The Andrews Labor Government today announced the appointment of Kristen Walker QC as the Solicitor-General for Victoria.
Ms Walker replaces outgoing Solicitor-General Richard Niall QC, who was today appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeal.
Ms Walker is one of Australia’s most distinguished advocates and legal scholars, recognised around Australia as a leading expert in constitutional, administrative and human rights law.
Ms Walker has appeared regularly in the High Court, the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Federal Court in cases involving constitutional, administrative and human rights law. Prior to her appointment as senior counsel she often appeared as junior to the Solicitors-General for Victoria and the Commonwealth.
Ms Walker has frequently advised the Victorian and Australian Governments on constitutional, statutory interpretation and administrative law issues.
From 2011 to 2012, Ms Walker was legal adviser to the high-profile Independent Inquiry into the Media and Media Regulation, conducted by Ray Finkelstein QC.
Ms Walker is a Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne, where she has lectured in constitutional, administrative and international law, and written advocacy, since 1994. She was an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University Law School in New York from 1998 to 2000, and a visiting professor at the University of Arizona, James E Rogers College of Law in 2004. Ms Walker was an associate to Sir Anthony Mason, Chief Justice of Australia, from 1993 to 1994.
Ms Walker was admitted to legal practice in 1993, signed the Bar Roll in 2004, and was appointed senior counsel in 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, where she won the Supreme Court Prize for best law graduate.
She also holds a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Laws from Columbia Law School, New York, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
“Ms Walker is recognised in Victoria and around Australia as an outstanding advocate and legal scholar, with extensive experience in constitutional and public law.”
“The interests of the Victorian Government and our community will be ably represented by Ms Walker, and I look forward to working with her in her new role as Solicitor-General.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020