Dr Deborah Kellie

Dr Deborah Kellie

Since establishing Jacaranda Chambers in 2003 Dr Kellie has built up a general legal practice across diverse fields, spanning civil, industrial, crime and family. Her legal practice is supported by extensive experience in the business world, with over 20 years in business development, management consultancy and education across public and private sectors. That experience, coupled with her ability to “think outside the square”, allows her to bring a unique perspective to addressing client issues.

In addition to the “normal” work of a barrister, Deb’s practice includes advisory services, including organisational consultancy services to businesses, particularly those interested in developing a pro-active approach to their workplace relations.

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, a First Class Honours Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland, where she was also awarded the University Medal and was a recipient of an Australian Postgraduate Research award. By discipline Deb is a sociologist, with a particular interest on change management related to industrial relations and workplace diversity. Her PhD, awarded in 1996, was on processes for workplace reform and organisational change in public sector organisations.

Deb’s Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) was conferred by the Queensland University of Technology in 2001, and to gain a first hand understanding of the coal face she secured employment as a Judge’s Associate in the District Court of Queensland. She was Associate to Her Honour Judge Deborah Richards in 2001 and Her Honour Judge Helen O’Sullivan in 2002.

Having been admitted to practice in September 2002, Deb took the bold and brave step of establishing Jacaranda Chambers at Beenleigh when she commenced practice at the Bar in 2003, finally giving form to advice she had been given thirty years earlier to “give management away and go into the law”.

Deb has maintained her research interests in criminal law and has contributed articles to the Alternative Law Journal and Legal Ethics, and is a regular contributor at international conferences with papers presented at the 4th World Congress on the Rights of the Child in 2005, and the 2002 International Institute for Public Ethics Biennial Conference.