Australian Judge's Associate Handbook 2004
Competition for appointment as an associate to a High Court Justice is very strong. The result of this is that the threshold level is graduation with First Class Honours in Law and it is not uncommon for successful candidates to have won a University Medal [ie. beat the crap out of everyone else]. Mostly, the period of the associateship is one year and a number of Justices select their associates threes years in advance.
None of the Justices of the Court live in Canberra, with the result that they have chambers in both Canberra and their home city. The consequence of this is that, for each of the Justices, one of their associates is based in their home city and one in canberra. The associate based in the home city is generally required to travel to Canberra during Court sittings. Travelling Allowance in accordance with the Workplace Agreement is paid for such travel. The Court travels on circuit each year to Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart (depending upon the level of workload). As well as this, the Court regularly sits in Sydney and Melbourne to hear Applications for Special Leave to Appeal and, if an associate is required to travel to these locations from another capital city, Travelling Allowance is paid.
In addition to the associate positions, we also have a legal research officer position located in the Library and Research Services Branch of the Court. Occupation of this position is similiar to that of an associate - it is usually for a year at a time but there is a greater emphasis on the occupant having had legal research experience and, as a result, the pay rate is higher. Currently the commencing salary is $52,926 with an increase to $54,377 after 12 months if the occupant stays for more than a year. This position is usually filled between one and two years in advance. Expressions of interest should be forwarded to the Court Librarian, Ms Jacqueline Elliot. Her telephone number is (02) 6270 6922, her fax number is (02) 6273 2110 and her email address is jelliot<<at>>hcourt.gov.au [remove <<at>> and replace with @]
