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New magistrates bring VLA experience
Date : 21 Jul 2008
Victoria Legal Aid congratulates former lawyers Sharon Smith and Jane Gibson, who were both appointed as magistrates to the Children's Court in July.
Ms Gibson worked at VLA between 2001 and the end of 2006. Her roles included in-house counsel and Children's Court advocate.
Sharon Smith has practised in criminal law in all Victorian jurisdictions and worked at Victoria Legal Aid from 1996 to February of this year, first as a deputy section leader of the duty lawyer section and then as an Associate Public Defender(Committals) and finally as a Public Defender.
In April senior lawyer John Bentley was appointed a magistrate. Mr Bentley began at Victoria Legal Aid in late 2004, having previously worked with both the Victorian and Commonwealth Office of Public Prosecutions.
‘These appointments reflect the great expertise of VLA’s lawyers,’ said managing director Tony Parsons. ‘Ms Gibson, Ms Smith and Mr Bentley will each bring extensive knowledge to their new roles, knowledge partly gained from working at VLA. We wish them the best in their appointments.’
Other former VLA lawyers to become magistrates have included Angela Bolger, Ann Collins, Michelle Erlich, Fiona Hayes, Bob Kumar, Cathy Lamble, Nunzio LaRosa, Kay Macpherson, Carmen Randazzo, Kay Robertson, Fiona Stewart and Christine Thornton. Ms Thornton was appointed a County Court judge in June.