Masters of the Bench

From 1981 to 2001 Chief Justice Allsop practised at the Bar in New South Wales and elsewhere in Australia.  He was appointed Senior Counsel in New South Wales in 1994 and Queen’s Counsel in Western Australia in 1998.

He served as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 7 May 2001 to 1 June 2008, undertaking the roles of trial and appellate judge on a full range of Federal Court work.

On 2 June 2008, Chief Justice Allsop was appointed as President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal.

From 1981 Chief Justice Allsop taught part-time at the University of Sydney as a tutor and lecturer in property, equity, bankruptcy, insolvency, corporate finance and maritime law.  He currently teaches part-time in maritime law.

From 2005-2009, he was a member of the board of World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden.  Since 2009, he has been a member of the Board of the Australian Maritime College.

He has been appointed to be Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia as of 1 March 2013.

On 19 March 2013 he was elected a member of the American Law Institute.

Cheif Justice Allsop was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2013 for distuingished service to the judiciary and the law. He was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.