Isabella Busby lost an ear-ring at Saturday’s Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards gala but won the inaugural Graduate Lawyer of Year Award.
As the Allens lawyer made her way to the stage to collect the award, she dropped an ear-ring and let the QLS Awards audience know of her mishap and her keenness to win the Dare Recruitment diamond jewellery raffle prize.
Talking about her “comedic timing” to an appreciative audience, she said “my ear-ring literally fell out, literally right as they were reading my name, so that’s maybe why I should win that raffle for the ear-rings – just saying”.
On a more serious note, “Bella” thanked QLS and the award partner College of Law for the recognition, saying it was truly an honour.
“I know for many of these lawyers and particularly many of recent graduate lawyers out there have worked so hard to get into the jobs they are, let alone to do anything above that, and I really want to give a shout-out and congratulations to my fellow nominees and finalists,” she said.
“I don’t know you as well as I’d like to. I would love to get to know them better as it looks like a category with truly amazing and very different stories. I think that encapsulates the greatness – it’s bringing your whole self, whatever that is, to the profession.”
A director of The Legal Forecast, Bella also wanted to thank “the volunteers who go over and above in our communities” whether from the student law society, or pro bono and reconciliation committees.
“Whether it is someone working in mental health, or someone who is just trying to make your day a bit brighter at work, in the broader legal industry I give my thanks to those people in ours, and The Legal Forecast, and broadly everyone who has welcomed me and filled up those spaces.
“I really encourage you to get involved in those if you have any extra capacity, any extra hours, and anything extra to give because those committees make our industry as great as it is.”
In her second year of the Allens graduation program, Bella is one of the two pro bono coordinators for Allens Brisbane and co-ordinates the Brisbane Reconciliation Committee. 
Kiara Petterson is congratulated by Rebecca
Fogerty and Uncle Terry Stedman.
The First Nations Student Award went to Kiara Petterson, a Bachelor of Laws student from Bond University, who said she was not expecting to win.
“I didn’t actually prepare anything as I saw all the great people nominated and I didn’t think that I would get it,” Kiara said.
“So I’d just like to say a big congratulations to all of the other finalists, and also a big thank-you to everyone who has mentored me throughout my studies.
“This wouldn’t be achievable without your help and support.”
Kiara is a proud Rak Mak Mak Marranunggu woman from the Finniss River Region of the Northern Territory. She is also a descendent of the Tarnikini skin group from the Tiwi Islands, the Wardaman group from Katherine region, and the Wagadagam people from the Torres Strait Islands.
Kiara moved to the Gold Coast to study at Bond University and throughout her studies has been involved in various internships, volunteer positions, and co-chaired the Australian Government’s Youth Steering Committee.
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