Called to the Bar in 2016, Mary Keaney was admitted, and commenced practice in general litigation in 2005. Mary’s practice has focused on access to justice, with particular interest in the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with mental health conditions, and survivors of child sexual abuse, she is a committed advocate for human rights.

Having gained extensive advocacy experience as a solicitor, Mary practiced criminal law ‘in house’ at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Aid Services in Alice Springs, NT, and Brisbane, QLD. Mary also worked in private practices in the ACT, NSW, and QLD and she was a Legal Aid Queensland accredited Duty Lawyer.

In New South Wales, Mary regularly appears led and unled in interlocutory applications, hearings, and trials, at first instance and appeal. Mary appears in the Local, District, and Supreme Courts and also the Court of Appeal. In addition to her criminal law practice, she also appears in common law matters, predominantly for plaintiffs in personal injury cases arising from historic child sexual abuse.

Mary conducts matters in the Magistrate’s and Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Also, Mary has appeared in the Murri Court (QLD) and the Galambany Circle Sentencing Court (ACT).

Mary has a particular interest in offender rehabilitation, restorative justice, the intersection of trauma, FASD and other mental conditions with the justice system.

Recent cases:

Lindley v Haynes [2022] NSWSC 581

Rossall v R [2021] NSWCCA 200
R v McCook [2019] NSWDC 636
R v Jones [2019] NSWDC 654