The Hon Robert James BROMWICH

Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 29.02.2016
Location: Sydney

Other Commissions & Appointments:
Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory - Additional Judge
Supreme Court of Norfolk Island - Additional Judge

Justice Robert Bromwich commenced legal practice in January 1985, joining the year-old Sydney Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) later that year to work in the newly emerging area of criminal assets forfeiture.  A year later, he joined one of the general prosecutions branches.

At the CDPP, Justice Bromwich practised across a wide range of federal criminal law with a particular focus on white-collar crime, went on secondment to help set up the NSW ICAC, was appointed an Assistant Director and later as in-house counsel . In 1998, he went to the NSW Bar and in 2009 was appointed Senior Counsel. His practice included federal crime, and some State crime (mainly work health safety), and a wide range of other areas, including public law (especially in migration and law enforcement), and employment law. In December 2012, Justice Bromwich was appointed Director of the CDPP. As Director, he implemented and led wide-ranging organisational reform, including changing the CDPP from its historic regional model to a practice group model with national leaders. As Director, he also appeared frequently in intermediate appeal courts and in the High Court.

On 29 February 2016, Justice Bromwich was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia in the NSW Registry. His docket contains matters from most of the Court’s national practice areas. He is also an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and a judge of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island.

Associateship applications

Justice Bromwich’s Chambers are staffed by two associates. The usual duration of each associate position is about 18 months from commencement in either January or the middle of the year. The appointment of associates is staggered to facilitate continuity of service and the induction and training of an incoming associate.

The next vacancies for associate positions with Justice Bromwich will now occur in about January 2025 and in July 2025, with some flexibility as to dates.  Applications open on 1 May 2024 and close on 30 June 2024, with a view to making offers by about mid-July 2024. If you wish to be considered for either of these positions, please provide your application during that period. 

Applications should take the form of a brief cover letter, brief CV and academic transcript. Applications should be sent by email to nswreg@fedcourt.gov.au, marked to the attention of the Chambers of Justice Bromwich. Inquiries relating to the process for the selection of associates should be made in the same way. Associate candidates will ideally have post-admission work experience in legal practice, or equivalent life experience.

General information about associate positions can be found on the Judges' Associates page of the Employment section of the Federal Court website.

Updated May 2023