At 77 years of age, newly admitted lawyer Russell Galt is continuing his ambition to focus on lifelong learning.
At the 16 March admission sitting in Brisbane’s Banco Court, Mr Galt became Queensland’s second oldest newly admitted lawyer.
But that moment was not about setting records, it represented the fulfilment of academic promise recognised decades earlier and a dedication to ongoing education.
“I felt a sense of pride, achievement and relief,” Mr Galt said. “It’s been quite a journey.”
The journey and possibility of reinvention began in a primary school classroom in Dubbo for a boy who says he came from a poor family.
“I always remember Allan Griffith,” he said, referring to his formidable principal at an all-boys school.
“I had a couple of motivations to study law but one of them was what I call ‘the Allan Griffith Effect’.
“He was a non-teaching principal and would sort of move around the school. He was a tall man, had an amazing presence. All the boys were absolutely afraid of him. But he used to come in and sort of pontificate and say, ‘Okay boys, tell me, what are your plans when you finish school?’.
“I always wanted to be a doctor because in those days I used to be first or second in the class, and so I was seen to have a bit of an academic potential.
“So I said, ‘Oh, Mr. Griffiths, I’d love to be a doctor when I grow up’. I left primary school and went through early adolescence and totally lost interest in academic work.
“I hated Latin, French, all of the formal academic subjects. I got quite lost in the wilderness of high school. I enjoyed the sport. I still got through exams okay, but went from being a bit of a star to being just an also-ran.
“I didn’t really like high school other than the sporting side of it. I moved high school for the last two years and decided that I wanted to get my then leaving certificate. So once I decided I was going to continue, I actually put a bit more effort in. And I ended up winning a Teachers College scholarship.”
An unexpected reminder
Years later, Mr Galt unexpectedly ran into Mr Griffiths during teacher training, and the principal remembered him instantly.
“He said, ‘Are you doing medicine?’ And I felt ashamed. I thought, I haven’t fulfilled his expectations,” Mr Galt recalled.
“That moment didn’t seem significant at the time, but it became more significant later in life.”
Mr Galt transitioned from a teaching career to one in the financial services industry, where he built one of Australia’s top agencies for a major organisation, and then moved into consulting work where he could use his teaching skills and business experience.
During the career transitions, he also completed a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Management.
“That was 25 years ago. So that gave me the itch, I guess, for lifelong learning. You know, 25 years ago, I was still relatively young, and I got a lot of joy out of having completed those two post-graduate degrees.”
But even as he succeeded professionally and grew his credentials, Mr Galt carried that “itchy spot” – the feeling that he had not completed the academic journey he once imagined.
That memory resurfaced after Mr Galt retired and having watched his father decline into dementia at 80. That painful seven-year experience prompted him and his brothers to vow to keep their minds active as they aged.
“I thought, well, it’s too late to become a medical doctor. But maybe there’s another doctorate I can do.”
His commitment to learning was also partly shaped by his father, a clergyman, who was a gifted public speaker and a role model for service.
“There was always a role of presenting in public, public speaking,” he said. “I think that’s been a blessing to me.”
His mother was a formidable woman who survived the Depression and the war years, raising two boys alone while her husband served overseas. “She was a dynamic woman, we always referred to her as a legend,” he said. “The grandkids saw mum as the legend.”
That legacy of strength and perseverance would later see his own children and grandchildren consider him a legend.
One of five his daughters, Fairlie Williams, is proud of her father’s achievement. QLS records show her father is the second eldest to be admitted, following an 83-year-old who obtained a practising certificate back in 2020.
“While we have seen stories of mature age graduates in their 50s and 60s, a first-time admission at 77 is a remarkable testament to lifelong learning and mental stamina,” she said.
“After years in a corporate career as a Management Consultant, he decided to pursue his Juris Doctor and will today officially join the roll of practitioners.
“Regardless of the official record, we believe his journey could serve as an inspiration to law students and seasoned practitioners alike.”
A late start to the law
When Mr Galt retired, he faced the question of how to keep his mind active and began researching doctoral options. The Juris Doctor appealed because it offered structured coursework and deadlines – the discipline he felt he needed.
“I didn’t think I’d have the personal discipline for a research doctorate.”
He enrolled at 73 and unfortunately COVID pushed his studies online, removing the camaraderie of campus life in dorms that he remembered from the 1960s. But he persisted.
“It was daunting,” he admitted. “There’s a lot of bright young things in these courses. I felt a little bit like a fish out of water.”
But after completing two subjects “to suck and see” and as fearful as he was, he realised he could do it.
“And lo and behold, I thought, gee, I can do this. I overcame the concept of being too old,” he said.
“I’ve had a lifetime of interesting experience … I can bring something different to the table.
As the degree progressed, he discovered that age brought unexpected advantages.
“I’ve had a lifetime of business experience, disputes, divorces among friends and family. Real life isn’t always what’s taught in academic programs. I realised I could bring something different to the table.”
A career built on helping people
Helping people has been a thread running through Mr Galt’s life with his brother following his father into the clergy.
His interest in family law, wills and estates, and mediation grew from this background.
“I’ve qualified as a mediator, and I like resolving issues before they become bitter, protracted, costly disputes. That’s where I think I can make a difference.”
He knows ageism may be a barrier.
“Not because I can’t do the job, but because people might think I’ll tell them how to suck eggs,” he said with a laugh. “But I’m not going in to run the practice. I just want to contribute.”
A memorable admission day
Admission day on 16 March was emotional and exciting. The excitement was still running high later that night. He rewatched the ceremony on YouTube at 3am, noticing moments he had missed in the “fog” of excitement.
His mover was Senior Barrister Rick Oliver, a long-time friend he met nearly 30 years ago through their daughters. On introducing Mr Galt to the court, Mr Oliver noted he was “‘a late arrival to the law”.
“It was special that he was my long-term acquaintance and friend,” he said, noting Mr Oliver initial reaction was to commend him for being brave enough to take on legal studies.
After the ceremony, a criminal lawyer approached him – “someone I didn’t know from a bar of soap”- to say his story resonated with her as a mature-age student. Others told him he was “an inspiration”.
Inspiring a new generation
Perhaps the most unexpected impact has been on his family. Mr Galt has six children, 16 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
“I never dreamt there’d be the impact that it has been on the kids,” he said.
“To think that my children and grandchildren see me as having done something extraordinary … it’s a nice feeling.”
Two of his daughters travelled from New South Wales to attend his admission ceremony. One enrolled in a Master’s program immediately afterwards.
What comes next
Mr Galt is now preparing to move back to Brisbane from Toowoomba, where he moved to complete his studies, and begin applying for roles in family law, wills and estates, and mediation.
He knows he won’t have a 20‑year legal career, but he also knows longevity isn’t everything.
“My mum lived to 98,” he said with a grin. “So I’ve got another 20 years to go.”
What he brings to the profession, he believes, is something younger lawyers can’t yet offer: “perspective, empathy, and the ability to sit with clients in their most difficult moments”.
“I hope I can bring into the law the lesson I’ve learned in life – that caring for others and being a human being to them is important.”
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.
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