{"id":1008,"date":"2015-09-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-13T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hub.findingsimple.com\/au\/resources\/resource\/mark-robinson-sc-interview\/"},"modified":"2020-06-23T02:40:54","modified_gmt":"2020-06-23T02:40:54","slug":"mark-robinson-sc-interview","status":"publish","type":"insight_resource","link":"https:\/\/insight.thomsonreuters.com.au\/legal\/resources\/resource\/mark-robinson-sc-interview","title":{"rendered":"Meet Mark Robinson SC: One of the Great Minds Behind Westlaw AU [Q&A]"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mark<\/a>
Mark Robinson SC, Barrister, Maurice Byers Chambers & Westlaw AU Editor and Author<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I solved a complex legal problem the other day \u2013 one that was upsetting my solicitor and confusing my junior \u2013 in less than a minute. It only took one search, and the first case that came up was the one we needed. I almost felt a bit smug.”<\/p>\n

We recently had the privilege of meeting with Mark Robinson SC, barrister at Maurice Byers Chambers and Westlaw AU Editor and Author, who shared with us his ingredients for success in the legal world; advocacy and a passion for research.<\/p>\n

It was Mark\u2019s love of research that led to him contributing to Thomson Reuters in 1996 \u2013 initially writing a looseleaf service on administrative law to complete an existing suite. In the years since, he has moved on to become an editor and author for several Westlaw AU titles, and a crucial influence on the quality of the platform\u2019s content.<\/p>\n

In this interview Mark takes us on his Westlaw AU journey; he reveals how Westlaw has helped him win some pretty tough cases over the years and continues to solve his complex legal problems.<\/p>\n

\n


\nQ:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/strong>What led you to start working with Thomson Reuters as an author and editor?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0How I came to be an author and editor for Thomson Reuters is an interesting story. Thomson Reuters had published a series of looseleaf services in my area of specialty (administrative law) for Federal Law, VIC and QLD, and I was trying to lobby to establish a general merits review tribunal in NSW at that time. In 1994, I approached them asking if they would complete their suite of services by adding NSW. They agreed, and asked if I would write it. It took about six months, working around my existing work commitments (and teaching at the University of NSW).<\/p>\n

Then in 1996, I was offered the editorship for the Administrative Law title of The Laws of Australia<\/a> <\/em>encyclopaedia. I wanted to see the job done well, and because I knew most of the authors in the area, I was in a good position to take on the role. I\u2019ve now been working with Thomson Reuters for more than 20 years, currently as author and editor for the NSW Administrative Law service<\/a><\/em> and the two Administrative Law volumes of The Laws of Australia<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n


\nQ:\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/strong>You\u2019ve had a long and impressive career \u2013 how long has Westlaw AU been a part of it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0I first encountered Thomson Reuters \u2013 which was then known as Law Book Company \u2013 back in 1980 as a student. I gravitated towards them as the information always seemed better and more current. I used it all through university and never really stopped! My first job was at the NSW Law Reform Commission, and it was very research-intensive, so I used Thomson Reuters a lot. Then I got a research position at the High Court for two years before becoming a solicitor and then being called to the Bar.<\/p>\n

I have always loved research \u2013 in fact I believe there are two skills that make one successful as a barrister: research and advocacy. If you keep on top of both of those, you\u2019ll smash it. Early on when I was studying at Macquarie University, I was told to make the reference librarian my best friend. So I followed the reference librarian everywhere and learnt everything I could. You don\u2019t really need to do that anymore, but it certainly taught me a lot. I also learnt a disciplined approach to research when working at the High Court. Back then, Westlaw hadn\u2019t launched in Australia so you had to order a search from the United States at $25 a pop. That meant you really had to plan your searches and select your Boolean operators, and feel pretty confident you\u2019d retrieve what you needed.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>What do you like best about Westlaw AU? <\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0Three main things draw me to Westlaw: its power, speed and comprehensive nature. FirstPoint<\/a><\/em> is the best \u201cnoter upperer\u201d out there \u2013 it doesn\u2019t just show you statute, it shows how they\u2019ve been interpreted. After all, it\u2019s all just words on a page until it\u2019s interpreted.<\/p>\n

Research is a voyage of discovery. You rarely find nothing \u2013 and you often find something useful in another case. Research really can take you to places you don\u2019t expect. In many ways I miss the manual research, browsing in books \u2013 having a good sticky beak before and after a case. That said, the computer is a powerful tool. And with Westlaw you can still browse through hierarchical results and find clumps of related cases quickly and within a defined area.<\/p>\n

Westlaw is dead centre of my bookmarks \u2013 it never moves.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>Can you think of a particular instance (or case) when Westlaw AU made a difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0I use Westlaw routinely, almost every single day. But there are three cases I can recall where I used it to achieve a really satisfying result.<\/p>\n

The first was three or four years ago, when I represented the Hells Angels. New legislation had been put in place that meant members of \u201cdeclared\u201d organisations weren\u2019t allowed to communicate with one another \u2013 or else they\u2019d go to jail. Their solicitor approached me \u2013 I wasn\u2019t a senior counsel at the time, but he felt I could win. I knew the High Court principles had been evolving, so I studied these and new cases. Using this, I successfully argued that the legislation was unconstitutional \u2013 they actually tore up the entire Act in the judgment.<\/p>\n

The second was earlier on in my career when I led a class action in the High Court against the Refugee Review Tribunal. We\u2019d found they had not passed on documentation that could potentially help 6,700 refugees, and we proved there\u2019d been a systematic denial of justice as a result. It was nerve wracking standing up in the High Court alone (one of the silks I knew said \u201cYou\u2019re dancing on the head of a pin!\u201d and I\u2019d said to him \u201c\u2026 but at least there IS a pin!\u201d). Following this win, a new law was passed barring class actions in immigration matters \u2013 so I certainly made a point.<\/p>\n

The third example was a case where the Federal Police had searched my client\u2019s home without his knowledge, or permission. At the time this kind of \u201cSneak and Peek\u201d search was illegal. We won the case \u2013 although once again they introduced legislation to establish Covert Search Warrants two months later, which was frustrating.<\/p>\n

My practice often involves shining a light onto issues people aren\u2019t aware of, or comfortable with.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>How about in day-to-day operations \u2013 does it make your work better, faster, easier?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0Westlaw makes it much easier to find what you\u2019re looking for \u2013 it can take seconds.\u00a0I solved a complex legal problem the other day \u2013 one that was upsetting my solicitor and confusing my junior \u2013 in less than a minute. It only took one search, and the first case that came up was the one we needed. I almost felt a bit smug.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>What do you like about your work? <\/strong><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong>\u00a0Being a lawyer means you\u2019re in a privileged position \u2013 it took me 20 years to understand this. You\u2019re able to interfere with people\u2019s lives and potentially make them better. You can effect real change in their lives.<\/p>\n

\n

About Maurice Byers Chambers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maurice Byers Chambers<\/a> is a forward-looking set of barristers chambers established in April 2000. Located on level 60 of the MLC Centre in Sydney, the chambers houses 46 barristers, including nine senior counsel, practising in a wide range of specialisations.<\/p>\n

Floor members provide high quality service to instructing solicitors and clients in a timely and cost effective manner. The chambers\u2019 commitment to quality extends throughout the full range of barristers work in both contentious and non-contentious business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I solved a complex legal problem the other day \u2013 one that was upsetting my solicitor and confusing my junior \u2013 in less than a minute. It only took one…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1578,"template":"","categories":[647],"tags":[241,514,544],"resource_type":[622],"insight_job_role":[569,1315,598,604,614,628,631],"insight_practice_area":[],"class_list":["entry","author-legaladmin","post-1008","insight_resource","type-insight_resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","category-legal-research","tag-firstpoint","tag-the-laws-of-australia","tag-westlaw-au","resource_type-qa","insight_job_role-academic","insight_job_role-barrister","insight_job_role-in-house-lawyer","insight_job_role-knowledge-manager","insight_job_role-partner","insight_job_role-solicitor","insight_job_role-student","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMeet Mark Robinson SC: One of the Great Minds Behind Westlaw AU<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Q&A with Mark Robinson SC, barrister at Maurice Byers Chambers and Westlaw AU Editor & Author, on how to be successful in the legal world.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/insight.thomsonreuters.com.au\/legal\/resources\/resource\/mark-robinson-sc-interview\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meet Mark Robinson SC: One of the Great Minds Behind Westlaw AU\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Q&A with Mark Robinson SC, barrister at Maurice Byers Chambers and Westlaw AU Editor & Author, on how to be successful in the legal world.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/insight.thomsonreuters.com.au\/legal\/resources\/resource\/mark-robinson-sc-interview\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"TR - 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