The self-proclaimed “Paw Paw Lawyer”, John Bottoms was a storyteller and a lawyer who wanted justice for the underdog.
Long before he became one of Far North Queensland’s most respected and long-serving practitioners, John Bottoms understood that the law is punctuated by people stories. He carried that understanding with him from the time he left the Australian National University in Canberra and headed north, to his sad passing on 29 April.
After practising for more than 47 years and co-founding Bottoms English Lawyers in Cairns, John leaves behind a well-established and principled practice and his novel Paw Paw Lawyer: Tales of Legal Practice in North Australia.
His adventurous spirit led him, in 1979, to establish Bottoms English Lawyers along with Anne English. What began as a small practice built on respect for the communities of northern Australia grew steadily. John didn’t just build a firm; he built a place where stories were heard and where justice was pursued.
Across 47 years of practice, John believed that not all lawyers were created equally. His social media posts inferred that training may be similar, and professional obligations may be shared, but vision, motivation, and drive are what set them apart. John embodied all three. His determination to ensure that the law was applied justly and equitably – no matter the complexity of the matter or the circumstances of the client – defined his career.
His legal experience was vast and distinguished. He worked in both private and public sectors, collaborating with some of Australia’s most revered legal minds, including the late Sir Maurice Byers QC.
He played a pivotal role in precedent‑setting cases such as the Wik decision, representing the Thayorre people of Pormpuraaw in the High Court of Australia. His qualifications reflected his breadth of practice: Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland; Practitioner of the High Court of Australia; Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the ACT; Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and registered Migration Agent.
John’s litigation work took him from the Northern Territory to Cape York, from land rights matters to high‑profile criminal trials.
His contributions included: Instructing Solicitor in the Wik Case (1993); Acting with AJ Glynn SC in the successful defence of R v Nairn; Working with Douglas Campbell QC on an Australian Human Rights Commission application under the Queensland Redress Scheme; Serving as a Prosecutor with the Northern Territory Department of Law; Acting as Junior Counsel on land rights cases across the southern Northern Territory and Operating the Aboriginal Legal Service in Townsville.
Yet for all his legal accomplishments, John never lost sight of the people behind the matters. He built Bottoms English Lawyers into a mid‑sized, multi-disciplinary practice because he understood that clients’ needs evolve over a lifetime.
He assembled a team capable of supporting those needs including commercial law, conveyancing, estate planning, litigation, migration, criminal law and native title. He also recognised the growing Chinese presence in Cairns and welcomed a qualified Mandarin‑speaking lawyer to ensure the firm could serve its community with cultural and linguistic sensitivity.
John’s gift for storytelling culminated in his autobiography, Paw Paw Lawyer, published in 2015. Insightful and humorous, the book became the number‑one local read and offered readers a rare look into the realities of legal practice in northern Australia.
Judge Dean Morzone QC launched the book, recognising its value not just as a memoir, but as a contribution to the understanding of law in the region.
Beyond the courtroom and the office, John was a beloved member of the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club, where he served for 32 years and held the role of Secretary for 20. It was there, among friends and community, that a celebration of his life was held last month.
John Bottoms passed away on 29 April at the age of 75. He leaves behind a legacy defined by integrity, compassion, and a lifetime of service. He was a lawyer, a mentor to many Cairns lawyers and a storyteller. His stories remain and his absence is deeply felt by family, friends and the profession.
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