The Law Society crowned its annual award winners last week, with six gongs handed out at the Gala Awards Evening at Crown Perth on 4 September.
With a crowd of more than 350, the evening also saw the awarding of the Law Access Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award, and the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards.
Read about all the winners below.
Lawyer of the Year 2026
Karen Farley SC
Karen has made a longstanding contribution to legal practice, professional standards and public service in Western Australia.
Throughout her career, Karen has contributed to the legal profession through her work in professional ethics, criminal law and legal regulation. Through her involvement with the Law Society of Western Australia’s Ethics and Criminal Law Committees, and her role with the Legal Practice Board, Karen has supported the development of ethical legal practice and professional standards.
Emerging Lawyer of the Year 2026
Luella Zaltsman
Luella has demonstrated significant promise as an emerging lawyer through her work providing legal services and community legal education to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Western Australia.
As Community Legal Education Coordinator, Luella has expanded Street Law’s community legal education program by strengthening relationships with community organisations and increasing access to outreach legal services.
Regional Practitioner of the Year 2026
Jasmine Pavan
Jasmine is a dedicated regional practitioner whose work has helped transform access to justice for women across Western Australia’s Goldfields.
Through the Goldfields Health Justice Partnership, she has developed a trusted and accessible legal service that reaches women experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence by embedding legal support within community organisations where clients already feel safe seeking help.
Legal Innovation of the Year 2026
Aboriginal Family Legal Services – Corina Martin OAM
Aboriginal Family Legal Services (AFLS), under the leadership of CEO Corina Martin OAM, has developed innovative approaches to legal service delivery that improve access to justice and support better outcomes for Aboriginal communities across Western Australia.
In-house Counsel of the Year 2026
Christina Araujo
Christina has played a central role in the growth of the Indigenous Desert Alliance, combining legal, governance and risk expertise to support the organisation’s development and Indigenous-led conservation across Australia’s desert regions.
Government Lawyer of the Year 2026
Karen Farley SC
Through her longstanding work with Legal Aid WA, Karen has made a significant contribution to criminal law, justice reform and access to justice. Her involvement in initiatives including the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Working Group and the Graylands Reconfiguration and Forensic Taskforce Lived Experience Committee reflects her commitment to fair and effective legal processes.
To read more about all Law Society Annual Award winners and finalists, click here.
Law Access Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year
Gemma McGrath
Gemma McGrath has led her team in providing pro bono assistance with several urgent burial disputes. It is an area of high need for instance response and Gemma is very generous with her time. She has also taken on a number of discrimination matters for vulnerable women.
Law Access also thanks Gemma for accepting an appointment to the Law Access Board earlier this year.
Attorney General’s Community Service Law Award winners
- Individual winner – Greg McIntyre SC
- Legal Aid Panel Member – Kate Pearson
- Not-for-profit award – Circle Green Community Legal
- Legal Firm category – Mills Oakley
Read further information on these award winners.
