Libby Hakim LLB (Hons) | Legislative Drafter
I have more than 25 years’ experience across private and government legal practice, with extensive experience drafting Australian State and Commonwealth legislation. My drafting career started at the NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office and I am currently a contract in-house drafter with a Commonwealth Government department.
libby@libbyhakim.com.au | Maitland, Australia
Experience
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In-house Legislative Drafter | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Oct, 2024 – present
Lead drafter on various instruments made under complex legislative schemes relating to carbon credits and greenhouse gas emissions. Working with policy teams to implement recommendations following review of the Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme.
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Senior Legislative Drafter | NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office | Aug, 2004 – Sep, 2016
Drafting amending and principal instruments and Bills in areas relating to health, education, crimes, transport, utilities and more. This role involved supervision of junior drafters and working closely with various policy teams throughout NSW Government.
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Legal Communications Consultant | NSW Office of the Registrar General | Oct, 2017 – Dec, 2021
Drafting and producing communications collateral to explain and promote eConveyancing reforms to the general public and professional stakeholders. Providing advice and guidance on aspects of internal and external communication and stakeholder engagement.
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Legal Writer and Editor | LexisNexis & Thomson Reuters | Various periods from Feb, 2000 – Feb, 2021
Updating legislation and editing legal commentary. Working with legal experts to create legal feature articles. Interviewing legal experts and writing profile pieces.
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Insurance and Litigation Lawyer | McMahons & Abbott Tout | Sep, 2002 – July, 2004 & Oct, 2001 – Sep, 2002
General commercial and insurance litigation lawyer. Provided advice to large corporate clients. Appeared as advocate in small claims hearings in the Local Court and made regular appearances in the Supreme Court, District Court and various other courts and tribunals.
Education
LLB (Hons)
University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Science
University of Newcastle
Diploma of Legal Practice
College of Law
Skills and Attributes
- Able to work to tight/shifting parliamentary and publishing schedules and manage competing priorities.
- Organised and efficient, with a pragmatic approach to legal problem-solving.
- Consistently work well with a diverse range of people, from lawyers to academics, policy officers and IT specialists.
- Writing skills extend to copywriting and feature writing. Published in The Sydney Morning Herald, Sunday Life, body+soul and more.
- Confident using Microsoft Office applications, Canva, WordPress, and a variety of remote working tools (including Teams, Zoom, Asana, Everhour and Slack).