Maddie Lees

Maddie accepts briefs in criminal, quasi criminal, public and administrative law matters.

Before joining the Bar, Maddie was a solicitor advocate at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service where she had carriage of a range of matters including property, drug, dishonesty, driving and violence (including family violence) related offences. Maddie regularly appeared on behalf of First Nations clients in metropolitan and regional Magistrates’ Courts and Koori Courts.

Maddie’s legal career began as an Associate to her Honour Judge Hawkins in the County Court of Victoria. In this role, she gained experience in a broad range of criminal matters including jury trials, pleas, de novo appeals, bail applications and pre-trial hearings.

Maddie has a keen interest in civil and human rights law and has conducted complex legal research for members of the Bar on:

• The principle of non-punishment of human trafficking victims;
• The application of crimes against humanity law on Papua New Guinea’s  illegal logging industry;
• The inflexible application of administrative policies in the prison context.

Maddie is reading with Sarah Keating and her senior mentor is Catherine Boston SC.