Desmond Lane has practised at the Bar since 1991. His main areas of practice are criminal law and public law (including judicial review, merits review, privacy and freedom of information), but he has also practised in equal opportunity, insolvency, employment law, commercial law, planning and local government, amongst others.

He has appeared in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Federal Court, County Court and Magistrates' Court, and in a number of Tribunals including the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Prior to joining the Bar, he worked in the Criminal Law Branch of the Attorney-General's Department (Commonwealth), the Deputy Crown Solicitor's office, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions' office, the Policy and Research Division of the Attorney-General's Department (Victoria) and as Legislation Manager in the Department of Local Government (Victoria). He acted as a legal practitioner (including many court appearances) and worked in the development of Government policy and legislation, with a high level of responsibility.

He has published a number of articles, conducted presentations in the Bar's CLE program, and assisted in advocacy training for the Bar Readers' course and the Commonwealth DPP's office.

He was a member of the Ethics Committee of the Victorian Bar from 2003 to 2006 and has served on the criminal law section of the Bar's CLE Committee.