Prior to migrating to Australia in 2010, Jay’s background was in Canadian Oil and Gas. He migrated to Australia on a Distinguished Talent Visa after being recruited and supported by both the Winter Olympic Institute of Australia and the Australian Curling Federation. He is a World Championship curler and continues to compete for Australia at National and International sporting events. 

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He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Lethbridge with a focus on political science. He then went onto Bond University and completed a Juris Doctor, Master’s Degree Business Law, and Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. He completed the bar practice course in 2017. 

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Jay served previously as a sworn police officer in Queensland performing Sergeant and Senior Sergeant functions near the end of his 8-year tenure. Most recently he managed the Sarina, Mackay, Proserpine, and Bowen court jurisdictions as the Officer in Charge of Police Prosecutions at Mackay. He finished that Officer in Charge role in 2022 and resigned from the Queensland Police Service. He then joined the private bar.

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Jay is an Assistant Professor at Bond University in the law faculty and coordinates both undergraduate and post graduate courses with a particular focus on Evidence Law. He is a cohost of Justice Matters a true crime podcast and an avid scuba diver.    

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Major Areas of Practice: 

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• Criminal

• Domestic Violence

• Migration

• Disciplinary

• Academic Misconduct

• Sports

• Tribunal

• Inquest Matters

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Contact Jay

E jmerchant@qldbar.asn.au

T 0450 462 084

 

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