Will Noonan - President, NSW Young Lawyers

In 2026, NSW Young Lawyers will celebrate its 63rd year of supporting, connecting, and proudly representing, all emerging lawyers in this state.

While it is foremost characterised as a professional network, it has, for over six decades, fostered lifelong friendships, partnerships, mentorships and a genuine sense of community for those who have been involved.

But perceptions of our profession often ask that we be something different. Too often, we are characterised as ruthless, adversarial, rule-manipulators driven only by billable hours and winning. While it makes great television, these are characteristics that do not reflect who we are nor aspire to be.

We are, simply, people who have answered the call to prosecute, defend, and champion the rule of law in this state. As officers of the court, we cannot act in isolation. Our shared duties to the Court, to our clients and the community, and to our opponents, can only be fulfilled when we act together. 

That is why our central objective this year is community. NSW Young Lawyers exists to support everyone practising law up to 36 years of age, or in their first five years of practice, anywhere in NSW. As the future leaders of the profession, the culture that we build now will shape the profession we inherit. The Executive Councillors, and sub-committee leadership teams and I cannot do this alone, and we need your help, your ideas, and your engagement to help create a profession that we are all proud to belong to.

NSW Young Lawyers boasts various sub-committees tailored to provide subject specific CPD and networking events. These sub-committees are where practitioners working side by side can engage each other beyond the usual constraints of their practice, and aim to build a more collegiate profession.

This year will also mark the return of the NSW Young Lawyers Ball, along with our flagship Professional Development Day and Annual Assembly.

We are also honoured to announce that our Patron for 2026 is Moya Dodd AO, Australian lawyer, former Matildas vice-captain, and one of the first women on the FIFA Council. Throughout her career, both on and off the field, Ms Dodd has exemplified integrity, leadership and enduring commitment to her community and service.

We are also equally proud to partner with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, one of the largest and most trusted kid’s health charities in the world. The Foundation has a clear goal - to ensure that every child, no matter where they are from or who they are, has access to the best possible healthcare.

You can view our upcoming events on the NSW Young Lawyers calendar here and the ways we have advocated for change through submissions on legal and policy reform here. To stay up to date and informed with our events, I would encourage you to sign up to our sub-committee mailing lists through LawID, connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.  

I look forward to welcoming you, and working alongside you, as we continue building our community.

Sincerely,

Will Noonan.