Legge has been a senior judicial registrar, while McKenna has been a family law practitioner
The federal government has announced the appointments of Alison Legge (Melbourne registry) and Trevor McKenna (Launceston registry) as judges to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA), Division 2, as of 19 October 2026.
According to a media release from the Attorney-General’s Department, an open call for expressions of interest and an advisory panel’s consideration of the candidates preceded the appointments.
Michelle Rowland, Australian attorney-general, congratulated Legge and McKenna on their appointments and expressed gratitude “for their willingness to serve the Australian community.”
William Alstergren, the FCFCOA’s chief judge, also welcomed the announcement of Legge’s and McKenna’s appointments.
“Both appointees are highly regarded and eminently qualified,” Alstergren said. “Their experience and expertise will be valuable additions to the Court and to the communities served by the Hobart and Melbourne registries.”
The FCFCOA’s media release and the attorney-general’s media release provided more information regarding Legge and McKenna.
Since 2021, Legge has been a senior judicial registrar of the Federal Court of Australia. She has managed matters across the Federal Court jurisdiction, including complex commercial and intellectual property proceedings.
She has also handled cost determinations and facilitated expert witness conferences in complex litigation.
“Senior Judicial Registrar Legge brings substantial judicial and court administration experience, having served for many years as a senior registrar of the Federal Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia,” Alstergren said.
Legge has practised as a solicitor in Australia and the UK. In 1987, she earned admission as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia.
She obtained her LLM from the University of Melbourne, her LLB (honours) and her BA (honours) from the Australian National University, and her MA in war studies from King's College London.
For over 18 years, McKenna has worked primarily in family law. He has handled all aspects of family law, including appellate advocacy, child protection matters, and professional disciplinary proceedings.
“Mr McKenna brings extensive experience in family law, child protection and related jurisdictions, as well as a strong record of service to the legal profession in Tasmania,” Alstergren said in the FCFCOA’s media release.
McKenna joined the Tasmanian bar in 2023. He gained admission as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2011, of the High Court of Australia in 2010, and of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 2008.
He belongs to the executive committee of the Law Council of Australia’s family law section. From 2020–21, he served as president of the Law Society of Tasmania.
McKenna received degrees in commerce and law from the University of Tasmania in 2007.
Here are some other recent news stories on judicial appointments to the FCFCOA.
The Australian government announced the appointment of Patrizia Mercuri, who was most recently deputy chief judge (general and fair work) of FCFCOA Division 2, as a justice of Division 1.
The federal government congratulated the following on their FCFCOA appointments as of 10 August 2026: Steven Middleton and Sandra Taglieri to Division 1, and Tracy Flintoff to Division 2.
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