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I'm Jacinta Walsh. I'm the court officer at Lismore Court House.
I started here in 2007, as a
casual employee through the Community Development Employment project.
They help indigenous people in the community to find jobs.
For the last four years of course, I've
sat in court, and..
I have found it very interesting.
I'm studying law,
doing a paralegal degree.
A lot of people that come before the court might be quite nervous cause
they've never been in this sort of environment.
I try to make them feel a little bit more comfortable.
I run through the procedure, what will usually happen in court.
Whereabouts they'll stand, what the
magistrate may ask for instance.
Whether they'll plead guilty or not guilty or if they want an adjournment to get some legal advice.
I'll usually go out and make sure the unrepresented people are looked after.
I'll make sure their matters are heard.
“Just step up into the witness box.” It was very nerve racking the first time I had to
open a court, or swear a witness in. That was another very daunting
experience but the more you do it, the better you get at it. (Swears witness in.)
As soon as I started settling in,
I got to know my colleagues,
and got familiar with the work,
I thought,
this is definitely something I want to keep doing.