Zarah Burgess

Zarah is a skilled criminal lawyer and advocate with 12 years experience as trial counsel in the District Court of Western Australia, predominantly dealing with sexual offences, serious assaults and drug trafficking matters. She mostly practises in Perth but has appeared in almost every regional Court in WA.

Zarah graduated from UWA in 2011 and commenced her formal legal training in 2012 as an Articled Clerk at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (WA). She gained considerable experience as a State Prosecutor before opening her own criminal law firm (Burgess Criminal Lawyers) in 2021, doing only criminal defence work.

Zarah has practiced in the Supreme Court of Western Australia since 2012, including appearing as both co-counsel and counsel in homicides and criminal appeals (including urgent bail applications). She continues to practice in the Magistrates and Childrens Courts jurisdictions, including on traffic matters, extraordinary licence applications and restraining order matters.

Zarah's pro bono work includes prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA WA under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 and defending climate activists who are arrested in the course of protest and campaign-related activities.

Zarah is an excellent advocate who consistently achieves good outcomes for her clients. She works closely with several experienced criminal defence solicitors and firms who routinely brief her to appear in criminal trials across the State, and she is always happy to recommend the services of these firms who can assist in briefing her on complex matters.

In her spare time Zarah enjoys creative pursuits including writing and photography. She has served on various boards in the not-for-profit and arts sectors, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Rainbow Futures WA, the State's peak LGBTQIA+ advocacy body. She has received awards for her creative writing and her work has appeared in publications both in Australia and overseas. Zarah has also done sessional teaching work for the law schools at Notre Dame University and Curtin University.

Zarah practises and can appear in the following areas:

• Criminal Law (Magistrates, District, Supreme and Childrens Courts)
• Appellate
• Tribunal and Liquor Commission proceedings
• Restraining Orders (Applicants and Respondents)