Since 2016, USC Law graduate Erica Zammit has worked with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which represents the State in criminal cases and prosecutes matters in court.

“In the criminal law industry, there are two obvious career paths you could pursue: prosecution or criminal defence.

“My most recent roles at the ODPP include Listings Co-ordinator/Legal Support Supervisor, and an acting Legal Officer role. In the first role, I was responsible for preparing and appearing at mentions and callovers on behalf of the chamber, to ensure that the ODPP is properly represented in the District and Childrens Court of Queensland, as well as the supervision of the Legal Support Officers within the chamber through training and coordination, to ensure that the legal practitioners are administratively supported.

“As the primary point of contact between the court and the ODPP chamber, there is an emphasis in this role on ensuring that matters are progressing through the courts efficiently. This role really taught me the fundamentals of appearing in court, the importance of preparation, and assisted in developing my advocacy skills. Appearing in over 100 matters in one day can be stressful, so preparation was key!

“As a Legal Officer, I was primarily responsible for preparing matters referred to the ODPP for prosecution, including for hearing, trial, sentence or appeal. This involves reviewing police prosecution briefs and drafting Indictments and legal memorandums for consideration by Crown Prosecutors, liaising with arresting officers and Crown witnesses to retrieve and confirm evidence, and appearing as an advocate at hearings, appeals and sentences in the District and Childrens Court of Queensland.

“I love being in court, working on different cases every day and learning from experienced legal professionals. Obtaining my law degree in 2019 and my admission as a legal practitioner was extremely beneficial to my career, as it allowed me to progress from an administration role to a legal role with carriage of my own files.”