Twenty years later, the poised and polished barrister is creating another whirl of activity after accepting an appointment in Sydney as a Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW.

"Becoming a magistrate is a tremendous honour," Ms Robinson said as she took a break from packing files in her legal chambers above the Grapevine Cafe in Brisbane Street.

"I had aspired to go into the law as a schoolgirl but never envisaged that I would one day sit on the bench.

"I imagine that I will feel overwhelmed to start with and I will definitely have to learn to stop advocating for the defendant."

Ms Robinson was fresh out of Sydney University in August 1992 when she joined Peacocke's Solicitors in Dubbo.

"I remember Peter Bartley, one of the partners at the time, handing me a family law file when I walked in the door. He said: 'There's the court house - off you go and mention it.'," she said.

"It was all very straight forward but I felt tremendously nervous as I walked into the court room.

"I must have looked anxious because (solicitor) Robert Duffy came up and asked who I was and what I was there to do.

"Robert took me under his wing and provided some helpful advice.

"I have to say the support and friendliness of local legal practitioners was repeated so many times over the years.

"The great camaraderie amongst the legal profession is one of the unique things about Dubbo. There are so many very capable and experienced practitioners, who on top of their professional expertise are incredibly genuine and fair.

"In all my time in Dubbo I don't think I have had a falling out with any of the practitioners. In country practice we look at the law as a profession, not as a business.

"Even though times have changed the practitioners are passionate about the law and the people and are not just there to make a dollar.

"That is reflected in the way people treat each other and appear in court," she said.

Ms Robinson grew up in Sydney and came to Dubbo to gain experience in the law.

She said working in the country provided a good grounding, especially for those keen to go into litigation.

"The metropolitan area is great but it is not the be all and end all," she said.

"Country areas offer opportunities to work as a solicitor, go to the bar and have a successful practice.

"Quite a few magistrates are appointed from the country - that's good recognition of what's happening outside the city."

Ms Robinson spent more than 11 years in private general litigation practice where she was involved in criminal, civil and family law.

During that time she became a Law Society accredited specialist in advocacy.

Ms Robinson served as a senior solicitor in crime at Legal Aid in Dubbo for five years prior to joining the bar in 2008.

Practising primarily in criminal law, Ms Robinson has appeared in a range of Local and District Court matters, including trials, sentences and appeals.

In addition to her work in court, Ms Robinson has lectured for a driver education program, been involved in the education of young solicitors and taken on the role of Young Lawyers representative for the Orana region.

She served as secretary of the Orana Law Society from 1995 to 2005.

While based in Dubbo, Ms Robinson has appeared in most courts in western NSW (with the exception of Broken Hill).

"Some of the little country courts are really quirky,'' she said.

"You might have to walk through the magistrate's chambers to get to the bathroom or there may be a clothes line out the back.

"It's interesting to see how security has changed at country court houses over the years.''

Ms Robinson will miss Dubbo, her legal practice and the community.

"I have made a lot of very good friends here and have enjoyed being involved in sport and my children's schools,'' she said.

"Dubbo has been a really good place to live and practice law.''