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2024 QLS Excellence in Law Awards

Award winners

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Award winners

Glamour at QLS Awards Gala

Photo gallery from the QLS 2023 Excellence in Law Awards Gala on 5 August.

Winners create positive cultures

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winner – Mel Scott and Keypoint Law

Access to justice drives award winner

Elizabeth Shearer was named as the winner of the Agnes McWhinney Award at Saturday night’s gala.

Lawyers urged to support regions

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winners – Mark Fenlon and Christopher Peppel.

Award compensates for jewellery

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards – Isabella Busby and Kiara Petterson.

‘Share your excellence’

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winners – HopgoodGanim Lawyers and Results Legal.

Lawyer jokes don’t faze winner

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winner – Trent Wakerley and Anna Morgan.

‘Veteran’ makes six good points

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winners – Brett Heading

Pro bono lawyer ‘nothing special’

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winners – Coby Forster and Serrina Kenny.

Aviation ‘geek’ lands top honour

Meet this year’s QLS Excellence in Law Awards winner – Shannon O’Hara and Jaya Prasad.

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CELEBRATE, RECOGNISE, SOCIALISE

Celebrating our members

QLS appreciates the commitment of its members. Each year we celebrate our loyal members who have contributed a remarkable 25 and 50 years to the society and the profession at our annual, state-wide Celebrate Recognise and Socialise events.

Hailstorm heralds 50-year ceremony

Trevor Gibson received his 50-year QLS membership pin last week from CEO Rolf Moses.

Rocking on in Rocky after 25 years

It’s a long way to the top according to Principal Lawyer Brian McGowran.

Bright future for Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast Law Association is the second largest DLA in the state, with 497 current practising certificate holders across the region.

Lawyer had bigger picture in mind

Over the next two decades, he was widely regarded as the architect of the first international legal practice in Australia, Norton Rose Fulbright.

Plane flight fails to ground celebration

Despite the QLS President’s plane being turned around, Tuesday night’s Celebrate, Recognise, Socialise event went ahead with Stuart Naylor receiving his 25-year pin.

Baxter brothers continue tradition

The Ruddy, Tomlins & Baxter (RTB) Director was presented with a Queensland Law Society 50-year membership pin at the Celebrate, Recognise, Socialise event in Townsville.

Judge, Cairns lawyers both toasted

The Cairns Celebrate, Recognise, Socialise event was held last week. Photos: Supplied

Finalist has message for junior lawyers

Toowoomba lawyers were recognised for 25-year QLS membership at DSWQLA Awards and Ball.

Hostile courtroom with spears ready

Keith Bow and Michael Goodman were among those acknowledged at the Gold Coast CRS event on Thursday.

Television shows stir imagination

Shows like Rumpole of the Bailey and Paper Chase on Malaysian television inspired Gold Coast Principal Jade Chee growing up.

Japanese connections prove successful

Dr Frank Dwyer could see the benefits of forging relationships with Japan back in the eighties and encouraged his son Frank to study Japanese and law.

Secretary, typewriter but no clients

The Queen Street Legal Group Principal was one of six 50-year Queensland Law Society pin recipients last night at the Celebrate, Recognise, Socialise event in Brisbane.

Former President receives 50-year pin

Dr de Groot was one of six 50-year QLS pin recipients who received a gold pin from current President Chloé Kopilović under a new recognition format.

Passion turned into positive outcome

Michael Klug was also one of five lawyers who founded Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LEADR), now the Resolution Institute.

Gabrielle puts forward case for longevity

Ashurst Managing Partner Gabrielle Forbes reflects back on her 25 years in the law.

Making a difference for human rights

The Principal of Susan Moriarty & Associates was one of 22 QLS members to be acknowledged for her professionalism at the Celebrate, Recognise, Socialise event.

Volunteering part of Kathleen’s interests

A Senior Associate at Michael Lynch Family Lawyers, Kathleen was one of 22 lawyers recognised for 25 years of QLS membership at the Celebrate, Recognise, Socialise function in Brisbane late last week.

Embracing the bizarre in Cairns

Far North Queensland practitioners were awarded QLS membership pins after the inaugural QLS Connect event.

Different set of tools being used

A Senior Partner has been recognised for 50 years in the profession at a Townsville QLS ceremony.

Taking care of business

SV Partners Director Michael Brennan was one of four QLS members to receive their 25-year pins in Townsville.

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QUEENSLAND LAW SOCIETY

150 years

This year, QLS is celebrating the 150-year anniversary since the first law society in Queensland. QLS Proctor publishes a special series of articles to mark the occasion.

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Elder abuse awareness

Legal practitioners, as trusted advisors, are in a key position to detect elder abuse among clients. QLS Proctor takes a closer look at the complex dynamics at play.

Elder abuse: Who are the victims?

This article highlights six subgroups of older persons that are particularly vulnerable to elder abuse.

Elder abuse: Who are the perpetrators?

Practitioners should understand the characteristics of those who are most likely to perpetrate elder abuse.

One in six Queensland seniors experience elder abuse

15 June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Aged care reforms in the wake of the royal commission

Although the extensive reforms accepted by the Government will take some time, a number of interim measures have been implemented.

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survey

Ready for the real world?

A new research project is looking into whether Queensland law graduates and newly admitted lawyers are adequately prepared for the ‘real’ world.

In the coming weeks we will hear from two young lawyers, a magistrate and a law association president about their views on this topic.

Are law graduates ready for the real world?

A new research project aims to answer the question of whether Queensland law graduates are ready for the ‘real’ world.

Are law students ready for the real world?

Two young lawyers discuss their experiences of entering the legal profession and practising law after graduating from university.

Are law students ready for the real world?

These days Deborah Vasta is a well-respected magistrate at the Magistrates Court of Queensland. But rewind 30 years and she was, like many others, a

Are law students ready for the real world?

An early career lawyer who already leads a district law association has some important advice for today’s law students.

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ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2021

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day occurs on 15 June each year. This issue remains a grave concern for the community and appears to have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. QLS Proctor has assembled articles that paint a disturbing picture of the current state of elder abuse in Australia.

Reducing elder abuse through a national register of EPOAs

Enduring powers of attorney (EPOAs) are important tools that allow older people to choose the person (or persons) who will make financial decisions on their

The sadness of older person abuse in Australia

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Institute of Family Studies reported that between 2% and 14% of older Australians are likely to suffer financial

COVID-19 and older Australians

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, in its interim COVID-19 Report released in September 2020, highlighted that 74% of the Australians who

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YOUTH JUSTICE

The state of youth justice

In 2019, Proctor took an in-depth look at the issue of youth justice and detailed the (then) current state of affairs in youth justice and spoke to people who dealt with the issue on a daily basis. Given the current focus on the issue, QLS Proctor has re-published these articles to help inform and inspire conversation around youth justice. More articles will be added to this Spotlight series as the current debate on youth justice unfolds.

Suffer the little children

Hundreds of caged children as young as 10, sharing prison-style common areas with pedophiles, locked up for weeks in solitary confinement and wanting nothing more than to speak to their mothers.

The state of youth justice

This article, by Damien Atkinson, first appeared in the July 2019 edition of Proctor. Happy children don’t do crime. They aren’t out late, rolling people

The times change, the suffering remains

This article, by John Robertson, first appeared in the July 2019 edition of Proctor. Tony Keim’s article in the June 2019 Proctor, ‘Suffer the children’,

Saving a generation lost in the youth justice crisis

What has been achieved to help rectify the problem of dozens of children held in dangerous adult police watch houses?

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Human Rights Act: 12 months on

On 1 January, this year, Queensland introduced ground breaking new laws to enshrine protections guaranteeing the human rights of every person.

As the clock prepares to ring in the first anniversary of Queensland’s Human Rights Act, QLS and Caxton Legal have collaborated to produce the series of articles and perspectives documenting the long-road to the legislation, its application so far, as well as the impact the laws may have on Queenslanders in the short and long term.

QLS releases policy position on Human Rights

International Human Rights Day is an opportunity to promote awareness about human rights among the community and as the legal profession, we share these responsibilities.

Woman with mask surrounded by raised hands

2020–the perfect year to introduce a Human Rights Act

Introducing a major change to public sector accountability can be a difficult task in the best of times.

Has the Human Rights Act 2019 made a difference?

Scepticism about human rights within the Australian legal tradition is long-held and takes many forms.

Joshua Creamer: Reflections on Wotton

I am very fortunate to be one of the very few First Nations people to be practising at the Bar in Australia. My identity and

The rights of older persons: A global update

More than seventy years have passed and the General Assembly is still debating whether older persons need their own human rights treaty.

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Domestic and Family Violence

Queensland Law Society supports government and community efforts to fight domestic and family violence, with a focus on ensuring that lawyers are properly equipped to deal with the legal response to domestic and family violence.

Coercive control: Can the law fix this?

A complex and delicate debate has begun between advocates, legal practitioners and criminologists. Should ‘coercive control’ be criminalised to protect victims of DFV?

Domestic and Family Violence – Jason’s story

In a follow-up to Gracie’s story, this is Jason’s story and how our community legal centres help to provide fair and equal access to justice.

Domestic and family violence – Gracie’s story

Throughout Queensland, solicitors regularly spend long-hours toiling away, volunteering their time free-of-charge to assist significantly under-funded community legal centres to provide fair and equal access to justice to the community’s most vulnerable people.

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Queensland Coronial Legal Service

Demand for the services Queensland Coronial Legal Service provides is set to increase as Queensland’s population grows.

Queensland Coronial Legal Service funding to support grieving families

Queensland Coronial Legal Service has received a five-year funding boost to increase its capactiy to assist Queensland families

Queensland Coronial Legal Service

Demand for the services Queensland Coronial Legal Service provides is set to increase as Queensland’s population grows.

Making coronial inquests more bearable for families

Samantha Wood’s father-in-law Stephen Viner was killed in 2017 after receiving an electrical shock while performing maintenance work in the basement of a commercial property.

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FUTURE LEADERS COMMITTEE

Shape the future

Help us shape the future of the Queensland legal profession. The Future Leaders Committee (FLC) is a platform for next generation lawyers to launch their dreams, ideas and thinking for our profession. Read more about the opportunity to lead the profession into the future.

Future leaders needed!

There has probably never been a time the legal profession needed its future leaders more than now. But, why?

QLS Future Leaders Committee: Not your typical ‘young lawyer’ committee

While the establishment of a committee comprising of members who are either 35 years of age or younger or have 0-5 years post admission experience (PAE) is not unique, the Future Leaders Committee is.

What does the Future Leaders Committee mean to the QLS Council?

You may have heard that QLS is launching a new initiative this September—the Future Leaders Committee (FLC)—to specifically give voice to the next generation of lawyers.

QLS launches inaugural committee to shape the future of our legal profession

QLS has today launched a new initiative – ‘The Future Leaders Committee’ (FLC)

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ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Have your say today

The QLS Access to Justice survey is now open. But what is Access to Justice and why is it important? Read here about why practitioners are passionate about Access to Justice and the value of having your say to help improve this area of law.

Accessing justice for this generation and the next

QLS Agness McWhinney 2020 and Access to Justice 2020 award winner Jo-Anne Bragg shares her view of what access to justice means to her.

Access to justice: providing Emile McPhee’s most memorable career experiences

Access to justice and pro bono has always been critically important to Emile McPhee. Find out what access to justice means to him.

What does access to justice mean to Julian Porter?

And why all practitioners should have their say in the QLS 2020 Access to Justice Survey.

What does access to justice mean to Elizabeth Shearer?

And why all practitioners should have their say in the QLS 2020 Access to Justice Survey.

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May 2020

Creating your new normal

Just like that our world changed. And while we weren’t ready for it, we do need to be ready for the new normal by refining and adapting our practice and procedures. Here are some perspectives, guidance and information to assist you.

Practice management for video conferencing

We are now relying on phone and videoconferencing facilities. It might seem easy enough to simply subscribe to an online videoconferencing provider – but have you considered the need for staff training to highlight security features and concerns of your chosen videoconferencing platform?

Employment during the COVID-19 crisis

The immediate crisis and panic of those last weeks in March may have passed, but the ‘new normal’ is likely to be here for some months to come.

Work remotely, stay productive

Working remotely for an extended period can present new challenges, especially for parents when schools are closed. So, how can you stay productive while working from home?

Keeping yourself in good company

Showing kindness to ourselves, practising radical acceptance of who we are and taking care of our emotional, mental and spiritual needs are not things that are taught to us much, if at all.

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April 2020

On parole

Granting of parole – or early release – is a controversial topic that always generates heated debate. Is early release of prisoners back into the community just a revolving door of justice or is the purpose of parole misunderstood?