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Carmen Juarez

Special Counsel

Sydney

Carmen is an experienced public law litigator and trusted advisor to Commonwealth and State government clients.

Carmen has a deep understanding of the strategic objectives, day-to-day operations, values and expectations of government clients, whom she regularly represents as a solicitor advocate, primarily before the Federal Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and the Administrative Review Tribunal. She manages a high-volume litigation practice and is a trusted advisor on all aspects of merits and judicial review applications, primarily focussing on migration and refugee, disability and social security law.

Carmen is also passionate about pro-bono and community investment, mentoring and supervising lawyers and representing clients in litigated matters across Australia.

  • +61 2 8035 7982

Memberships, Accreditation and Activities

  • Bachelor of Journalism (with Distinction)/Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons.), Queensland University of Technology – 2012
  • Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), Queensland University of Technology – 2014
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Australian National University – 2015
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory – 2015
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales – 2016
  • Solicitor of the High Court of Australia – 2016

Expertise

Carmen’s expertise includes:

  • Acting in and advising on judicial review and appellate proceedings in relation to migration and refugee, disability and social security law
  • Acting in and advising on merits review proceedings in relation to migration, tax, privacy and information, disability, social security, workers and statutory compensation, discrimination, mental health and intellectual property law
  • Acting in and advising on various types of alternative dispute resolution
  • Managing high-volume litigation in courts and tribunals including acting as solicitor advocate and in an advisory role
  • Providing training to government on administrative decision-making and administrative law
  • Providing mentorship and supervision to junior members of the profession.

 

Recent Matters

  • Department of Home Affairs: Since 2018, Carmen has represented the Minister for Home Affairs as solicitor-advocate before the Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) in relation to applications for merits and judicial review of decisions made under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Cth) and related appeals. Carmen has advised on significant matters including those affected by CMC19, including SYG1178/2019 and SYG3226/2019.
  • National Disability Insurance Agency: Carmen manages a high-volume litigation caseload before the ART in relation to applications for merits review of decisions made under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth).
  • Comcare: Carmen advised and represented Comcare scheme participant the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) before the ART in relation to applications for merits review of decisions relating to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth).
  • North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (secondment): Carmen advised on matters as diverse as anti-discrimination, medical negligence, intellectual property, social security and housing, including litigation before the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Carmen was duty solicitor before the NT Mental Health Review Tribunal, provided legal advice at prison advice clinics, and regularly ran legal clinics in remote communities including Walungurru, Warumpi, Mutitjulu and Ikuntji.

 

Memberships, Accreditation & Activities

  • Bachelor of Journalism (with Distinction)/Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (Hons.), Queensland University of Technology – 2012
  • Bachelor of Journalism (Honours), Queensland University of Technology – 2014
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Australian National University – 2015
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory – 2015
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales – 2016
  • Solicitor of the High Court of Australia – 2016