Special Awards
Special Awards may be bestowed on suitably meritorious nominees each year.
The Law Society Medal of Meritorious Services/Brian Withers' Award recognises a Member of the Law Society who has provided outstanding service to the Society, its Members and the profession, above and beyond the call of duty through involvement with the Society, whether via Council or Committee or in another exceptional way over an extended period.
Emma Shaw, Team Leader of the Legal Services Commission's Major Indictable unit, and Member of the Society since 2011, was awarded the Law Society Medal of Meritorious Service in 2023.
The President’s Medal may be awarded by the President to an individual or group who has in the President’s opinion made an outstanding contribution to the profession or has provided outstanding assistance to the Society in the various projects and achievements of that President during their term and is presented at the President's Christmas Cocktail Reception.
The 2022 President's Medal was awarded to Paul Black, Barrister at Carrington Chambers and Co-Chair of the Accident Compensation Committee.
The Mary Kitson Award recognises a contribution to the advancement of the interests of women lawyers, and/or a recognisable contribution to issues in legal practice which affect women.
Julie Redman, inaugural Chair of the Society's Children and the Law Committee and dedicated volunteer for various organisations focused on empowering women and children to gain access to the legal system, was presented with the Mary Kitson Award in 2023.
The Justice Award recognises the contributions that legal practitioners have made to promoting access to justice in South Australia, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people.
Graham Russell and Greg Mead SC, both long serving staff at the Legal Services Commission, were jointly awarded the Justice Award in 2023.
Annual Awards
These Awards are bestowed on an eligible nominee each year.
The Young Lawyer of the Year Award recognises and rewards a Young Lawyer who provides an outstanding contribution to the legal profession and the community.
Zainab Al-Sweedy, a prominent immigration lawyer and former refugee, and Raffaele Piccolo, a Barrister practising predominately criminal law and Member of the Law Society Council and Chair of the Society's Human Rights Committee, were jointly awarded the Young Lawyer of the Year Award in 2023.
The Bulletin Awards recognises the authors of the Article of the Year and the Special Interest Article of the Year in the Bulletin publication.
Professor Tania Leiman and Lydia Chia won the 2022/23 Article of the Year with their article "Surveilling our bodies? FemTech and the Legal Ramifications of using Ovulation Apps" and Mark Douglas won the 2022/23 Special Interest Article of the Year with his article "It is time for the legal profession to recognise and embrace disability".
Honorary Membership
The Council can bestow Honorary Membership to the Law Society to an Admitted Member who has made an exceptional contribution to the Society or legal profession or has served on the Council or any Committee of the Society for a substantial period of time, among other criteria.
The Honourable Margaret Nyland AM was awarded with Honorary Membership in 2023.