Gillian appears in a wide range of criminal matters including Jury Trials, Sentences, Appeals, Contested Hearings and Children’s Court matters.
In the Children’s Court Gillian has appeared in Children’s Serious Indictable Offences. In the District Court she has appeared in Child Sexual Assault Pilot Scheme matters involving the pre-recording of cross examination of complainant and child witnesses prior to trial.
Gillian has extensive experience in criminal law. Prior to coming to the bar, Gillian worked in private practice for 8 years almost exclusively in Criminal Law, Mental Health and Victim’s of Crime Compensation Claims.
In 2016 Gillian joined Legal Aid NSW in their Newcastle office. In 2020 Gillian was appointed as the Criminal Law Practice Manager, and also acted for brief periods as the Solicitor in Charge. In addition to management responsibilities Gillian’s busy practice involved trials for Sexual Assault, Drug Supply and Murder, as well as running and managing the District Court appeals practice.
Gillian attained specialist accreditation with the NSW Law Society incriminal law and has extensive experience in criminal committal and indictable work.
Originally hailing from Canada, Gillian attained her undergraduate degrees from two prestigious Canadian Universities, completed a double honours degree in Theatre and English, and then a second Bachelor’s degree in Forensic Osteology, before finding her passion for advocacy and the law and successfully completing her law degree at the University of Victoria, Canada.As an undergrad, she was a member of the Gold Key International Honour Student Society due to her high academic achievements. She completed her Law Degree with high results.
Practice areas
Family Law
Public/Administrative
- Proceeds of crime
Criminal
- Appellate
- Crimes against the person
- Drugs
- Environmental and Planning Offences
- Extradition
- Fraud
- Juvenile justice
- Mental illness
- Proceeds of crime/money laundering
- Property offences
- Sexual assault
- Traffic
- White collar and corporate crime
- Children’s Court matters.
- Child Sexual Assault Pilot Scheme
- Children’s Serious Indictable Offences
Appellate
- Criminal appeals
Inquests/Inquiries
- Commissions and other Inquiries
- Coronial inquests