The Law Society of Western Australia and Brisbane lawyer Tegun Middleton were honoured on Friday (18 November 2022) for their work supporting early-career legal professionals.
At the National Golden Gavel competition held in the ACT on Friday evening, Tegun Middleton was named Australian Young Lawyer of the Year for her significant contributions to the legal profession and community across a wide range of areas.
"Admitted to practice in 2015, Tegun has consistently demonstrated her commitment to helping others," Law Council of Australia President, Mr Tass Liveris said.
"This has included significant participation in charitable and pro bono work and co-founding the Legal Forecast, which is an organisation for law students and early-career legal professions which seeks to promote access to justice, inclusion and mental wellbeing in the profession.
"Under Tegun's leadership, the Legal Forecast has continued to expand and its reach is now well beyond its original start-up base of Brisbane, with chapters in Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth."
Beyond the Legal Forecast, Tegun is currently working with and observing on the Board of the Lovewell Foundation which provides assistance to women who are in, or recovering from, vulnerable situations.
The Law Society of Western Australia's Young Lawyers Committee was presented with the Australian Young Lawyer Organisation Award.
"The Law Society of Western Australia's Young Lawyers Committee has tirelessly advocated on student, graduate and young lawyer entitlements and working conditions and is a deserved winner of this year's Australian Young Lawyer Organisation Award," Mr Liveris said.
The Committee's work includes the publication of two key resources, Know Your Rights Guide and Fair, Safe and Inclusive Legal Workplaces, which provide guidance and advice to new lawyers and the profession more broadly.
"It is a pleasure to be able to honour those who hold the future of the profession in their hands and are doing so much to help others kick start their legal careers and develop into outstanding lawyers," Mr Liveris said.
"I congratulate and thank Tegun and the Law Society of Western Australia's Young Lawyers Committee."
