Our People

Sam Norton - LL.B., B.A.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics Major) and a Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University and was admitted to practice in 2001, and in 2008 obtained specialist accreditation in Criminal Law.

Sam is a member of Criminal and Human Rights section of the Law Institute, as well as a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. He is also a Solicitor Volunteer at the North Melbourne Legal Service.

Sam joined Robert Stary and Associates in the latter part of 2006, having previously worked for Radford Legal in Stawell and St Arnaud, Lucas and Marshman in Horsham and a number of Government positions in London.

Sam’s Reflections:

• Practicing Criminal Law provides an opportunity to assist people when coming up against the exercise of power by the state. It is vital that all people in our community are afforded quality legal representation, and that is never more important than in Criminal Law.
• This area of law gives me exposure to the broadest possible cross section of our community and a chance to help members across that spectrum. That is something that no other area of practice can offer, and of which I am grateful.

Amelia Beech - B.A., L.L.B.

Amelia completed a Bachelor of Arts (Major in Politics: International Relations), and Bachelor of Law at Monash University. Amelia undertook articled clerkship at Robert Stary and Associates in 2007 – 2008, and was admitted to practice in 2008.

Amelia currently volunteers at the Women’s Legal Service, and has had previous volunteer roles at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) and Springvale Monash Legal Service.

Memberships include Australian Lawyers Alliance, Voiceless (Animal law fund), and PILCH and Human Right Law Resource Centre; and special interests include Women’s legal issues, Human rights in sentencing, and Public interest cases.

Amelia’s Reflections:

• I believe that everyone’s story is important and ought to be heard, regardless of the criminal charges they face.
• My goal is to provide a conduit between our clients and the law; I aim to make my client’s individual stories known to the Court in an effort to reach a just outcome.
• I strive to provide a sense of individual justice for my clients.

Matthew Goldberg - B.A., LL.B.

Matthew obtained a Bachelor of Arts (English and Politics) and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University. During 2009 Matthew completed a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and was subsequently admitted to practice.

Matthew is a committee member of Reprieve Australia. He has completed a volunteer internship at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Centre (USA), where he assisted in the legal defence of indigent people facing the death penalty.

Matthew is also a member of the Castan Centre for Human Rights and the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria.

Matthew’s Reflections:

• We should all have access to a transparent system of law.
• We support our clients in pursuit of justice.
• We will strive for a fair result.