The Hon Shaun Brendan McELWAINE

Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 24.01.2022
Location: Hobart

Justice McElwaine was appointed to the Federal Court on 24 January 2022.

Justice McElwaine graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce in 1983. He attained his Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice from the Australian National University in 1984.

Justice McElwaine was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in 1984. In 1987, Justice McElwaine was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

Justice McElwaine began his career as a Legal Officer at the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in 1984. In 1988 he commenced as an employee of Zeeman, Kable and Page Barristers and Solicitors and was later made a partner of the firm. In 1996 he commenced his own practice.

Justice McElwaine was appointed Senior Counsel in 2013. He specialised in commercial disputes, professional negligence, corporations law, insolvency, insurance, equity, trusts, judicial review of administrative decisions and planning and environmental law.

Justice McElwaine was the Principal at Shaun McElwaine + Associates.

Associateship applications

Applications for the position of Associate to Justice McElwaine commencing June 2024 should be submitted by 1 October 2023. Interviews with shortlisted applicants will be conducted in late 2023.

The usual duration of the associateship is 18 months. The position is Melbourne based and applicants must be willing to travel.

Applications should take the form of a one page cover letter, brief CV and university transcript, to be sent to tasreg@fedcourt.gov.au, marked to the attention of the chambers of Justice McElwaine. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in legal practice.

General information about Associate positions can be found on the Judges' Associates page of the Federal Court website. 

Updated September 2023