Future Leaders Committee

I am a senior associate at Franklin Athanasellis Cullen. Since my graduation in 2018, I’ve been an Associate in the Supreme Court and at the Fair Work Commission, a graduate at Allens, a part-time secondee lawyer to a pro bono legal clinic and in house Legal Counsel at the University of Queensland, specialising in workplace relations. In each of these roles, I have found the practice of law to be about the human connections we make with our clients and colleagues. I have been fortunate to have been a member of the FLC since its inception and it is my great privilege (and pleasure!) to be the host of The Callover, a podcast created for your lawyers, by young lawyers. I look forward to continuing to work with the FLC to bring insightful, inspiring and engaging conversations to our listeners.

I am a family law solicitor working at North Queensland Women's Legal Service in Townsville. I started working at a private firm before moving into a Community Legal Centre in 2022. I have predominately practiced in the areas of family law, child protection and domestic violence. I am proud of working in a community legal centre providing duty lawyer services at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Magistrate Court. My passion is helping vulnerable women as one of our high-risk case work solicitors. In 2023 I started travelling to Mt Isa, Charters Towers, and Ingham to provide legal services to the wider community. I currently sit as a representative with CLELAF and have begun my Masters in Family Law with the College of Law.

I am passionate about highlighting the importance of work-life balance. Our first two years in practice can be the hardest, particularly when dealing with a large workload and difficult clients, and no time to dedicate to either of them. Our job is incredibly demanding, and it is easy to lose sight of the most important thing when it comes to succeeding (aka surviving) in this profession: work-life balance. I would love to dedicate time to supporting early career lawyers with mastering the art of work-life balance in the hope it helps them to not only succeed as a lawyer, but enjoy being one. After practising in criminal law for the last five years, I hope to offer a variety of knowledge and experience to the FLC and all those that seek its support!

Having worked in Toowoomba, Roma, Mount Isa and now Brisbane, I have insight into the challenges and nuances of working as a young lawyer in rural and metropolitan Queensland. I am excited by the opportunity of collaborating with and learning from like-minded practitioners with the shared goal of making meaningful contributions to the future of our profession. I now practise exclusively in family and relationship law and, with the support of Lander & Rogers, volunteer with both the Women's Legal Service and LGBTI Legal Service. Outside work hours, you'll find me on the netball court, visiting family or at the footy.  I am committed to contributing my time and effort to the Future Leaders Committee. I look forward to continuing to celebrate our achievements, and sharing in the challenges we face, as future leaders of the legal profession in Queensland

Living rurally, I see the necessity for all members of the community (regardless of their location and socio-economic status) to be able to access quality legal advice so they can best protect their interests. It is my view that the ability to access quality legal information is particularly important to the younger generation. I have launched a social media page that provides legal information in a fun and engaging manner that demonstrates how succession law is applicable to them (despite being young and invincible!). I initially worked in a generalist law firm before moving to a national firm to practice in their Wills and Estates team, focussing on Elder Abuse, Estate Litigation and Constructive Trust matters. Outside of the law, I enjoy travelling, being outdoors and supporting local community events in raising money for various charities such as the Matt Hughes Charity, Protea Place and LifeFlight.

Hi, I’m Sam Nelson, a commercial litigator with Axia Litigation Lawyers on the Sunshine Coast. Throughout my short legal career, I've been involved in a wide array of matters in various practice areas which has given me a solid foundation and diverse understanding of the law. Around 2020, I pivoted careers following 10+ years in the financial planning industry, which was both a humbling and rewarding experience. I’m excited to assist other young lawyers both personally and professionally. By sharing my experiences, tips and traps that I’ve learnt, hopefully I can assist young lawyers (and lawyers to be) in finding their path in the industry. Outside the law, I enjoy spending time with my wife Sara and our sons, Charlie and Max. I’m also consistently involved with local sporting clubs and the Suncoast Community Legal Service.

Since my admission in 2017, I have been incredibly fortunate to have gained valuable legal experience in both Queensland and overseas. Throughout my time in the legal profession so far, I have worked in Gold Coast and Brisbane law firms in the areas of litigation, dispute resolution and insolvency; and also, in London at the largest public inquiry ever to be held in the United Kingdom. After having returned to Queensland at the height of the pandemic, I now find myself back home practicing on the Gold Coast. In applying for the Future Leaders Committee, I hope to be able to apply the broad experiences that I have gained in the profession thus far for the benefit of our community. The legal profession is changing rapidly, and it is essential that early career lawyers have a say in the future path that we take.

Kirstie is a Mununjali, Yugembeh woman practicing in criminal law with Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – Toowoomba. Kirstie holds a dual Bachelor in Law and Arts graduating from USQ in 2020 with distinction. Before ATSILS, Kirstie worked in varying capacities from 2016 - 2021 for Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Toowoomba. She worked full-time while studying her dual degree, raising three children and volunteering with USQLS, Social Justice Commission Dignity Project, Off the Chain K9 Rescue, and USQ Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS). Kirstie now represents the local legal community as part of the 2022 DSWQLA committee. She comes with committee experience from USQ Law Society, for which she obtained the inaugural President’s Award in 2019. In August 2022, Kirstie was nominated for two awards with QLS, being the Emerging Leader Award and First Nations Lawyer of the Year Award 2022.

Fuelled by caffeine and social interactions, I enjoy every opportunity to engage with other lawyers and be on my feet in a courtroom. Against the backdrop of criminal and child protection litigation as a government lawyer, in 2024, I transitioned into private litigation practice at Queensland’s oldest law firm still bearing its original name – Rees R & Sydney Jones – in Rockhampton. As a fifth-generation local of the Central Queensland region, I love to show off all Central Queensland (and the law) has to offer. I intend to showcase to the early career lawyers all the opportunities and benefits of regional practice. I am reputed for being an enthusiastic fit for the legal industry. You could hear my gusto for yourself on ABC Capricornia’s Breakfast Radio Show where I discuss various legal topics every Monday morning. I expect that my enthusiasm will serve me well as I set out to close the distance between our regional and metropolitan young lawyers as a member of the Future Leaders Committee.

I was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2022 and the High Court of Australia in 2023, and operate notably across the dispute resolution & litigation, commercial, corporate & property, wills & estates, traffic & corporate regulatory and criminal law divisions. I have served as a Justice of the Peace since 2015 and received my Restorative Justice Practitioner Certification in 2019. I have also previously held the position of Co-Editor of the Griffith University Law Journal and as a former member of the Queensland Government Youth Advisory Panel. In 2024 I was also named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 Awards in the Criminal Law category, and I have contributed my spare time to providing assistance as a Pro Bono Solicitor to the Griffith University Innocence Project since 2024. Based out of Nyst Legal’s newly established Brisbane office, and as an early career lawyer myself, I understand and appreciate the need for strong and willing advocates to champion the facilitation of meaningful connections between young lawyers throughout Queensland and to assist others in the profession in all matters regarding personal development and professional growth. It is for those reasons and many more that I look forward to working with the Future Leaders Committee to advance that mission.

As a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer, I am committed to mentoring, professional development, and promoting wellbeing and inclusion within the legal profession. I believe in the power of building strong networks and driving meaningful initiatives that empower young lawyers across Queensland to grow with confidence, resilience, and integrity. The early years of legal practice can be demanding, often requiring sharp procedural knowledge, ethical judgment, and personal endurance. I’m passionate about supporting early career lawyers through these challenges, drawing on my own experiences navigating complex matters in high-pressure environments. Outside of law, I volunteer with the Suncoast Community Legal Service, providing pro bono advice and helping bridge the gap in access to justice. My appointment to the Future Leaders Committee reflects my dedication to shaping a profession that supports, uplifts, and equips the next generation. Together, we can foster a legal community where early career lawyers don’t just survive — they thrive.