A controversial Victorian law that can be used to give killers lighter sentences is set to be scrapped.

The defensive homicide law can be applied if a person argues they killed in self-defence.

A Department of Justice review recommends the abolition of the law in favour of amendments to self-defence.

Attorney-General Robert Clark says the law has failed.

"This was a law that was supposed to help particularly women in situations family violence who might have been acting under extreme pressure," he said.

"Experience shows it's been used predominantly by males who have used it as a defence against a murder charge, including where there appears to have been horrific injuries inflicted on someone who was in no position to threaten the offender."

A domestic violence support group has expressed concern about the plan.

The chief executive of the Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service Victoria, Annette Gillespie, concedes that while the law has been abused it should be strengthened rather than scrapped.

"It's important that we strengthen the laws so that defensive homicide can continue to be used in the case of women's violence after many years of torture within the home," she said.

"Abolishing it would not be the answer."