John Edgar

Criminal defence lawyer, legal writer and researcher

First class honours degree in law from the University of Auckland, Masters of Law from the University of London, PhD in NZ history from the University of Waikato

John Edgar has 17 years' experience as a defence lawyer. He has worked for a private law firm and as barrister sole and presently heads the Waitakere office of the Public Defence Service. He represents clients charged with a wide variety of charges and regularly conducts jury trials for serious offending.

From 2007 to 2009 he taught law, including criminal law and statutory interpretation, at the University of Auckland's Department of Commercial Law. In his present position he has practical experience as a mentor to junior and intermediate defence lawyers.