“The police (backed by the State) have enormous powers, including the power to deprive a person of their liberty.  The protection of the rights of individuals from infringement and abuse by the State is of vital importance in a democracy.  One of the roles of a lawyer is to ensure the rights of individuals are protected and asserted.  I feel privileged to assist my clients to do this.  Navigating the criminal justice system, including dealing with the police and the courts, can be confusing and frightening.  Anyone charged with an offence should seek legal advice. In many cases it can be a significant or a life-changing event”

Karen graduated from UNSW in 1993 (B Juris LLB) and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in December 1993.  After backpacking through Thailand, Europe and Africa throughout 1994, Karen commenced employment in 1995 with a criminal law specialist.  For over fourteen years, Karen has practiced in the area of criminal law and appears regularly in the Children’s, Local and District Courts. 

Unfortunately, many of the people who come into contact with the police and criminal justice system do so because of mental illness.  Karen has been successful in persuading the court on many occasions to divert her clients from the court system into treatment programs without conviction pursuant to s.32 Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990.

Karen has acted for juveniles and adults who have had problems with the police and has assisted clients who have been charged with offences ranging from murder and armed robbery to drug and drink driving offences.  She is passionate about ensuring the rights of accused persons are protected in their dealings with the police and the courts.

Karen has also assisted clients in civil litigation.  In 2000, she successfully resolved a large and complex medical negligence / product liability case against the Commonwealth of Australia and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL).  The case involved the use of human pituitary hormones extracted from pituitary glands harvested from cadavers.  From the late 1960s to 1985, the hormones were given to people with fertility disorders and children of short stature.  A number of those who received the injections later died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.  The litigation culminated in a Senate Inquiry and she was thanked in Federal Parliament for her assistance.

http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/genpdf/chamber/hansards/1998-03-31/0086/hansard_frag.pdf;fileType%3Dapplication%2Fpdf

Karen has sat on numerous committees, was a Member of the Council of the Law Society of New South Wales and President of NSW Young Lawyers in 2001.

http://www.lawsociety.com.au/idc/groups/public/documents/internetyounglawyers/027052.pdf

For many years, Karen has been concerned about the lack of reasoned and progressive criminal law reform in New South Wales, especially during elections when the major parties fight to be the “toughest” on crime and offenders.  Her concerns are embodied in the following letter published in the Sydney Morning Herald on 28 January 2003:

Congratulations, Paola Totaro ("Scaring up the votes", Herald, January 27), for presenting the facts and debunking some of the myths which have long dogged the criminal justice system. The public's perceptions of crime and sentencing are largely shaped by information and misinformation gleaned from the media. Informed voters are unlikely to fall for "law and order" rhetoric, accept knee-jerk responses or quick-fix solutions. Informed and responsible journalism is to be commended and encouraged if the ultimate goal, informed and responsible law reform, is to be achieved.

In addition to working as a solicitor, Karen sits on the P & C of her children’s primary school.  She is an avid supporter of the Essendon Bombers, loves camping, gardening, keeping abreast of political affairs and going for a jog now and then.  In all things, Karen’s approach is one of “all or nothing” and she always goes the extra yard for her clients to their frequent satisfaction.

“If you are going to do something, you have to give it 100%.  Those who know me will attest to the fact that I don’t do anything by halves. If I say I am going to do something, not only do I do it, I do it to the best of my ability and if I don’t know something, I will find out.  Acknowledging you don’t know everything in the law is absolutely essential to being a good solicitor.  Experience teaches you that”.

Email Karen