The Hon Thomas Michael THAWLEY
Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 14.02.2018
Location: Sydney
Other Commissions/Appointments:
Administrative Review Tribunal - Deputy President
Copyright Tribunal - Deputy President
Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory - Additional Judge
Tom Thawley was appointed to the Federal Court on 14 February 2018.
He was appointed a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (now the Administrative Review Tribunal) on 20 July 2018.
Justice Thawley graduated in 1996 from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and from the University of Sydney with a Masters of Law.
He worked as Tipstaff to the Hon R P Meagher in 1997 and then practised at the New South Wales Bar from 1998 until his appointment in 2018. He was appointed Senior Counsel in New South Wales in 2012.
Associateship applications
Justice Thawley’s chambers are staffed by two associates. Each position is typically for a duration of 12 months. The next available associate positions will commence in January and July 2028. His Honour will be accepting applications for these positions until 19 February 2027.
Applications are to take the form of a one-page cover letter, brief CV and university transcript. Please also include the contact details of at least two referees.
Applications should be sent by email to Associate.ThawleyJ@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.
Updated September 2026
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.
