Current as at February 2016

1. RESUME
Joanne Olivia Millins
71 Franquin Crescent
Kuraby, QLD 4112
Home: (07) 3219 7839
Mobile: 0412 808 891
jomillins@hotmail.com
EDUCATION
I am a current member of the Family Law Practitioners Association of Queensland, the
Queensland Law Society and hold an unrestricted Practising Certificate.
Admitted as a Lawyer of the High Court of Australia
8 June 2010
Admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
15 May 2009
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
The College of Law, 2009
Bachelor of Laws
Macquarie University, 2008
Bachelor of Arts
University of Newcastle, 1997
Higher School Certificate, 1994
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
December 2014-Present
SKC Lawyers
Position: Solicitor
Tasks:
 Responsible for the full carriage of family law, domestic violence and child protection
matters including:
 children’s matters (custody, access, residence, contact, location, recovery,
magellan matters).
 property settlements (marriage and de facto).
 binding financial agreements (marriage and de facto).
 attending family law mediations with legally aided client to advise and assist
with resolution.
 advising private clients prior to attending upon a Family Relationship Centre
for mediation in relation to;

2. 1. entitlements;
2. option for resolution;
3. options if no agreement reached (including associated costs);
4. options for documenting agreements (including parenting plans
and consent orders.
 Attending as an advocate in The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, The Family
Court of Australia, The Children’s Court and The Magistrates Court.
 Instructing Counsel in Family Law and Domestic Violence hearings.
 Interviewing clients to ascertain instructions.
 Drafting Court documents (application, response, affidavits, consent orders, subpoenas).
 Drafting letters of advice to clients.
 Drafting letters to external parties.
 To liaise and inquire with external parties in relation to client matters.
 To provide customer service both on the telephone and in person to current and
prospective clients.
March 2012 – December 2014
Unpaid Maternity Leave
September 2011 – March 2012
Burns Law
Position: Solicitor
Tasks:
 Responsible for the full carriage of family law matters including:
 children’s matters (custody, access, residence and contact).
 property settlements (marriage and de facto).
 binding financial agreements (marriage and de facto).
 advising private clients prior to attending upon a Family Relationship Centre for
mediation in relation to;
1. entitlements;
2. options for resolution;
3. options if no agreement reached (including associated costs);
4. options for documenting agreements (including parenting plans and consent
orders).
 Attending as an advocate in The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and The Family
Court of Australia (mentions).
 Instructing Counsel in Federal Magistrates Court family hearings.
 Interviewing clients to ascertain instructions.
 Drafting Court documents (application, response, affidavits, consent orders, subpoenas).
 Drafting letters of advice to clients.
 Drafting letters to external parties.
 To liaise and inquire with external parties in relation to client matters.
 To provide customer service both on the telephone and in person to current and
prospective clients.
August 2011
Elliott and Harvey Solicitors

3. Position: Legal Secretary
Tasks:
* Drafting Court documents (affidavits).
* Drafting letters of advice to clients.
* To liaise and inquire with external parties in relation to client matters.
* To provide customer service both on the telephone and in person to current and prospective
clients.
* To update client information on LEAP.
* Dictaphone transcription and typing.
* To provide administrative assistance by filing, photocopying and electronically managing
legal documents.
July 2011
Shine Lawyers
Position: Administrative Assistant (temporary position through Empire Careers to assist
with work overflow)
Tasks:
* To provide administrative assistance by filing, photocopying and electronically managing
legal documents.
June 2010 – July 2011 (left position to relocate to Brisbane)
Meredith and Co Solicitors
Position: Solicitor
Tasks:
 Responsible for the full carriage of family law matters including:
 children’s matters (custody, access, residence and contact).
 property settlements (marriage and de facto).
 binding financial agreements (marriage and de facto).
 attending family law mediations with legally aided clients to advise and assist
with resolution.
 advising private clients prior to attending upon a Family Relationship Centre for
mediation in relation to;
1. entitlements;
2. options for resolution;
3. options if no agreement reached (including associated costs);
4. options for documenting agreements (including parenting plans and consent
orders).
 Attending as an advocate in The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and The Family
Court of Australia (mentions).
 Attending as an advocate in the Local Courts and District Court (mentions) including as
agent for:
 adjournment applications (civil and criminal matters).
 obtaining hearing dates (civil and criminal matters).
 directions hearings (civil matters).
 AVO matters.
 Instructing Counsel in Federal Magistrates Court family hearings.
 Instructing Counsel in Local Court civil hearings.

4.  Instructing Counsel in a civil arbitration.
 Interviewing clients to ascertain instructions.
 Drafting Court documents (application, response, affidavits, consent orders, subpoenas).
 Drafting letters of advice to clients.
 Drafting letters to external parties.
 To liaise and inquire with external parties in relation to client matters.
 To provide customer service both on the telephone and in person to current and
prospective clients.
February 2010 – May 2010
The Family Law Firm
Position: Solicitor
Tasks:
 Responsible for assisting the principal solicitor with the carriage of family and criminal
law matters including:
 Attending as an advocate in The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
(mentions).
 Attending as an advocate in the Local Courts (mentions).
 Instructing Counsel in Federal Magistrates Court family hearings.
 Interviewing clients to ascertain instructions.
 Drafting Court documents (application, response, affidavits, consent
orders, subpoenas).
 Drafting letters of advice to clients.
 Drafting letters to external parties.
 To liaise and inquire with external parties in relation to client matters.
 To provide customer service both on the telephone and in person to current and
prospective clients.
 Dictaphone transcription and typing.
 To provide administrative assistance by filing, photocopying and electronically managing
legal documents.
September 2009
Central Coast Family Law
Position: Legal Secretary (one month temporary position through Hudson Recruitment to cover
annual leave)
Tasks:
* Drafting Court documents (affidavits).
* Drafting letters of advice to clients.
* To liaise and inquire with external parties in relation to client matters.
* To provide customer service both on the telephone and in person to current and prospective
clients.
* To update client information on LEAP.
* Dictaphone transcription and typing.
* To provide administrative assistance by filing, photocopying and electronically managing
legal documents.
May 2008 - August 2009
The Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales

5. Position: Voluntary (April 2009 - August 2009)
Position: Voluntary Practical Legal Training Placement (May 2008 - March 2009)
Tasks:
* Instructing the Senior Trial Advocate in District Court criminal trial matters.
* Assisting in the interviewing of clients to ascertain instructions.
* Attending upon clients in custody.
* Assisting in the preparation of criminal matters for trial and sentence.
* Attending and assisting as a scribe in District Court trials and sentencing matters.
* Assisting in the Local Courts.
February 2007 - May 2008
Position: Four contract positions to cover excess work and annual leave (one position through
IPC Recruitment and three positions sourced independently)
1. State Debt Recovery Office, Fines Division - Office of State Revenue, Client Correspondence
Officer
2. Harmers Workplace Lawyers, Support Assistant
3. Fosters Lawyers, Claims Paralegal (Victims Compensation)
4. The Law Society of New South Wales, Enquiry and Administration Officer
Tasks:
* Responsible for transferring liability for penalty notices from statutory declarations received
in relation to traffic offences.
* To provide consistent application of policy and legislation in relation to the processing of
statutory declarations.
* To complete initial investigations into possible false nominations for traffic offences.
* To provide customer service both on the telephone and over the counter for both internal and
external customers.
* To provide administrative assistance by printing, photocopying, filing and electronically
managing legal documents within tight deadlines.
* Assisting the claims supervisor in preparing claims for submission.
* Completing tasks within the claims delivery process.
* To assist in processing applications for renewal of practicing certificates.
* To assist in the maintenance of The Law Society of New South Wales database.
* Responsible for general office duties.
January 2006 - December 2006
* Completed twelve months full time study in the Bachelor of Laws at Macquarie University.
July 2002 - December 2005 and July 2001 - November 2001
Campus Information and Service Centre, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah Campus
Position: Administrative Officer
Tasks:
* To administer student admissions, enrolments, re-enrolments, academic transcripts, credit,
progress and program completion, ensuring the consistent application of rules and policies
and the maintenance of student records on the appropriate student systems.
* Responsible for the organisation and administration of formal University and TAFE NSW
examinations at the Ourimbah Campus.
* To provide advice to current and prospective students - on the telephone, over the counter and
by email - on enrolment, programs of study and other relevant policies and processes of both
The University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute.

6. * To assist with the maintenance of program and course descriptions, publicity booklets and
brochures.
* To assist with the organisation of campus activities for prospective, commencing and
graduating students of The University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute, such
as careers markets, Open Day, Orientation and Graduation.
* To liaise with academic and administrative staff of both The University of Newcastle and
TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute, to ensure a high quality of service to students and staff.
* To provide consistent application of, and provide advice on, the policies, procedures and
rules, of both the University of Newcastle and TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute in relation to
student administrative functions.
January 2002-June 2002
Position: Two contract positions through IPC Recruitment to cover annual leave
1. Henry Davis York, Administration Clerk (Office Services Group)
2. Allens Arthur Robinson, Administration Clerk
Tasks:
* To provide administrative assistance to the Mailroom Supervisor and Office Services
Co-ordinator in maintaining an efficient and effective mailroom and stationary service.
* To provide backup for all associated mailroom tasks.
* Assist with sorting and distributing mail and attend to daily unclaimed mail.
* To conduct and complete a weekly stationary stock-take of each floor, and receive and
manage all individual stationary requests via both phone and e-mail.
* To check invoices against goods and approve for payment.
* Arrange all equipment maintenance completing appropriate paperwork and adhering to
maintenance agreements.
* To provide customer service both on the telephone and over the counter for both internal and
external customers.
* To provide administrative assistance to the production centre by photocopying and binding
legal documents within tight deadlines.
March 1998-July 2001
Faculty of Business, University of Technology, Sydney
Position: Student Adviser
Tasks:
* To provide a ‘one stop’ information service to the students and staff of the Faculty of
Business.
* To provide accurate and detailed information to current and prospective students over the
counter, on the telephone and via e-mail regarding admissions, enrolments, graduation,
student appeals, examinations, timetabling, university rules, faculty policy, advanced
standing, promotions and general course advice.
* The investigation and resolution of student queries and complaints relating to problems with
their course structure or progression.
* To advise prospective students with regard to advanced standing for previously completed
study. To process exemption applications for enrolled students.
* To monitor, approve and process variations of program, concurrent study applications, special
consideration applications and visa extensions.
* To co-ordinate an administrative area (outgoing and incoming exchange and study abroad).
* To act as a ‘shadow’ to the graduation officer by providing assistance during peak periods
and assuming her job responsibilities when she was absent.

7. * To assist in the development and implementation of an e-mail facility for students allowing
important information to be distributed quickly by the faculty.
* Participation in information days, careers markets, graduation ceremonies and
enrolment days.
REFEREES
Mr Craig Newport
Principal, Paddington Law
Mobile: 0411 310 742
Mr Jim Meredith
Principal, Meredith and Co Solicitors
Phone: (02) 4933 3733 Mobile: 0411237223
E-mail: jim@mcolaw.com.au