LawRight News, December 2022
LawRight Annual Report
We have once again elected to publish an Annual Report over-flowing with stories and statistics. We enjoy the opportunity to reflect on the impact of our collective efforts– whether as members, volunteers, students, judges or community and health workers.
As our Patron, the Honourable Chief Justice Helen Bowskill observes in the Report’s foreword:
“Access to justice is an essential element of the rule of law: in essence, it is the means by which we as a society give practical content to the principle of equality before the law. But although there are now more lawyers than ever before, paid legal services are not accessible to all. LawRight’s services are essential to bridging that gap.
The many legal practitioners, solicitors and barristers, who have volunteered their time to enable LawRight to provide those services over the past year are to be congratulated and applauded.
As Ruth Bader Ginsberg has observed, that is a sign of true professionalism: doing something that makes life a little better for others who are less fortunate.”
Thank you to all of you and we hope you enjoy some positive summer reading here.
New LawRight President
At the AGM on 21 November, a new Management Committee and President were elected. Thank you to the Honourable Roslyn Atkinson AO for her energetic and effective leadership over the last three years and we welcome Jacqueline Wootton, Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills as our new President. We farewelled Gabriella Ritchie of McCullough Robertson and Francesca Bartlett of The University of Queensland and thanked them for their service.
The new Management Committee is:
President – Jacqueline Wootton, Partner Herbert Smith Freehills
Secretary – Tania Boal, Partner MurphySchmidt
Treasurer – Tony Denholder, Partner Ashurst
Binari De Saram – Queensland Law Society
Andrew Crowe KC – Bar Association of Queensland
Stephen Knight, Partner Minter Ellison
Tim Longwill, Partner McCullough Robertson
Hon. Roslyn Atkinson AO
Hamish Clift of Counsel
Angela Rae of Counsel
Farewell Law Society House and hello holidays!
After four and a half years at Law Society House, LawRight’s main office is moving! All LawRight services close for the summer break on 23 December and reopen on 9 January. Our application form and head office phone lines will close on 16 December.
We wish you all safe and relaxing holidays.