North Queensland Women’s Legal Service (NQWLS) acknowledged the passion and commitment of one of its own, Alana Krause, at this month’s Townsville admission sitting.
The NQWLS paralegal was one of five lawyers to admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland on 4 April, with Bryan Moss, Danielle Brooks, Thomas Sherrington and Kaitlyn Hepple.
Alana signing the roll.
Alana chose Acting Deputy Principal Solicitor Ashleigh Metcalfe to move her admission and that speech still resonates.
“What I remember most about my admission ceremony is the words of my mover’s speech. She spoke about my passion for family law and my commitment to creating societal change for vulnerable women in our community – my true aspiration,” Alana said.
“I also cherished having my family, fiancé and best friend there by my side, as well as my professional mentors: my Acting Deputy Principal Solicitor, Ash, and my Acting Supervising Solicitor, Nikki. Their presence made the day even more meaningful.”
Ashleigh was an obvious choice as mover for Alana as she “embodies the kind of lawyer I aspire to be”.
“Ash is a specialist family law solicitor working in the domestic and family violence space within the community legal sector – a space I’m deeply passionate about,” Alana said.
“Throughout my time at NQ Women’s Legal Service, both during my undergraduate placement and in my role as a paralegal, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to learn from Ash and my supervisor, Ms Nikki Ball.
“Their advocacy, dedication, and unwavering commitment to their clients is truly inspiring. They lead with compassion, strength, and integrity, and have both played a vital role in shaping me not only as a legal professional but as a young woman.”
Alana is now a NQWLS Graduate Lawyer.
Ashleigh said she was “touched and honoured” to move Alana’s admission.
“Alana is genuinely passionate about the work we do at NQ Women’s Legal Service, and I look forward to seeing her hone her advocacy skills as a lawyer – she has a very promising career ahead of her,” Ashleigh said.
Alana said she was drawn to the law with guidance from her high school teacher, Amy Byrnes, and inspiration from hard-working parents.
“I’ve always been a passionate advocate for women and children. A strong sense of justice and helping others were instilled in me from a young age, especially being the eldest in a close-knit family. I naturally found myself in a protective, nurturing role, and that translated into my career aspirations,” she said.
“From the very beginning of my law degree, I knew family law was where I was meant to be. I was particularly drawn to domestic and family violence work, and I saw the law as a powerful tool to not only protect but empower vulnerable women and children.
“As I progressed through my studies and practical training, my vocation to specialise in this area only grew stronger. It’s more than a career – it’s a purpose rooted in compassion, resilience, and a genuine drive to create change within our communities.”
Alana is one of five new NQ lawyers.
Alana’s career plan and calling are progressing as she has accepted a position as a Graduate Lawyer with NQWLS.
“I want to be part of a movement that not only supports clients in crisis but also works to prevent violence and inequality through education and awareness. I hope to use my role to empower women with knowledge of their rights and help shift public perceptions around domestic and family violence and family law.
“I also look forward to continuing our outreach work, travelling with the service throughout North Queensland – from Cape York and Thursday Island to Mount Isa, Mackay, and everywhere in between -ensuring that women in even the most remote communities can access justice, support, and safety.”
In Alana’s words: “NQWLS provides free, accessible and high-quality legal advice and support to women living in the top half of Queensland. A not-for-profit, specialist community legal service, we help women navigate the system and identify a clear path through their current legal challenges and educate our communities on how we can all take steps to create a safer North Queensland for all women and their children.”
Our Admissions section looks to celebrate all newly admitted lawyers and congratulate them on this significant achievement. Please email details to proctor@qls.com.au. Ensure you include some details of your current role, your admission mover, along with a quality head-and-shoulders image or images from your admission sitting.
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