Expressions of Interest for Appointment as a Magistrate of the Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory

The Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory, Gordon Ramsay MLA, invites expressions of interest from eligible and suitably qualified people for appointment as a Magistrate of the Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory. The Attorney-General is particularly interested in applications from people who would have a willingness to undertake coronial matters.

Expressions of interests are sought from all areas of the legal community, including the private, government and community sectors. Women, people with disabilities and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Information about the selection process and selection criteria can be found here in the Magistrates Court (Magistrates Appointment Requirements) Determination 2009.

Enquiries and Expressions of Interest

Written expressions of interest, addressing the selection criteria, and accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae should be emailed to judicialappointment@act.gov.au or posted to:

Ms Alison Playford
Director-General
Justice and Community Safety Directorate
GPO Box 158
CANBERRA  ACT  2601

General inquiries should be directed to the Director-General, Justice and Community Safety Directorate, on (02) 6207 0501, or email Alison.Playford@act.gov.au.

Expressions of interest close on 2 June 2018. Late applications may be accepted at the panel’s discretion.

University of Canberra School of Law and Justice Annual Prize Ceremony 2018

The Womens Lawyers Association of the ACT was proud to be involved as a sponsor at the recent University of Canberra School of Law and Justice Annual Law Prize Ceremony on 9 April 2018. 

The event is an annual recognition of the outstanding achievements of law students at the University of Canberra. This year, the WLA ACT sponsored three prizes that were presented on the evening by our President, Danielle Mildren. The WLA ACT would like to congratulate the following prize recipients on their achievements.

Miss Victoria Guiness was awarded the  Womens Lawyers Association of the ACT Prize for the top female graduating student.

Ms Emma Hunt was awarded the Womens Lawyers Association of the ACT Women and the Law Under Graduate Prize.

Mr Ben Taylor was awarded the Womens Lawyers Association of the ACT Women and the Law Graduate Prize.

Congratulations to all nominees for the awards. Thank you to the University of Canberra for hosting the evening and inviting WLA ACT to be a part of the Annual Law Prize Ceremony.

Lawyers Pay and Conditions Report Launch

The WLA ACT and ACT Young Lawyers Committee invite you to the launch of the findings from the 2017-18 Pay & Conditions Survey at Minter Ellison's offices on 31 May 2018. Registrations are open and we look forward to seeing you and your colleagues there. 

This year's survey had an unprecedented amount of responses, was open to lawyers of all ages, and the results were analysed by a research consultant, ensuring that the survey results provide the most accurate insight into the ACT legal industry's pay and employment conditions.

Come, network with your colleagues, enjoy some canapes and refreshments, and learn about:

• what the average salary for your PAE and sector in the ACT is?
• what proportion of Canberra lawyers have been the victim of bullying and harassment?
• how many of us access flexible working conditions, and why?
• whether you are working more or less hours than your peers?

The survey results will be presented by Danielle Mildren, President of the WLA ACT and Lisa Sherman, President of the ACT Young Lawyers Committee. 

The survey launch is generously sponsored by Minter Ellison. 

This year's survey has been made possible by the support of the following corporate sponsors:

#WomenLawyersoftheACT - Angie Freeman, Clayton Utz

WLA ACT recently sat down with Angie Freeman, Partner of Clayton Utz Canberra as part of the #WomenLawyersoftheACT series to pick her brain about her career.

You have recently been made a partner at Clayton Utz, what has been the biggest change in being a partner as opposed to being a special counsel?

The biggest change for me has been probably been the daily focus shifting from 'doing the work', to taking on that leadership/managerial and supervisory role in our team and being actively involved in what’s going on more broadly in the firm, which I have really enjoyed.

You have two small children, a two year old and a four year old, how do you manage being a partner at a top tier law firm with that responsibility?

I manage it by having a good support network in place. I have a very supportive husband who, between us, takes the primary carer role. We also have childcare arrangements in place which the kids really enjoy going to and works well for us. It is also having a really good support network internally, within the firm and within my team. My colleagues help support me in being able to work flexibly when I need to and greatly assist in ensuring that I can appropriately balance my personal responsibilities as well as the needs of our clients and the team.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career? 

The most challenging time in my career so far was the first three months after I returned from maternity leave after having my first child.  It was really challenging for a wide range of reasons.  I had to transition to a different way of working and it takes time to find the way that works best for you in balancing your career and family.   The other challenge that I have found is that on occasions the generalisation is still made that as I am the female, the primary carer role must sit with me. You need to look at each person's situation as a family unit. Everyone has different circumstances and everyone has different arrangements that work for that family unit. I think that’s how we all need to look at it.

What has been the biggest highlight of your career?

Joining Clayton Utz as a partner in their Canberra office. It is a great privilege to be in that position.

Do you have any advice for women aiming for partner?

Whether you are aiming for partner or aiming for something else in your career, I think you should always communicate what it is that you want to do and what your goals are. Inevitably you hear experiences of other women that are not so positive, where they have found progressing their careers really challenging for whatever reason. Yes, those stories are relevant and that’s what we really want to fix for the future, but you shouldn't let that have too much influence over what your particular path is because it doesn’t have to be your story. I think it is really important to stay positive about what it is that you want to achieve, whether that’s to become a partner or take another step in your career.  Drive your own path and find those great sponsors and mentors, within and outside of your own workplace, that can help you achieve your goals.

We had a mentor breakfast recently with Associate Justice McWilliam of the ACT Supreme Court and she was saying there is no perfect mentor, but a number of them, has that been your experience?

I have been very fortunate in that I have an incredible mentor, Debra Tippett, a fellow partner at Clayton Utz, who has been my mentor at all stages of my career (and just quietly, I think she ticks all the boxes)!  But I do agree that it is important to look for mentors in all areas of your life. There are valuable things that you can learn from different people, be it a client, a friend, a family member. I think it's important to keep your mind open to getting those great snippets of advice.