Accredited Family Law Specialist Clarissa Rayward may have unfortunately collected a cold on Thursday, but fortunately that night she also collected the 2026 Queensland Law Society Outstanding Accredited Specialist Award.
The 2022 Agnes McWhinney Award winner was presented with the award at the Specialist Accreditation Evening, which was part of the inaugural three-day Specialist Practice Conference in Brisbane.
The award recognises the outstanding contribution, commitment, and professionalism of an Accredited Specialist in the Queensland legal profession.
Nominees must be Accredited Specialists who have demonstrated leadership, a commitment to educating the profession, and promotion of the Specialist Accreditation scheme of recognition.
Ms Rayward, who is also President of the Queensland Association of Collaborative Practitioners, almost did not make it to the presentation as she battled the lurgy.
But the podcaster and author was happy to share the room – at a distance – with committed professionals, including the 2026 graduates and the 25-year Specialist Accredited lawyers.
“I’ve got the cold thing that’s going around and I’ve collected it for today,” she told the audience of more than 100 at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
“I’m also telling my table to maintain social distancing. I was really unsure whether being here was a good idea for everyone else’s health,” the mediator joked.
“When I think about spec accred, as I like to call it, I can see Dan (Bottrell) sitting down the front here. Dan and Fiona Caulley, who may be here, we trauma bonded over the spec accred experience.
“I don’t know whether anyone else had that.
“I am so grateful for putting myself through that learning opportunity and what it’s brought from there.
“I’m so grateful for the profession that I get to be a part of, and the cool and strange things that this profession keeps throwing at me and the learning experiences that have come along the way.
“And in all of that I say thank you to all of you for all of the hard work that you keep doing, particularly in this room.
“To just watch some of our colleagues who have been spec accredits for 25 years is outstanding and terrifying at the same time.”
Certificates to recognise 25 years of Specialist Accreditation were awarded to: Linda Adcock, Nichola Di Muzio, Mark Edwards, Dean Evans, David Jasinski, Scott Keft, Wendy Miller, Leah Mogg, Simon Morrison, Dr Patrick Mullins, Peter Seymour, Roger Singh, Luke Smith, Justine Woods and Christopher Wright.
The 2026 graduates are: Jay Tseng (commercial litigation), Melanie Birt and Amy Soong (criminal law), Chloe Heterick and Kenneth Osborne (personal injuries law) and Joshua Fox and James Wright (property law). Mr Wright was named highest achiever.
Outgoing Committee and board members were also recognised – Anthony Freese, Leone Costigan, Michael Katt, Callan Lloyd, Sarah-Jane MacDonald, Judge Glen Cranny, Neil Henderson, Rob Stevenson and QLS President Peter Jolly.
Mr Jolly made particular mention of Mr Stevenson who had served on the Workplace Relations Specialist Accreditation Committee since 2014, including as chair.
“Through his long service, he’s helped guide the profession, strengthen confidence in specialist accreditation, and support the development of workplace relations practitioners across Queensland,” Mr Jolly said.
“His contributions are particularly noteworthy given the demands of practice as a sole practitioner.
Rob, thank you for your dedication, generosity and more than a decade of service to the Specialist Accreditation Scheme.
“Tonight is also an opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to Judge Glenn Cranny for his outstanding service to the Specialist Accreditation Scheme over an extraordinary number of years.
“Judge Cranny served on the Specialist Accreditation Board for more than a decade and prior to that was a long-standing member of the Criminal Law Advisory Committee, including a period as chair.
“He was a consistently measured, thoughtful and authoritative member of the board and his wisdom, professionalism and occasional sense of levity were greatly valued by those of us who served with him.
“Judge Cranny’s contribution to the Accredited Specialist Scheme and of the profession more broadly through that service has been truly significant.
“His legacy of excellence and mentorship continues to inspire all members of the legal community.
“We are deeply grateful for his commitment, leadership and generosity over such a long period of time.”
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