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When Magistrate Trieu Huynh was just a baby, he and his
family fled Vietnam as refugees. Able to secure passage on a boat with other
families, they made the trip from South Vietnam to Malaysia, which according to
his parents took about three days and three nights. They risked being captured
by pirates or detained by authorities. In 1982, after being allowed entry into
Australia, Magistrate Huynh’s family was placed in a hostel before settling in
the western suburbs of Melbourne.
During the 1980s, the Vietnamese community in Melbourne
was relatively small, but Magistrate Huynh’s parents knew a few people who had
made a similar journey, which made them feel more settled. Adjusting to life in
Australia was challenging, due to the language barrier, cultural differences
and even the climate. As one of the few Asian children in the playground, it
was often difficult for Magistrate Huynh to adjust to his new life, and he
recalls many differences that made him feel isolated, such as his school lunch
and his unique name.
To overcome some of those obstacles, Magistrate Huynh’s
family prioritised education, believing that it would be a pathway to a better
life. They aspired for him to be a professional, such as a doctor, an
accountant, a lawyer or a dentist. Magistrate Huynh thought being a lawyer
would be highly regarded, despite his family having no connection to the law.
Towards the end of his secondary schooling, the option of going to law school
became more realistic as Magistrate Huynh realised that his excellent communication
skills would be well suited to a career in law.
Magistrate Huynh also had a great interest in science,
and gained entry to Monash University to undertake a double degree in science
and law. After three years, Magistrate Huynh graduated with a science degree.
He deferred law to pursue an Honours degree in genetics. He spent one year
working in genetics research at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and
Development, now the Monash Institute of Medical Research (MIMR), working
alongside eminent scientists such as embryologist Professor Alan Trounson AO. However,
Magistrate Huynh realised that science was not for him; he wanted to see more
frequent, tangible results for his efforts, so he returned to university to
complete his law degree.
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about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
During his final years at Monash Law, Magistrate Huynh
volunteered at Springvale Monash Legal Service, first at the reception desk and
then as a caseworker.
Magistrate Huynh also undertook Professional Practice
there in his final semester.
He ran a caseload, met clients and appeared in court.
This clinic experience confirmed for Magistrate Huynh that working with people
and within the criminal justice system was what he truly wanted to do. In
particular, he realised that he could help people by assisting them to navigate
a sometimes complex and unfamiliar process. The clinical experience made the
theoretical and abstract nature of the classroom more real and tangible, and he
felt more ‘connected to the law’ after his placement.
Magistrate Huynh began his career as an Articled Clerk at
the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions in 2005, and was admitted to
practice in 2006. He worked as a criminal lawyer at the Victorian Office of
Public Prosecutions, and in various roles at Victoria Legal Aid, working on
many significant cases, some of which were at the forefront of the public
consciousness in Victoria.
He was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court in 2020, and
he sees his role as collaborating with colleagues and working together to solve
ideas, just as he did during his experience at Monash Law Clinics.
Currently, Magistrate Huynh sits in Bendigo, on the
Assessment and Referral Court, a therapeutic court that supports people
diagnosed with mental illness, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury,
autism spectrum disorder or neurological impairment. ‘Be kind to yourself’ is
something that Magistrate Huynh would tell his younger self.
‘There are no failures, only learnings,’ he says.