Dan Rogers is following his late father’s advice and working in a profession he truly cares about.
His passion for the law shone through as he was presented with the 2025 Outstanding Accredited Specialist Award by the Honorable Chief Justice Bowskill at this year’s Queensland Law Society Specialist Accreditation Christmas Breakfast.
The Robertson O’Gorman Legal Director shared his father’s motto with the audience at Brisbane’s City Hall, which included this year’s graduates of the accreditation program.
“My late father used to say that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Now, to be clear, this profession is certainly work – often hard, exacting, and just as you know unrelenting. Yet it is also a vocation, and I truly love the legal profession and in particular, practising criminal law,” Dan said.
“I love that criminal law invites us to engage in this robust examination and exploration of human behaviour – the good, the bad, and the highly complicated in between. Criminal law places lawyers beside people at their most vulnerable, when the promise of equal justice needs an advocate.
“I love the broader social questions and the social challenges that underlie our important work. And in that sense, I find that criminal law forces engagement with society’s most difficult questions: how to balance liberty and security, accountability and mercy, rights and responsibilities.”
Dan said these features were brought into sharp focus when law reform was proposed, especially in response to community outcry.
“This year, as like many recent years, public debate has been urgent and at times polarised. Our task is not to dampen that community concern, but to try as lawyers to translate it into careful policy and fair process. That is why law reform is so important for lawyers because we must always strive for law reform that is principled, evidence based and proportionate,” he said.
“I am proud to be a part of this profession, particularly a profession that values pro-bono work. It is not an accessory to our practice; it is an expression of our professional identity and something we ought to be very proud of. Simply put when we make room for those who cannot otherwise be heard, we honour the promise of equal justice.”
Dan has been involved in advocacy roles outside the practice including as a member of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council and a member of QLS committees on ethics and human rights.
He was the Attorney General’s appointee on the QLS Council from 2022-2024, and for the past 17 years, served as a management committee member of Caxton Legal Centre including as President from 2018-2023.
“None of this is possible without colleagues,” Dan said. “The privilege of working alongside specialists like you who are smart, dedicated, decent, and just not afraid to do hard work when it really matters, it makes it a real joy to be part of this profession.
“And working with specialists outside of criminal law, for me, is a real pleasure because criminal law touches so many different areas of law.
“For almost 50 years now, my colleagues at Robertson O’Gorman have pursued criminal justice with diligence and heart. I’m really fortunate to stand with them on this journey.”
He said receiving the award from the Chief Justice lent it a special significance.
“It is both an honour and, if truth be told, a little mortifying to be called outstanding,” Dan said.
“But I do thank my colleague and good friend, Emma Higgins, for nominating me for this award. To the newly accredited specialists – congratulations, you have well and truly earned your award today.”
Graduates were presented with their certificates at the event: Lachlan Boyle (Commercial litigation), Arabella Kullack (Succession), Candice Bell, Alice Carter, Dharma Gan and Nikila Schomberg (Family).
Nikila, Special Counsel at Lander & Rogers, also received the Highest Achiever Award.
The Chief Justice commended the graduates and accredited specialists on their commitment to ongoing education and training.
“You are to be commended for the dedication you have shown and the time you have committed to developing your knowledge and ability in your areas of specialisation for the benefit of your clients and colleagues,” Her Honour said.
“This breakfast is also an occasion to acknowledge and thank outgoing committee members. The committees of the Law Society are an incredible source of assistance and experience.
“Their work contributes to the administration of justice in significant ways, including looking for ways to improve practice and procedure, considering and making submissions in relation to proposed legislation.
“Most recently, in the case of the courts, making suggestions for improvements or accessibility for people with disabilities.
“That’s just one example from my perspective of the assistance that I have received from the committee for the QLS, which I’m very grateful.”
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