A Different Pupillage

In August 2011 James Masur completed the Bar Practice Course.

James had previously worked in commercial litigation as a solicitor prior to being commissioned as a Legal Officer within the Australian Army. The completion of the Bar Practice Course presented obvious career options.

However, in September 2011 James was asked if he would deploy to Afghanistan with the Mentoring Task Force 4. James accepted the request. Pupillage was put on hold. The career path for James in the 12 months since completing the Bar Practice Course has truly been a road less travelled.

The Members of the Mentoring Task Force 4 live with, train and provide support to their Afghan National Army colleagues at patrol bases in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. The Task Force also engages in reconstruction and security operations in Uruzgan province. The Task Force consists of approximately 730 Australian Defence Force personnel mostly from the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade based at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera.

Specifically, the legal role consists of liaison with the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in developing evidence packs for prosecution of ADF detainees within the Afghan justice system, meeting with and monitoring ADF detained prisoners in the Tarin Kowt Prison, advising on operational targeting as well fostering the Rule of Law within the Afghan National Army (ANA) through the development of ‘evidence based’ operations.

Since January 2012 James has been providing legal advice to Command and to Soldiers in an environment where physical hazard, extreme temperature and constant vigilance is routine.

The pressure of private practice might be a welcome relief.

Marcus Katter