Fiona Manderson was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in January 2005, and practiced in traditional law firms and Legal Aid Queensland for 15 years before leaving to undertake an “in-house” role at Hillcrest Christian College. Described by those who know her well, Fiona’s role is the “lost luggage office” of the legal world within schools, being the place that tough things land when they don’t have a home, or no one else wants them!
Fiona has significant experience in family, child protection and domestic violence law, employment law, discrimination, defamation, consumer protection, and contractual disputes. She has appeared in the Magistrates Courts, Federal Circuit Court and Family Court, Coroners Court, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal including in high profile and complex multi-jurisdictional matters for Christian schools, and been involved in advising churches in dispute on a number of occasions. Fiona has been an accredited Independent Children’s Lawyer for 10 years, and holds accreditation as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (mediator). This depth of experience across a number of areas of law, and dispute work has contributed to her skill in preparing policies and procedures that are proactive in preventing legal issues where possible, and minimising risk and headaches for those who have to deal with the issues!