Future Leaders Committee

I am passionate, motivated and have a demonstrated commitment to contributing to the profession. I firmly believe law is a helping profession. However, in order to help our clients and the wider community, we must help ourselves as early career lawyers to be the best we can be, personally and professionally. I am an Associate at Rose Litigation Lawyers, practising in commercial litigation. My day-to-day work is varied and always interesting, whether it be a construction dispute, insolvency matter or a defamation claim. I was a Finalist in both the 2022 Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 Awards and the 2022 WLAQ Emergent Woman Lawyer of the Year Awards. I am the immediate Past President of Queensland Young Lawyers (after three years on the executive). I currently sit on the Law Council of Australia’s Young Lawyers Committee. I will be an enthusiastic advocate for Queensland early career Lawyers on the FLC.

I am thrilled to be part of the QLS Future Leaders Committee as an early career lawyer working for a general practice firm in Brisbane. Since my admission to the Supreme Court of Queensland in July 2021, I have practised primarily in the areas of Family Law, Wills & Estates and Commercial Litigation. I am passionate about working towards inclusivity and connection for early career practitioners to enhance their experience of life in the law, particularly during the early years when there are so many fantastic opportunities to explore. I am a strong advocate for the many different pathways that are available to lawyers during their career, and I believe that it is a privilege to be part of a profession which offers a career for life and something for everyone. I hope to be able to encourage experienced practitioners to become involved in QLS initiatives to share their wealth of knowledge and experience with those new to the profession. I am also looking forward to being able to give back to the Queensland Law Society, which provides immense support to practitioners and valuable resources to its members.

I am a Government Lawyer working with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Prior to my admission, I spent about 6 years working as a clerk in criminal defence law before moving across to State Government with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. Having had experience in both the private and public sector, I am passionate about connecting Government Lawyers with the wider legal profession. Access to mentorship, a sense of connection to the profession and a sense of belonging are critical to a young lawyer’s journey and career enjoyment, and I think sometimes these can be overlooked in the public sector. The wider legal community has a great range of initiatives, connection and support networks which can be difficult for law students and early career Government Lawyers to find if they are unsure where to start. I want to use my own experiences to drive change in reconnecting Government Lawyers and in-house Lawyers to the QLS and the wider legal profession.

I am a senior associate at Franklin Athanasellis Cullen. Since my graduation in 2018, I’ve been an Associate in the Supreme Court and at the Fair Work Commission, a graduate at Allens, a part-time secondee lawyer to a pro bono legal clinic and in house Legal Counsel at the University of Queensland, specialising in workplace relations. In each of these roles, I have found the practice of law to be about the human connections we make with our clients and colleagues. I have been fortunate to have been a member of the FLC since its inception and it is my great privilege (and pleasure!) to be the host of The Callover, a podcast created for your lawyers, by young lawyers. I look forward to continuing to work with the FLC to bring insightful, inspiring and engaging conversations to our listeners.

I am a family law solicitor working at North Queensland Women's Legal Service in Townsville. I started working at a private firm before moving into a Community Legal Centre in 2022. I have predominately practiced in the areas of family law, child protection and domestic violence. I am proud of working in a community legal centre providing duty lawyer services at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Magistrate Court. My passion is helping vulnerable women as one of our high-risk case work solicitors. In 2023 I started travelling to Mt Isa, Charters Towers, and Ingham to provide legal services to the wider community. I currently sit as a representative with CLELAF and have begun my Masters in Family Law with the College of Law.

I am passionate about highlighting the importance of work-life balance. Our first two years in practice can be the hardest, particularly when dealing with a large workload and difficult clients, and no time to dedicate to either of them. Our job is incredibly demanding, and it is easy to lose sight of the most important thing when it comes to succeeding (aka surviving) in this profession: work-life balance. I would love to dedicate time to supporting early career lawyers with mastering the art of work-life balance in the hope it helps them to not only succeed as a lawyer, but enjoy being one. After practising in criminal law for the last five years, I hope to offer a variety of knowledge and experience to the FLC and all those that seek its support!

Having worked in Toowoomba, Roma, Mount Isa and now Brisbane, I have insight into the challenges and nuances of working as a young lawyer in rural and metropolitan Queensland. I am excited by the opportunity of collaborating with and learning from like-minded practitioners with the shared goal of making meaningful contributions to the future of our profession. I now practise exclusively in family and relationship law and, with the support of Lander & Rogers, volunteer with both the Women's Legal Service and LGBTI Legal Service. Outside work hours, you'll find me on the netball court, visiting family or at the footy.  I am committed to contributing my time and effort to the Future Leaders Committee. I look forward to continuing to celebrate our achievements, and sharing in the challenges we face, as future leaders of the legal profession in Queensland

Living rurally, I see the necessity for all members of the community (regardless of their location and socio-economic status) to be able to access quality legal advice so they can best protect their interests. It is my view that the ability to access quality legal information is particularly important to the younger generation. I have launched a social media page that provides legal information in a fun and engaging manner that demonstrates how succession law is applicable to them (despite being young and invincible!). I initially worked in a generalist law firm before moving to a national firm to practice in their Wills and Estates team, focussing on Elder Abuse, Estate Litigation and Constructive Trust matters. Outside of the law, I enjoy travelling, being outdoors and supporting local community events in raising money for various charities such as the Matt Hughes Charity, Protea Place and LifeFlight.

Hi, I’m Sam Nelson, a commercial litigator with Axia Litigation Lawyers on the Sunshine Coast. Throughout my short legal career, I've been involved in a wide array of matters in various practice areas which has given me a solid foundation and diverse understanding of the law. Around 2020, I pivoted careers following 10+ years in the financial planning industry, which was both a humbling and rewarding experience. I’m excited to assist other young lawyers both personally and professionally. By sharing my experiences, tips and traps that I’ve learnt, hopefully I can assist young lawyers (and lawyers to be) in finding their path in the industry. Outside the law, I enjoy spending time with my wife Sara and our sons, Charlie and Max. I’m also consistently involved with local sporting clubs and the Suncoast Community Legal Service.

Since my admission in 2017, I have been incredibly fortunate to have gained valuable legal experience in both Queensland and overseas. Throughout my time in the legal profession so far, I have worked in Gold Coast and Brisbane law firms in the areas of litigation, dispute resolution and insolvency; and also, in London at the largest public inquiry ever to be held in the United Kingdom. After having returned to Queensland at the height of the pandemic, I now find myself back home practicing on the Gold Coast. In applying for the Future Leaders Committee, I hope to be able to apply the broad experiences that I have gained in the profession thus far for the benefit of our community. The legal profession is changing rapidly, and it is essential that early career lawyers have a say in the future path that we take.

Kirstie is a Mununjali, Yugembeh woman practicing in criminal law with Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – Toowoomba. Kirstie holds a dual Bachelor in Law and Arts graduating from USQ in 2020 with distinction. Before ATSILS, Kirstie worked in varying capacities from 2016 - 2021 for Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Toowoomba. She worked full-time while studying her dual degree, raising three children and volunteering with USQLS, Social Justice Commission Dignity Project, Off the Chain K9 Rescue, and USQ Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS). Kirstie now represents the local legal community as part of the 2022 DSWQLA committee. She comes with committee experience from USQ Law Society, for which she obtained the inaugural President’s Award in 2019. In August 2022, Kirstie was nominated for two awards with QLS, being the Emerging Leader Award and First Nations Lawyer of the Year Award 2022.