Sidnie Sarang
Criminal Solicitor
BA (Socio-Legal Studies), JD, GDipLegalPrac
ph: 02 9261 4281
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Early Career & Education
Current Practice Area
Professional Approach & Interest Areas
Early Career & Education
After graduating from a Bachelor of Socio-Legal Studies at the University of Sydney, Sidnie completed her Juris Doctor at University of Technology Sydney in 2018.
Prior to working for O’Brien’s, Sidnie had eclectic experience with a variety of Sydney-based community legal initiatives, including Redfern Legal Centre, Shopfront Youth Legal Centre, and the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC).
Additionally, Sidnie has worked with a variety of Criminal Justice outreach programs, including Justice Action, and the Volunteer Mentoring Scheme at Lidcombe’s Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre.
Sidnie now works full time in criminal matters and also assists with Fair Trading / Trades licence related enquiries too.
Current Practice Area
Criminal Work
In her capacity as a Criminal Solicitor, Sidnie has appeared before the NSW Supreme Court, and has extensive experience in both city and regional NSW Local Courts.
In June 2020, Sidnie instructed counsel in the matter of Raul Bassi v Commissioner of Police (NSW) [2020] NSWCA 109 which occurred over a time sensitive period of 48 hours, in both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal before Bathurst CJ, Bell P and Leeming JA which overturned the decision held by the Supreme Court that the Black Lives Matter rally in Sydney would be unauthorised, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the height of the George Floyd protests in America and in memory of the First Nations Man who died in custody, Mr David Dungay Jr. Sidnie has also instructed counsel in several other protest matters such as Commissioner of Police v Gray [2020] NSWSC 867 in July 2020, on behalf of Ms Taylah Gray, before Justice Adamson, in successfully challenging a prohibition order sought by the Commissioner of Police against the Black Lives Matter Protest organised in Newcastle which allowed the protest to also proceed, which was another victory for freedom of speech and political assembly
Sidnie has appeared for a variety of criminal proceedings, including;
- s14 Applications under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020;
- Bail and defended Local Court hearings;
- Procedural matters such as Mentions, Annulment Applications, and Sentence Proceedings.
- Crime Commission related matters
Sidnie’s work as a member of the criminal team typically includes defending against various police, traffic, and domestic related charges, including drug possessions, various protest and Summary Offences related matters.
Professional Approach & Interest Areas
Beyond her current practice areas, Sidnie has long-standing passions in International Human Rights and Refugee Law, and Discrimination Law.
Following her time at IRAC, Sidnie maintains an active interest in Migration and Refugee Law- in particular, the compatibility between Australia’s current migration framework, and Australia’s ability to observe its refugee obligations prescribed by International Law.
