Amber Harris
Contact Details
| Phone: | (03) 9225 7000 |
| Email: | amberharris@vicbar.com.au |
| Fax: | |
| Clerk: | Parnell's Barristers |
Amber has nearly 20 years’ legal experience including in the criminal and quasi-criminal jurisdiction, and administrative law. Amber has appeared in contested hearings, committals, plea hearings, trials, matters arising under the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997, contested applications, coercive examinations, investigations, and regulatory prosecutions.
Areas of expertise
- Criminal and quasi-criminal law
- Administrative law
- Regulatory and disciplinary matters
- Inquests
- Investigations and Commissions of inquiry
- OH&S
Professional background
In 2014 Amber took a role at the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) where she appeared as counsel assisting the IBAC in a large number of coercive examinations across a broad range of investigations. She was counsel assisting the IBAC (led by senior counsel) in high profile public examinations including Operation Ord (an investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct within the Department of Education and Training) and Operation Sandon (an investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct relating to planning and property development in City of Casey). Amber has a comprehensive understanding of the legal and strategic considerations relating to investigative processes and procedures including in relation to the use of coercive and specialist investigative powers.
As a Manager of Legal and Complaints at the Judicial Commission of Victoria, Amber managed and led investigations into complaints about the conduct and capacity of judicial officers including complex, sensitive, and high-profile matters. Amber was instrumental in drafting the Judicial Conduct Guideline on Sexual Harassment arising from the findings and recommendations of Dr Helen Szoke’s Review of Sexual Harassment in Victorian Courts and VCAT.
Prior to first signing the Bar Roll in 2002, Amber was Associate to His Honour Judge Kelly in the County Court of Victoria.
Amber has a special interest in integrity, corruption and professional conduct matters, in particular where these matters have a connection with the criminal law.