Law Society Medal for Meritorious Service
Following the passing of his Honour Judge Brian Withers AM in 2021 it was decided to discontinue the Brian Withers Award (see below), as a mark of respect given his previously expressed desire to have a say as to recipients of the Award.
The Law Society Medal for Meritorious Service continues the previous criteria of that Award.
This 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.
Nominations are received from Members of the Society’s Council, with the President and Chief Executive to provide a recommendation to the Executive as to the recipient of the Medal in a particular year (if a suitable recipient is identified).
Conditions
The award will not be conferred in any given year unless a suitable recipient is identified. No more than one person may receive the award in any calendar year.
Brian Withers' Award
At its meeting on 21 February 2005, Council resolved that the Society present the Brian Withers Award for Services to the Law Society and the Profession.
This Award was established to recognise a Member of the Law Society who through their involvement with the Society, whether via Council or Committee or in another exceptional way, has provided outstanding service to the Society, its Members and the profession, above and beyond the call of duty.
Prior to his appointment as a Master of the Supreme Court and a Judge of the District Court in November 2004, his Honour Judge Brian Withers was very actively involved with Access to Justice issues at both State and Federal levels for some 30 years. Mr Withers retired from the Courts on 2 November 2015.
Mr Withers chaired the Society’s Justice Access Committee for 11 years from 1989 to 1998. For the 13 years prior to his appointment to the bench, he was involved with the Law Council of Australia’s Access to Justice Committee, for part of that time as its Chairman.
In 1998 Mr Withers became a Commissioner for the Legal Services Commission of South Australia. He served as Chairperson of the Commission from 1997 until his appointment to the Bench.
In 1996 Mr Withers was instrumental in setting up the national summit on legal aid funding held at Parliament House, Canberra. In February 2004, he participated in the establishment of a research project entitled “Erosion of Legal Representation in the Australian Justice System”.
The Society recognised Mr Withers’ outstanding commitment to promoting access to justice in South Australia when he was presented with the inaugural Justice Award in June 2004.
Following the passing of his Honour Judge Brian Withers AM in 2021 it was decided to discontinue the Brian Withers Award, as a mark of respect given his previously expressed desire to have a say as to recipients of the Award.
The Law Society Medal for Meritorious Service continues the criteria of the Award.
Recipients