Winners of the 2016 ACT Women Lawyers Awards share what winning meant to them, and why you should apply for the 2018 Awards.
Woman Lawyer of the Year
Noor Blumer, Blumers Lawyers
"It was both thrilling and humbling to be acknowledged by the ACT legal sisterhood in this way. My mum was so proud! Thank you, and please, don’t forget to nominate others!’’
Woman Lawyer of the Year - Private Practice
Sarah Avery, Ken Cush & Associates
"Like almost all women, I am acutely anxious about being good enough. This was a great reminder that, like all of us, I am."
Woman Lawyer of the Year - Culturally and Linguistically Diverse or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Liz Huang Hughes-Brown, Welcome Legal
"Winning Woman Lawyer of the Year 2016 in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) category was a great confidence boost at a time when I had recently started my own legal practice, Welcome Legal, as a sole practitioner. I provide advice and assistance to the community and to other legal practitioners about Australian immigration and citizenship law. It is satisfying to see the firm go from strength to strength and I’m proud to now be a CALD woman employing other CALD women. I would highly encourage entering the 2018 Awards."
Woman Lawyer of the Year - Government
Helen Curtis, Australian Government Solicitor
"It was an honour to be recognised as part of the inaugural WLA Awards in 2016. The whole Awards program highlighted the strength of the community of women lawyers and the diverse roles we have.
The Award provided me with a good opportunity to showcase the work of Government Lawyers and the interesting matters that we get involved in. It was great to meet up with the other Award winners and to see the breadth and depth of work undertaken by women lawyers here in Canberra."
Woman Lawyer of the Year - Community and Academic
Margie Rowe (ANU College of Law)
Woman Lawyer of the Year - Early Career (joint winners)
Angela Lauman, Legal Aid ACT
Lauren Haywood, Clayton Utz
"I am so grateful to be recognised by the Women Lawyers Association ACT for my efforts in mentoring young women who are about to enter the legal profession, and to be in a position where I can provide ongoing pro bono assistance to our clients. I am very fortunate to be part of a team that has given me the opportunity and support to grow, thrive and make my own mark in the legal profession and the Canberra community. It is an absolute joy to come to work, knowing that my contribution is making a real difference." ~ Lauren Haywood
Firm of the Year (Joint Winners)
Clayton Utz
DDCS Lawyers
Caroline Bush, Partner at Clayton Utz accepting the Award for Firm of the Year from Michael Miller, WLA ACT Principal Sponsor
DDCS accepting the Award for Firm of the Year from Michael Miller, Principal Sponsor of WLA ACT
