Embracing Diversity in Law: Reflections from the UQLS Diversity in Law Evening
/By Shanice Timotius
UQLS Diversity & Wellbeing Subcommittee Member
It was a lively evening at the Banco Courts last Wednesday, filled with legal professionals, students, and advocates, all gathered for the University of Queensland Law Society Inc (UQLS)'s fourth annual Diversity in Law Evening. This event — a highlight in the UQLS’s calendar — featured an esteemed panel to delve into the importance of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Five distinguished legal professionals featured on the panel: Tilé Imo from Caxton Legal Centre as the Master of Ceremonies; Olamide Kowalik of Revolution Law; Luke Furness of Clayton Utz; Professor Paul Harpur OAM from The University of Queensland; and, Claire Brattey from Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Attendees were left with valuable takeaways from each panellist's unique experiences, fuelling a vibrant conversation about the ongoing journey toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive legal community.
Mastering Resilience and Overcoming Adversity with Determination
Professor Paul Harpur oam speaking at the uqls diversity in law evening
Professor Paul Harpur OAM has navigated a path with challenges as a visually impaired academic to become a beacon for disability rights. After losing his vision in a train accident, Paul's life changed overnight.
Since then, Paul has learned to master the art of thriving amidst adversity, embracing adaptability with the motto "things happen, move on”.
With accolades such as the Order of Australia Medal and being crowned the 2022 Blind Australian of the Year, his contributions to disability advocacy are both celebrated and inspiring. As an esteemed associate with the Harvard Law School Project on Disability and an International Distinguished Fellow with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, New York, Paul’s name resonates globally as a legal scholar and advocate par excellence.
Despite all his achievements, Paul remains grounded. He acknowledges his strong support network that has anchored him, and his high-quality education that has propelled him forward. He is dedicated to advancing human rights and continues to work towards his vision by empowering universities to champion disability inclusion.
The Power of Perseverance through Hard Work, Support Systems, and Developing a Robust ‘Legal Toolkit’
olamide ‘olly’ kowalik speaking at the uqls diversity in law evening
Olamide ‘Olly’ Kowalik's journey from Nigeria to Australia as an international student exemplifies the power of perseverance. Despite facing limited opportunities for international students in securing graduate jobs, Olly’s resilience led her to find a mentor who believed in her potential and furthered her development. Today, she is a senior lawyer at Revolution Law and recognized by Doyles as one of Queensland's Leading Medical Negligence Lawyers. Olly attributes her success to her diverse “legal toolkit” and a strong work ethic, emphasizing that "there is no substitute for hard work".
At 28, Olly’s journey took a new turn when she became a mother, adding a new layer to balancing work-life balance. With support from her husband and workplace, she navigated this transition, proving that what can be perceived as a challenge can be a superpower with the right support system. Olly’s story is a testament to the importance of building a ‘village’ – be it family, colleagues, or mentors - to lean on for support.
As a junior lawyer, Olly recognised the underrepresentation of diverse voices in the legal community. Seventeen years later, when the opportunity arose, she seized the chance to co-host the 'Tilé and Olly Meets' podcast with fellow lawyer Tilé Imo. The podcast aims to spotlight the multifaceted nature of diversity in the legal community, offering a platform for underrepresented voices.
“Diversity, as we all know, is not just one thing and can intersect across gender, culture, race and ethnicity, religion, disability, and sexuality, to name a few.”
Olly paying it forward extends to her mentorship, as she now mentors young lawyers. Olly leads her life, personally and professionally, by consistently exemplifying resilience, determination, and a whole lot of heart.
Advocating for Change and Leading the Charge for Diversity and Inclusion
luke furness speaking at the uqls diversity in law evening
Luke Furness, a lawyer and advocate for diversity and inclusion, has consistently used his voice to champion change within the legal profession. As a Special Counsel in the Commercial Litigation team at Clayton Utz, Luke emphasised the importance of open communication to gain support in the workplace, particularly from leadership. In pursuit of his passion for advocacy, Luke has also chosen to undertake a secondment, working one day a week at the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) Community Legal Centre.
Luke's commitment to promoting diversity doesn’t stop there. As the former CEO of Out For Australia – a national LGBTIQ+ student mentoring not-for-profit organisation – Luke continues to share his insights on diversity and inclusion through various platforms, including ABC Radio and the Australian Financial Review. Additionally, Luke serves as a board member for both the Brisbane Powerhouse and Effective Altruism Australia, where he continues to advocate for positive societal impact.
Luke’s holistic approach in balancing family and community commitments with work reflects a broader shift in priorities that many professionals may feel pressured to compromise on. In today’s fast-paced legal world, Luke exemplifies that compromise and balance between one’s personal and professional lives are key to excelling – not a hinderance. For law students feeling the pressure of mapping out their careers, Luke offered some sage advice:
“You’re all smart people, and it doesn’t matter where you start because you’ll have a long career and your needs and wants will change.”
Luke’s words are a reminder that the journey is as important as the destination. Law is a marathon, after all, not a sprint. As a mentor and advocate, Luke continues to inspire and encourage a more inclusive legal community.
Redefining Advocacy by Subverting Expectations
claire brattey speaking at the uqls diversity in law evening
Claire Brattey has skilfully navigated her way through the legal landscapes of the UK and Australia, achieving remarkable success despite being thousands of miles away from her homeland in Scotland. Having spent over a decade as an employment lawyer in the UK, Claire's move to Australia was not without its hurdles. Despite speaking the same language, even subtle differences in mannerisms and slang created unexpected communicative barriers.
Claire tackled this challenge by blending her Scottish communication style with Australian English, effectively gubbing the cultural gap (a Scottish term she humorously introduced to her colleagues).
Despite Claire’s constructive approach, she has been repeatedly underestimated due to her foreign background. Instead of seeing this as a setback, however, Claire leveraged these experiences into opportunities to demonstrate her strong advocacy skills.
Now, as Special Counsel in the Employment and Labour team at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Claire leverages her extensive experience to champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Claire's advocacy goes beyond legal representation; in her practice areas, she aims to empower individuals at all stages of their careers, emphasising that a diverse and inclusive environment is not just beneficial but essential for a vibrant legal community.
Until Next Year
As the evening drew to a close, the Banco Courts buzzed with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration. The panellists, through their stories and insights, painted a vivid picture of the challenges and triumphs on the path to a more inclusive legal profession. It served a reminder that diversity isn't just a buzzword: it is a cornerstone of justice and equity.
Tilé Imo's words resonated long after the event:
“Diversity is a fact of life – we cannot escape it whether in our workplaces, through politics, or with the clients and community we serve. What I took away from the panel is that there are still nuances when it comes to understanding diversity, as a framework, as an approach, and as a systemic challenge that the legal profession has an important role in steering for advancing access to justice, equity, and empowerment.”
Tilé Imo speaking at the uqls diversity in law evening
The UQLS extends a special thanks to Corrs Chambers Westgarth, whose support was pivotal in celebrating the richness that diversity brings to the law and acknowledging that varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives strengthen our collective ability to advocate for justice.
As we look forward to next year's Diversity in Law Evening, it is clear that the journey toward diversity and inclusion in law is not just ongoing; it is vital to the profession’s continued success.
