James Dowsley

James has been involved in the Criminal Justice system as a Lawyer for over 30 years and gained his Specialist Accreditation from the Law Institute of Victoria in 2002. He has remained an Accredited Specialist since that time. He was admitted to practice in 1987. 

James founded James Dowsley & Associates in January 2007. 

James has run trials, plea hearings and bail applications before the County Court and has appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria and the Court of Appeal. 

Being a dedicated advocate for clients human rights, James has a passion for defending his clients in the Australian Courts.

James continues to practice extensively in all courts from the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, the County Court of Victoria, the Supreme Court of Victoria and has conducted cases in the High Court of Australia.

When not in court defending clients, James has been involved in the following:

• Executive Committee of the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria between 2004 and 2018. He was the Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Section for three years between 2010 and 2012;

• A sitting member of the AFL Grievance Tribunal between 2006 and 2012;

• Criminal Law Section of the Australian Law Counsel between 2011 and 2016; and

• Law Institute of Victoria Deputy Chair of the Criminal Law Section 2008 to 2010. 

James has presented on various aspects of criminal law at Law Institute of Victoria events. 

James practices in all aspects of Criminal Law and will always work in your interests to achieve the best outcome that is possible in your case.