Queensland has almost 14,600 solicitors practising across the state, providing legal services in heavily-populated city and urbanised spaces, as well as in regional and rural communities.
Queensland Law Society has this year recognised 11 exceptional practitioners and one organisation for exceptional service and outstanding contributions to the profession in the 2022 QLS Excellence in Law Awards.
A record number of nominations were received this year, and the standard of submissions was testament to the incredible work being done by solicitors state-wide. Over the coming days QLS Proctor will feature the 2022 winners from each award category.
Queensland’s self-declared ‘happy family lawyer’ Clarissa Rayward has been rewarded for more than a decade of ground-breaking service to the legal profession as winner of the coveted 2022 Queensland Law Society Agnes McWhinney Award.
Named after Queensland’s first admitted female solicitor Agnes McWhinney, the award recognises women lawyers who have forged new pathways for themselves, their peers and those they serve through a commitment to excellence, equity, professionalism and service to the community.
A mum, wife, self-proclaimed ‘divorce lawyer’, Director of Brisbane Family Law Centre and host of the regular ‘Happy Lawyer Happy Life’ knowledge centre podcasts – Ms Rayward headed a stellar field of solicitors to win this year’s peer-nominated gong.
Image: Jon W / Event Photos Australia.
Ms Rayward – a QLS family law accredited specialist and mediator – adds the Agnes McWhinney Award to her list of national awards recognising her innovative efforts in law.
According to her peer nomination: “Clarissa embodies all that the legal profession hopes for its women members.”
“Clarissa goes above and beyond to ensure lawyering and legal business is better for all and achieving that very goal every day.
“Her work as a Director and collaborative family lawyer helps separating families be better, and her work as an independent children’s lawyer helps the courts deliver better justice – as does her work as the founder of Happy Lawyer Happy Life help lawyers do it all better.”
Ms Rayward was selected from an outstanding field of five women practitioners that included Reaston Drummond Law Director Bevlee Reaston, Griffith University Associate Professor Dr Kate Galloway, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Principal Jillian Barrett and Clyde & Co Special Counsel Stefanie Luhrs.
Meet Queensland Law Society’s 2022 Solicitors of the Year and the Workplace Culture and Health and In-house Counsel excellence winners. See also First Nations, Access to Justice, Regional Practitioner and Emerging Leader award recipients.
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