Winner of prestigious Law Society President’s Medal announced

27 October 2011

President of the Law Society of NSW, Stuart Westgarth, today congratulated Aboriginal Lawyer and Family Law Specialist, Matthew Myers, on being awarded the 2011 President’s Medal.

The Law Society of NSW President's Medal is an annual award that recognises significant personal and professional contributions to the betterment of law and justice in the community by a NSW solicitor and member of the Law Society of NSW.

Mr Westgarth presented the medal to Mr Myers at the Law Society’s Annual Members’ Dinner at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Admitted to practice in 1997, Mr Myers is a NSW Law Society Accredited Family Law Specialist, a qualified Collaborative Family Lawyer and qualified Independent children’s lawyer on the NSW Legal Aid ICL Panel and a member of LEADR.

“As well as his noteworthy contribution to the profession, Mr Myers has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting and assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Mr Westgarth said.

“He is actively involved in providing support and pro bono legal advice to the Darkinjung Aboriginal Community on the Central Coast and works tirelessly with the Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre to represent clients experiencing family and domestic violence.

“His willingness to donate his expertise, time, care and compassion to the local community goes well beyond his work as a practitioner and partner.

“This contribution includes pro bono work for Centacare, The Salvation Army and NSW Police.”

Mr Myers has also written and presented a number of notable submissions and papers, including:

·         A submission to the Chief Federal Magistrate and Law Council of Australia: Recommendations for the Establishment of an Expert Panel and Guidelines for Cases involving Alleged Child Abuse in the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court

·         A paper: Closing the gap – the delivery of family dispute resolution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, delivered last month at the LEADR National Conference in Brisbane.

Media contact: Sue Finn (02) 9926 0288 or 0412 346 648

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