Veteran barrister Robert Lindsay won the Individual Award and criminal lawyer Kate Turtley-Chappel was chosen for the inaugural Legal Aid Panel Member Award.
Mr Lindsay is a former director of Legal Aid WA. Since becoming an independent barrister in 2000 he has continued to represent Legal Aid clients and acted for others on a pro bono or discounted basis.
Ms Turtley-Chappel is a former Legal Aid and Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia lawyer who in private practice remains committed to serving clients of both agencies.
The Not-for-Profit Award went to Kimberley Community Legal Services, which assists clients free of charge across a vast region, reaching remote communities where no other general legal services are regularly available.
Clayton Utz won the Legal Firm Award. In financial 2022, 93 per cent of the firm’s lawyers and partners in Perth acted in pro bono matters at an average rate of about 52 hours per lawyer.
Attorney General John Quigley presented the awards as part of a gala event on 30 September.
"The lawyers and organisations honoured in these awards have been outstanding in selflessly providing their services to vulnerable Western Australians," Mr Quigley said.
"I'm pleased that the invaluable work being done for clients of Legal Aid has been prominent among those recognised."
Department of Justice Director General Dr Adam Tomison said the Legal Aid Panel Member category was introduced to recognise private lawyers who had made exceptional contributions assisting disadvantaged people.
"Public legal assistance could not function without the efforts of private lawyers working at heavily discounted rates for some of the most complex clients," Dr Tomison said.
Robert Lindsay has been practising law across the world for more than 50 years. He is a former director of Legal Aid who became an independent barrister in 2000. Since then he has accepted briefs from Legal Aid for around 10 to 20 matters each year and acted on a pro bono or discounted basis in numerous criminal, administrative and migrations matters.
Kate Turtley-Chappel is the principal/director of AP Legal Lawyers. During her career, Kate has worked for Legal Aid and the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia. In private practice Kate remains committed to serving clients of both Legal Aid and ALSWA, the latter on a pro bono basis. She frequently takes on challenging and difficult matters, and doesn’t shy away from representing contentious clients.
Kimberley Community Legal Services has offices in Broome and Kununurra assisting clients free of charge across the vast Kimberley region. Staff travel to remote communities where no other general legal services are regularly available. The organisation has continued to handle hundreds of cases despite strict travel limits in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clayton Utz has had a pro bono practice in Australia for 25 years. In financial 2022, 93 per cent of the firm's lawyers and partners in Perth acted in pro bono matters at an average rate of about 52 hours per lawyer. This work has covered the spectrum of legal matters involving vulnerable clients and includes 19 successful compensation applications for survivors of sexual assault and family violence.
