Sunshine Coast paralegal Taylor Medwin had a great role model when deciding on a career and to move from Tasmania to study law – her mother.
The fc lawyers team member was one of more than 100 newly admitted lawyers to the Supreme Court at Brisbane’s Banco Court on 16 June, and she also had the perfect person to move her admission, choosing her mum and QLS Accredited Family Law Specialist Joanne Bragg.
“One of the most special parts of the day was having my mum move my admission. When she mentioned in her speech that I was her daughter, the whole courtroom turned to look at us. I didn’t realise how powerful that moment was until it hit me later on that evening,” Taylor said. 
Taylor with her admission certificate.
“Hearing Chief Justice Helen Bowskill speak was another highlight. She welcomed us to the profession and reminded us how important it is to bring fresh ideas and integrity to our work.
“I’ve watched my mum work in law and rise through the ranks of private practice for as long as I can remember. Even with that influence though, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after high school. I actually applied to study both architecture and law — and got into both. In the end, I went with my gut, took a leap of faith and moved to the Sunshine Coast to study law.
“Even when I started studying law at university, I wasn’t 100 per cent confident that law was for me … but I did love the social side of student life – especially being involved with the UniSC Law Student Association.
“It wasn’t until I started making friends in the law school and when I achieved my first part-time job as a legal assistant that things started to click. That’s when I began to really enjoy the work and could see where I could fit in. Law is a blend of hard work, problem-solving, and helping others – which I believe suits me well.
“Even with all the exposure I’ve had to the legal world, I can’t pinpoint one moment where I knew law was the right path. But reflecting, I’m glad this is where I ended up.”
At university, Taylor volunteered as a Junior Director and later as Secretary on the UniSC Law Students’ Association Committee.
Taylor said she asked her mother to move my admission because “she’s been there for every part of my journey — not just in law, but in life”.
“She’s seen the highs and lows, the self-doubt and the wins. Having her beside me on such a big day felt grounding. Her presence gave me a sense of calm and comfort in what was otherwise a pretty overwhelming moment. I remember looking at her and feeling very special and accomplished.”
Joanne said: “I had the immense pleasure of moving my daughter Taylor’s admission. To have a daughter join the same profession that I’m already a part of makes me proud and has given me some satisfaction that my role modelling has had a positive influence in my family. Taylor is an independent thinker and made her own career choice. I could never have told her which career to pursue but by the end of year 12 her choice was to pursue the law.
“It has been wonderful to see Taylor forge her own path in the legal industry. I watched Taylor grow in confidence when volunteering with the Law Students’ Association Committee at the University of Sunshine Coast and can see her thriving with a supportive employer, FC Lawyers. I can’t wait to see Taylor progress in her career and allow her bubbly personality make the lives of those she interacts with a lot brighter.”
Taylor said she had already learned a lot in property law from the team at fc lawyers.
“At the end of the day, as long as I’ve got a great team around me and a morning coffee in hand, I think this profession will suit me well!”
In a joint statement, fc lawyers Glenn Ferguson AM, Chloe Kopilovic, Jozefina Ndoci and Ash Platz said: “Congratulations Taylor on your admission. Since you have been with us you have been a breath of fresh air. Your demeanour and enthusiasm in the office is infectious.
“You are going to be a wonderful practitioner and you genuinely care for your clients and importantly for your fellow work colleagues. The skies are the limit for you and the legal profession, and our broader community will be the benefactors. You are a force of nature and we look forward to seeing you take this next step in your career now that you have been admitted.”
Gympie firm Terra Firma Law was proud to celebrate Aliesha Smit’s admission. Aliesha has been a paralegal at Terra Firma Law for more than three years. Legal Practitioner Director Katie Morrow moved Aliesha’s admission.
Aliesha Smit
Admitted on 16 June in Brisbane before the Chief Justice, Justice Flanagan and Justice Boddice: Vowles; McGurgan; Bowen; Harte; Lu; Rogl; Chorlton; Foley; Sang; Bolton; Plotnikoff; Perkins; Strachotta; Duggan; Facey; Cox; Ganeshananthan; Spalding; Smit; Gough; Chiari; Hungerford Ting; Vianna Dias Santos; Turner.
Elliott; McKenna; Stafford; Goodman; Madill; Mills-Pulefale; Nousia; Till; Hopkins; Hall; Ryan; Ho; Muhling; Luo; Storey; Hilliar; Medwin; Christensen; Luke Martin; Merlo; Sun; Kropp; Pollard; Bori.
Francis; Winning; Osborne; Morris; Whitaker; Hackett; Chisholm; Kelly; Lessovoi; Easton; Mcaliece; Waddington; Bristow; Cutmore; Vinaccia; Greig; Lynch; Stack; Herne; Coplick; Halket; Naffah; Lam; Milligan.
Miles; Coyne; Senituli; Bosker; Close; Poley; Thomas; Brown; Campbell; Duffy; Harper; Manuel; Pugh; Mullen; Fisher; Tkatchenko; Hickey; Hirst; Davis; Schofield; Stalley; Wakeling; Rankine.
Wade; Hogan; Vele; Reed; Arnold; Powers; Kuhnemann; Chen; Foster; Kato; M Khan; A Khan; Van Dam; Strano.
Proctor 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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