The Honourable Justice Mahla Pearlman AM

Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

Justice Pearlman is the Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. She is also the current President of the Library Council of New South Wales.

After graduating from Sydney University in 1960 with an Arts degree and an honours degree in Law, Mahla practised as a solicitor, until she was elevated to the Bench as Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales in April 1992.

Mahla has fulfilled a number of roles in conjunction with her legal practice, beginning with her appointment as the first woman President of the Law Society of New South Wales (1981-1982). Mahla was also the first woman President of the Law Council of Australia (1989-1990). She has been Deputy Secretary-General of the International Bar Association (1988-1992), Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College of Law (1983-1988), Chairman of Guardian Trust Australia Limited (1991-1992) and Member of the Police Board of New South Wales (1991-1992).

In January 1985 Mahla received the Order of Australia (AM) for services to the legal profession.