The Law Council proudly announces Ms Marial Lewis as the recipient of the 2020 Migration Manager John Gibson AM Young Australian Migration Lawyer of the Year Award.
The award is presented by the Migration Law Committee of the Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section the Law Council of Australia to a young lawyer of less than five years' post-admission experience who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of migration law in Australia or internationally.
Law Council of Australia President, Pauline Wright, said Ms Lewis was a well deserving recipient whose passion for migration law is reflected by her attitude and dedication to her clients and minorities of the community.
"Ms Lewis is an incredibly accomplished young lawyer who has a clear passion for access to justice for all," Ms Wright said.
"She shows a determination to assist those in need and trying to make a difference in migration law by applying her skills to the clients and their difficult situations not only for individuals but also in the global arena."
Ms Lewis graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and Law degree from the University of New South Wales in 2014. She completed her master's degree in legal practice at ANU in 2017, obtaining a high distinction in migration law.
Currently a Partner at Teleo Lawyers and Teleo Immigration Specialists, Ms Lewis deals with complex cases ranging from character issues to ministerial intervention requests. In addition to her work, Ms Lewis also participates in a NSW Young Lawyers mentoring program and is on a Legal Aid panel. She also writes blogs for an independent website called Immiadvisor.
"I approach every case ready to go the extra mile knowing the impact my sound advice and work can have on not just one person but potentially a whole family and future generations", Ms Lewis said.
The annual award honours the memory of John Gibson AM (1950 – 2012), one of Australia's most admired advocates, who worked tirelessly and with great success to promote the rights of refugees and asylum seekers for more than a quarter of a century.
