Beazley served her articles of clerkship with Winter & Sharp, and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1975. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1989.[2]
Beazley was a Judicial Member of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal from 1984 to 1988. She was an Acting District Court Judge from 1990 to 1991. From 1991 to 1992, Beazley served as Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. She was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1993 to 1996, an additional Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory from 1994 to 1997, and a judge of the Industrial Relations Court of Australia from 1994 to 1996.[4]
Beazley has also served on the Australian Executive of Amnesty International (1980).
Governor of New South Wales
In January 2019, Beazley accepted the position of 39th Governor of New South Wales,[8] succeeding David Hurley,[9] and was sworn in as governor on 2 May 2019.[1][10] In 2020, she was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the people of New South Wales, particularly through leadership roles in the judiciary, and as a mentor of young women lawyers.[11][12]
In November 2021, it was reported that a member of the governor's staff had anonymously lodged whistleblower complaints about bullying with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which provides staff for the governor's office. Following an investigation, the Department—while not referring to a decision—thanked the complainant and promised measures to foster a "respectful" workplace culture in the office.[13][14]
Beazley is married to Dennis Wilson. She has three adult children from her first marriage to barrister Alan Sullivan.[25][26] She and Sullivan were reportedly "the first husband and wife from the private legal profession to become QCs".[27]
^ ab"Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Joan BEAZLEY AO QC". Australian Honours Search Facility. Australian Government. Retrieved 26 January 2020. AD 2020: For eminent service to the people of New South Wales, particularly through leadership roles in the judiciary, and as a mentor of young women lawyers.
^"The Honourable Justice Margaret Joan BEAZLEY - Officer of the Order of Australia". Australian Honours Search Facility. Australian Government. 12 June 2006. QB 2006: For service to the judiciary and the law, particularly through contributions to professional and ethical standards, to the advancement of women in the legal profession and the community.
^Williams, Sue (23 June 1996). "A woman's place in on the bench"(OCR text). The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 122. Retrieved 20 January 2020 – via newspapers.com.