Expressions of Interest for Appointments to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

21 July 2023

The Attorney-General of Australia, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons for appointment to the Federal Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Divisions 1 and 2). 

To be eligible for appointment as a judge of a federal court, a person must have been enrolled as a legal practitioner of the High Court or a Supreme Court of a state or territory for at least five years. 

To be eligible for appointment as a FCFCOA (Division 1) judge a person must also by reason of knowledge, skills, experience and aptitude be a person suitable to deal with matters of family law, including matters involving family violence. This requirement also applies to appointments to the FCFCOA (Division 2) if the kind of matters that may be expected to come before that judge are family law matters. Judges are appointed by the Governor-General for a term expiring upon the age of 70.

Information about the position, including remuneration, eligibility and selection criteria, and details on how to apply, is available on the Attorney-General’s Department website.

The process for appointments to fill vacancies in the Federal Court and the FCFCOA will run as needed according to arising vacancies.

While nominations are sought across all Registries, the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian Registries of the Federal Court, and the Darwin and Melbourne Registries of the FCFCOA (Division 2) are of particular need at this time.

Further vacancies are also expected to arise in the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian Registries of the Federal Court, and Sydney and Parramatta Registries of the FCFCOA (Division 1) and the Brisbane and Sydney Registries of the FCFCOA (Division 2).

Future judicial appointments may be made from the expressions of interest received in this round. The closing date is Friday 4 August 2023. 

Further enquiries can be directed to JudicialAppointments@ag.gov.au.