Karp was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, later moved to Melbourne, and is Jewish. Her father was born in Israel. She began her football career competing in the premier boys leagues in Perth, her hometown. Initially Karp was denied entry to the boys league, however when her brother's team did not have enough players, she was offered a chance to compete. After proving herself and kicking the winning goal of the match, Karp was invited to remain on the team. Karp continued to play in Perth's premier boys league from age 7 until age 17, when she relocated to Canberra.
International career
Karp represented Australia at a youth level as a member of the Australian Under 16 Squad, the Australian Under 19 Team, and the Australian Schoolgirls Team. Karp was first selected to play for the Matildas in 2002 at age 20 for the Matildas’ tour to Canada and the US, becoming the first Western Australian field player to play for the Australian team since 1996. During her football career, Karp accumulated 27 ‘caps' for her country. Highlights of Karp's career included her performance in the Nike 2002 Women's U.S. Cup and in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, throughout which she was a ‘starting eleven' player for the Matildas. Karp was also a member, at the age of 22, of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games Women's Soccer Team, which placed fifth in the Olympic competition.
Club career
Karp competed for her home state of WA in national championships from the age of 11 in under 16 national competition, age 12 in the under 19 age category, and age 14 in senior national competition. When the Women's National Soccer League was formed, Karp was drafted to play for the Canberra Eclipse. Karp later played for South Australia,, before returning to the Canberra Eclipse for a further five seasons. Karp returned to Perth to play for the Western Waves in 2004. Karp held an Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship from 2002 until the end of 2004, and various state and territory sports scholarships during her club career. In 2005, Karp retired from football to focus on a career in law. However, in 2008, she returned to the game to captain the Melbourne Victory Women's Team in the inaugural season of the Westfield W-League. Karp also competed for Melbourne Victory in the 2009/10 season.
Legal career
Tal Karp graduated from the Australian National University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and the Blackburn Medal for Research in Law. Karp also completed a Bachelor of Arts. Following university, Karp went on to complete her Articles of Clerkship at Mallesons Stephen Jacques in Melbourne, before undertaking an Associateship with Justice Hayne of the High Court of Australia. Karp has held senior legal practice, policy, strategy and advisory roles and regularly appears as an advocate in complex civil and criminal matters. In 2014, she appeared as junior for Victoria Legal Aid in Victoria's first Guideline Judgment.
Cindy Sheu Peace and International Friendship Scholarship, 1999
NSW Bar Association Human Rights Prize, 2004
Australian National University, Blackburn Medal for Research in Law, 2005
Chancellors Letter of Commendation for Academic Excellence for advocacy performance for the Australian National University in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, 2005
