It is a special occasion when a solicitor marks 50 years in the profession, but when there are two in the same firm it is an extra-special celebration.
Bundaberg’s office of Baker O’Brien Toll (BOT) celebrated the milestones of Partner David Baker and Consultant David O’Brien at yesterday’s Queensland Law Society Celebrate Recognise Socialise event, along with sole practitioner John Grose, formerly of Payne Butler Lang Solicitors.
The BOT founding partners began practising law in Bundaberg in 1975 after being admitted on the same day in Brisbane.
ABOVE: (L to R) David O’Brien, David Baker,
Christopher Rowe and Glen Toll in 1993.
And the four partners at this week’s function
(not quite in the same order!).
They established the firm at 7 Maryborough Street, in what was the Gordon Club, where it still operates today. Both Davids work in the areas of commercial and personal injury law.
David Baker started his career a bit further south in Toowoomba.
“It was really by chance and good fortune that I was afforded the opportunity to commence articles and study law through Clewett Corser and Drummond (now Clewetts) of Toowoomba,” he said.
While David O’Brien’s motivation to take up the law was a serious and personal one, starting his career with the Department of Justice.
David O’Brien with QLS CEO Matt Dunn.
“My father had been injured in a workplace accident which was grossly negligent and entirely preventable,” he revealed. “My mother was told no claim which was a nonsense. I still have the advice she was given in 1965.”
Both enjoy being regional practitioners as evidenced by their time in the Wide Bay area.
David Baker said he was initially attracted to region because of “the opportunity to become closely involved with the community and the opportunity to form close and lifelong friendships”.
“I also enjoy the not-so-busy lifestyle of being a country practitioner.”
David O’Brien agrees. “Country practice is more laid back and is more collegiate than city practice.”
In 1990 and 1992, the firm expanded and welcomed partners Glen Toll and Chris Rowe, who attended the QLS presentation of the 50-year gold membership pins at Bert’s Restaurant and Bar.
David Baker with his certificate and gold pin.
David Baker said it was “an occasion to reflect on the many interesting people that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting during the course of my working life and the many interesting experiences and cases in which I have been involved.”
David O’Brien said the 50-year milestone recognised “enjoyment of the law”.
Solicitors from Payne Butler Lang joined the celebration to mark John’s 50-year milestone, including Bundaberg Law Association President Amanda Weier.
John firmed the firm as a Partner in 1974 where he practised for more than 30 years. He then worked for the Norfolk Island Administration as a solicitor and continues as a sole practitioner on the island.
John is congratulated at the Bert’s Restaurant lunch.
John served on the QLS locums from 2020 to 2021.
QLS CEO Matt Dunn presented the trio with their 50-year pins and certificates before colleagues and members of the local legal fraternity from Ballantine Law, Charltons Lawyers, Finemore Walters & Story, and Your Online Legal Group.
Matt said it was great to see the collegiate Bundaberg profession come together to honour and ennoble the three recipients.
“It is singularly special to have three 50-year practitioners in town celebrating this milestone. This is a very unique moment in regional Queensland,” he said.
QLS CEO Matt Dunn addresses the lunch event.
“I would like to acknowledge the 150 years of combined leadership and wisdom in this town, which boasts a vibrant legal community.”
Reflecting on the firm’s milestone Glen Toll said: “It has been a pleasure being in partnership with both of the Davids.
“I returned to Bundaberg in 1990 to join Baker & O’Brien as a solicitor and joined the partnership the following year. Both of them are dedicated practitioners who have a strong sense of community and providing value and quality in their legal service.”
Chris Rowe said: “Recently, I moved the admission of our law graduate, Jess Lane, in the Supreme Court in Brisbane. There, Jess heard from the judges of the court that she had entered a wonderful profession, one which is challenging and exciting and which rewards hard work. Having received my 25-year pin a couple of years ago, sometimes I have difficulty looking beyond the frustration, stress, and exhaustion.
“The day after moving Jess’ admission, I returned to Bundaberg and assisted in the celebration of two of our lawyers at the other end of the spectrum. Thank you again to the Law Society for the kind gesture.
“It’s difficult to conceive of a lawyer having been admitted for 50 years. These two come from a different time – a time when the work for the day was represented by the correspondence which arrived that morning, when discarded envelopes served as note paper, and when leases were typed by hand with copies made on carbon paper.
“Together, the two Davids have survived the introduction of photocopiers, faxes, Windows, emails, and smart phones. I sense in them still a general wariness of technology, although David Baker has adapted a little better to the new ways than Mr O’Brien, whose computer represents little more than a paper weight and torch. Together though, they have come through remarkably well-preserved and with their sense of humour, intelligence, and compassion intact.
“At Tuesday’s lunch, I watched as our 50-year recipients chatted happily with our newly admitted Jess, and it occurred to me that perhaps the Supreme Court Judges were right after all.”
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