The Hon Shaun Brendan McELWAINE

Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 24.01.2022
Location: Melbourne

Justice McElwaine was appointed to the Federal Court on 24 January 2022.

Justice McElwaine graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce in 1983. He attained his Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice from the Australian National University in 1984.

Justice McElwaine was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in 1984. In 1987, Justice McElwaine was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Justice McElwaine began his career as a Legal Officer at the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in 1984. In 1988 he commenced as an employee of Zeeman, Kable and Page Barristers and Solicitors and was later made a partner of the firm. In 1996 he commenced his own practice.

Justice McElwaine was appointed Senior Counsel in 2013. He specialised in commercial disputes, professional negligence, corporations law, insolvency, insurance, equity, trusts, judicial review of administrative decisions and planning and environmental law.

Justice McElwaine was the Principal at Shaun McElwaine + Associates.

Associateship applications

Justice McElwaine’s Melbourne Chambers are staffed by two  Associates, the duration of each position is generally for a period 18 months.  His Honour plans for his associates to commence in January and October of each  relevant year on a rolling basis.

The next vacant positions will commence in January and  October 2025, with some flexibility as to start and end dates.  

His Honour invites persons interested to apply by 22  September 2024 for the Associate positions commencing in both January  and October 2025.

Applicants should indicate which month the candidate would  be available to commence and include a covering letter of no more than one  page, a CV, university transcript, an example of the applicant’s written work  and the contact details of at least two referees.  His Honour seeks to  appoint associates who have at least one year of post admission experience in  legal practice. Applications  should be emailed to ea.mcelwainej@fedcourt.gov.au.

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

Updated 12 July 2024