Education
Black attended schools in Australia at Wesley College, in Egypt, and in England. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 1963.
Black attended schools in Australia at Wesley College, in Egypt, and in England. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 1963.
In 1964, Black commenced practice at the Victorian Bar. His practice included civil jury actions as well as commercial and public law cases. Black was appointed Queen"s Counsel for Victoria in 1980 and for Tasmania in 1984.
As Queen"s Counsel, he specialised in appellate work, including cases in constitutional, commercial and industrial law.
One of the constitutional cases was the Tasmanian Dam Case in 1983, where he represented the Tasmanian Wilderness Society. Judicial and later career He was appointed Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia on 1 January 1991.
As Chief Justice, he had, as well as his judicial duties, statutory responsibility for the administration of the Court. In 1981, he was appointed the Foundation Chairman of the Victorian Bar"s Readers Course, the Bar"s pioneering course of instruction for new barristers, and later served as the representative of the Victorian Bar on the Board of the Leo Cussen Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
As Chief Justice, he actively supported the Federal Court"s work in the field of judicial education.
He was also Chair of the Advisory Committee for introduction of the Juris Doctor degree at Melbourne Law School. His interests outside the law include architecture, history and maritime matters.
