The Honourable Justice Catherine Holmes graduated from an Economics degree at the Australian National University in 1976, after which she moved to Brisbane and enrolled in the University of Queensland Law School, studying part-time. Despite graduating from law in the early 1980s, Justice Holmes joined the office of the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy for some time prior to completing the Legal Practice Course at Q.I.T. In 1982, Justice Holmes commenced her employment with the Prosecutions Section of the Deputy Crown Solicitor’s Office, during which she was appointed to the Bar. In 1986, Justice Holmes began practice at the private bar, where she continued on until her appointment to the Supreme Court of Queensland in March of 2000.