UniSC graduate Shelly Brown has been named Queensland Law Society’s Graduate Lawyer of the Year at the Excellence in Law Awards.
As a lawyer at Catton and Tondelstrand Family Lawyers, the award acknowledges Shelly’s outstanding early career achievements, including her contribution to academic research on coercive control.
As part of her Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry), Shelly co-authored an academic article with her supervisor Associate Professor Kelley Burton about the complexities of legislative reform in Queensland and New South Wales when it comes to coercive control.
Titled “Criminalising Coercive Control after the Hannah Clarke Homicide: A Comparative Analysis”, the article was published by the Thomson Reuters Criminal Law Journal.
Shelly said she was honoured to receive the recognition so early in her career.
“This award means a great deal to me,” she said.
“I’m passionate about using both research and practical experience to help shape better outcomes for families.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a team that values evidence-based approaches to complex and sensitive matters.”
UniSC Laws discipline lead Associate Professor Burton said Shelly’s recognition spoke to the quality and calibre of UniSC’s Laws program, which staff have been working hard to grow and finesse since its inception more than a decade ago.
“In particular, our close working partnership with industry means law students have plenty of opportunities to gain experience in the field during their studies, giving them a great foundation to start in the legal profession feeling confident, knowledgeable and ready to learn and grow from more experienced colleagues around them,” Associate Professor Burton said.
“We extend our warmest congratulations to Shelly for her well-deserved recognition, and we are looking forward to seeing her career flourish as she continues to make meaningful contributions to social justice and our communities.”
Catton and Tondelstrand Family Lawyers director Angela Tondelstrand said the award reflected Shelly’s commitment to both legal practice and advancing discussion on important issues in family law.
“Shelly has demonstrated a rare combination of academic insight and practical skill. Her work on coercive control adds depth to understanding and knowledge of family law and benefits the clients and community we serve.”
Shelly works across a broad range of family law matters, applying evidence-based insights and a focus on client outcomes.
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