Welcome to the Law – 4 Part Seminar Series – Seminar 1
Seminar 1: Advocacy & Professional Etiquette
No matter what area of law you practice in, at some point you are likely to find yourself in the fast-paced and exciting world of litigation and advocacy. Before you do, come and hear from esteemed women who have a wealth of experience appearing in Court and observing advocacy from the bench.
Learn about etiquette, practice and procedure in Courts and Tribunals, communication with Counsel and opposing representation.
Our panellists have valuable insights to help you become the most prepared advocate you can be, including how to keep your cool when the unexpected occurs.
Thank you to Carroll & O’Dea for hosting this evening.
SEMINAR 1
03/04/2025, 5.45-8pm
SEMINAR 1
Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers OR Online via AV Link (details to be provided).
MEMBERS: $30 EACH SESSION | $100 ALL 4 SESSIONS | NON-MEMBERS: $40 EACH SESSION | $140 ALL 4 SESSIONS
IMPORTANT NOTE: HOW TO ACCESS MEMBERSHIP TICKETS.
MEMBERSHIP TICKETS CAN BE ACCESSED ON THE TICKETS PAGE BY TYPING IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP EMAIL ADDRESS INTO THE ‘ACCESS CODE’ AREA AND CLICKING APPLY.
SPEAKERS:
JUSTICE DINA YEHIA
The Honorable Justice Yehia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Law from the University of NSW and subsequently completed a Masters in International Criminal Law at Sydney University. Her Honour was admitted as a solicitor in 1989 and worked with the Western Aboriginal Legal Service from December 1989 until September 1996. In that capacity, her Honour appeared for thousands of Aboriginal people in towns such as Bourke, Brewarrina, Wilcannia and Broken Hill.
Her Honour worked as a Solicitor Advocate with the Legal Aid Commission and was called to the Bar in 1999. Her Honour was then appointed a Public Defender. Her Honour took silk in 2009 and became the first female Deputy Senior Public Defender in 2013.
Her Honour’s practice in the Supreme Court included murder trials and the year-long terrorism trial at Parramatta in 2009. In 2013, her Honour appeared as lead counsel in the High Court case of The Queen v Bugmy and in the Special Leave application in Honeysett.
Her Honour was appointed a Judge of the District Court in May 2014.
Between 2019 and November 2022, her Honour was the Chairperson of Diverse Women in Law, an Organisation which has been formed to mentor women of diverse backgrounds in the profession. In that position, she has mentored many women in the law and commenced the Court Observation Program which provides an opportunity for a woman from a diverse background, studying law, to spend a day with a Judge in either the Supreme or District Court, observing proceedings and generally engaging with the Judge and her/his staff. Her Honour was formerly a Board Member of Diverse Women in Law.
Her Honour is also the current Chair of the Ngara Yura Committee. The Ngara Yura Program aims to increase awareness among Judicial Officers about First Nations social and cultural issues. Her Honour is also a member of the Bugmy Bar Book Committee.
On 23 June 2022, her Honour was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Her Honour was sworn in on 4 July 2022.
In January 2023, her Honour became an Adjunct Professor at the Law School of the University of New South Wales. Her Honour currently teaches a newly devised sentencing course to undergraduate and postgraduate law students at the University of New South Wales.
Gillian Mahony, SC
Gillian Mahony SC was admitted to the NSW Bar in 2006 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2023. Recognised for her exceptional service to the Bar Association and to the profession of the law, she was made a Life Member of the NSW Bar Association on 25 May 2023.
Practicing from Eight Wentworth Chambers, Gillian maintains a broad practice with a focus on administrative law, commissions, inquests & inquiries, tort claims and parenting / child protection matters. She is also briefed to appear for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gillian served as Course Director for the NSW Bar Practice Course from 2016 to May 2023, has been an advocacy coach since 2014 and is a member of one of the NSW Bar Association’s Professional Conduct Committees.
JACQUELINE IBRAHIM
Jacqueline Ibrahim is a Barrister at Banco Chambers who practises in competition and consumer protection law, together with broader regulatory investigations and proceedings, corporate crime, general commercial law, class actions and inquiries and commissions. Jacqueline holds a Master of Competition and Consumer Law (Hons I) from The University of Melbourne, where she also lectures in cartel laws. Before being called to the Bar, Jacqueline was a Senior Associate at King & Wood Mallesons and a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor.
Karen Iles
Karen Iles is the Founder and Principal Solicitor of Violet Co Legal & Consulting – a woman-led, Indigenous-led, social enterprise. Violet Co’s purpose is to create radical solutions and just outcomes for women and First Nations people.
Karen was awarded Private Practitioner of the Year by Women Lawyers Association of NSW 2023; the inaugural NSW Law Society Pro Bono Service Award in 2022 in recognition of her outstanding service to the NSW Legal Profession and the Community; and in the same year her advocacy work was recognised in the Australian Human Rights Commission Annual Oration delivered by Professor Larissa Behrendt. In 2025, Karen has been named a finalise in the NSW Premier’s Women of the Year Awards.
Karen holds a number of current Non-Executive Director board roles – OurWatch, The National Justice Project, First Australians Capital and Deadly Hearts ltd.
She was appointed to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Expert Advisory Group for their current Inquiry into Justice System Responses to Sexual Violence and the Australian Catholic Safeguarding panel in 2022 to review claims of sexual assault within the Catholic Church institutions. Karen is a current appointee to the NSW Law Society Employment Law Committee.
Karen was born and raised on Darkinjung land and now lives on both Darkinjung and Gadigal Land, Australia. Karen is a Dharug Aboriginal diyin (woman) and has family connections to the Gunanday (Rainbow River) area of Dyarubbin (the River – the Hawkesbury River).
SEMINAR 1
03/04/2025, 5.45-8pm
SEMINAR 1
Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers OR Online via AV Link (details to be provided).
MEMBERS: $30 EACH SESSION | $100 ALL 4 SESSIONS | NON-MEMBERS: $40 EACH SESSION | $140 ALL 4 SESSIONS
IMPORTANT NOTE: HOW TO ACCESS MEMBERSHIP TICKETS.
MEMBERSHIP TICKETS CAN BE ACCESSED ON THE TICKETS PAGE BY TYPING IN YOUR MEMBERSHIP EMAIL ADDRESS INTO THE ‘ACCESS CODE’ AREA AND CLICKING APPLY. /
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