Her Honour, Chief Justice Helen Murrell, attended the University of New South Wales, from which she graduated in 1976 with Bachelor Arts/Bachelor Laws degree. In 1981 her Honour attended the University of Sydney and obtained a Diploma of Criminology.

Her Honour was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1977. From 1977 to 1981 her Honour practised at the Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's Office and NSW Legal Aid Commission. From 1981 to 1996 Her Honour practised as a Barrister in criminal law, administrative law, environmental law, common law and equity. From 1994 to 1996 her Honour was the first Environmental Counsel for the NSW Environment Protection Authority. In 1995 her Honour was appointed Senior Counsel in New South Wales.

From 1996 to 2013 her Honour was a Judge of the District Court of New South Wales. In 1996 her Honour was also an Acting Judge in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales. From 1997 to 1999 her Honour was President of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal of New South Wales and then Deputy President of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal of New South Wales, Head of the Equal Opportunity Division.

From 1998 to 2003 her Honour was the first Senior Judge of the Drug Court of New South Wales. In 1999 her Honour was a member of the United Nations Expert Working Group on Drug Courts, Vienna. From 2005 to 2013 her Honour was Deputy Chairperson of the New South Wales Medical Tribunal.

Her Honour has had a longstanding involvement in judicial education and is currently active within the National Judicial College of Australia (NJCA).

Her Honour was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of No 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron in April 2014.

Sources used to compile this entry: Inman, Michael, 'Introducing the ACT's first female Supreme Court Chief Justice', Canberra Times, 12 September 2013, http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/introducing-the-acts-first-female-supreme-court-chief-justice-20130912-2tlr1.html; Information supplied by Helen Murrell, May 2015.