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Inspirational indigenous lawyers honoured
The manager of the largest criminal law practice in the Northern Territory has been named Indigenous Lawyer of the Year for 2013.
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David Woodroffe accepted the award at the National Indigenous Legal Conference Ball last Saturday night (26 October). The managing solicitor for the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) has spent around 14 years in a variety of Aboriginal legal agencies in the Territory.
Colbran also commended Woodroffe on his work at the NAAJA, remarking that the lawyer is “constantly seeking to improve internal procedures and practices to ensure that his team is working to its full potential and to ensure that his clients receive the best possible legal representation”.
Griffith University law student, Jill Gujlas, was also recognised on the night for outstanding academic and other achievements, being named Indigenous Law Student of the Year.
Colbran said Gujlas has shown a commitment to her studies, reflected in high academic scores, while balancing the responsibilities of being a single mother of two children.
“Mr Woodroffe and Ms Gujlas are outstanding role models and are deserving winners of this year’s awards,” Colbran added.
The Indigenous Lawyer of the Year Award is judged by members of LCA’s Indigenous Legal Issues Committee, chaired by former LCA president Glenn Ferguson; while the Indigenous Law Student of the Year is selected by a panel chaired by Justice Stephen Southwood of the Northern Territory Supreme Court.
