Jemma Holt

Jemma Holt

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

Adelaide Law School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics


Jemma Holt is a legal practitioner and PhD candidate at the Law School at the University of Adelaide. Her research area is the use of pre-recorded evidence for 'vulnerable' witnesses in South Australia.

She is also currently working as a Researcher for the Tasmania Law Reform Institute conducting an evaluation of pre-trial special hearings and pre-recorded evidence in Tasmania (Aug 2022- Aug 2024) and as a Researcher for the South Australian Law Reform Institute conducting a review of Suppression Orders in South Australia (Feb 2023 - April 2024).

She has previously practised within the Law School as the Clinical Legal Education Supervisor for two of the free legal advice clinics based at the University of Adelaide Law School: the Adelaide Legal Outreach Service (ALOS) and the Equal Opportunity Legal Advice Service (EOLAS) (2021-2024). She has held sessional teaching roles with both the University of Adelaide and the University of Tasmania in Criminal Law, Evidence and Advocacy subjects.

She has previously worked as a Prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Adelaide (2013-2023). She has also worked at the Crown Solicitor's Office (2018), the Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (2020-1), and the Office for Public Integrity (2022). She has also worked as a Prosecutor with Tasmania Police (2019) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Hobart (2019-20).

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - 2024 Lead Researcher (Evaluation of the Role and Operation of Suppression Orders in South Australia) South Australian Law Reform Institute, Law School, University of Adelaide
    2022 - 2024 Research Fellow (Special Hearings Scheme Study) Tasmania Law Reform Institute, Law School, University of Tasmania
    2022 - 2022 Senior Legal Officer, Intake & Assessments Team Office for Public Integrity
    2020 - 2021 Senior Legal Officer, Legal Services Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption
    2020 - 2020 Prosecutor, Vulnerable Witness Team Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, South Australia
    2019 - 2019 Crown Counsel, Family Violence and Sexual Assault Team Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tasmania
    2019 - 2020 Research Fellow (Jurors, Social Media & the Right of an Accused to a Fair Trial) | Acting Executive Officer (Research) Tasmania Law reform Institute, Law Schooll, University of Adelaide
    2019 - 2019 Prosecutor/ Legal Officer Tasmania Police, Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management
    2017 - 2018 Senior Solicitor/Prosecutor Prosecution Group, Public Law Section, Crown Solicitor’s Office (SA)
    2015 - 2021 Law Reporting (Australian Criminal Reports) Thomson Reuters
    2013 - 2017 Prosecutor Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, South Australia
    2013 - 2013 Judge’s Associate District Court of South Australia
    2012 - 2013 Associate to the Hon Justice Michael David Supreme Court of South Australia
    2011 - 2012 Magistrates’ Associate Adelaide Magistrates Court
    2011 - 2011 Law Clerk (PLT Placement) Crown Solicitor’s Office, Attorney-General’s Department
    2011 - 2011 Summer Clerkship Fisher Jeffries Barristers and Solicitors
    2010 - 2010 Volunteer Caseworker/ Advocate Adelaide Magistrates Court Legal Advice Clinic
    2010 - 2011 Volunteer Caseworker/ Advocate Welfare Rights Centre SA
    2009 - 2010 Volunteer Caseworker/Advocate/ Mediator Southern Community Justice Centre
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2023 Practising Certificate (Unrestricted - Category C) Law Society of South Australia -
    2011 Admission to Practice as a Barrister and Solicitor Supreme Court of South Australia -
  • Research Interests

Clinical Legal Education Supervisor

Adelaide Legal Outreach Service (ALOS) &

Equal Opportunity Legal Advice Service (EOLAS)

Law School, University of Adelaide


From January 2022 to January 2024 I was in the role of sole supervising solicitor for two of the legal advice clinics which operate at the University of Adelaide Law School. ALOS is a generalist free legal advice service and EOLAS is a specialist service which provides free legal advice under the framework of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA) in relation to discrimination, victimisation and sexual harassment. The clinics are operated by students enrolled in the final year law elective, Clinical Legal Education. The student legal advisors independently conducted client interviews and all associated case work, including drafting written advice and other documentation under my supervision.

I was responsible for supervising and settling all legal work, including providing students with professional guidance and mentoring. My role also involved management of client bookings, social media, facilities and email liaison with stakeholders.

Sessional Teaching roles (various)

Law School, University of Adelaide


Between 2017 and 2022, I held several sessional teaching roles at the Law School at the University of Adelaide, including: Seminar Leader in the undergraduate subject Criminal Law (2021 & 2022); Seminar Leader in the undergraduate subject Evidence and Advocacy (2021 & 2022); guest lecturing in Evidence & Advocacy (2021), Law Reform (2020), Evidence (2020), Selected Issues in Criminal Law (Masters) (2018) and Criminal Law (2018). I have also undertaken exam marking in the undergraduate subject of Criminal Law (2020).

Sessional Teaching roles (various)

Law School, University of Tasmania


Between 2018 and 2023, I held various sessional teaching roles within the Law School at the University of Tasmania, including: guest lecturing in Evidence (2019) and in the summer school intensive subject Advocacy (2018 & 2023).

I was also involved in supervising the student run legal service at UTAS, namely, assisting students with client interviews, client advice, file management and interaction with participating legal practitioners (2019).

Assessor, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP)

Law Society of South Australia


In March, May and September 2019 I assessed mock witness examination-in-chief, cross examination, opening and closing addresses, bail applications and guilty plea submissions for law graduates completing the GDLP component of their studies to become eligible for admission to practice. I was also involved in an Advocacy Coaching Clinic for students by way of preparation for the advocacy practical assessment.


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