The Hon Craig DOWLING
Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 9.02.2024
Location: Melbourne
Craig Dowling was appointed to the Federal Court on 9 February 2024.
He graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws and from the University of Melbourne with a Master of Laws.
He was admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1991. Between 1991 and 1999, he worked as a solicitor in Melbourne, as a legal researcher in London and as Associate to Justice Tony North in the Federal Court of Australia. He came to the Bar in 1999 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2017.
At the Bar he practiced mainly in industrial relations and employment law, discrimination law and administrative law. He is a former President of the Industrial Bar Association. He was for many years a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne Law School in the Master of Laws program where he continues to teach.
Associateship applications
Justice Dowling’s Chambers are staffed by two Associates. The usual duration of each Associate position is between 12-18 months.
Justice Dowling is currently accepting applications for two Associate positions to commence in mid-2027. Applications should be sent by email to associate.dowlingJ@fedcourt.gov.au containing a covering letter addressed to his Honour, a curriculum vitae, an academic transcript, and an example of the applicant’s written work. Applicants with post-qualification experience are generally preferred.
Applications are due by 11.59 pm on 22 November 2026.
Interviews with shortlisted applicants will be conducted from February 2027, and all applicants will be notified of the result of their application shortly after this time. Any queries in relation to the application process should be directed to the Associate to Justice Dowling at associate.dowlingJ@fedcourt.gov.au.
General information about employment at the Federal Court of Australia can be found on the Employment pages of the website.
Important information about working as an Associate at the Federal Court of Australia can be found on the Judges’ Associates page of the website.
NOTE: Australian citizenship is a condition of engagement and may only be waived in exceptional circumstances. A character clearance is generally subject to a nil response being returned to a police record check.
