Supreme and District Court Principal Registrar Julie Steel, aka “Cyclone Steel”, is starting to wind down.
After 14 years in the role, the Public Service Medallist will retire this week. Julie attended her final Exchange of Christmas Greetings at last week’s ceremony at the Banco Court.
At the ceremony, the Honourable Chief Justice Helen Bowskill paid tribute to the “CEO of the courts” with a “mind like a steel trap” in her end-of-year speech.
Julie Steel is ready for retirement.
“Ms Steel is quite simply the most extraordinary person whose outstanding contribution as the CEO of the courts was appropriately recognised when she was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2022,” Her Honour said.
“She is a remarkably talented leader with a mind like a steel trap, if you will pardon the pun. Her expertise in system organisation and innovation have lead to great improvements in registry services to the benefit of the judiciary, the legal profession and the public.
“One of her many outstanding skills is the ability to recognise the skills and talents of others and foster them so they can succeed. She has developed an outstanding team, one of whom, Miss Amanda O’Brien, will most ably take over the role of Principal Registrar following Ms Steel’s retirement.
“To borrow from the words of the Chief Judge, it has been a joy and a privilege to work with Ms Steel.
“She will be sorely missed and it is hard to imagine this place without her, for Julie Steel is synonymous with Queensland courts.”
Julie says she will miss the people who she has been working with since joining the court registry from Corrective Services and the work.
“I’ll miss the people. I think that the courts attract a very interesting group of people who are very passionate about justice and about doing the right thing,” she said.
“It’s a pretty exciting environment to operate in because of that shared passion and the enthusiasm. So I will miss that environment and I will miss the people because there are a lot of good, kind, generous, clever people.
“It’s extremely varied. It’s very fast paced usually, and my plans often go astray. So I like that. I like the unpredictability. I like to change things. You can always find work, work with somebody.”
Queensland Law Society Principal Policy Solicitor Kate Brodnik said she had “really admired the pragmatic way Julie deals with issues”.
“Whether it’s something specific we have emailed or called her about, or whether it’s something arising from a presentation at a meeting, Julie sees it as an opportunity to get in and improve things,” Kate said.
“We have felt that Julie understands the role of the profession in assisting the courts in the critical work they do. She has had an immeasurable impact on the administration of justice in Queensland and will be missed.”
The Chief Tribute paid tribute to Julie in her speech
at the Exchange of Christmas Greetings last week.
Julie has a legal background, practising as a solicitor from 1989 to 1999, before heading to a newly created position in Corrections, a change which she wasn’t entirely sure of.
“At first I wasn’t very interested in doing this interview but then a person said ‘you’re going to be changing the culture’. ‘I want somebody with a background in legal work and we figured you’d be perfect for it’.”
And Julie has maintained a strong track record of mentoring staff and making a difference, along with the strategic work behind the scenes over the past decade.
“I like to bring staff along. So it (the role) goes from basically understanding the practice to the operations of the registries and choosing people to do that. I wouldn’t be able to tell you what cases are happening anywhere in the state because I don’t get involved at that level.
“I get involved with the registry, the process, the staff treatment, choosing very good people. And I think that (a successful culture) as well, it’s very good people.”
And for the “wheels not turning as smoothly without her”, Julie believes having staff ready to step up is an important legacy.
“If you’re indispensable, then I think you’ve done the wrong thing.”
Julie has enjoyed the fast-paced court environment.
Although vacancies on various committees that Julie has been of part will need to be filled – some are statutory roles and some she volunteered for.
As the Chief Justice put it: “In addition to her day job, Ms Steel has also been an active contributor for many years as a member of the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board, the Incorporated Council for Law Reporting, the Supreme Court Library Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Public Records Review Committee as well as countless other committees connected with the operations of the courts”.
And her knowledge, “the steel trap” will be also be missed.
“I’ve always had a good memory, although with the filing cabinet sometimes stuff gets pushed towards the back into the miscellaneous folders. Some times somebody talks to me about something and I think ‘I don’t remember at all what you’re talking about’. But I’m pretty good at nodding and being interested.
“Yes I’ve always had a good memory. Although I often say to people it’s really good for your ego working for judges all the time because almost every time I’m in a room full of judges I’m the stupidest person there, so that keeps you humble.”
So what did the humble public servant think of the glowing comments from the Chief Justice?
“It was probably the most public, lovely thing that’s been happening since I’ve been going,” Julie said.
“Not too long ago she said to me, ‘Julie, how did you feel about having the judges having a dinner for you?’ But I went, well, can I get back to you? It’s obviously a big honour and I called the next day and said sorry I was so taken aback, but I just really didn’t expect it. And I just thought no one’s going to come. I’m still I’m very flattered, but I’m also a bit embarrassed. I’ve always been a behind-the-scenes person.”
It was a similar sort of experience when Julie found out she was nominated for the Public Service Medal.
“It was one of the loveliest things because at first my reaction was ‘oh why would someone nominate me?’,” she said. “I was actually surprisingly chuffed because I know how difficult it is to nominate somebody, so someone had gone to a lot of trouble. Quite a few people had gone through a lot of trouble.
“So I got this medal and I thought I was just really touched by the thoughtfulness and the persistence.
“So I really thought that was lovely. There’s the medal itself but it was probably more the thought that went into it that I value.”
Her work is valued by many stakeholders in the legal profession.
QLS Director of Advocacy and Legal Policy Binari De Saram said: “Julie is a stalwart of the legal landscape in Queensland. She is collaborative, erudite, practical and brings a deep intellectual rigour to the issues that arise in Queensland courts. She will be much missed.”
Julie speaks equally as highly of her work with the Society.
“I think it’s an extension of the environment which is what’s really wonderful about it,” she said of the QLS. “You just find there’s very few people who are not passionate, who aren’t dedicated and they’re just impressive people. I mean this is something that you just don’t get in most other careers.
“And when you are dealing with people from the Law Society or whether it’s practitioners who are volunteering on committees, they’re smart, they’re dedicated but they also just want to be practical, and make it work and make it better.
Julie has worked closely with the QLS.
“They’ve been so good to engage with and it’s not about saying my position is this. They’re very, very clear about representing the interests of practitioners, but they’re also very clear that the interest of the practitioners is having a really smoothly functioning system that achieves good results. So I find it really good to be able to work with people like that.”
Now due to some health issues, Julie has found it time to slow things down.
“I just can’t maintain the pace. I think that’s really what made me decide I needed to retire. I have been known affectionately, I think, as Cyclone Steel. I just don’t think I’ve got the energy you need to have to go off and do a job like this. So I probably won’t miss the pace ultimately because I can’t keep up the pace.”
The Chief Justice said during her speech that “no one deserves a break more than her”.
“So on behalf of all the judges I sincerely thank Ms Steel for her outstanding commitment and dedication to the administration of justice, and we wish her and her husband and family every happiness as she embarks on a well-deserved retirement.”
So looking back on the past 14 years, is this any advice she should have given herself?
“I don’t think I’d give myself advice, I think I would just say go for it and enjoy it. And that’s what I’ve done. That was my attitude then and that’s the way it has worked out. It’s a good job. “
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