Law practice, 1921-1947

Containers:

Box 22-23 (MS 2505)

Component identifier:

Series 8

Content Summary:

Barry was articled to Luke Murphy and Co., a Melbourne law firm in 1921, and practised at the Victorian Bar from 1926 to 1947 and at the New South Wales Bar in 1946. He was a member of the Committee of Counsel of the Victorian Bar. One of his most famous cases as a King's Counsel was his representation of E.J. Ward in a Royal Commission in 1943 which became known as the Brisbane Line Commission.

The series contains the contract of articles with Luke Murphy; correspondence from 1929 until 1946 with clients and legal firms including McEnroe, Peace and Co., Rostron, Roy and Pitt, Bullen and Burt, Michael Niall and Co. (items 1-228); a copy of the transcript of Barry's appeal on behalf of Angus Murray, in March 1924; three fee books, for the period 1926-1947; a typescript copy of the correspondence between the Committee of Counsel and Sir James Macfarlan in 1941, concerning his alleged impatience and asperity on the Bench; a small amount of correspondence and memoranda of the Committee of Counsel from 1941 until 1946; portion of the transcript of proceedings, and the report of the Royal Commission in 1944, appointed to inquire into the Licensing Laws of Victoria, before which Barry appeared on behalf of the United Licensed Vituallers' Association of the Commonwealth of Australia; notes, a letter from E.J. Ward enclosing the findings of C.J. Lowe in the Brisbane Line Royal Commission, together with a typescript copy of Barry's argument on behalf of Ward, and his annotated copy of the transcript of evidence (items 606-732); and five scrap books and loose cuttings containing press reports of many cases in which he appeared.

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