Amanda J. Burnnard

Professional background

Amanda is an experienced criminal defence advocate and has a trial practice. She holds a Victorian Bar Indictable Crime Certificate and is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister.

Amanda appears, led and unled, in the Court of Appeal. Recent matters include Rhodes (a pseudonym) v The King [2024] VSCA 15, Rolfe v Territory Coroner [2023] NTCA 8, DPP v Allen [2020] VSCA 292, Turney v The Queen [2020] VSCA 131 and Sam v The Queen [2019] VSCA 180. 

Amanda has experience in quasi-criminal matters including coronial inquests, Medical Board matters, occupational health and safety matters, confiscation matters, and Serious Offenders Act 2018 (Vic) and Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997 (Vic) proceedings. Amanda is presently briefed for the Northern Territory Police Force in the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. 

Amanda is also available for written advice work.

Amanda teaches a session in the Victorian Bar Readers' Course. She delivers training and CPD sessions to fellow barristers, solicitors at private defence firms and prosecution agencies. Amanda has contributed to the Foley's publications A Defence Practitioner's Guide to Criminal Law (2023) and Crime and Defence (2016).

Amanda is an elected committee member of the Criminal Bar Association and facilitates its CPD program. She is on Foley’s List and is a member of Crockett Chambers.  Amanda is a former member of the Victorian Bar’s Student Engagement Committee and previously sat on the Magistrates’ Court Criminal Court User Group. She has also undertaken cultural awareness training provided by Kellawan Indigenous Consultants. 

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation