Nicholas Howard

Profile

Nicholas Howard practises predominantly in criminal and quasi-criminal law. He accepts briefs to appear in all summary, indictable and appellate matters.

He has extensive experience as a solicitor advocate, having appeared in the Magistrates', County and Supreme Courts in a wide range of matters including bail applications, complex pleas, contested hearings, County Court appeals (both conviction and sentence, and sentence alone), contested committals, s 198B hearings, case assessment hearings, contraventions of supervision orders, and trials (as junior).

Nicholas has also appeared (led) on several occasions in the Court of Appeal. He accepts briefs to prepare written cases, to appear in the Court of Appeal, and to advise on the merits of appeals to the Court of Appeal and High Court, as well as seeking judicial review in the Supreme Court.

Before coming to the Bar, Nicholas was a Senior Lawyer in Victoria Legal Aid’s Appeals and Strategic Litigation team, and he was seconded to VLA Chambers as an Associate Public Defender. He regularly provided strategic advice on all aspects of criminal practice, including:

• the merits of appealing to the Court of Appeal and High Court, as well as seeking judicial review in the Supreme Court;
• complex evidentiary and procedural questions;
• statutory interpretation;
• the application of the Road Safety Act 1986, the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 and the Serious Offenders Act 2018; and
• general case strategy.

Nicholas’ previous practice as a solicitor at a private firm in Tasmania encompassed property and wills and estates, including guardianship and residential tenancy matters. He also managed large and complex estates during his time at the Tasmanian Public Trustee. Nicholas accepts briefs in these areas.

Nicholas is reading with Paul Smallwood, and his senior mentor is Daniel Gurvich KC.