A legal career may have saved family law practitioner and accredited mediator Peter Sheehy’s life.
Peter was one of six Queensland Law Society members to be recognised for 50 years of membership at the Celebrate Recognise Socialise event at Brisbane’s Customs House on Wednesday night.
The former QLS committee member explained how he was fortunate with his career choice.
“I was governed in choice by my matriculation results,” Peter said. “Law was one avenue, and my dad arranged for me to see Fred Lippiatt who was his company lawyer.
“Fred’s explanation of what being lawyer meant to the clients, impressed me greatly and he offered me five-year articles which I took up. That also probably saved me from going to Vietnam after I was conscripted but then deferred while I finished my studies. Gough Whitlam was my second saviour after he then abolished conscription.”
His years at Lippiatt and Co moulded his later years and approach to the way he practised law.
“After admission in March 1974, I worked (and surfed) at the newly formed practice of Short Punch and Greatorix at Surfers Paradise for three years. I then went to the UK and was employed in London, by an international construction company.
“On return in 1978, I commenced my own practice in 1978, as a sole practitioner in a two-room office with an expensive IBM electric typewriter in an old sandstone building in Eagle Street (Brisbane) where Riverside Centre now stands.
“What financially assisted my practice in early days was the introduction of the Commonwealth Legal Aid Office who would send me clients with along with their legal aid certificate.”
CEO Matt Dunn congratulates Peter at the CRS event.
The sole practitioner’s firm has flourished and Peter has also gained QLS accreditation in Family Law and Mediation Law along the way.
“I have never been in partnership with anyone; however the silent partner throughout these years has been my wife Wendy, without whose support and through working part-time in the practice, none of this would have happened,” he said.
“I have had a number of employed lawyers in my practice over the years and would like to think I have been able to pass on to them the same approach to law that I have.
“As highlighted by the recent 50-year admission groups, the absence of women lawyers admitted is telling about the profession back then.
“Serving on various QLS committees has been rewarding especially in the family law area where I had been practising in the former matrimonial causes jurisdiction before the Family Law Act first commenced.
“The recognition and highlighting the 50 years in practice by the QLS is much appreciated and something you don’t think about until it arrives via a reminder from QLS about the milestone you have reached and its importance.”
QLS members recognised for 50-year memberships were: Michael Hayne, Peter Jones, Peter Murrell, Vincent Pennisi and John Redmond.
Keep an eye on Proctor for more stories and photos this week.
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