Ben Cochrane

Ben commenced practice as an articled clerk in Qld before working as a criminal defence solicitor with the NSW Aboriginal Legal Service and then the NSW Legal Aid Commission. After several years he commenced in private practice as a barrister in NSW before completing a two year stint as a Crown Prosecutor with the NSW DPP. He has been back performing mainly criminal defence work at the private bar since 2018.

Mostly Ben has worked in criminal law, appearing in every state criminal jurisdiction from the Children’s Court to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney. He has also appeared in Qld criminal courts.

Ben also has some experience in intentional torts, acting for plaintiffs claiming damages from the State of NSW as liable for tortious acts of police officers and correctional services officers. In that common law area he has appeared at every level, from the Local Court of NSW to the Court of Appeal in Sydney.

Ben remains enrolled on various NSW Legal Aid panels, including for complex criminal trials and appellate work in the NSW Courts of Appeal.