Five new appointments have been made to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
The Chief Magistrate, Justice Lisa Hannan, welcomed the appointees to the bench on Tuesday, July 15.
Patrick Allan started his legal career as a solicitor advocate with Stary Norton Halphen, appearing extensively in the Magistrates and Children’s Court.
In 2017, he commenced his own practice where he continued to appear across the jurisdictions.
Prior to his legal career he completed a Bachelor of Social Work and was a caseworker for organisations providing support services in justice, child protection, community development and homelessness.
Natalie Burnett commenced her practice with Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) in Sunshine before joining the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP).
She held a variety of roles at the OPP including in general prosecutions, the clinical training program and senior solicitor and legal prosecution coordinator.
Nick Goodenough commenced his legal career in Adelaide as a solicitor before moving to Melbourne where he joined VLA in 2000 as a duty lawyer.
He went on to become the VLA managing solicitor at Melbourne in 2007 before joining the Victorian Bar in 2011, primarily prosecuting for the Victorian OPP in indictable matters in the County Court.
Since 2022 he has been a senior public defender at VLA.
Adrian Kennedy was a duty lawyer with VLA and in private practice before joining Fitzroy Legal Service where he was principal solicitor from 2008 – 2010.
Since 2010 he has appeared primarily in the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court jurisdictions in crime and child protection matters.
Clare Morris commenced her legal career as associate to Judge Lawson at the County Court. After two years, she was employed by Stary Norton Halphen working as a solicitor advocate for seven years.
In 2017 she joined VLA as senior lawyer and advocate in the Night Court team until she returned to Stary Norton Halphen as a partner in 2022.
