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SA Law Society appoints new president
The Law Society of South Australia has welcomed a new president ready to tackle and address some of the most critical challenges facing the legal profession today.
Grace Robbie
Marissa Mackie (pictured) has been named the 80th president of the Law Society of South Australia, following over a decade of active and dedicated service to the organisation.
The newly appointed president brings 15 years of experience in the legal profession. She serves as a principal solicitor and counsel within the commercial and taxation team at Norman Waterhouse, a seasonal member of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and a member of the teaching faculty for the graduate diploma of legal practice offered by the University of Adelaide and the Law Society.
Mackie has previously held leadership roles within the Law Society, including her tenure as the president of the Women Lawyers Association of South Australia, and she has contributed to several committees within the Society.
In her inaugural year, Mackie is poised to tackle the pressing challenges facing the legal profession and has set forth an ambitious agenda to address these issues directly.
One of Mackie’s central goals during her tenure is to cultivate a more positive culture within the legal profession, as she acknowledges that instances of “bullying, discrimination and harassment” have become pervasive within the field.
“As a former president of the Women Lawyers Association who has long advocated for equality, inclusivity and diversity in the profession, I am energised about the opportunity to advocate for a profession that reflects the community it serves,” she said.
Mackie also intends to address the “chronic shortage of legal aid and legal assistance services” to ensure that “vulnerable people” gain access to the essential legal services they require.
Under her leadership, she indicated that the Law Society will “continue to support the Law Council in its efforts to lobby the federal government for sufficient funding, but we will also continue to make the case for the state government to contribute its fair share of funding, particularly for legal matters that fall under state legislation”.
Another important focus for Mackie is to address the mental health and wellbeing of legal practitioners to mitigate burnout and alleviate the stigma associated with mental health challenges within the profession.
“We need to continue to find opportunities and solutions to reduce instances of burnout in the profession, provide support to practitioners and practices to promote work/life balance, promote physical and mental wellbeing and tackle the stigma of mental health issues,” she said.
“For the community to receive the highest quality legal services, we must do our best to optimise the health and wellbeing of the legal profession.”
Other key priorities on her agenda as president are restoring and maintaining public confidence in the legal profession and equipping it to navigate the upcoming changes in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
