The Honourable Justice Bond congratulated and challenged newly admitted lawyers in Supreme Court admission sittings this week, asking them to consider what sort of lawyer they wanted to become and what standards they would set.
More than 80 new lawyers were admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane’s Banco Court across four sittings on 22 June before His Honour and Justices Bradley and Gotterson.
“My message today for you is this: in your work life, as in the other parts of your life, choose to set your standards high,” His Honour said to the second admission group.
“Embrace the good times and the bad. Do so with confidence, do so with courage, do so with integrity.
“Give something back to the community along the line, whether it’s doing pro bono work or adopting leadership roles in the profession when you’re in a position to do so.
“We in the courts have high expectations of you. My own career has been, and I’ve got to say remains, both challenging and fulfilling. I wish the same for you.”
Sarah Millar, who is completing an Associateship with District Court Judge Gardiner, was one of the new lawyers present who has had first-hand experience of the standards expected in the profession as a former law clerk in the Queensland Law Society’s Ethics and Practice Centre.
That influence carried through to her admission day with Grace van Baarle, Director of the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre, moving her admission.
“I had the privilege of working with Grace when I was a law clerk in the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre,” Sarah said.
“She has been an incredible mentor to me and has had a big impact on my professional and personal development. She and the Ethics team taught me so much and I am grateful for their support.
“I am currently working as an Associate to a Judge in the District Court and am having a marvellous time.
“During my time at QLS, I learnt that there are many avenues in the law and you really can choose your own adventure, so I plan to do just that. I am interested in completing further study later down the track.”
Grace said she was honoured to move Sarah’s admission.
“It is such a milestone moment in a young practitioner’s life. It probably seems quite an unusual process and when you are younger, you perhaps do not think too deeply about it,” she said.
“I probably didn’t when I was in my early 20s but as you progress through life, you realise the importance of being admitted to the roll.
“There is a formality and symbolism behind the ceremony before three justices in front of colleagues and family, which emphasises that you become an officer of the court. It is quite unique to the legal profession.”
Of the milestone day, Sarah said she most remembered “the energy” at the admission sitting.
“I felt that the ceremony well-encompassed the significance of admission and the responsibility that attaches to becoming an officer of the court,” she said.
“I also found it quite special to see senior practitioners pave the way for the next generation of lawyers by moving their applications for admission.
“I am passionate about social justice issues and feel that the law provides a good avenue to make a meaningful contribution in some way.”
During her three years at QLS, Sarah researched and wrote several case notes for Proctor – a valuable skill in a time where AI is making this task challenging.
Justice Bond addressed AI in his speech, saying it was “undoubtedly one of the great disruptors of the first quarter of the 21st century”.
“And I’m not an oracle. I don’t pretend to know what the future holds about its use in society more generally, or more specifically, about its use in the law,” His Honour said.
“But the truth is, it’s early days. ChatGPT was only publicly launched in November 2022. It’s only been less than four years.
“We are all at the very beginning of this particular cycle of societal change.
“But I do offer this advice to you as new lawyers. Be not afraid. AI can be a very effective analytical and research tool. It offers great advantages in speed and efficiency.
“You must become familiar with it. Your employers and your clients will demand it.
“It is a very exciting development. But there are disadvantages. You already know about hallucinations and potential for error.”
Grace said she enjoyed working with Sarah immensely and oversaw her work on case notes.
“She had initiative and was smart, capable, quick, responsible, and funny – she had the capacity to power through the work both as our law clerk and her own studies that I have rarely witnessed,” Grace said.
“She also had a life outside of work and study which was impressive considering how little time she had. I honestly do not know how she managed it all.”
Sarah said one of the reasons she chose law as a career was due to one of her favourite pastimes.
“I love reading, writing and problem solving, which seem to go hand in hand with practising law.”
She shares that love with her QLS mentor.
“We also shared a love of reading which was wonderful – swapping and providing suggestions to each other which has continued to this day even though she no longer works with us,” Grace said.
It was not Grace’s first time moving an admission after having the “very special opportunity to move my youngest daughter’s (Emma’s) admission in 2024”.
“There is something incredibly lovely in moving your child’s admission and needless to say, there was much celebration with our family and Emma’s close friend (who also got admitted on the same day) and her family afterwards,” Grace said.
There were several family connections at Sarah’s admission sitting with Mr Eastwood moving his daughter Isabella’s admission, Mr Box moving his son James’ admission and Mr Waterman moving his brother Thomas’ admission.
Admitted before Justices Bond, Bradley and Gotterson were Pisko; Donaldson; Rainbird; Tempany; McGahan; Hexter; Lang; Roberts; Taylor; Chiang; Setterlund; Blesing; Wright; Banner; Wilson; Henry; Broccardo; Crnkovic; Marchant; Humphreys; Bundock; Bedingfield.
Treveton; Pallant; Spring; Zwart; D’cruz; Madsen; Betros; Huggins; Martorano; Mudde; Ru; Eastwood; Millar; Salaheddine; Hard; Wigg; Green; Lio; Waterman; Hume; Box; Melton.
Timmins; Gornall; Jin; Kuzio; Grigg; Black; Kelly; Laghai; Toomer; Lewis; Smit; Thind; Jansen; Porlaje; Warren; Sohn; Stoddart; Gui; Williams; Di Guardo; Olds.
Herden; Leman; Elwood; George; White; Randhawa; Zeller; Lloyd; Wilkie; Akpan; McClymans; Blackman; Casey; Hickmott; Sentinella; Toye; Sagala; Morris; Truong; Batty; Darshan; Abualhasan.
Proctor celebrates all newly admitted lawyers and congratulates 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 images from your admission sitting.
Share this article