George Georgiou: A career of contribution
50 Years / 50 Voices: Learning law and changing lives is a commemorative volume marking the 50th anniversary of the ongoing Monash Law Clinical Program, a pioneering initiative in clinical legal education undertaken by the Faculty of Law at Monash University. 50 alumni of the Monash Law Clinical Program shared their story with 50 current students of the same program. This is an excerpt from the book.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Judge George Georgiou’s experience as a public defender and at the Bar have enabled him to make a real impact on the lives of individuals in the justice system.
Judge Georgiou has been a Judge of the County Court of Victoria for six years.
Before that role, Judge Georgiou took silk in 2012, and these two appointments were significant steps in his life.
Judge Georgiou completed his clinical education unit at the then Springvale Legal Service.
‘Professional practice was a vastly different experience to lectures,’ Judge Georgiou says.
It was the practical experience of getting to assist in real matters that he still remembers to this day.
‘One of the reasons for taking up the subject of Professional Practice was because it gave me the opportunity to work for people who could not otherwise afford legal representation.’
Assisting those who needed it most was one of the highlights of Judge Georgiou’s time at Springvale. Particularly memorable were the times he felt he had been able to make a difference in his clients’ lives.
‘Another highlight was working alongside fellow students in the clinical sessions, discussing cases with them, working together to achieve positive results’, Judge Georgiou says.
His experience at Springvale Monash Legal Service allowed Judge Georgiou to see firsthand the complexities of other peoples’ lives and provided a great learning experience.
SLS Complainants, clockwise from bottom left: George Georgiou, Bruce Webb, Stuart Baron, Jeff Giddings, Denise Woolerton, Michael Cosgrave (tutor) and Greg Crundall, 1985. Monash University Archives.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Everything that Judge Georgiou learned at Springvale had an effect when he went on to start his career in the legal profession.
‘There was a lot learned, which did impact how I went on to practice later in life.’
Prior to being appointed a Judge, Judge Georgiou started practising law by working in personal injury law before moving to London and working in criminal law for a year. Upon his return to Australia in 1990, Judge Georgiou went to the Bar, where he worked as a criminal law barrister.
A particular role that stands out is his time in Alice Springs, which started as an eight week stint and ended up lasting for seven years.
‘It was a real experience, an eye-opener, dealing with some very difficult and complex cases.’
Judge Georgiou had a range of experiences during his time working in the Northern Territory, including running criminal trials, pleas and family law matters. He describes his time in the Northern Territory as one of the highlights of his career.
‘There were a lot of issues, but it was always challenging and exciting work,’ says Judge Georgiou.
After seven years in the Northern Territory, Judge Georgiou returned to Victoria and began working as a public defender at Victoria Legal Aid, before ultimately returning to the Bar prior to his County Court appointment.
Judge Georgiou’s expansive career has allowed him to act on his passion for social justice, and it’s clear that lessons from his time at Springvale Monash Legal Service have echoed throughout his work.
The experience of assisting real clients with their legal issues was helpful in more ways than one.
‘[I learned] things such as interviewing clients, using interpreters, opening files, the importance of keeping detailed and accurate file notes.’
Judge Georgiou reflects, ‘I would absolutely recommend the Monash Law Clinics to any student who wants to gain practical experience in the law, or who otherwise, and perhaps more importantly, wants to practise in those areas of law that focus on helping individuals within the community with their legal cases,’ he says.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Get involved with Monash Law Clinics
Monash Law Clinics combine legal education with real-world impact, supporting access to justice while equipping students with practical, ethical and professional skills.
If you are a student interested in undertaking a clinical unit as part of your studies, explore the available clinical placements and elective options.
Whether you’re an alum, practitioner or organisation keen to support the clinics through hosting placements, partnerships, volunteering or funding, there’s a way to be involved. To learn more, contact Emily Collard, Industry & Alumni Engagement Manager, at emily.collard@monash.edu.