Lucy Lester

Lucy is motivated by the opportunity to represent a diverse range of clients and values the privilege of using her skills to assist individuals facing serious and confronting circumstances. She has a clear, structured advocacy style, approachable manner, and an ability to remain calm and effective in high-pressure environments.

Lucy brings a mix of experience to the Bar, initially clerking at Allens Linklaters in Competition & Consumer Regulatory and Mergers & Capital Markets before joining global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, working as an analyst with major banks, government agencies and engineering firms. There she developed strong analytical problem-solving and technological skills which she continues to apply in matters involving complex evidence and large volumes of material.

Lucy commenced criminal practice at the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions before moving to defence at Legal Aid and the Aboriginal Legal Service. As a solicitor she appeared in the Children’s, Local, District and Supreme Courts in criminal and civil matters, including in proceedings for suppression and non-publication and confiscation of proceeds of crime. She has a particular academic and practical specialisation in preventative detention legislation.

Lucy maintains a predominantly criminal practice but accepts briefs in all areas, including family, public law, migration and quasi-criminal proceedings. Outside of the law, Lucy enjoys cooking, reading and long-distance hiking.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Criminal Law – Summary, Indictable, Appellate and Children’s Court
• Supreme Court Bails
• Coronial Inquests and Commissions of Inquiry
• Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Proceedings
• Apprehended Violence Orders
• High Risk Offender Applications and Breach Proceedings
• State Parole Authority Hearings
• Proceeds of Crime & Confiscation proceedings
• Intentional Torts
• Environmental and Regulatory Prosecutions
• Family (property and parenting)
• Migration

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/LLB, University of Sydney
• LLM, University of Sydney
•           Nancy Gordon Smith Prize for first in course
• •           George and Matilda Harris Prize for highest marked research

DATE OF ADMISSION

• Solicitor, 2021
• Barrister, 2026

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

• Legal Aid NSW
•           Solicitor, Inner City Local Courts
•           Solicitor, Supreme Court Bails
•           Senior Solicitor, Regional Relief
•           Senior Solicitor, High Risk Offender Unit
•           Senior Solicitor, Indictable
• Aboriginal Legal Service
  •            Senior Solicitor, Bathurst, Cowra, Orange
• Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW)
• McKinsey & Company
• Allens Linklaters

PANELS

• Summary Crime
• Indictable Crime
• Children’s Crime
• Mental Health Law
• Migration Law

PUBLICATIONS

• ‘Evaluating the validity of continuing detention orders made under high-risk offender legislation after Fardon, Benbrika and Garlett’, Criminal Law Journal, 2024.
• ‘A new breed of guard-dog: Serious domestic abuse prevention orders (SDAPOs) and the expansion of preventative detention in NSW’, Criminal Law Journal, 2026.