On Tuesday 12 December 2006, nine students from the University of New South Wales Indigenous Pre-Law Program visited the Bar Association as part of an on-going program to encourage Indigenous law students to consider the NSW Bar as a future career option.

After a warm welcome from Bar Association President Michael Slattery QC, the students met with barristers who spoke about their career choices and their work as a barrister. The students then went to different chambers and to several courts to gain some direct experience of life at the Bar. Many barristers who participated in the visit gave the students insight from their time at the Bar.

Justices Rod Madgwick and Catherine Branson of the Federal Court kindly hosted a luncheon for the students and exchanged personal anecdotes about the joys and hidden mysteries of being a judge. The students were enthusiastic and unabashed in their questioning. This generous gesture on the part of the judges was enormously appreciated by the students, many of whom were new visitors to Sydney who also enjoyed the vista from the judges’ chambers.
A note of thanks is made to the judges and barristers who kindly contributed their valuable time and to Chris Ronalds SC and Peter Miller from the Indigenous Barristers Strategy Working Party who organised and administered the day.