Award Nominees 2018

Justice Award

Alan Lindsay has for over 20 years worked tirelessly to provide mentorship to indigenous law students. In 2005, Alan established a mentoring program to provide assistance to indigenous law students in navigating the university courses and finding their way into the profession. Since its establishment, the program has assisted approximately 60 students from Adelaide, UniSA, and Flinders Universities, with over 30 participants graduating over that time. Alan contributed to the establishment and delivery of the Indigenous Law Forum and reCYCLYING Project in Port Augusta in 2008 and is an inaugural member of a group of practitioners from the Aboriginal Issues Committee who drove the commencement in 2011 of the delivery of a Certificate IV in Legal Studies to indigenous students in Port Augusta. The Certificate is an alternate pathway to law school for these students. In 2018, 30 students are studying the course, with three about to graduate. 

Throughout his career, Matthew Mitchell was a strong advocate for victims of crime. He made numerous, relentless representations to the Attorneys-General, the State Government and the media, advocating for fair and just compensation for victims of crime. He also took on cases for victims on a pro bono basis or for very little remuneration, providing representation to people who possibly would not otherwise have been able to pursue their claim.

The Legal Services Commission’s Legal Education Team undertakes a wide range of educational activities to promote an understanding by the public of their rights, powers, privileges and duties. The Team works with people who have recently settled into South Australia to ensure that the law and the legal system are accessible to new and emerging communities. The Team uses brave and innovative strategies to deliver their services directly to the communities. 

Young Lawyer of the Year Award

During 2012 and 2013, Suzana co-created a project for students with low literacy levels which aimed to engage students with literacy by getting them to write, illustrate, edit and publish a book and plan the book launch. The project was presented at the SIDE/ENACTUS National Champions and won spirits awards for creating sustainable community projects using entrepreneurial skills. Suzana has volunteered her time to the UniSA Legal Advice Clinic and outreach services and was instrumental in setting up the Elizabeth Magistrates Court Outreach Service. As a solicitor at Manfield and Co Lawyers, Suzana provides placement opportunities for Uni SA law students and she recently volunteered her time to judge the 2018 ALSA Grand Final Championship Moot Round.

As Director and Founder of MPS Law, Michael is an agent of change for his Indigenous clients and has made significant contributions to Indigenous communities and the development of native title law. This includes the resolution of several native title claims and the finalisation of Australia’s first successful native title compensation determination, which has paved the way for future native title compensation applications. These achievements resulted in Michael being listed in the 2016 Doyle’s Guide to Leading Native Title Lawyers. Michael has been working on the confidential negotiation of a large scale native title settlement involving approximately 10,000 Traditional Owners in WA. In 2018 to date Michael has provided approximately 350 hours of pro bono services to unfunded Indigenous clients.

Mitch was the 2018 recipient of the LCA’s John Gibson award for Young Migration Lawyer of the Year, due to his work on the board of the Refugee Advocacy Service of South Australia, where he assists in managing the only Community Legal Centre protecting the rights of Asylum Seekers in the State. In addition to the work he performs on a day-to-day basis as a principal, solicitor and registered migration agent at Tern Visa and Migration Lawyers, Mitch assists numerous asylum seeker clients on a pro bono basis.