Trailblazing Women of Law in W e s t e r n A u s t r a l ia
What is the proudest achievement of your Honour’s legal career? I am grateful for all of my good fortune throughout my career. However, being appointed as a judge was, and is, a great honour.
Leading the Way
2008 Gail Archer SC is the first woman to be appointed as Acting Commissioner to the Corruption and Crime Commission in Western Australia.
2009
Carmel McClure QC is appointed first female president of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
What motivated your Honour to achieve so much in your career? Any achievements that have been due to my own efforts largely stemmed from fear: fear of letting down those I was acting for, fear of injustice and, I admit, the everpresent fear of public humiliation.
Does your Honour have any humorous anecdotes about colleagues in the profession?
Justice Gail Archer SC
Humorous to me, or humorous to them? Hard pass.
The first woman to be appointed as Acting Commissioner to the Crime and Corruption Commission in Western Australia
Memorable to me? All of them. Memorable to anyone other than me and the parties? None.
Justice Archer commenced legal practice at the Crown Solicitor’s Office (as it then was) in 1989, before joining the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1993, remaining there until 2002. From 2002 to 2004, Justice Archer was Principal Counsel of Legal Aid WA. In July 2004, she began practising as a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers in a wide criminal and civil practice. She was appointed Senior Counsel in 2007. In 2008, Justice Archer became the first woman to be appointed as Acting Commissioner to the Corruption and Crime Commission in Western Australia. In 2017, Justice Archer was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Archer has also been a valued and engaged member of the Law Society since being admitted to practice law in 1990, having served the Society in a variety of capacities including as Deputy Convenor of its Ethics Committee and as a member of its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – General and Commercial Litigation Committee.
Why did your Honour choose law? I would like to say it was because of my commitment to social justice and the rule of law. Regrettably, it was not. It was because I realised in first year university that being a maths lecturer may not be quite as satisfying as I had thought. My father, who bore the brunt of my love of arguing, thought I might be suitable for the law.
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Are there any memorable cases that your Honour decided?
Has much progress been made for women having equal opportunities? In some areas, yes. In others, no. In particular, I look forward to the day when there are an equal number of male and female silks.
What advice would your Honour like to give to junior legal professionals? Fiercely guard your reputation for integrity. Such a reputation takes years to gain and can be lost in a moment. Never allow your desire to assist your client, or to win, interfere with your obligations to the court and to fellow practitioners.
What message would your Honour like to give to senior legal professionals? Read rule 23 of the Legal Profession Conduct Rules 2010. Go on. Look it up.
What top three books can your Honour recommend? The only book I am willing to admit I would recommend is Misleading Silence, edited by Elise Bant and Jeannie Marie Paterson. It’s a great book. If you want to disappear into a book on a rainy Sunday, anything by Dennis Lehane will make that happen.
Are there any life lessons your Honour would like to share with our readers? While there are disadvantages to aging, the benefits are many. In particular, with age you can stop trying to be the best there is and just be the best you can be. You also stop worrying whether those trousers make the dimensions of the main extensor muscle of your hips look excessive.
