New lawyer’s dream come true

Maryam Catania was surrounded by friends and family at Banco Court on Monday. Others watched the livestream from Canada. Photos: Supplied

Law graduate and paralegal Maryam Catania’s childhood dream came true on Monday when she was admitted to the legal profession in the Supreme Court of Queensland.

More than 130 lawyers were admitted across six sittings in Banco Court before Justice Boddice, Justice Brown and Justice Bradley.

Justice Boddice encouraged the new solicitors to be idealistic, courageous, thoughtful and resilient, and to give back to the profession and community.

Maryam has been a student volunteer for Prisoners’ Legal Service, Brisbane North Community Legal Service and LawRight QLD.


Maryam juggled family, work and study.

“One of my childhood memories with my grandmother was watching a movie about a strong female lawyer and it made me interested in law,” Maryam said.

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“I immigrated to Canada as a child and growing up there, I was always fascinated by the law, its origins and how it can be used to help people. I always saw law as a prestigious and purposeful career.”

Justice Boddice acknowledged the new lawyers had taken diverse paths to the law and the profession would benefit from their individual perspectives. He urged them to be thankful especially for those “assisted and supported you through the process”.

“That includes your family. In time you will realise how support that has been for your success.”

“I remember looking at my husband and feeling accomplished,” Maryam said. “My journey to the law was not conventional. While studying law, I moved overseas and back and had my  two young children during COVID. There were trying times as a new mum and a law student that I wanted to give up. I was told many times that I can’t be a mum and have a fulfilling career and I should just stop pursuing a legal career. 

“But my husband was there to encourage me to continue and even though it has taken me longer than I wanted to, I felt pride during my admission ceremony that I persevered. Having some of my closest friends there while my parents watched the live stream from Canada made it all more special.” 

An important source of encouragement and guidance was Queensland Law Society Principal Ethics Solicitor Stafford Shepherd, who moved Maryam’s admission.

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“I first met Stafford when I was working at Queensland Law Society. I was then given the opportunity to work in the Ethics team under his leadership,” she said.

“Stafford has always been a mentor and someone I look up to. His passion for the law and the profession is unmatched and he has been part my legal profession career every step of the way. So to have him move my admission was a great privilege.”


Maryam’s admission was moved by Stafford Shepherd.

Stafford said he always found Maryam’s work to be “presented accurately and if she had queries she would always ask of me, my views about the issue”.

“She is an exceptional young woman and will make a fine solicitor,” he said.

“I was privileged to be her mover and to speak to the court on her behalf for her to become a member of our profession.

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“As she is aware, being an officer of the court is an exceptionally important role to play in our modern democracy. I thank her for this opportunity to have been the mover of her admission and I wish her all the best.”

Maryam now works as a legal services officer for Acis (Australia).

“I am fortunate to work in a wonderful legal team at Acis, supporting financial and legal services. I am looking forward to advancing my career development here while building on my breadth of legal experience. I look forward to the opportunities the profession presents for me to be of service and give back to the community and the profession,” she said. 

“I am excited to start the next chapter of my career.”

Admitted before Justice Boddice, Justice Brown and Justice Bradley on 11 November were Titcomb; Wilkinson; Donohoe; Jones; Bentley; Rissik; Rutherford; Ballintine; McGaughran; Parsons; Coen; Van Bruggen; Teakle; Bobby; Brown; Cavanough; He; Walker; Booth; Franzmann; Shaw; Gehrke; Loynd; Lindsay. O’Neill; Peart; Ullattikulam; Weber; Georgilopoulos; Birdi; Dang; Dewhurst; Ho; Gall; Major; Arkadieff; Nadan; Rudman; Hutton; JT Lane; Phillips; Holmes; Garland; Zerafa; Hayati; Saldat; Madden; C Zhang. Rabahi; Wilkins; L Zhang; Lawrie; Harding; Chetcuti; A Green; De Petro; Falieros; Aitken; Leeson; Miyumo; Dwyer; Thomas; Johnson; Sedevcic; B Christensen; Bhikha; Crowther; Moller; Hartshorn; Barker; Rogers; Kennedy. Foort; Aikman; Mason; Ramsay; Bianchi; Demmert; Portbury; Armstrong; G Green; Walters; Moring; Roelofs; Marles; Nolan; Mchugh; Holyoak; Lincoln; Micallef, K; Rees; Church; Bath; Sampey; Edwards; Denaro. Downs; Hartney-Smith; Marley; Sharma; Caldwell; Webb; Yahyeaux; Moren; Catania; K Ford; S Christensen; Cullen; Lee; Walia; Musgrave; Bullen; Mcmanus; Barnes; Fraser; Prasad; Innes; Wahba; Fischer. Jahshan; D Ford; Page; Blackman; JP Lane; Greensill; Cusack; Davies; Latchan; Hill; Goodwin; Sparks; Loquias; Beatson; Yue; Korte.

Proctor looks to celebrate all newly admitted solicitors and congratulate them on this significant achievement. Please email details to proctor@qls.com.au. Ensure you include some details of your current role, along with a quality head-and-shoulders image or images from your admission sitting.

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