Diana Bryant
Encyclopedia
Diana Bryant QC
was appointed Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
on 5 July 2004.
Bryant attended grammar school in Melbourne
, at the Firbank Girls' School. Chief Justice Bryant holds a Bachelor of Laws
degree from Melbourne University, and a Master of Laws
degree from Monash University
. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in Victoria in 1970. From 1977 to 1990, Chief Justice Bryant was a partner with the firm of Phillips Fox
in Perth where she practised as a solicitor and counsel specialising in family law. She was also a Director of Australian Airlines
from 1984 to 1989.
From May 2000 she was the Chief Federal Magistrate of the Federal Magistrates' Court
, having been appointed the inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate of Australia
.
Prior to her appointment, Chief Justice Bryant had practised at the Victorian Bar from 1990 where she specialised in family law and de facto property disputes, particularly at the appellate level. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 1997 and was a founding member of Chancery Chambershttp://www.chancery.com.au, Melbourne.
In February 2009 Chief Justice Bryant was appointed Patron of Australian Women Lawyers, after founding Patron Mary Gaudron QC, in recognition of her support for women lawyers and efforts to promote equality of opportunity for women in the community.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
was appointed Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
Family Court of Australia
The Family Court of Australia is a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters. Together with the Federal Magistrates Court, it covers family law matters in all states and territories of Australia except Western Australia...
on 5 July 2004.
Bryant attended grammar school in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, at the Firbank Girls' School. Chief Justice Bryant holds a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree from Melbourne University, and a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree from Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in Victoria in 1970. From 1977 to 1990, Chief Justice Bryant was a partner with the firm of Phillips Fox
Phillips Fox
DLA Phillips Fox is a New Zealand law firm with offices in Auckland and Wellington. It offers a full complement of corporate and commercial legal services to clients including local, national and international companies, as well as local, state and federal governments...
in Perth where she practised as a solicitor and counsel specialising in family law. She was also a Director of Australian Airlines
Australian Airlines
Australian Airlines was a full-service airline based in Australia, servicing Australian and Asian destinations between 2002 and 2006. It was an all-economy, full-service international leisure carrier and was a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, although run independently of the mainline carrier...
from 1984 to 1989.
From May 2000 she was the Chief Federal Magistrate of the Federal Magistrates' Court
Federal Magistrates' Court of Australia
The Federal Magistrates Court is an Australian court established by the Federal Magistrates Act 1999 , although its first officers were not appointed until 2000...
, having been appointed the inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate of Australia
Chief Federal Magistrate of Australia
The Chief Federal Magistrate of Australia is the senior magistrate of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia.-List of Chief Federal Magistrates of Australia:* Diana Bryant * John Pascoe...
.
Prior to her appointment, Chief Justice Bryant had practised at the Victorian Bar from 1990 where she specialised in family law and de facto property disputes, particularly at the appellate level. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1997 and was a founding member of Chancery Chambershttp://www.chancery.com.au, Melbourne.
In February 2009 Chief Justice Bryant was appointed Patron of Australian Women Lawyers, after founding Patron Mary Gaudron QC, in recognition of her support for women lawyers and efforts to promote equality of opportunity for women in the community.