Former Attorney-General Christian Porter to return to WA legal scene and set up own practice

Christian Porter will return to the West Australian legal scene and set up his own practice, it is understood. The West Australian has learned that after entertaining the prospect of a career in Sydney, the former Attorney-General will instead remain in Perth to be close to his two young children. Sources last night said Mr Porter was keen to return to practising in law. He started his career as a prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions in Perth before entering state politics and then rising through the ranks in Canberra as the Member for Pearce. It is understood Mr Porter has not yet applied to the WA Bar Association to practise only as a barrister, but under State rules as long as he had maintained his Continuing Professional Development points each year and kept his practising certificate valid he would be able to work as a solicitor and a barrister in any firm, including his own. Speculation was rife that Mr Porter had asked to join the illustrious Francis Burt chambers opposite the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Exchange Tower. The chambers cost between $3000 and $15,000 a month in rent and have a strong focus on supporting women barristers. The son of former High Court chief justice Robert French is among their occupants. Last night Pauline McKay the chambers’ Executive Officer said: “we can confirm that Francis Burt Chambers is unaware of any application having been made by Mr Porter to join our Chambers”. Mr Porter also said he had not applied to be an occupant. Sources told The West if Mr Porter applied to be a member of the WA Bar or went to chambers like Francis Burt it would “ruffle serious feathers”. The former Attorney-General in December announced he was leaving politics once the federal election is called. All odds are on a May election with a formal campaign beginning shortly after the Federal Budget on March 29. Mr Porter’s electorate of Pearce is held on a margin of 5.1 per cent. Last election the 51-year-old increased his margin which resulted in him getting a tattoo of a Star Wars X-wing fighter on his rib cage — which was the pledge he made if he won and boosted his margin. Since then he has endured controversy surrounding historical rape allegations — which he vociferously denies — and a blind trust which was set up to help donors anonymously contribute to a defamation case he launched in relation to those allegations. In November The West revealed Mr Porter had been discussing his options around returning to his previous legal career, but in Sydney where his current partner lives. Mr Porter, while Attorney-General, developed a friendship with NSW Court of Appeal president Andrew Bell, who had 11th floor chambers in Sydney and it was thought he was entertaining taking up residence there. The process in NSW is more complicated to join the Bar with an exam needing to be sat only at certain times of the year and those who pass being required to spend 12 months shadowing an experienced junior barrister. Mr Porter, who was elected in 2013 to Federal Parliament after spending time as a State MP including as WA treasurer, was seen as WA’s best hope of having a local-based prime minister since John Curtin from 1941-1945. He was Federal attorney-general before he resigned his position earlier this year after he named himself as the Morrison Government Cabinet MP at the centre of historical rape allegations. Mr Porter attended Parliament this week in Canberra.