Obituary & Service - Jillian Christine Fischer

Jill had a broad and practical intellectual curiosity, education and professional life, reflected in her diploma and degrees: Associate in Theology (Melbourne College of Divinity 1965); Bachelor of Arts (La Trobe 1977); Bachelor of Social Work (Melbourne 1981) and Bachelor of Laws (Monash 1988).

Before coming to the Law, she worked in Insurance for 7 ½ years; then with Telecom for 19 ½ years, initially as a Welfare Officer, and ultimately as Social- Worker-in-Charge.

Jill completed the Leo Cussen Practical Training Course and was admitted to practice in November 1989. She practised for more than 17 years as a Solicitor and Duty Lawyer with Victoria Legal Aid, the last 5 years on secondment to the Department of Justice in the Drug Court Pilot at Dandenong – the first Drug Court Lawyer. She never gave up fighting for the participants and their struggle to rehabilitate – “the redoubtable Jill Fischer”.

Jill read with Bill Stuart (later SC; now County Court Judge) and signed the Bar Roll in May 2007. She practised at the Bar for more than 10 years, predominantly in the Criminal Division of the Magistrates’ Court including all suburban courts and country areas, particularly the Latrobe Valley and Ballarat. She practised also in the County Court and in the Victims of Crime jurisdiction.

She was a determined and totally fearless advocate. On 10 August 2017, she was part-heard at Moorabbin. Gravely ill, she got herself to Court; appeared; and completed the matter – her last case.

Her Funeral Service is on Wednesday 30 August 2017 at 1 pm at St Thomas’s Anglican Church, 185 North Road (corner Warrandyte Road), Langwarrin