 

 

OTHER MEMBERSHIPS

  • Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM) (as a nationally qualified Advanced Mediator and certified Arbitrator) 
  • Law Section - Law Council of Australia
  • Law Section - Law Institute of Victoria 
  • Past Deputy Chair – New Barrister’s Standing Committee (Victorian Bar)
  • Fixed Fee Mediation Scheme - AIFLAM - member since inception of scheme 
  • Family Law Bar Association - member since 2006 

 

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation. The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister's clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.

Admitted

05 May 1997

Victorian Bar

09 Nov 2006

Areas of Expertise

    Alternative Dispute Resolution 2 Areas

    • Arbitration
    • Mediations

    Family Law and Guardianship 2 Areas

    • Parenting Orders
    • Property

CPD Resources

Podcasts & Papers

To Engage With Michele Brooks
Call us on 03 9225 7777 or Enquire Below