After completing a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University, Julian Burnside, QC, became a barrister. He joined the Bar in 1976 and took silk in 1989.

Mr Burnside acted for the Ok Tedi natives against BHP, for Alan Bond in fraud trials, for Rose Porteous in numerous actions against Gina Rinehart, and for the Maritime Union of Australia in the 1998 waterfront dispute against Patrick Stevedores. He was the Senior Counsel assisting the Australian Broadcasting Authority in the "Cash for Comment" inquiry and was senior counsel for Liberty Victoria in the Tampa litigation.

While specialising in commercial litigation, Mr Burnside has acted pro bono in many human rights cases, in particular concerning the treatment of refugees.

Mr Burnside is also passionately involved in the arts. He collects contemporary paintings, photographs and sculptures and regularly commissions music. He is Chair of Fortyfive Downstairs and Chair of the Mietta Foundation.

Mr Burnside has written a range of successful publications, his most recent being Watching Brief - reflections on human rights, law, justice (Scribe Publications, 2007). Others include children's book Matilda and the Dragon (Allen & Unwin) and a book of essays on language and etymology, Wordwatching - Field Notes from an Amateur Philologist (Scribe Publications, 2004). He also compiled a book of letters written by asylum seekers held in Australia's detention centres, titled From Nothing to Zero (Lonely Planet, 2003)

Mr Burnside was the recipient of the 2004 Monash University Distinguished Alumni Award and elected a Living National Treasure, also in 2004.

He is married to artist Kate Durham.

Mr Julian Burnside's website