Magistrate Guillaume Bailin: Driven To Better Our Justice System
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.
Like many students, Magistrate Guillaume Bailin reached the point in his law degree where he was trying to determine where he wanted to take his studies. He felt disillusioned about the prospect of a career in commercial law. It was placement at Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service as part of his Professional Practice unit that ‘reinvigorated [his] passion for the law’ and directed him towards a career in criminal law, where he has dedicated himself to helping others.
At the beginning of his studies, Magistrate Bailin recalls wanting to be a ‘high-flying commercial lawyer earning hundreds of thousands of dollars’. After making his way through various compulsory units, Magistrate Bailin enrolled in Professional Practice in his penultimate year, describing it as ‘the best thing’ he ever did. Being immersed in client-facing work and helping people who may not otherwise be able to access legal advice helped him realise his passion for working in a people-facing role. He also completed the Advanced Professional Practice unit at Springvale Legal Service, which included a victims of crime clinic.
Having loved his experience at both clinics, Magistrate Bailin sought out opportunities to give back. Returning to Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service, he volunteered at the night service, providing legal advice to disadvantaged people who had been rejected by Legal Aid. As the service expanded, Magistrate Bailin was asked to step into a leadership role and served as the first volunteer coordinator, training new volunteers and ensuring the night service ran smoothly.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Following his admission in 2010, Magistrate Bailin began his career at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, before working as an associate to the Chief Justice of the County Court of Victoria. He then moved to the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions before finally achieving his goal of working for Victoria Legal Aid. There he spent six years on the Indictable Crime Team, where he balanced roles in management with his own caseload of primarily homicide cases. He relished the use of high-stakes strategies and complex evidence. He speaks fondly of his time there, and notes how his experience as a volunteer coordinator at Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service set him up with the skills needed to successfully manage a team of lawyers at Victoria Legal Aid.
After being encouraged by colleagues to seek appointment to the bench of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, Magistrate Bailin took the leap. He was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court in 2020, describing it as ‘such a privilege’ and ‘the best role’ he’s ever had.
Magistrate Bailin says his experience as both a prosecutor and a defence lawyer gives him a unique perspective as a decision-maker in court. ‘You have the ability to understand the pressures on both sides,’ he says.
Many of Magistrate Bailin’s formative experiences stem from his time at Monash Law. For one assignment, he had to update a legal handbook for prisoners, which prompted him to consider what information and legal knowledge people in the prison system actually wanted as opposed to what might be predetermined by law students. With the support of a supervisor from Springvale Legal Service, Magistrate Bailin visited prisons as a law student, and was shocked to find that prisoners often didn’t know what charge they had been imprisoned for. Access to legal information and assistance was not readily available. This led him to establish the Prison Legal Education Assistance (PLEA) program, providing basic legal education to help prisoners take an active role in their cases. It still runs today, powered by volunteer law students.
Magistrate Bailin’s respect and love for the criminal justice system in Australia further stems from his work in Nauru alongside Geoffrey Eames AM KC, who at the time was the Chief Justice of Nauru. While working on constitutional, property and criminal matters, he was faced with a legal system that dealt with incredible disadvantage. He gained an appreciation for the strength of the rule of law in Australia and the trust that people have in it, which furthered his motivation to continually strive to improve our justice system.
In reflecting on his clinical experience at Monash Law, Magistrate Bailin highlights the relationships he built with lawyers and administrative staff at the legal services, and his pride in contributing to the expansion of Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service. The clinical experience was such a pivotal aspect of his studies and inspired his career in criminal law and public service, and seeing the development of the clinics into a flagship of the Monash Law program fills him with pride. Working at the coalface of the criminal justice system has become a hallmark of his career, in which he continually strives to serve the community and help those in need.
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.