Skip to main content

Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
Subjects
Law and Order
Legal profession

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Legal profession

Subject

Aboriginal Legal Service

Allen, George

Allens Arthur Robinson

Byles, Marie

Crossley, George

Fletcher, Henry Ferdinand William

Glebe Coroner's Court

Holden, George Kenyon

John Ryan Brenan, Coroner for the Town of Sydney 1835-1856

Owen, Robert

Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard

Thurlow, William

Wardell, Robert

Williams, John

Inquest Into the Deaths Arising from the Lindt Café Siege 2017

Wigram Chambers

Aboriginal Legal Service

Allens Arthur Robinson

Chambers and McCarthy

Clayton Utz

Freehills

Henry Davis & Co

Law Institute of New South Wales

Law Society of New South Wales

Legal Profession Admission Board

Ley, Andrews & Company

Minter Ellison

Norton Smith & Co

Perpetual Trustee Company

Pigott Stinson

Public Trustee of New South Wales

Stuart Thom & Co

Abernethy, John Birley

Allen, Arthur

Allen, Arthur Denis Wigram

Allen, Arthur Mansfield

Allen, David Wigram

Allen, George

Allen, George Wigram

Allen, Reginald

Amos, Thomas Sterrop

Anderson, Kevin S

Arnott, William

Bannister, Saxe

Barnes, Michael

Bartley, Reginald James

Barwick, Garfield

Bell, Archibald (1773-1837)

Billyard, William Whaley

Bowden, Thomas Kendall

Brenan, John Ryan

Brennan, Gerard

Broadhurst, Edward

Brown, Stephen Campbell

Byles, Marie

Callaghan, Thomas

Carr, William

Carruthers, Joseph

Chambers, Charles Henry

Chambers, David

Chambers, Hugh

Chartres, George

Cheeke, Alfred

Coe, Paul

Coghlan, Cecil Aubrey Francis

Coghlan, Charles Augustus

Coleman, Cecil

Cookson, Reginald Gordon

Cowper, Norman

Craddock, John Lansdown

Crawley, Margaret

Crick, Paddy

Crossley, George

Culey, Edward John

Curlewis, Herbert

Dalley, William Bede

Darley, Frederick Matthew

Dawson, Katrina

Deniehy, Daniel

Do, Anh

Donald, Bruce

Driver, Richard junior

Dunsmore, John

Edmunds, Walter

Evans, George

Evatt, Clive Raleigh

Evatt, Elizabeth

Evatt, Herbert Vere 'Doc'

Farrington, Herbert Howell

Ferguson, John Alexander

Fisher, Francis

Fitzgerald, John Daniel

Forbes, Francis

Forbes, Terry

Fuller, George Warburton

Garland, John

Garling, Frederick (1775–1848)

Garran, Robert Randalph

Gaudron, Mary

Gillard, Julia

Glass, Gregory Charles

Graham, George W

Grant, James McPherson

Gurner, John

Hand, Derrick Windsor

Harris, John Alexander

Hawkins, Henry Storry

Hemsley, Alfred

Holden, George Kenyon

Holdsworth, Richard

Holroyd, Arthur Todd

Hughes, Thomas

Innes, Joseph George Long

Jamieson, John (1860-1943)

Jerram, Mary Stella

Johnson, Robert Ebenezer

Kerr, John

Kinchela, John 1774-1845

King, Lethbridge John

Kirby, Michael

Kwon, Keith

Larcombe, Helen

Lawrence, Christopher H

Lethbridge, Robert Copland

Levy, Daniel

Loomes, John James

Lowe, Robert

Mabbutt, Leslie

Martin, James 1820-1886

Mason, Norbert Keck ('Tug')

Maxwell, Allan Victor

May, Edwin Alfred

McAvoy, Tony

McCarthy, WG

McClemens, John Henry

McElhone, William Percy

McGrath, Brian

McNamara, Frank Leonard

Meagher, James A

Meagher, Richard Denis

Moore, William Henry

Morrison, Sibyl

Mullins, John Lane

Munro, Harold

Murphy, Lionel Keith

Murphy, Stephen

Mutton, Judy

Nash, Leonard James

Nichols, George Robert

Norton, James

Norton, James snr

O'Connor, Richard Edward

Oram, Edward Thompson

Owen, Robert

O’Sullivan, Teresa

Parker, Alfred Livingstone

Parker, John Skottowe

Peden, John

Pigott, William

Pinhey, William Townley

Plunkett, John Hubert

Powles, Adrian

Redman, William

Reichenbach, Gabriel

Reid, George Houston

Roach, Philip Norman

Robertson, Geoffrey

Rodd, Brent Clements

Rofe, Thomas

Rogers, George John

Rowe, Thomas Deane

Salomons, Julian

Samios, Jim

Shand, John Wentworth

Sheahan, Terry

Shiell, Henry

Shorter, William Thomas Ashton

Simpson, George Bowen

Slattery, John Patrick

Staunton, James Henry

Stenhouse, Nicol Drysdale

Stephen, Alfred

Stephen, John

Stephen, Matthew Henry

Stephen, Ninian

Stephen, Septimus Alfred

Stephen, Sidney James

Street, Phillip Whistler

Taylor, Harold

Tenison-Woods, Mary Cecil

Thurlow, William

Unwin, Frederick Wright

Walker, Frank 1942-2012

Waller, Kevin Maurice

Wardell, Robert

Watkins, John

Weir, Thomas Michael

Wentworth, William Charles

Williams, John

Windeyer, Charles

Windeyer, Richard

Windeyer, William Charles

Wolstenholme, Harry

Woore, John Chadwick

Zdenkowski, George

de Lissa, Alfred

Barrister John H McClemens, KC c1945

Aboriginal Legal Service, Redfern 1974

All that glittered was not gold: The change in the life of Shirley Beiger, November 1954

Brent Clements Rodd c1870

Chief Justice Sir Francis Forbes

Chief Justice Sir Laurence Street leads the procession during the opening of the NSW Supreme Court 1 February 1977

George Allen c1870

George Wigram Allen c1880

Harry Wolstenholme at Wahroonga feeding a thrush c1928

His Honor Mr Justice Dowling, afterwards Sir James Dowling, C.J., 1834

Judge William Charles Windeyer c1890

Marie Beuzeville Byles c1915

Memorial bust of Robert Wardell (based on his death mask) in St James Church c2000

Portrait of Julian Salomons 1908

Portrait of Robert Wardell, detail from marble tablet in St James church c1990

R R Garran, BA 1898

Roger Therry 1834

Sir Francis Forbes c1835

Sir James Martin, Chief Justice c1870

Sir John Alexander Ferguson

Staff of the Land Titles Office, Sydney, December 1864

The Hon. George Allen c1860s

The Right Hon William Bede Dalley, cover of the Illustrated Sydney News 14 August 1886

WB Dalley's statue, Hyde Park c1900

William Charles Wentworth 1861-2

William Charles Wentworth c1848

Search

Browse

Browse
- Artefacts
- Buildings
- Events
- Natural Features
- Organisations
- People
- Places
- Structures
- Entries
- Multimedia
- Subjects
- Roles
- Contributors

Connections

Broader Subjects

Law and Order

Footer

Home
About
Copyright
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Legal profession

Aboriginal Legal Service

The foundation of the Aboriginal Legal Service in 1970 marked the beginning of a new and radical period in Aboriginal politics. It was the first Aboriginal organisation that directly challenged government institutions by offering alternate services.

Allen, George

Stepson of a convict, George Allen became the colony's first locally trained lawyer, and a pillar of society.

Allens Arthur Robinson

One of Sydney's oldest law firms, Allens has been part of the legal, commercial and architectural history of the city.

Byles, Marie

Marie Byles overcame formal and informal obstacles in order to become Sydney's first practicing woman lawyer. She mentored other women in law, and became an advocate for women's rights in other fields, as well as an environmental activist and a writer about Buddhism.

Crossley, George

Lawyer, convict and lawyer again, George Crossley's career in Sydney after his transportation for perjury showed the possibilities and pitfalls for emancipists in the colony.

Fletcher, Henry Ferdinand William

Magistrate and coroner. Police Magistrate in Glen Innes and the Visiting Justice to the Armidale Gaol in 1913 who was appointed as the City Coroner in 1925 after the retirement of John Jamieson. In May 1928 he became the Stipendiary Magistrate at the Children’s Court.

full record »

Glebe Coroner's Court

The former NSW State Coroner’s Court and Morgue building on Parramatta Road, Glebe, functioned as the centre of coronial justice in the state for 48 years, and tens of thousands of Sydney’s unexplained deaths, accidents, fires, explosions and missing persons were investigated there. The building housing two coroner’s courts and offices on the top floor and the morgue, refrigeration room and laboratory on the bottom floor, and from 1971 the Department of Forensic Medicine since 1971. In December 2018 it was replaced by a new facility in Lidcombe.

Holden, George Kenyon

Lawyer, reformer and stalwart of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, George Kenyon Holden presided over its reinvention in the 1860s.

John Ryan Brenan, Coroner for the Town of Sydney 1835-1856

Irish solicitor John Brenan held many public appointments in New South Wales in the mid 19th century, including the Position of coroner for the Town of Sydney.

Owen, Robert

Landowner, solicitor, judge and politician, Robert Owen was a foundation councillor of the City of Sydney, as well as a member of both houses of New South Wales Parliament.

Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard

Robert Rice Howard was the official executioner or hangman in New South Wales for nearly 30 years. Initially a successful cab driver in mid-nineteenth century Sydney, he took on the role of 'finisher of the law' after losing his nose in an accident with a horse and losing much of his business.

Thurlow, William

A free settler who built a legal practice, William Thurlow was mayor of Sydney in 1851 and 1852.

Wardell, Robert

As founder of Australia's first independent newspaper, Robert Wardell's achievements have been much written about but his personal life - wound up with adultery, murder and disrepute - has been less well covered.

Williams, John

An eminent lawyer who was Crown Solicitor of New South Wales for over two decades, John Williams was also a mayor of Sydney.

Inquest Into the Deaths Arising from the Lindt Café Siege 2017

Findings by Coroner Michael Barnes from his inquiry into the Lindt Cafe siege at Martin Place that took place on 15-16 December 2014.

full record »

Wigram Chambers

Law offices at 167 Phillip Street which were converted into chambers for Sydney University law school about 1913.

full record »

Aboriginal Legal Service

Community-led group providing free legal assistance to Aboriginal people. It was the first Aboriginal service to directly challenging government institutions by offering alternative services.

full record »

Allens Arthur Robinson

Law firm dating back to colonial times. Recent growth has been through mergers and acquisitions.

full record »

Chambers and McCarthy

Legal company established by David Chambers and WG McCarthy which operated in King Street in the 1840s.

full record »

Clayton Utz

Commercial law firm which specialises in banking and finance, compliance, international arbitration, media and technology. It is considered one of the six largest law firms in Australia.

full record »

Freehills

Legal firm founded in Sydney in 1871 which has become one of Australia's largest.

full record »

Henry Davis & Co

Legal practice.

full record »

Law Institute of New South Wales

Professional organisation founded in 1862 to promote legal knowledge, professional integrity and member welfare.

full record »

Law Society of New South Wales

Professional organisation to promote and regulate the fair practise of law throughout New South Wales.

full record »

Legal Profession Admission Board

Statutory authority responsible for the admission of lawyers in New South Wales. It was formerly two separate boards; the Barristers Admission Board and the Solicitors Admission Board.

full record »

Ley, Andrews & Company

Legal firm operating in the late 1920s, often associated with shady business dealings

full record »

Minter Ellison

Australian based international law company.

full record »

Norton Smith & Co

Law and corporate advisory company.

full record »

Perpetual Trustee Company

Financial and investment company formed in 1886 as a trustee organisation to act as a corporate executor and trustee.

full record »

Pigott Stinson

Legal practice begun by William Pigott in 1863. The practice was merged with that of John Stinson in 1900.

full record »

Public Trustee of New South Wales

Government body which provides independent and impartial advice about writing Wills, acting as executor, administering trusts and powers of attorney.

full record »

Stuart Thom & Co

Legal practice in Barrack Street.

full record »

Abernethy, John Birley

Barrister and magistrate who was the State Coroner of NSW between 2000 and 2007.

full record »

Allen, Arthur

Lawyer and partner in Allens, one of Sydney's oldest law firms.

full record »

Allen, Arthur Denis Wigram

Lawyer and partner in Allens, one of Sydney's oldest law firms.

full record »

Allen, Arthur Mansfield

Lawyer and partner in Allens, one of Sydney's oldest law firms.

full record »

Allen, David Wigram

Lawyer and partner in Allens, one of Sydney's oldest law firms.

full record »

Allen, George

full record »

First solicitor trained entirely in Australia and founder of one of Sydney's oldest law firms. He served as Mayor of Sydney in 1845.

Allen, George Wigram

full record »

Solicitor and politician who became Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Allen, Reginald

Lawyer and partner in Allens, one of Sydney's oldest law firms.

full record »

Amos, Thomas Sterrop

Solicitor and businessman in early colonial Sydney. In 1817, Amos went into partnership with former convict George Crossley.

full record »

Anderson, Kevin S

Magistrate who was appointed to the court of Petty Sessions in 1964. As coroner he oversaw the inquest into the Luna Park Ghost Train fire in 1979.

full record »

Arnott, William

Prominent solicitor who graced the social pages of Sydney's newspapers.

full record »

Bannister, Saxe

Barrister and the colony's first attorney general whose professional competence was very quickly called into question.

full record »

Barnes, Michael

New South Wales State Coroner from January 2014 until April 2018 when he was appointed to the position of New South Wales Ombudsman. Prior to his appointment in New South Wales he had been the Queensland State Coroner from 2003-2013.

full record »

Bartley, Reginald James

Solicitor Reginald Bartley was active in local government affairs in both the Municipality of Vaucluse and in the City of Sydney. He served as Lord Mayor of Sydney 1943-44 and 1946-48.

full record »

Barwick, Garfield

Lawyer, politician and Chief Justice of the High Court.

full record »

Bell, Archibald (1773-1837)

Colonist who arrived in Sydney as an ensign in the New South Wales Corps in July 1807 with his wife and their large family. He was implicated in the arrest of Bligh and appointed as a magistrate by Governor George Johnston in January of 1808 and in 1820 was appointed as chief police magistrate in Windsor. Although Bell was not an officially appointed coroner of the Colony, he would often be called upon as a special appointment by virtue to perform the duties of the coroner.

full record »

Billyard, William Whaley

Solicitor and landholder who named and subdivided Gladesville.

full record »

Bowden, Thomas Kendall

Solicitor who joined Allens law firm in 1857.

full record »

Brenan, John Ryan

Solicitor, coroner and police magistrate whose controversial performance forced him out of office and to the brink of insolvency.

full record »

Brennan, Gerard

Lawyer, judge and tenth Chief Justice of Australia.

full record »

Broadhurst, Edward

Successful barrister and politician whose public career faltered when he was accused of duelling to defend his sister's honour.

full record »

Brown, Stephen Campbell

Solicitor and independent member of the Legislative Assembly, he was an active legislator particularly in areas of law reform.

full record »

Byles, Marie

Pioneering woman lawyer, bushwalker and Buddhist who gave endless opportunities to women in law as she had herself overcome many obstacles to her chosen career.

full record »

Callaghan, Thomas

Irish-born judge who migrated to New South Wales for health and financial reasons, and became one of the first three judges and chairmen of the Sydney Court of General and Quarter Sessions.

full record »

Carr, William

Solicitor and early settler in North Sydney.

full record »

Carruthers, Joseph

Lawyer and politician who was a minister in various governments and premier 1904-07.

full record »

Chambers, Charles Henry

Solicitor who was appointed Town Clerk in 1842 but resigned in 1843 after conflict with the councillors.

full record »

Chambers, David

Solicitor.

full record »

Chambers, Hugh

Solicitor.

full record »

Chartres, George

Convict who became clerk to D'Arcy Wentworth and worked as a lawyer until 1814 when ex-convicts were prevented from practising.

full record »

Cheeke, Alfred

Lawyer and horse breeder who was the first judge appointed to the District Court in 1858 and later a Supreme Court judge.

full record »

Coe, Paul

Aboriginal lawyer and activist involved in many struggles for civil and land rights.

full record »

Coghlan, Cecil Aubrey Francis

Solicitor, businessman and politician.

full record »

Coghlan, Charles Augustus

Barrister who was appointed a KC in 1921.

full record »

Coleman, Cecil

Solicitor with Allen Allen and Hemsley.

full record »

Cookson, Reginald Gordon

Public servant who became Sydney City Coroner in 1945 after acting as a general state coroner since 1934. His criticism of tram drivers and workers for ignoring their responsibilities to the public prompted a tram strike in 1945 tram strike. He was appointed to the Paddington Court Bench in January 1946.

full record »

Cowper, Norman

Solicitor and soldier who became senior partner at Allen Allen and Hemsley and a director of many companies.

full record »

Craddock, John Lansdown

Public servant and magistrate who served as the City Coroner between 1961 and 1963.

full record »

Crawley, Margaret

Solicitor and a founder of the Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales.

full record »

Crick, Paddy

Colourful and feisty solicitor and politician remembered as a racehorse owner and a heavy gambler, rather than one who fought for legislative reform.

full record »

Crossley, George

Lawyer who was transported for forgery and continued his chequered career in the colony.

full record »

Culey, Edward John

Solicitor who became a partner in Allen Allen and Hemsley.

full record »

Curlewis, Herbert

Barrister and writer who became a District Court judge.

full record »

Dalley, William Bede

Politician and lawyer who rose to prominence despite being a Catholic and the son of convicts, and became a popular and influential Sydney figure.

full record »

Darley, Frederick Matthew

Chief justice and lieutenant governor whose diligence and judicial management brought high office.

full record »

Dawson, Katrina

Barrister who died from wounds sustained during the police operation during the Lindt Cafe siege at Martin Place on 16 December 2014.

full record »

Deniehy, Daniel

Son of two convicts who became a lawyer, writer and member of parliament, famous for his oratory and radicalism, before succumbing to alcohol and despair.

full record »

Do, Anh

Vietnamese-born lawyer, comedian and actor.

full record »

Donald, Bruce

Lawyer whose career has spanned broadcasting and environmental law, as well as writing and radio and television presenting.

full record »

Driver, Richard junior

Solicitor and politician who, as a cricket enthusiast, was an important organiser of intercolonial matches and visits by English cricket teams.

full record »

Dunsmore, John

Solicitor who helped found Sydney's first golf club near Concord.

full record »

Edmunds, Walter

Judge and a member of the NSW Parliament. Born 1856, died 1932.

full record »

Evans, George

Solicitor who acquired 14 perch (approximately 354 square metres) of the Glenhurst Estate in 1863 to build his home.

full record »

Evatt, Clive Raleigh

Barrister and politician whose eccentricity and style of advocacy did not always find favour with his professional colleagues though he had many victories in civil litigation particularly defamation and personal injury.

full record »

Evatt, Elizabeth

Reformist lawyer and jurist who is an outspoken advocate for human rights and particularly women's rights, serving as the first Chief Judge of the Family Court of Australia and holding many national and international positions in law reform.

full record »

Evatt, Herbert Vere 'Doc'

Labor politician and judge who was a creative and innovative foreign minister and libertarian but who alienated many with his greed for publicity and erratic political decisions.

full record »

Farrington, Herbert Howell

Having served as a general state coroner since 1927, Herbert Farrington was appointed to the position of Sydney City Coroner in 1932. His previous public service roles also included an appointment as Police Magistrate within New South Wales, as an Industrial Magistrate, a Special Magistrate under the Child Welfare Act 1923 and a Magistrate under the Fair Rents Act 1915. Farrington was reappointed to the position of travelling magistrate in January 1935.

full record »

Ferguson, John Alexander

Barrister and judge who became an avid collector of Australiana and bibliographer who aimed to include an accurate description of every book, pamphlet, periodical and newspaper relating in any way to Australia.

full record »

Fisher, Francis

Lawyer who was NSW Crown Solicitor 1835-39.

full record »

Fitzgerald, John Daniel

Barrister and Labor politician whose fought for social and political improvements and was a prominent town planning advocate.

full record »

Forbes, Francis

full record »

First chief justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Forbes, Terry

Magistrate and coroner.

full record »

Fuller, George Warburton

Barrister, federationist and free trade politician who served as Premier in 1921 for one day and then between 1922 and 1925.

full record »

Garland, John

Scottish born barrister and parliamentarian.

full record »

Garling, Frederick (1775–1848)

Second free solicitor, after colleague William Henry Moore, to be appointed in the colony, who enjoyed a distinguished career working for the Crown and in private practice.

full record »

Garran, Robert Randalph

full record »

Lawyer and public servant who shaped the first Federal government departments after Federation and was trusted counsellor of all attorney generals and governments between 1901 and 1932.

Gaudron, Mary

First female Justice of the High Court of Australia.

full record »

Gillard, Julia

Welsh-born lawyer who moved into politics and became the 27th Prime Minister of Australia in June 2010.

full record »

Glass, Gregory Charles

Public servant, magistrate and coroner who was the City Coroner before becoming the NSW State Coroner in 1992. The inquests he conducted included those into the murders of Christopher Flannery and Sallie Anne Huckstepp. The inquest into the death of Sallie Anne Huckstepp began in January 1987 and the 19 sitting days were spread over four years until 1991. With former State Coroner Kevin Waller, Glass was on the Steering Committee established to found the Homicide Victims Support Group in 1993.

full record »

Graham, George W

Solicitor and cricket supporter.

full record »

Grant, James McPherson

Solicitor in Sydney before becoming active in Victorian politics and member of both Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament in Victoria.

full record »

Gurner, John

Chief clerk of the Supreme Court who left government service in 1841 to pursue more lucrative private practice as a solicitor.

full record »

Hand, Derrick Windsor

Public servant, magistrate and coroner who served as the New South Wales State Coroner between 1995 and 2000. Inquests he conducted included those into the deaths of Anita Cobby, Michael Hutchence and Kerry Whelan. as well as the Thredbo disaster in which 18 people were killed.

full record »

Harris, John Alexander

Public servant who was appointed to the position of Clerk of Petty Sessions and Registrar for Births Deaths and Marriages for Ryde in 1915, then moved through several positions including the position of Police Magistrate for Wagga. He replaced Edward Thomapson Oram in the role of Sydney City Coroner in 1943 and was reappointed to the position of Stipendiary Magistrate in January 1945.

full record »

Hawkins, Henry Storry

Magistrate and coroner. Hawkins was was appointed to the position of acting Sydney City Coroner in Sydney before being officially appointed to the position in March 1911. He was appointed to the position of Special Magistrate of the Children’s Court in 1919, sharing his position of Sydney City Coroner with John Jamieson, before being reassigned to the Stipendiary Bench in 1920. In conjunction with other magistrates, Hawkins wrote several law books and legislation, including The Coroner’s Manual, and the Deserted Wives and Children’s Act.

full record »

Hemsley, Alfred

English-born lawyer who joined the Allen legal firm in 1894, making it Allen, Allen and Hemsley, and later served as a member of the Legislative Council.

full record »

Holden, George Kenyon

A lawyer and politician who became the first Examiner of Titles in New South Wales, George Kenyon Holden oversaw the implementation of the Torrens Title system of land registration, which became a secure basis for Sydney land transactions from 1863.

full record »

Holdsworth, Richard

Solicitor and early alderman in Woollahra.

full record »

Holroyd, Arthur Todd

African explorer, physician and barrister who held several turbulent positions in the judiciary and parliament.

full record »

Hughes, Thomas

Solicitor and politician who became an ardent supporter of a unified Greater Sydney, and Federation, whilst continuing the family tradition as benefactor of the Catholic church.

full record »

Innes, Joseph George Long

Politician and judge who became crown prosecutor in the Parkes ministry.

full record »

Jamieson, John (1860-1943)

Magistrate and coroner. Appointed to the position of acting Sydney City Coroner in 1916, he was appointed officially in 1919. He had previously been a district coroner in Moree. Jamieson also held the roles of Fair Rent Magistrate, and the visiting magistrate to the Long Bay Penitentiary. Retiring in June 1925 when he reached the compulsory retirement age of 65, he was described as a just and fair magistrate who was an ornament to the NSW Bench. He died in 1943 at the age of 82.

full record »

Jerram, Mary Stella

Magistrate who was the first woman appointed to the position of New South Wales State Coroner in May 2007. Originally contracted for a five-year period, her term was extended and her retirement in October 2013.

full record »

Johnson, Robert Ebenezer

Solicitor and politician.

full record »

Kerr, John

Prominent lawyer who was appointed to many prominent judicial positions and was Australia's Governor-General at the time of the constitutional crisis of 1975.

full record »

Kinchela, John 1774-1845

Irish-born law officer who was appointed Attorney-General of NSW at a salary of 1,200 pounds and then judge of NSW Supreme Court. He also served as a member of the first NSW Legislative Council. However, though Governor Richard Bourke praised his legal knowledge, he complained of Kinchela's extreme deafness claiming it hindered his work as a member of the Legislative Council.

full record »

King, Lethbridge John

Magistrate and City Coroner.

full record »

Kirby, Michael

Jurist, judge and academic.

full record »

Kwon, Keith

Korean-born lawyer and local politician who became Mayor of Strathfield in 2008.

full record »

Larcombe, Helen

Newcastle solicitor who bought Marie Byles practice but sold when she was appointed magistrate in 1976.

full record »

Lawrence, Christopher H

Forensic pathologist

full record »

Lethbridge, Robert Copland

English attorney who was connected to the family of Philip Gidley King by marriage and built and owned Werrington House in Western Sydney.

full record »

Levy, Daniel

Lawyer and politician who was active in Jewish affairs.

full record »

Loomes, John James

Public servant and magistrate who held the role of Acting City Coroner in 1961 before becoming City Coroner in 1963. He was in charge of the inquest into the deaths of Dr Gilbert Bogle and Margaret Chandler, whose bodies were found on the bank of the Lane Cove River on New Year’s Day 1963, and although the cause of their deaths remained a mystery, the coronial investigation led to many sensational and scandalous revelations about their lives. He remained in the role of Coroner until retiring on 22 May 1970.

full record »

Lowe, Robert

Barrister who chose to practise law in Australia after being diagnosed with imminent blindness and who found acclaim and enmity in his fight for responsible government in the colony during the crucial 1840s.

full record »

Mabbutt, Leslie

Magistrate and former police prosecutor who was the NSW State Coroner between April-December 2018.

full record »

Martin, James 1820-1886

Politician and lawyer who rose from a humble background to be a member of parliament, Chief Justice of the colony and Premier three times between 1863 and 1872.

full record »

Mason, Norbert Keck ('Tug')

Solicitor who married actor, director and theatre entrepreneur Doris Fitton.

full record »

Maxwell, Allan Victor

Barrister who presided at four Royal Commissions.

full record »

May, Edwin Alfred

The son of a former police sergeant, May spent over forty years in public service. Following his three years as a police magistrate at Tamworth, May was appointed to the position of Sydney City Coroner in May 1928. A year later he was appointed to the additional position of acting Stipendiary Magistrate in the Ryde District. He provoked controversy early in his coronial position when, during an inquest, he suppressed a letter written by the deceased besmirching a living person. May retired in 1932 at the age of 64 and died in 1956 at the age of 84.

full record »

McAvoy, Tony

Aboriginal barrister who specialises in native title and land rights.

full record »

McCarthy, WG

Solicitor.

full record »

McClemens, John Henry

full record »

Lawyer and Supreme Court judge. He was also the Commissioner of the Royal Commission on Callan Park Mental Hospital in 1960.

McElhone, William Percy

Solicitor who was a Councillor for the City of Sydney between 1908 and 1927, and Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1922.

full record »

McGrath, Brian

Lawyer.

full record »

McNamara, Frank Leonard

Magistrate and coroner, who, during his short tenure as Sydney Sydney City Coroner in the mid 1950s, was consistently critical of the growing road and rail death toll, urging for safer roads and railways. He campaigned to charge drunk or irresponsible drivers who caused injuries or deaths, and promoted the installation of automatic doors on electric trains.

full record »

Meagher, James A

Solicitor and raconteur with a love of Irish literature, who helped and encouraged the best of Sydney's literary minds in the mid twentieth century.

full record »

Meagher, Richard Denis

Solicitor and politician. He was the first Labor Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney.

full record »

Moore, William Henry

Londoner who became the first free solicitor in the colony, leading a chequered career serving the Crown and in private practice.

full record »

Morrison, Sibyl

First woman to work as a barrister in Sydney.

full record »

Mullins, John Lane

Lawyer, whose inherited income enabled him to become a prominent art patron and Catholic lay leader. When he entered first local and then state politics he was an important link between artists and Sydney's political and business elite.

full record »

Munro, Harold

Sydney defence lawyer operating during the time of the razor gangs. His clients included key underworld figures including Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh and Iris Webber.

full record »

Murphy, Lionel Keith

Lawyer and politician. An industrial lawyer who became a barrister and high court judge, and a Senator, Attorney-General, and Minister in the Federal Whitlam government in the 1970s.

full record »

Murphy, Stephen

Coroner and magistrate who began his career as a public servant in 1867 as a clerk with the mounted police at Bathurst and then in the prison system. Murphy was sworn in as a general coroner for the colony in 1897. At the time, he was an appointed police magistrate and the Chief Emergency Officer of the Department of Justice. By 1900, he was appointed to the position of acting coroner for the Parramatta district. Soon after, Murphy was promoted to the position of Clerk of Petty Sessions at the Water Police Court in 1903. He would also take on the role, unofficially, of Sydney City Coroner following the promotion of John King to the Stipendiary Bench in October 1907. Murphy was officially appointed to the dual role of Sydney City Coroner and special magistrate of the Children’s Court in January 1909. Due to his age and workload, Murphy resigned from the coronial position in March 1912 in order to focus on family law, but only remained in practice until 1913 when he retired.

full record »

Mutton, Judy

First female partner at Allen Arthur Robinson.

full record »

Nash, Leonard James

Senior magistrate and NSW coroner.

full record »

Nichols, George Robert

First native-born Australian admitted as a solicitor, he combined strong oratory with a radical reform agenda, advocating self-government and denouncing transportation.

full record »

Norton, James

Solicitor, politician and horticulturalist. His legal clients included Sir Edward Macarthur and David Scott Mitchell. He was a founder of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.

full record »

Norton, James snr

Solicitor and free settler who became a protectionist politician in opposition to John Dunmore Lang.

full record »

O'Connor, Richard Edward

Lawyer who twice declined the offer of a knighthood.

full record »

Oram, Edward Thompson

Appointed Sydney City Coroner in January 1935, Edward Oram was soon thrust into the media spotlight during the case known popularly as the Shark Arm murders after a tiger shark held at the Coogee Aquarium Baths vomited up the left hand and forearm of small-time criminal, James Smith. During the coronial inquest, the suspected murderer’s legal team argued that as the rest of Smith's body had not been found, Smith may still have been alive, prohibiting Oram from holding an inquiry into his death. A year later, Oram conducted the formal inquest into the death of 18 year old Edwin Hickey who was, controversially, executed after being found guilty of murder. He declined requests by the press to be present at the inquest. Oram was reappointed to be Special Magistrate for the Children's Court in August 1943 and retired from the public service in 1950.

full record »

Owen, Robert

full record »

Lawyer and landowner, who combined political interests with talent as a sailor.

O’Sullivan, Teresa

Magistrate who in 2019 became the second woman to be appointed the position of New South Wales State Coroner. She joined the Coroner’s Court in 2015 as a Deputy State Coroner.

full record »

Parker, Alfred Livingstone

A solicitor and local politician, Sir Alfred Parker served as Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1934-35.

full record »

Parker, John Skottowe

Coroner for the Sydney district from 1856 until his death in 1866. Prior to this he had been the coroner for Maitland and before that for the district of Paterson. He was the Superintendent of Agriculture at Eagle Farm in Moreton Bay from 1828.

In 1831 he married Jane Phillips in Newcastle, with whom he had 12 children. Parker died from hepatitis at his home in Newtown in 1866.

full record »

Peden, John

Barrister and professor of law, who later became a member and president of the Legislative Council.

full record »

Pigott, William

Solicitor and local politician who was first mayor of Stanmore.

full record »

Pinhey, William Townley

Pharmacist and local politician who also served as the Deputy City Coroner for Sydney until his death in 1895.

full record »

Plunkett, John Hubert

Attorney General and politician whose reputation for austere impartiality improved the treatment of emancipists, convicts and Aboriginals though he considered the Church Act of 1836 which gave legal equality to Protestants and Catholics, his most important achievement.

full record »

Powles, Adrian

Former managing partner of Allen Allen & Hemsley who misappropriated client funds for his own use.

full record »

Redman, William

Solicitor and goldfield speculator who owned property in both Brookvale and Belmore.

full record »

Reichenbach, Gabriel

Partner at Allens Arthur Robinson in the 1930s.

full record »

Reid, George Houston

Barrister and politician who was both state Premier and Australian Prime Minister before returning to England and election to the British parliament.

full record »

Roach, Philip Norman

Solicitor who practiced in Sydney for more than 50 years and specialised in criminal cases. Described in his Australian Dictionary of Biography entry as one of Sydney's 'most colourful criminal lawyers'.

full record »

Robertson, Geoffrey

Barrister who has been counsel in many landmark cases in constitutional, criminal, human rights and media law in Britain and the Commonwealth.

full record »

Rodd, Brent Clements

full record »

Sydney solicitor and landowner.

Rofe, Thomas

Lawyer, businessman and benefactor who was convicted of conspiracy and struck off the roll of solicitors, and later turned to religion and philanthropy to rehabilitate his character.

full record »

Rogers, George John

Land speculator and solicitor.

full record »

Rowe, Thomas Deane

Shyster lawyer who further outraged society by living with his mistress in Castlereagh Street during the 1820s.

full record »

Salomons, Julian

Skilful barrister and member of the Legislative Council who was an active member of the Jewish community and served as Agent General for New South Wales in London in 1899-1900.

full record »

Samios, Jim

Solicitor and politician.

full record »

Shand, John Wentworth

High profile barrister in the 1940s and 50s, better known as Jack Shand.

full record »

Sheahan, Terry

Lawyer and Labor politician.

full record »

Shiell, Henry

One of the city’s longest-serving coroners, Shiell served from 1866 until 1888, when he fell ill and was unable to return to the position. He died in January 1889.

full record »

Shorter, William Thomas Ashton

Solicitor who practised from premises at 118 Pitt Street from the 1860s. In 1912 it appears he became bankrupt.

full record »

Simpson, George Bowen

Politician and judge who became a capable but harsh judge of the Supreme Court.

full record »

Slattery, John Patrick

Barrister and Supreme Court Judge who, on his retirement in 1988, chaired the NSW Royal Commission into Mental Health Services.

full record »

Staunton, James Henry

James Staunton QC was the first Chief Judge of the District Court of NSW and conducted numerous inquiries into high profile disasters in the State, including the Granville rail disaster.

full record »

Stenhouse, Nicol Drysdale

Lawyer who became a patron of writing and education in the colony, and whose library became the foundation of the University of Sydney library.

full record »

Stephen, Alfred

Chief justice and politician whose long career saw great changes in the law and the colony.

full record »

Stephen, John

Lawyer who came to Sydney after legal success in the West Indies and was appointed first solicitor-general of New South Wales. He was made a judge in 1826.

full record »

Stephen, Matthew Henry

Lawyer and judge, usually known as Henry Stephen, who was active in social and philanthropic circles. He was the son of Alfred Stephen.

full record »

Stephen, Ninian

Barrister and judge who served as Governor General of Australia from 1982 to 1989.

full record »

Stephen, Septimus Alfred

Lawyer, pastoralist and politician from a distinguished Sydney legal family.

full record »

Stephen, Sidney James

English lawyer who practiced in the West Indies before arriving in Sydney in 1828 to join his father, John Stephen, and family. He practiced in Sydney and Hobart, but after a dispute with Henry Montagu, was disbarred, when he went to Victoria. After the disbarrment was overturned by the Privy Council in 1847, he was appointed to the bench in New Zealand.

full record »

Street, Phillip Whistler

Lawyer and judge, who became chief justice and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales.

full record »

Taylor, Harold

Lawyer who became senior partner of Allens Arthur Robinson in the 1920s.

full record »

Tenison-Woods, Mary Cecil

Lawyer whose personal experience and interests shaped her dedication to child welfare reform and improving the status of women.

full record »

Thurlow, William

Solicitor and politician. He served as Mayor of Sydney in 1851-52

full record »

Unwin, Frederick Wright

Solicitor and merchant who owned extensive landholdings in Melbourne and Sydney, particularly in The Rocks area.

full record »

Walker, Frank 1942-2012

Lawyer, judge and politician who was a minister in both the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments

full record »

Waller, Kevin Maurice

Public servant, barrister, magistrate and coroner. He was appointed as the City Coroner in 1970 and in 1987 conducted the coronial inquest into the death of Pearl Watson, the Family Court judge's wife killed in 1984 by a bomb at her Greenwich home unit. In 1988 he was the first person to be appointed to the position of New South Wales State Coroner. As State Coroner he conducted inquests into some of the state's most significant cases including the 1989 death of David Gundy, the Kempsey coach crash, the Newcastle earthquake and the shootings in 1991 at the Strathfield Plaza shopping centre. He held the position until his retirement in 1992. He was the inaugural chair of the Victims Advisory Council from 1992 and the founder of the the Australian Coroners Society in 1991. In 1993 he chaired an independent committee reviewing suicide and other forms of self-harm in the NSW prison system, and a crisis and aged care unit in the Long Bay Correction Centre Hospital was named after him.

full record »

Wardell, Robert

Barrister and newspaper publisher who was notorious for litigation and duelling, and was murdered by escaped convicts on his Petersham estate in 1834.

full record »

Watkins, John

Welsh-born merchant and barrister who migrated to Sydney and became an alderman at Randwick Council.

full record »

Weir, Thomas Michael

Magistrate and coroner who conducted the inquest into the Granville rail disaster in 1977.

full record »

Wentworth, William Charles

full record »

Explorer, barrister, landowner and author who championed the emancipists and free settlers and campaigned for radical political reform.

Williams, John

Solicitor, public servant and local politician who was Crown Solicitor of New South Wales for over 30 years. He served as Mayor of Sydney in 1858.

full record »

Windeyer, Charles

full record »

Magistrate and police superintendent. He served as the first Mayor of Sydney in the period between the city's incorporation in August 1842 and the first elections in November.

Windeyer, Richard

Barrister and politician who became a landholder in the Hunter Valley.

full record »

Windeyer, William Charles

Barrister, judge, politician and social reformer who encouraged education for girls and was founding chairman of Women's College, within the University of Sydney.

full record »

Wolstenholme, Harry

full record »

Amateur ornithologist and lawyer.

Woore, John Chadwick

Police magistrate at Wilcannia, Queanbeyan and the Richard River in the mid-19th century. As the Commissioner for Lands he selected the site for the township of Wilcannia in 1863. Between 1889 and 1903 he was the City Coroner. He died at his home Tallandra in North Sydney in 1915.

full record »

Zdenkowski, George

Lawyer and magistrate who was sympathetic to the conservation movement in the Blue Mountains.

full record »

de Lissa, Alfred

Solicitor who specialised in company law and published several pamphlets on finance, labour, and income distribution.

full record »

Barrister John H McClemens, KC c1945

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[ Home and Away - 3602]

(Mitchell Library)

Aboriginal Legal Service, Redfern 1974

full record »

Contributed By

National Archives of Australia

[A8739, A2/8/74/15]

All that glittered was not gold: The change in the life of Shirley Beiger, November 1954

full record »

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[Truth, 28 November 1954, p50 via Trove]

Brent Clements Rodd c1870

full record »

Courtesy Canada Bay Connections,

City of Canada Bay Library

Chief Justice Sir Francis Forbes

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a1528031 / DG 272]

Chief Justice Sir Laurence Street leads the procession during the opening of the NSW Supreme Court 1 February 1977

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[d3_33053 / GPO3 33053]

(Mitchell Library) (Copyrights State of New South Wales through the Department of Attorney General and Justice)

George Allen c1870

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Mitchell Library)

George Wigram Allen c1880

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a1321030 / PXA 549, 11c]

(Mitchell Library)

Harry Wolstenholme at Wahroonga feeding a thrush c1928

full record »

By

Alec Hugh Chisholm

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[nla.pic-vn3796874]

(Part of GM Mathews collection of portraits of ornithologists)

His Honor Mr Justice Dowling, afterwards Sir James Dowling, C.J., 1834

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Mitchell Library)

Judge William Charles Windeyer c1890

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a755018 / PXA 1023/250]

(Mitchell Library)

Marie Beuzeville Byles c1915

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[c046270001 / MLMSS 7071]

(Mitchell Library)

Memorial bust of Robert Wardell (based on his death mask) in St James Church c2000

full record »

By

Contributed By

Portrait of Julian Salomons 1908

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

Portrait of Robert Wardell, detail from marble tablet in St James church c1990

full record »

By

Contributed By

R R Garran, BA 1898

full record »

By

John Hubert Newman

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[ML 524 (detail)]

(from 'The Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science ... members of the Council, 1898')

Roger Therry 1834

full record »

By

Richard Read Junior

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a3754001 / ML 180]

(Mitchell Library)

Sir Francis Forbes c1835

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a928577 / ML 14]

(Mitchell Library)

Sir James Martin, Chief Justice c1870

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a1321059 / PXA 549/23a]

(Mitchell Library)

Sir John Alexander Ferguson

full record »

By

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[nla.pic-an12148737]

Staff of the Land Titles Office, Sydney, December 1864

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a4457001 / SPG/90]

(Left to right: - John R Yorke (Engrossing Clerk), Robert M Pearson (Assistant Draftsman), Charles J Muddle (Counter Clerk), Charles Arthur (Principal Draftsman) , Alexander Dick (Second Examiner of Titles), Christopher Rolleston (Registrar General), George K Holden (Principal Examiner of Titles), Principal Examiner of Titles (Deputy Registrar General), FCW Elyard (Junion Clerk), Jonas Lander (Clerk to Examiners)) (Mitchell Library)

The Hon. George Allen c1860s

full record »

By

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Mitchell Library)

The Right Hon William Bede Dalley, cover of the Illustrated Sydney News 14 August 1886

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Illustrated Sydney News, 14 August 1886, p1)

WB Dalley's statue, Hyde Park c1900

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a116408 / PXE 711/408]

(Mitchell Library)

William Charles Wentworth 1861-2

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

William Charles Wentworth c1848

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[SPF P1/W]

(Mitchell Library)

Law and Order