2010 National Golden Gavel Competition
Queensland young lawyer Steven Hogg won the prestigious National Golden Gavel Award at the competition final held at the National Press Club in Canberra on 29 October 2010. Steven won the award for his very entertaining speech entitled "Things I wish I could put into a client agreement".
Competition was fierce and the judging panel comprising Justice Hilary Penfold and Justice Richard Refshauge of the ACT Supreme Court, and ACT Law Society President and Law Council Director Mr Athol Opas, had the difficult task of scoring the competitors' speeches based on content, humour, creativity and delivery.
Gavin Hollamby from New South Wales and Elizabeth Shaw from Western Australia were awarded equal second. Gavin entertained the audience with his speech entitled "The man on the Clapham Omnibus: just where was he going?" and Elizabeth got everyone talking with her presentation on why "99% of lawyers make the rest look bad".
The people's choice award went to Athol Birtley from Victoria for his presentation on the topic "To an optimist the glass is half full, to a pessimist the glass is half empty, to a lawyer the glass is..."
2010 National Golden Gavel finalists
These are the nine young lawyers who competed for the 2010 prize.
Marty Aust - Northern Territory
Marty Aust is an associate to Justice Blokland of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. He grew up in Adelaide where his mother ensured he would have a sensitive side by enrolling him in activities such as violin, drama and ice dancing. But having hung up the ice skates for a warmer climate he moved up north for a six month working holiday in 2006, and the NT has been stuck with him since. Marty gets admitted in December, provided he can explain away a few "misdemeanours" to the Law Society, and hopes to start working in the NT DPP next year.
Sarah Avery - Australian Capital Territory
Sarah has been an employed solicitor with Ben Aulich & Associates since October 2008, and practices exclusively in criminal law. She has spent much of her legal career on the "front line" dealing with both criminal and civil matters in Court. Sarah's first-hand experience with a lot of the ACT's most controversial laws, and front-line experience with the ACT judicial system means that she doesn't take a backward step when it comes to rolling up her sleeves to ensure the Court's reasonable satisfaction.
Adam Bak - Australian Capital Territory
"More front than Myers" is a phrase that springs to mind when thinking about Adam Bak, but behind that front is a very capable, talented and courageous lawyer, who is not afraid of difficult cases or hard work. Adam works for Farrar Gesini and Dunn, and is known around the office as the one to always put a smile on your face. He is passionate about learning things, seeing places, and meeting people. He's also a big believer in nice suits and men's skincare.
Anna Baulderstone - South Australia
Anna Baulderstone was admitted to practice in March 2010, after having taken an inordinate amount of time to finish her degree at the University of Adelaide. She is employed by the Crown Solicitor's Office in the Civil Litigation section, but is currently outposted to work as Counsel Assisting the Investigator into the City of Burnside. Her career aspirations include following in the footsteps of today's greatest legal minds, and becoming a celebrity chef on a reality TV show. Anna entered the SA Golden Gavel because she was promised a free drink. Luckily, her speech was modelled entirely around Dirty Dancing, a topic about which she knows infinitely more than the practice of law.
Athol Birtley - Victoria
Athol Birtley works for Allens Arthur Robinson in Melbourne. He is currently in the Energy and Resources group, with a focus on mining and infrastructure projects. He was a video game developer before beginning his legal career, and in his rare spare time he writes, draws and plays music. He describes himself as an aspiring toastmaster with an "overall 4-star rating" and notes that he is partially immune to rabies, a trait that may come in handy during a zombie apocalypse.
Stephen Hogg - Queensland
Steven Hogg is a solicitor working at Tucker & Cowen solicitors in Brisbane and specialising in commercial litigation. He has previously been a social worker in London, a jazz musician in Brisbane and a source of concern to his parents. Highlights from his legal career include that week when he actually made his billable hours, staying back late to review discovery for matters that settle after opening submissions and working out how to use the fax machine. He is available for weddings and corporate functions but would prefer to attend as a guest rather than having to prepare a speech for the event.
Gavin Hollamby - New South Wales
Gavin Hollamby is a senior associate at Lander & Rogers Lawyers in their General Insurance department. He spent 2005 to 2008 in Lander's Melbourne office, before moving to Sydney at the beginning of 2009. After taking out the 2010 New South Wales Golden Gavel competition with "Why my firm should conduct its own reality TV show", Gavin returned to Lander's Melbourne office. He now finds himself in the somewhat odd position of representing New South Wales, despite being a born-and-bred (and occasionally parochial) Victorian.
David Sealy - Tasmania
David graduated from the University of Tasmania with a combined degree in Law and Arts. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 2008 and commenced working at Dobson Mitchell & Allport in September 2008. David is currently working in the litigation department. His winning speech at the Tasmanian state Golden Gavel final was "10 billable codes that every legal practice should have".
Elizabeth Shaw - Western Australia
Elizabeth Shaw worked for the State Solicitors Office in Western Australia. Beth says that when she grows up she wants to be the WA Chief Justice's next wife. Believing that an intoxicating mix of pity and arousal would win her the WA 2010 Golden Gavel, Beth's topic was "Dear Chief justice, if Lady Gaga can wear a wig, why can't I?" For some reason, she now believes a Masters of Public Policy may become of use to her, though this may be related to her being a Board member of the Inspire Foundation, the Left Right Think Tank, chair of Young UNIFEM Australia (Perth), a former member of the City of Perth Youth Advisory Council, the 2008 Australian Youth Representative to the UN and being the 2009 Western Australian Citizen of the Year (Youth).
