With a legal career spanning four decades, Terry Fisher has built a reputation as a formidable lawyer, leading many high-profile cases before courts, tribunals and Royal Commissions.
Along with drug, murder and complex fraud matters, some of his most notable cases have seen him defending clients charged with Migration Act offences, including Indonesian fishers who were famously acquitted of people smuggling.
Terry began his career in the law as an Australian Army legal officer, before taking up a role as a prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Passionate about social justice, he has also worked in the community legal sector, including with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service and Prisoners’ Legal Service.
The firm Terry co-founded, Fisher Dore Lawyers, also represents clients as a Legal Aid Queensland preferred supplier law firm.
Given his extensive experience practising in criminal and administrative law, Terry was approached by Legal Aid Queensland in 2013 to take on the role of external review officer – independently reviewing decisions made by the organisation about applications for legal aid.
“I see this role functioning as a safety valve,” he said.
“We ensure aid is distributed in an equitable and transparent way, to the right people, for the right reasons. These are decisions that affect people’s lives.”
Legal Aid Queensland receives more than 40,000 applications for legal aid each year and approves about 75 per cent.
When applicants disagree with a decision made about an application for aid, or about conditions put on a grant of aid, there are two avenues for appeal.
The first process sees decisions reviewed internally. If applicants are unhappy with the outcome of that process, they can seek to have the decision reviewed by an external review officer.
About 300 applications are considered by external review officers each year.
To be considered for the external review officer role, lawyers need to be experienced practitioners with an extensive knowledge of the law. A minimum of 10-plus years’ in criminal, civil or family law is a requirement.
Terry sees strong administrative law experience as an asset to an external review officer, as well as a social justice mindset.
For those interested in doing this type of work, he encourages experienced legal practitioners to go for it.
“It takes you back to the basics, that is, listening to clients and delivering on what they tell you they need,” he said.
“It will benefit your own development in grounds of appeal and growing client relationships.
“You’ll have independence in your decision making and you’ll be able to assist vulnerable people who can’t afford a private lawyer, helping them navigate administrative and court decisions impacting their lives and wellbeing.”
Legal Aid Queensland is calling for expressions of interest from legal professionals to join its panel of external review officers. For more information, visit the Legal Aid Queensland. Expressions of interest close 20 December.
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