Be part of Law Week and arrange for your firm or organisation to hold a Law Week event or seminar. Register your event at our website by Friday, 27 March 2020 for the opportunity to be included in the Law Society’s Law Week programme and have your event promoted widely to the profession and community. For more information, please call the Society’s Membership Team on (08) 9324 8692.
Presented as part of Law Week, the two Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards recognise one individual legal practitioner and one organisation which have provided outstanding pro bono legal services to the Western Australian community.
Law Week 2019 (Monday, 13 May to Friday, 17 May) brought the legal profession and public together with a focus on law and justice in the community. Over 40 Law Week events were held across Western Australia, including in regional areas such as Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Albany and Bunbury.
The Law Society’s new #LawyersMakeADifference campaign was launched during Law Week, aiming to communicate with the wider public, break down stereotypes and tell powerful, positive stories of real lawyers and their important work in the community. You can continue to follow the campaign on the Law Society’s Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Use #LawyersMakeaDifference on social media to share your own examples of ways lawyers are making a difference in your community.
Click here to access the PDF version of the Law Week 2019 programme, to check out some of the events that took place during Law Week.
In the lead up to Law Week each year, the Law Society invites members to submit entries to the Lawyer of the Year Awards.
The Lawyer of the Year Awards recognise practitioners who have made particularly noteworthy contributions to the Western Australian legal profession, over and above what might be reasonably expected through paid legal employment.
| Practitioners with more than five years’ experience:
Winner: Dr Carolyn Tan Finalists Cheryl Chan |
Practitioners with less than five years’ experience:
Winner: Kelsi Forrest Finalists Najette Alaraibi |
2018 – Haley Allan
2017 – Simon Creek and Nicholas van Hattem
2016 – Claire Rossi and Glen McLeod
2015 – John Fiocco
2014 – Melanie Cave
2013 – Thomas Percy QC
2012 – Denis McLeod and Clare Thompson
2011 – Shayla Strapps and Amanda Goodier
2009 – Steven Penglis
2008 – Dr Johannes Schoombee
2018 – Tegan Harrington
2017 – Krista McMeeken
2016 – Michael Geelhoed
2015 – Callum Hair
2014 – Jessica Bowman and Stephanie Puris
2013 – Gary Mack
2012 – Tammy Solonec
2011 – Breony Allen
2009 – Toni Emmanuel
2008 – Anna Rakoczy
Principal Sponsor
Lawyer of the Year (more than 5 years’ experience)
Lawyer of the Year (less than 5 years’ experience)
The Chief Justice’s Law Week Youth Appeal Trust was established in 2001 by members of the Law Society with the objective “to create an ongoing charitable fundraising effort by legal practitioners to support youth charities, including (but not limited to) those for youth with disabilities and, in particular, youth support services that assist in diverting youth from the criminal justice system.”
The Trust, to which the late, the Honourable David Malcolm was the inaugural patron, has successfully provided funding to an array of services, charities and specific projects in Western Australia that assist in diverting youth from the criminal justice system.
Beneficiaries of Trust monies have included:
Monies from the Trust made possible the Headspace Kimberley Survival Camp on the Dampier Peninsular at Kooljaman. The camp promotes health and wellbeing in a fun environment for young people, as well as delivering education about nutrition, hygiene and fitness, and promoting positive self-esteem and increased feelings of self worth.
The Headspace Kimberley team approached Broome Senior High student service team and asked them to identify students who would benefit most from engaging with Headspace staff. Included in the group of 10 young people were a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students; some were disengaged from school, from remote communities, or displayed behavioural issues or low self-confidence.
Two highly respected local Bardi men, Bundy Chaquebor and Brian Lee, provided cultural activities including spear-making, mud crabbing and learning about local and flora. They also spoke at length about the importance of respect for country, family and pride in where they came from. The five day camp allowed time to address how to communicate effectively, managing emotions, teamwork, and respect for each other and Aboriginal culture.
“I fully respect the Headspace staff and understand the advice they give. It helps me so I don’t react like I used to. I feel comfortable coming into the centre and could easily chat to any of them.” – Camp participant
All donations to the Trust are tax deductible. Cheques can be mailed to:
Chief Justice’s Law Week Youth Appeal Trust
c/- The Law Society of Western Australia
Level 4, 160 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
For more information please call (08) 9324 8600.
Be part of Law Week and arrange for your firm or organisation to hold a Law Week event or seminar. Register your event at our website by Friday, 27 March 2020 for the opportunity to be included in the Law Society’s Law Week programme and have your event promoted widely to the profession and community. For more information, please call the Society’s Membership Team on (08) 9324 8692.
Register your Law Week event by completing the form below for the opportunity to be included in the Law Society’s Law Week programme.
