Joel Tito

Joel has a trial and appellate practice in public and criminal law. He is currently undertaking a Master of Architecture at the University of Melbourne.

Joel advises and appears led and unled for private and government parties in proceedings concerning judicial and merits review, inquests, commissions of inquiry, planning and migration. Prior to coming to the Bar, he taught at the University of Melbourne Law School and was previously an Associate to the Honourable Justice Emerton (now President of the Court of Appeal), during which time her Honour was Judge-in-Charge of the Valuation, Compensation and Planning List.

In 2021, Joel was awarded the inaugural Debbie Mortimer S.C. Award for outstanding achievement in pro bono advocacy in a migration matter.

Joel has particular expertise in statutory interpretation matters and his legal analysis is complemented by technical experience gained in policy and government positions including as an Associate at the Boston Consulting Group and a Principal Legal Officer at the Department of Justice and Community Safety. He also worked in London for three years at the Centre for Public Impact where he led a research team investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence in the law. During that time he published and spoke at several international conferences about the way in which intelligent machines may affect legal systems.

Joel graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts (Combined Hons – Philosophy & Political Science) and Diploma of Modern Languages (Japanese) from the University of Melbourne. He subsequently studied at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo as a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Endeavour Award and his research focused on the legal philosophical basis of nonhuman animal rights.

Joel read with Graeme Hill SC and his Senior Mentors are Rowena Orr KC and Colin Mandy SC. He accepts pro bono briefs and has completed work for the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and Fitzroy Legal Service.