Lawyers who led a legal information revolution and who worked to provide legal help to those most in need are among several NSW-based lawyers recognised in today’s Australia Day Honours List.

President of the Law Society of NSW Jennifer Ball said the awards announced today recognise the lasting positive impact lawyers have made as practitioners, judicial officers, leaders in their communities, and legal innovators.

“The work of Professor Andrew Mowbray AM and 19-year Law Society member, Professor Philip Tiet Chung AM, in founding the widely used legal database AustLII, has allowed any person with an internet connection to have free access to legislation, caselaw, and legal journal articles,” Ms Ball said.

“There would barely be a solicitor, barrister, judge or law student in all of Australia who has not clicked on the AustLII site while researching a case or an assignment. The site, which went live in 1995 and now includes 1,000 legal databases, is responsible for a democratisation of the law in Australia.”

Ms Ball said the diverse background of the lawyers honoured today demonstrates the important role lawyers have in almost all aspects of community life. Two honourees earned awards for their service to people with disability. 

“James Simpson AO, a solicitor member of the Law Society for 41 years, has served as a Presiding Member of the NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal, a Senior Member of the Guardianship Division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and is recognised on the Covid-19 Honour Roll for his work with the Advisory Committee for COVID-19 Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability,” Ms Ball said.

“Adam Johnson AM, a former solicitor member for 14 years, has served in numerous health and disability roles and is presently working to improve lives of people with disability on the Board of the Northern Sydney Local Health District. Mr Johnson also served on the Law Society’s Government Solicitors Committee.”

Ms Ball said she was delighted that the importance of pro bono work in the solicitor profession had been recognised by the award to 39-year member of the Law Society, Phillip Cornwall AM, the Chair of the Australian Pro Bono Centre. 

“There’s no finer tradition of the legal profession than our obligation to provide free or low-cost legal services to the most vulnerable people in our community. Mr Cornwall’s demonstration of commitment to that principle is an example to all fellow solicitors,” Ms Ball said.

Ms Ball also congratulated former solicitor member of the Law Society Prof Robynne Quiggin AO for her service to the law, to tertiary education, and to the rights of the Indigenous community, including in respect of consumer protection and financial services.

“Early in her legal career, Professor Quiggin practiced as a solicitor at Terri Janke and Company, still one of the few wholly Aboriginal owned and run law firms in Australia,” Ms Ball said.

“Her present role as the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Pro Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, caps a remarkable career, which includes a term as Chair of the Human Rights Law Centre, and appointments by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme Panel and the Commonwealth Consumer Advisory Committee.”

Ms Ball paid tribute to current and former judicial officers receiving awards in these Australia Day Honours. 

“I congratulate the Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court, Justice Brian Preston AO on his award. Justice Preston has led the court since 2005, while continuing to contribute to the legal profession through academic roles at multiple universities at home and abroad and involvement with many legal education seminars hosted by the Law Society,” Ms Ball said.

“This year, Justice John Basten AO marks his 20th year as a Judge or Acting Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of NSW. His Honour had an active academic career and played a pivotal role in establishing the groundbreaking Redfern Legal Centre in the early 1970’s.” 

The Hon. Anne Ainslie-Wallace AO is honoured for her service in multiple judicial roles, and for her work on legal advocacy education, some of which was delivered through the Law Society of NSW. 

“I’m grateful for her Honour’s work as a member of the Law Society’s Specialist Accreditation Board on its Advocacy Advisory Committee, which she now continues as Adjunct Professor of Law (Advocacy) at the UTS and as Chair of the Australian Advocacy Institute.” Ms Ball said. 

Former Keating Government Attorney General and Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, the Hon. Duncan Kerr SC was also awarded an AO. While Mr Kerr’s career was largely focused on Tasmania, he was admitted as a solicitor in NSW and was, for a time during the mid-1980s, the Principal Solicitor of the then Aboriginal Legal Service of NSW. 

The University of NSW’s Scientia Professor and Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law, Megan Davis received one of just six Companions of the Order of Australia awarded in this list. This highest category award recognises Professor Davis’ work for Indigenous people in Australia and overseas, including in her role as Co-Chair of the Uluru Statement, and Chair of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In congratulating the recipients in this year’s Australia Day Honours List, Ms Ball recognised the depth and breadth of their experience and generosity, particularly those who served for none or little reward.  

“A short statement such as this is incapable of conveying the totality of invaluable and dedicated service to the law and to the community for which these awardees have been recognised. Each of them has made an indelible contribution to strengthening our system of justice and these honours are richly deserved.”

Ms Ball said the significant representation of legal figures, including current and former members of the Law Society, reinforces the importance to the nation of the rule of law and those who uphold and defend it.