Prior to signing the Bar Roll in November 2007, Kim Southey worked as a lawyer in the firm BJT Legal in the Melbourne and Benalla offices from 2003 to 2007 and practised primarily in the areas of Family Law, Criminal Law and Crimes Family Violence.
While working at BJT Legal, she appeared regularly in the Family Court, (then) Federal Magistrates Court, various suburban and regional Magistrates Courts, County Court, Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Kim also frequently acted as an agent for country firms in Criminal Law and Family Law matters.
During her work as a solicitor, Kim also practised as a registered migration agent. She handled applications for business visas, employer sponsored visas, temporary visas and family visas, along with review applications in the Migration Review Tribunal and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Since coming to the Bar, Kim has practised predominantly in the area of Family Law. She appears in all Family Law matters including children, property and child support; and she has a particular interest in the work of an Independent Children's Lawyer. She has affiliations with many firms in the North East of Victoria and regularly appears in courts in that district including the Albury and Shepparton circuits of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
Kim also appears in Criminal Law matters and Intervention Order matters.
Kim has completed the Advocacy Teaching program and assists with teaching in the Victorian Bar Reader's Course from time to time. She was also elelcted to the Victorian Bar Council in 2008 where she served three consecutive terms.
Kim is the Foley's List Family Law Junior Practise Area Leader ("PAL") with David Brown QC as Leader. She assisted in setting up the Family Law PAL program and helps organise and run twice yearly forums for practitioners along with an annual breakfast and the publication of a quarterly newsletter.
