Judge Elizabeth Brimer KC: a career shaped by clinical legal education
Written by James Brandis, Senior Communications and Content Coordinator.
Judge Elizabeth Brimer’s journey through the legal profession began with a simple but powerful ambition: to become a barrister. That dream, nurtured from a young age, led her from an arts degree at Melbourne University to Monash Law, where she found not only academic rigour but a deeply formative experience through the Professional Practice unit, also known as “Prof Prac,” at Monash Law Clinics.
In the early 1990s, Judge Brimer undertook her clinical placement at Springvale Legal Service. At the time, Monash Law Clinics offered two community legal centre placements - Springvale and Oakleigh - and she vividly recalls the intensity of those first client interactions. “You didn’t know what you were going to get next,” she said.
“Calling the name of the next client and walking them into the interview room was exhilarating and anxiety-inducing. You had no idea what the issue was, who the person was, or what area of law you’d be dealing with.”
Despite the uncertainty, the experience was profoundly rewarding.
“Helping someone move toward a resolution, or even just giving them a sense of context and next steps - that mattered,” she reflected.
“It gave me a real-world understanding of law’s impact on people’s lives.”
Judge Brimer didn’t enter Prof Prac with specific expectations, but she was drawn to the idea of applying legal theory to real problems. That instinct proved correct.
“It was a chance to see how what I’d learned could be used in practice to help real people with real issues.”
After graduating, she completed her articles at a small commercial firm with a focus on sports law, before becoming an associate to Justice George Hampel, a revered figure in the Monash Law community. She credits Hampel’s teaching and mentorship with shaping her approach to advocacy as the art of persuasion and communication.
He remained a close friend and profound mentor throughout his life.
Her career since has been distinguished and wide-ranging. Before her appointment to the County Court of Victoria in 2019, Judge Brimer spent two decades as a barrister, working across civil, criminal, commercial, administrative, and occupational health and safety law. She appeared in high-profile Royal Commissions, including those into the Black Saturday bushfires and the Metropolitan Ambulance Service and took silk in 2018. She also served as Code of Conduct Commissioner for Cricket Australia and held tribunal roles with Netball Australia, the National Basketball League, and Basketball Victoria. She is an arbitrator on the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
To potential donors and supporters of Monash Law Clinics, Judge Brimer offers a compelling message.
“Supporting clinical legal education is a direct investment in the future of the profession and in the quality of justice delivered to the community. It’s a chance to shape lawyers who understand not just the law, but the people it serves.”
Her story underlines the enduring value of Monash Law Clinics, not just as a training ground, but as a place where future judges, advocates, and changemakers begin their journey.