Newcastle and Hunter finalists in NSW Women Lawyers’ Achievement Awards

Newcastle and Hunter finalists in NSW Women Lawyers’ Achievement Awards

Five Hunter lawyers and academics are finalists across five categories in the upcoming 2021 Women Lawyers Association of NSW Achievement Awards (WLANSW).

Founder and Convenor of the Association’s Newcastle chapter, Catherine Henry said it is extremely pleasing to see a good number of Newcastle and Hunter finalists in the awards.

Her firm, Catherine Henry Lawyers is the sponsor of the Regional Lawyer of the Year Award, for which three of the five finalists either practice in, or have a connection with the Hunter.

Associate Director at Mullane & Lindsay and President of the Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association, Ashleigh John is a finalist for both the Regional Lawyer of the Year Award and Private Practice Lawyer of the Year Award.

Director at Singleton based Joplin Lawyers, Joplin Higgins is also a finalist for the Regional Lawyer of the Year Award.

So too is Claire Booth, an Alumni of the University of Newcastle, now practicing in Dubbo.

University of Newcastle Law School academic Kcasey McLoughlin is a finalist for the Legal Academic of the Year and Change Champion of the Year awards.

It’s been a big year for Kcasey who has submitted a book for publication on the female judges of the High Court – Law, Women Judges, and the Gender Order: Lessons from the High Court of Australia.

Sarah Breusch, who teaches at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, is a finalist for the Community Lawyer of the Year Award.

Catherine said the Newcastle and Hunter region has some outstanding female lawyers and academics. She wished all the finalists the best of luck.

“Awards such as these are important to promote individual achievements and are necessary because of the continued gender equity issues in the legal profession,” Catherine said.

“We have equal numbers of graduates, but women are still under-represented in senior roles and firm ownership.

“Despite equal pay for equal work, there is still a gender pay gap.

“Affirmative action policies such as the Law Council’s Equitable Briefing Policy are another way of promoting gender equality and it is good to see an award category recognising this issue.”

The NSW Women Lawyers Achievement Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding women lawyers, mentors and firms who achieve excellence in their area of practice and help create opportunities for women in the law.

The awards are back in 2021 after being cancelled last year, due to COVID-19. The winners of 11 individual awards and one organisational award will be progressively announced online between September 13 and 28.

Life members and a Life Achievement Award will be announced on September 29 and 30.

 

  • Woman Lawyer of the Year – sponsored by Bartier Perry
  • Rising Star of the Year – sponsored by The College of Law
  • Private Practice Lawyer of the Year – sponsored by David Talintyre
  • Corporate Counsel of the Year – sponsored by The Law Society of NSW
  • Government Lawyer of the Year – sponsored by Melinda Griffiths Lawyers
  • Community Lawyer of the Year – sponsored by Law CPD
  • Regional Lawyer of the Year – sponsored by Catherine Henry Lawyers
  • Legal Academic of the Year
  • Barrister of the Year – sponsored by New South Wales Bar Association
  • Change Champion of the Year – sponsored by Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers
  • Mentor of the Year – sponsored by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
  • Outstanding Law Firm of the Year – sponsored by Danny King Legal.

Principal sponsor of the Awards is the Law Society of NSW.

The Newcastle Chapter of Women Lawyers Association of NSW is one of two regional chapters of the Women Lawyers Association of NSW. It works with WLANSW to:

  • support the advancement of women lawyers in regional, rural, and remote areas of NSW
  • monitor and respond to issues affecting women lawyers in regional, rural, and remote areas of NSW
  • ensure that membership of WLANSW continues to benefit to regional lawyers and barristers.

IMAGE | NSW Women Lawyers’ Newcastle Chapter Convenor, Catherine Henry (right) presents an award at the last awards ceremony in 2019.

Catherine Henry Lawyers

The team at Newcastle-based Catherine Henry Lawyers are highly experienced specialists in health and medical law, relationship and family law, elder law, wills and estates, property buying and selling, as well as criminal and traffic law.

Their clients tell them that their lawyers are exceptional listeners, supportive and accessible. They make sure your voice is heard.

You can trust Catherine Henry Lawyers to give you robust representation and level-headed advice. That’s why they are the preferred referral firm for many other lawyers.

Trending Articles

Advertise with us

Affordable and engaging advertising to a business community

Submit an article

Tell your story to the Hunter business community

Does your business need a little help with its marketing?

Marketing strategies