Profile
Alan Hands graduated in law from Melbourne University in 1987.(Bachelor of Arts - Monash University 1969: Bachelor of Education - Deaking University 1982) He worked with Victorian Legal Aid Commission, Melbourne until he came to the Bar.Counsel read with Ross Ray QC and Maureen Hickey QC.
He has a broad based general practice with an emphasis on trial and appellate work. He has appeared in Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australian, Norfolk Island and NSW courts. He has appeared in the Federal Court in immigration and discrimination matters and corporations law.He has appeared in the Supreme Court in contempt and TFM matters.
He holds an Indictable Crime Certificate from the Victorian Bar and is a "preferred barrister" with Victoria Legal Aid
He has appeared in many criminal trials in the County Court. He has also appeared in the Australian Crime Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Coroner's Court. He has practiced in the Fair Work Commission. Most recently, he has been involved in trials and appellate work involving the forensic use of low level DNA. He worked with Jane Taupin, a forensic expert, on the Cooper trial for blackmail and prepared a paper entitled the "Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy" on low level DNA.He was briefed to review the conviction for murder of John Glascott. Briefed by Monash Oakleigh Legal Service, he appeared in Glascott's Special Leave Application to the High Court. In 1994, he spoke at the International Bar Association's Biennial Conference in Melbourne on human rights violations in Sudan.He is a past President of Geelong Community Legal Service Incorporated. He taught Corporations Law for over ten years at Deakin University. Counsel has been a law reporter for the authorised Victorian Reports for over 30 years and has published a number of articles in the Law Institute Journal. Between 2004-2006, he chaired the Appellate Body of Motorcycling Victoria. He is currently a member of the Grievance and Discipline Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal of Football Federation Victoria. He was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Federal Government for his work with the Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Committee, a local council initiative in the rebuilding of East Timor.He has had three readers. He is an advocacy instructor with the Victorian Bar and mentors JD students at his alma mater, Melbourne University. He participated in the PNG Law and Justice Partership's Intensive Skills Workshop in August 2021 and the Solomon Islands Intensive Advocacy program in April 2022.His hobbies are kayak fishing, cycling, ocean swimming and travel.His creed is "In advocacy, experience matters"