Margaret Cunneen SC
Contact Details
Phone: +61 2 9223 1522
Email: cunneensc@statechambers.net
Date Appointed to Senior Counsel
2007
Date of Admission to the Bar
1990
Areas of Practice
- Criminal
- Inquiries and Tribunals
- Coronial and Inquests
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Laws 1982 University of Technology, Sydney
- Master of Laws 1989 University of Sydney
Appointments
- Appointed President of the Rule of Law Education Centre, 2021
- Appointed to Attorney General’s Expert Panel on the implementation of a Commonwealth Integrity Commission, 2018-2019
- Former Commissioner, Special Commission of Inquiry into the investigation of child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle 2012-2014
- 40 Years’ Meritorious Service to the State of New South Wales Award
- Past Member of the NSW Bar Council 2006-2009 and 2014-2016
- UTS Alumni Award for Excellence, Faculty of Law 2014
- DPP Director’s Service Excellence Award 2002
- Ambassador, Girl Guides Australia
Doyles Guide recognises Margaret Cunneen SC
 | Doyles Guide recommends Margaret Cunneen SC in the 2022 and 2023 list of leading criminal law Senior Council in New South Wales. |
Practice Overview
Margaret Cunneen SC was a Crown Prosecutor and Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor for many years and, before that, in the 1980’s, was an Industrial Officer at the Public Service Board of NSW. Earlier in her career she held positions in the Attorney General’s Ministerial Office and in the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office of NSW.
Margaret has extensive experience in all aspects of criminal law, having appeared in hundreds of criminal trials and appeals over 30 years.
Margaret was the Commissioner of the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry into the investigation of child sexual abuse allegations in the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, and handed her Report to the Governor on 30 May 2014.