Rachael Hempling

B.A. Bachelor of Laws LL.B

Areas of Practice

• Child Safety
• Criminal Law
• Domestic Violence
• Family Law
• Mediation

Contact Details

Phone: 07 5618 8210

Mobile: 0403 655 805

Email: Rachael.Hempling@qldbar.asn.au

Biography

Rachael grew up on a farm in rural New South Wales just outside of Tamworth. After school, she moved to Sydney and enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney. After a few years in Sydney, she transferred her degree into a combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws at the University of New England, Armidale. 

Whilst completing her studies externally, she commenced her legal career with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Queensland in 2001. Rachael was employed as a legal clerk instructing prosecutors on District and Supreme Court sentences and trials. 

Rachael gained admission to the Supreme Court of Queensland as a barrister in September 2003. A few weeks after admission she was employed as a Legal Officer within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Queensland.

In 2004, Rachael sat the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test at the College of Law, London, gaining admission as a solicitor in England and Wales. Between 2004 - 2008 she worked as a criminal defence solicitor and duty solicitor for a firm in London and later in Lewes, East Sussex, carrying large and complex caseloads. During her time in the UK Rachael appeared for clients in hundreds of hearings and over 60 trials in both the Magistrate’s Court and Youth Court at various locations in London and South-East England.

Late 2008 and early 2009, Rachael and her husband spent 7 months in Malawi, Africa, volunteering for a grassroots charity called RIPPLE AFRICA. She spent her time living and working in the local village of Mwaya in the Nkhata Bay District and was a co-founder of the Women’s Community English Class that still runs today. 

In April 2009, Rachael returned to Australia as a barrister and again to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Queensland and was employed in a variety of roles including that of Crown Prosecutor. 

In 2013, Rachael commenced a Masters of Laws (Dispute Resolution) at Bond University and through her studies has gained accreditation as a nationally accredited mediator and a family dispute resolution practitioner.

In January 2014, Rachael joined the Bar Association of Queensland and commenced practice at the Private Bar in Queensland. She has recently joined French Quarter Chambers, which is a vibrant new Gold Coast barristers chambers that also houses a spacious and inviting Mediation Centre in the beautiful Emerald Lakes. She practices in the areas of Criminal Law, Family Law, Child Safety, Domestic Violence and Dispute Resolution.

Rachael is a Guest Lecturer at Bond University and a volunteer lawyer at the Robina Community Legal Centre. 

Rachael lives with her husband and three young children on the Gold Coast. She is a busy mum juggling work, school runs and all the joy and chaos a family brings.