He specialises in family law, child protection and care matters
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and WA Attorney-General John Quigley have announced the appointment of Steven Jones as a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 1) and the Family Court of Western Australia (FCWA).
Jones was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1983. He started his legal career as an articled clerk and was then employed as a solicitor in private practice. He worked as a solicitor at the Legal Aid Commission in 1987 before commencing as a barrister in 2000.
Jones’s legal practice encompasses the areas of family law, child protection and care matters. He regularly acts as the chairperson in family law mediations and conducts lectures for the Family Law Practitioners Association. He was appointed senior counsel in 2021.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus congratulated Jones on his appointment and expressed gratitude for his willingness to serve the people of Australia.
"The Family Court of WA is unique in Australia as WA is the only state with a Family Court created under the Commonwealth Family Law Act, though for families in the state, it plays the same vital role as the Commonwealth court", Dreyfus commented.
Attorney-General John Quigley congratulated Jones on his appointment and highlighted his extensive experience in family law and children protection and care.
Quigley said, "Mr. Jones' extensive practice experience in family law and child protection and care makes him an excellent choice for the Family Court. He has frequently appeared as an independent children's lawyer in the Family Court and has been briefed on protection matters by the Department of Communities”.
Jones will replace Justice Simon Moncrieff, who retires in May as a Judge of the FCWA and the FCFCOA (Division 1) after 13 years of service.
Dreyfus said, "I also thank Justice Moncrieff for his service to the Australian legal community".
