Three law students – Laura Guise, Hanna Spackman and Sophie Johnstone – met in the first weeks of the university, became friends, supported each other and have now been admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland together.
The trio was among more than 100 newly admitted solicitors in Brisbane last week at Banco Court.
Court Listing Co-ordinator Hanna said she felt “incredibly lucky” to be admitted alongside her friends.
Hanna Spackman and her admission
mover Atena Bicevic.
“We started and finished this together and I could not have made it through without you both.”
Sophie is a Law clerk at TED Legal and Laura is a graduate at Holding Redlich.
Laura said the “whole ceremony was a bit surreal”.
“When Chief Justice Bowskill addressed our cohort I think that is when it began to sink in that all those years spent studying had finally paid off and I could breathe again,” she said.
“I definitely got a little emotional during that speech. I think the thing I remember the most though is not necessarily the ceremony itself but all of the people that turned up to support me. Having my family, best friend, my mates from work and Jenny, who has just been fantastic to work with these last few months, there is something that I will always be grateful for.
Laura and Hanna sharing their milestone day.
“Such a show of support really showed me that no matter how stressful this career might be at times, as long as I have a good group of people around me I’ll be absolutely fine.”
Laura asked Holding Redlich Special Counsel David Chambers to move her admission.
“When I was in the workplace team at my firm, Holding Redlich, I learnt a lot from him and I appreciated the time he took to explain the legal concepts,” Laura said. “I think he played an important part in my development this year and so that’s why I asked him to move my admission.
“I’ll be staying at Holding Redlich for the foreseeable future. I’m currently working with Jenny Humphris in the Native Title team and I’m really enjoying my time. I can’t thank Jenny enough for the experience that working alongside her has given me.
“Eventually, I would love to get back into Workplace Law and continue my career in that field. I enjoy the people focus that it has and I think it’s where I would like to spend my career. In terms of my overall goals, I want to work in an area that values my work, that is fulfilling and allows for a work life balance.”
Hanna’s admission was moved by Atena Bicevic, a Legal Officer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Admitted before the Chief Justice, Justice Flanagan and Justice Brown on 11 December 2024 were: Lamont; Bennett; Ockendon; Ross; Doyle; Cuskelly; Worsley; Banchetti; A Clark; S Clements; Burkitt; Vele; Palethorpe; Rico; C Clark; McDonald; C Smith; Bourne; Roussety; Routley; Burke; Eddy; Kettle; Solinas.
Brosnan; Guise; Wright; Duff; Collins-Woolcock; Bryan; R Smith; Spackman; Cross; Mayers; Bicknell; Johnstone; Patterson; Brown; Wood; K Clements; Stone; Bretton; Davis, K; Pinto; Anderson-Brown; Bailey; Hewawasamge; Le.
Elgafi; Walker; Young; D Smith; Costigan; Paris; Sommerfeld; Winn; Kneubuhler; Polyviou; Shipard; James; Burkett; Cicchini; Brady; Deer; Haigh; Hildebrandt; More; Shannon; K Wagner; Clayton.
Tews; Gordon; Jin; Weeks; Foley; Maltby; Guha; Hearne; Marsault-Soar; Marsh; Ciccotti; J Lakeman; Motala; Beecher; Cunningham; Wilson; Wanigasundara; Jeffery; Langridge; G Wagner; Jung; Warren; Perren; O’Rourke.
Keep an eye on Proctor for more admission lists and stories.
Share this article