2022 Careers Handbook

Page 202

LIFE AS A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE HER HONOUR JUDGE JULIE ANNE WAGER

Chief Judge of the District Court of Western Australia I was sworn in as a judge of the District Court of Western Australia on 28 January 2005 and as the Chief Judge of the District Court of Western Australia on 2 May 2020. I graduated with a B Juris LLB in 1985. Law students from my year at UWA Law School were probably surprised by my appointment because when I was at UWA I had minimal interest in the law and devoted my student days enthusiastically to all things extracurricular. My focus changed when I commenced articles at Legal Aid WA and started to practice in criminal law, mainly in the Children’s Court in my restricted practice year. Most Legal Aid clients are not in a position to represent themselves. The responsibility of representing a person who is not able to speak on their own behalf is enormous. Acting for an accused person comes with responsibilities and challenges, however it was a task that I thoroughly enjoyed.

is varied and complex but always interesting. The District Court deals with all criminal jury trials except for homicides and deals with complex criminal sentencing matters. Civil matters range from personal injury to commercial and contractual disputes. The District Court jurisdiction also includes appeals from District Court registrars and from Magistrates Court civil matters, criminal injuries compensation appeals and worker’s compensation appeals. The District Court sits in Perth and in 12 regional locations from Kununurra in the north down to Esperance in the south. As the intermediate court of record and Western Australia’s circuit court a District Court judge travels all over Western Australia. Every judge takes an oath or affirmation: To do right to all manner of people according to laws and usages of the State without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

While at Legal Aid WA, I appeared as counsel in jury trials, Magistrates Court trials, sentencing hearings and appeals. I left Legal Aid to set up my own practice as a sole practitioner at 524 Hay Street, Perth in 1991. The 524 Hay Street Chambers at that time were mainly occupied by criminal lawyers many of whom became fantastic mentors and great friends.

To stay true to their oath judges must not only know the law but must be independent, keep an open mind and not be judgmental and be able to communicate with the parties be they senior counsel or self- represented accused suffering impairment. A judge must enjoy being the “referee” and not want to descend into the “arena” with counsel and litigants. Most importantly a judge must be able to In the 1990s Perth experienced a heroin epidemic. listen actively to all sides before making a decision. My client base started to offend more seriously I do not believe that there is a clear career path because they were motivated by heroin misuse to becoming a judge. If you enjoy the law, then and tragically many of my clients died from heroin- I encourage you to take up every professional related deaths. It was a harrowing time that led me opportunity that comes your way. Be involved in to embrace the introduction of therapeutic courts the development of the law and take part in social that were solution-focussed and provided supports and legal activities by volunteering for committees and boundaries for drug-using offenders. I wanted and providing assistance whenever the opportunity to be a part of a different approach to dealing with arises. Pro bono work is very enjoyable and crime and I was excited to be appointed as the personally rewarding. inaugural Drug Court magistrate in 2000. I encourage you to seek out mentors and to do your After four years as a magistrate, I was appointed best to mentor and support others in the profession as a judge of the District Court. District Court work when you can. 202


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Articles inside

General Tips for Law School

4min
pages 220-222

Victorian Clerkship

5min
pages 218-219

International Opportunities

5min
pages 216-217

Human Rights Law

2min
page 215

Life in Family Law

3min
page 210

Life in Insurance Law

2min
page 211

Technology and the Law

2min
page 214

Life as a Junior In-House Lawyer

4min
pages 212-213

Academic Careers

4min
pages 208-209

Life as a Criminal Defence Lawyer

4min
pages 204-205

Life at the State Solicitor’s Office

4min
pages 206-207

Life as a Barrister

3min
page 203

Life as a District Court Judge

3min
page 202

Life as a Supreme Court Judge

4min
pages 200-201

Life as a Banking & Finance Lawyer

3min
page 199

Chambers Westgarth

3min
page 198

Global Experiences at Baker McKenzie Life in a National Law Firm: Corrs

4min
pages 196-197

MinterEllison

3min
page 195

King & Wood Mallesons

3min
page 194

Allen & Overy

2min
page 193

Day in the Life of a HSF Grad Life at Global Law Firms:

5min
pages 191-192

Clerking at HSF

6min
pages 189-190

Pathway to HSF

3min
page 188

Ombudsman WA

2min
page 182

Legal Aid WA

2min
page 181

Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade

3min
pages 175-176

Department of the Premier & Cabinet

5min
pages 177-178

Corruption and Crime Commission

1min
page 174

Commonwealth Ombudsman

3min
pages 172-173

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

2min
page 171

Australian Taxation Office

2min
page 170

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

2min
page 169

Australian Law Reform Commission

2min
page 168

Women’s Legal Service WA

1min
pages 162-165

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

2min
page 167

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

2min
page 166

Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service

1min
page 161

Northern Suburbs CLC

2min
page 159

Street Law Centre WA Inc

2min
page 160

Midland Information Debt & Legal Advocacy Service

2min
page 158

Mental Health Law Centre

1min
page 157

Consumer Credit Legal Service

2min
page 154

Fremantle CLC

3min
pages 155-156

Citizens Advice Bureau

2min
page 153

Circle Green Community Legal

2min
page 152

WA Family Court

1min
pages 149-151

Introduction to the Courts

6min
pages 140-142

Tottle Partners

3min
pages 134-136

Pragma Lawyers

5min
pages 120-123

Jones Day

8min
pages 98-101

K&L Gates

7min
pages 106-109

Jackson McDonald

2min
pages 92-93

HHG Legal Group

10min
pages 86-91

MinterEllison

5min
pages 112-115

DLA Piper

5min
pages 76-77

Corrs Chambers Westgarth

10min
pages 70-75

Clifford Chance

2min
pages 68-69

College of Law

2min
pages 38-39

Allens

15min
pages 52-59

Leo Cussen

2min
pages 40-43

AGH Law

8min
pages 44-47

Baker McKenzie

16min
pages 60-67

Government

2min
pages 35-37

Interviews

7min
pages 27-29

Litigation & International Arbitration

3min
page 31

Cover letters

8min
pages 24-26

Graduate positions

4min
pages 14-16

Banking & Finance

1min
page 30

Clerkships

6min
pages 12-13

Applications explained

4min
pages 18-19

Crafting your CV

3min
pages 20-23
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