LSB March 2018_Web

MILITARY LAW
months he worked in the UN Transitional
Administration East Timor (UNTAET)
in Dili and environs, assisting the new
government to create its own Defence
Force. This was a nation building exercise
and provided his first taste of practicing
law at the international level. The work
was varied and included drafting defence
related legislation for consideration by the
new East Timor Parliament.
Returning to Adelaide, Andrew was
advised he was posting back to Sydney
in late 2001. For family stability reasons
Andrew transferred back to the Navy
reserve to remain in Adelaide and secured
employment with Lempriere Abbott
McLeod. He practised for four and a half
years at the firm in insurance, criminal
and wills and estates. During that time
he was fortunate enough to be released
by the firm to deploy to Gulf War 2 in
HMAS Sydney during March – July 2003
as an active Naval Reservist. His role was
to advise the Commanding Officer of
Sydney on operations law matters whilst
the ship patrolled the North Arabian Gulf
(NAG) in the vicinity of Kuwait, Iraq
and Iran. Operations Law is the practice
of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)
and is a particularly specialised field only
practised in the Defence Force or by
International Institutions like the United
Nations and NATO. Sydney was part of a
coalition of ships and was moved around
the NAG as required, working solo and
in company with other ships. Sydney was
Guard Ship for the Khawr Abd Allah
and Shatt Al Arab (major waterways in
Iraq), involved in surveillance and, when
required, interdiction of merchant traffic.
She conducted 82 boardings in 82 days
and conducted port visits to Bahrain,
Mina Jebel Ali in the UAE and Kuwait
City. A highlight was supporting the US
Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. The
tempo of operational flying and the sorties
flown daily was phenomenal and a clear
indication of the value of these ships.
Eventually, the call of returning to the
Navy became too great and after four
and a half years at Lempriere, Andrew
commenced Naval service again in
Adelaide in May, 2005 with the Air
Warfare Destroyer program in a non-legal
role. He was there until May, 2010 when
he posted to Canberra as the legal officer
at the Australian Defence Force Academy
where he trained the cadets in Defence
legal matters and managed legal issues for
the Commandant.
Next he posted to Border Protection
Command (BPC) as the Command Legal
Officer. He was there from December,
STEP UP TO THE BAR PROGRAM
An equal opportunity initiative of the Chief Justice of South
Australia and the South Australian Bar Association
The Step Up to the Bar Program is an 18-month full-time opportunity for female legal practitioners to
gain experience within the higher court jurisdictions prior to pursuing admission to the Independent Bar
of South Australia. The successful applicant will be appointed within Chambers of the Supreme Court of
South Australia. They will gain experience and exposure to complex legal cases and will work closely with
the judiciary and an appointed Judicial Mentor.
To be eligible the applicant must be a female legal practitioner* with legal competence, expertise and
post-admission experience of approximately five years. You must be admitted to the Supreme Court
of South Australia and have a current and unrestricted practicing certificate. A current child-related
criminal history clearance will be required.
The successful applicant will be appointed on a temporary contract with the Courts Administration
Authority and remunerated commensurate with years of service in the legal profession and within the SA
Public Sector Classification Standards and salary rates for Legal Officers.
Applications are now open for the 2019 Program. To apply, email your cover letter, resume and a copy of
your practising certificate to dianne.mifsud@courts.sa.gov.au by 6 April, 2018.
For more information, contact Dianne Mifsud, Executive Assistant to the Chief Justice on
8204 0390. For information on the program, go to the CAA Website.
*An exemption from Section 30 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 has been granted for this program.
See Courts Administration Authority [2018] SAET 30