Sharyn Hall SC
Sharyn Hall is a senior barrister specialising in sexual assault and serious violence matters, and environmental crime. She is renowned for her skill in the cross‑examination of complainants, including children and other vulnerable witnesses, an area of practice that demands both forensic precision and exceptional care.
Sharyn has been closely involved in the Child Sexual Assault Offence Evidence Program in New South Wales since its inception. She not only appears regularly in matters conducted under the scheme but also serves as the New South Wales Bar Association representative on the oversight committee responsible for its operation. In this role, she has contributed to the ongoing development of best practice in the questioning of child witnesses and vulnerable complainants.
A highly respected advocacy educator, Sharyn is a board member and senior instructor with the Australian Advocacy Institute. She delivers advanced advocacy training throughout Australia and internationally, working with judges, barristers, solicitors, police and witness intermediaries. Her teaching focuses on the art of persuasion, ethical advocacy, and the effective examination of witnesses across criminal, civil and specialist jurisdictions.
Sharyn has also been actively involved in LGBQTI+ advocacy within the legal profession, having served for two years as the New South Wales Bar Association’s LGBTQI Advocate for Change.
Sharyn is a frequent speaker at professional forums and legal education programs, and on podcasts and panel discussions, particularly on advocacy, vulnerable witnesses, and diversity within the legal profession.
Sharyn was named in Doyles Leading Criminal Law Counsel New South Wales 2025.
‘The right balance in cross-examining witnesses is to do it in a way where the complainant walks away from court thankful they haven’t been re‑traumatised, and the accused walks out of court thinking, “Wow, that was great.’
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Criminal Law
- Coronial Inquests
- Inquiries / Royal Commissions
- Land and Environment Court Class 5 proceedings
- High Risk Offender applications
DATE OF ADMISSION
- 2021 Appointed Senior Counsel
- 2008 Registered as Practitioner of the High Court of Australia
- 2007 Admitted as Barrister NSW
- 1999 Admitted as Solicitor NSW
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
- 2026
- Legalwise Criminal Law Summit: Questioning Vulnerable Witnesses
- International Women’s Day: ‘Balance the Scales’ panel discussion with Legal Aid NSW CEO Monique Hitter
- International Advocacy Training Council Annual Conference: ‘Clear Heads. Firm Advice. Hard Cases’, Penang, Malaysia
- 2025
- Questioning Vulnerable Witnesses for the ACT Bar Association and ACT Law Society
- Questioning Vulnerable Witnesses for ACT Legal Aid
- Diverse Women In Law ‘Walk In My Shoes” keynote speaker
- 2024
- The Law of Criminal Complicity for Legalwise Conference
- Australian Institute of Judicial Administration Conference: Enhancing safe practices: A National Justice Forum on Sexual Assault.
- 2023
- Legal Aid NSW Conference: What does the Child Sexual Assault Evidence Scheme Mean for me?
- 2022
- NSW Bar Association CPD program (Newcastle): Cross-Examination
- NSW Bar Association CPD program (Sydney): New Mental Health legislation
- 2021
- Legal Aid NSW conference: Context Evidence or how does that get in?
- 2020
- NSW Bar Association CPD: Remote Advocacy
INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING
2026 – Singapore Criminal Trial Advocacy Course
- 2025 – 2026 – Australian Bar Association Advanced Trial Advocacy Intensive Criminal Course Director (Criminal course instructor 2024 & 2023)
2025 – 2026 – Australian Advocacy Institute workshops for the Office of Public Prosecutions and Office of 2025 the Public Solicitor, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
- 2024 – 2025 – The South Eastern Circuit English and Welsh Bar Advanced International Advocacy Course Keble College Oxford, United Kingdom
