- ALSWA’s Peter Collins wins Individual category of Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards
- Curtin Tax Clinic acknowledged for services to underprivileged taxpayers
- Awards celebrate outstanding exponents of pro bono and community legal work
Aboriginal justice champion Peter Collins’ decades of advocacy for disadvantaged clients have been recognised in the 2024 Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards.
The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA) stalwart won the Individual Award for his dedication and commitment to the legal rights of Indigenous people.
Criminal defence barrister Jennifer Sollis received the Legal Aid Panel Member Award for the high volume of legally aided matters she has taken across the State.
The Not-for-Profit Award went to the Curtin Tax Clinic, a provider of pro bono tax services to marginalised people, including prisoners and members of remote communities.
Norton Rose Fulbright took out the Legal Firm category for its pro bono case work and secondments of staff to community legal centres.
The Community Service Law Awards acknowledge the legal fraternity’s pro bono and community work.
Attorney General John Quigley presented the awards to the winners last night at the Law Society of Western Australia’s 2024 Gala Dinner and Annual Awards Evening.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“These awards are a testament to those in the legaI community whose hard work helps ensure there is equal access to justice for all.
“ALSWA legal services director Peter Collins has devoted his career to tackling the complexities facing Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system to give them the best possible support and representation.
“Jennifer Sollis once worked diligently for Legal Aid in the Pilbara and since being called to the bar has continued to take on its clients in often complex matters across all jurisdictions and regions.
“Curtin Tax Clinic harnesses Curtin University students and staff to provide crucial services, assisting more than 1,000 needy taxpayers last year alone.
“Norton Rose Fullbright’s WA lawyers completed 2,444 hours of pro bono work in the past financial year. One of them helped establish a financial abuse legal service.”
