Lawyers have a special responsibility for upholding the rule of law which thereby underpins peace, order and security within society. The President's Medal distinguishes an individual at the pinnacle of their career who goes above and beyond to uphold the core values of our profession. This award recognises an experienced legal practitioner who has shown great integrity, courage, and responsibility through their commitment to continual improvement of the profession and of themselves.

The President's Medal will be presented to the successful candidate by the President of Queensland Law Society at the 2022 Legal Profession Dinner.

Eligibility for individuals

Eligible

• Nominee must be nominated (no self-nominations) and:
  • be an individual (organisations can nominate an individual)
  • hold a current practising certificate issued by QLS
  • be a full member of QLS for at least five years
  • be Queensland-based.
• Nominees must be of good character. Nominations are reviewed by Queensland Law Society's regulation division and the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre. The due diligence will include (but is not limited to) legal review of the nominee's disciplinary history.
• The nominee has not previously won this award.

• Judging panel members
• Queensland Law Society Council members or employees are not eligible for nomination.
• Teams or firms are not eligible. This award is open to individuals only.

Award criteria

Legal competence (marked out of 10)
The nominee has an exceptional track record for maintaining standards of competence and for displaying and understanding the complexities that the modern legal system is facing. They show a steadfast responsibility in advancing the profession by developing competencies to meet those challenges.

Service to the community (marked out of 10)
The nominee demonstrates significant personal and professional service or support to the Queensland community that may have been recognised nationally or internationally. This could be through:

• their outstanding contribution to access to justice
• the implementation of a Queensland or national legal policy or legislation.

Personal integrity (marked out of 10)
The nominee shows excellence in their day-to-day work, instilling confidence within the profession and the community at large so much so that they are highly valued by their profession and community.

Professional commitment beyond the call of duty (marked out of 10)
The nominee demonstrates outstanding leadership attributes evidenced by vision, empathy, adaptability and their commitment to bringing these attributes to assist the profession and thereby inspiring others.

This award is named after Queensland's first admitted female solicitor - Agnes McWhinney. An ordinary woman who broke new ground - an accidental hero. In the tradition of its namesake, this award recognises a woman who has facilitated a pathway in the profession for those around her. It also recognises how their ordinary commitment and service to the profession or community has an extraordinary effect.

Eligibility for individuals

Eligible

• Nominee must be nominated (no self-nominations) and:
• be an individual (organisations can nominate an individual)
• hold a current practising certificate issued by QLS
• be a full member of QLS
• be Queensland-based.
• Nominees must be of good character. Nominations are reviewed by Queensland Law Society's regulation division and the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre. The due diligence will include (but is not limited to) legal review of the nominee's disciplinary history.
• The nominee has not previously won this award.

• Judging panel members
• Queensland Law Society Council members or employees are not eligible for nomination.
• Teams or firms are not eligible. This award is open to individuals only.

Award criteria

Breaking ground (Marked out of 10)
Demonstrate how the nominee has facilitated a pathway, in the profession, that allows those around her to excel. For example through:

• mentoring junior practitioners
• developing new ways, technology, processes or methods that revolutionise ordinary practise
• supporting organisations that contribute to community welfare
• significant service or support for women in the profession.

Ordinarily extraordinary (Marked out of 10)
Demonstrate how the nominee shows excellence in their day-to-day work so much so that they are highly valued by their profession and community.

Leadership (Marked out of 10)
Nominee demonstrates outstanding leadership attributes including examples of how they have been able to adapt and thrive in the profession and thereby inspire others. The nominee is highly regarded as a legal practitioner and for their achievement in excellence in practice.

Fidelity (Marked out of 10)
Nominee demonstrates their faithful commitment to the profession and serving the community.

The QLS Emerging Leader Award encourages and supports emerging lawyers on their journey in the field of law. It recognises a high-performing practitioner with outstanding leadership attributes and a thirst for knowledge and improvement. The award seeks to acknowledge the contribution of an emerging lawyer who has displayed an exceptional aptitude for the practice of law and has actively contributed to the profession in a meaningful and impactful way.

Eligibility for individuals

Eligible

• To be eligible for this award, you must be:
  1. a person admitted to legal practice in Australia who has been in practice for a period of five years or less; or
  2. a person who is 35 years of age or under before 31st December 2021.
• Nominee must be nominated (no self-nominations) and:
  • be an individual (organisations can nominate an individual)
  • hold a current practising certificate issued by QLS
  • be a full member of QLS
  • be Queensland-based.
• Nominees must be of good character. Nominations are reviewed by Queensland Law Society's regulation division and the QLS Ethics and Practice Centre. The due diligence will include (but is not limited to) legal review of the nominee's disciplinary history.
• The nominee has not previously won this award.

• Judging panel members, Queensland Law Society Council members, Queensland Law Society Future Leaders Commiteee members or Queensland Law Sociey employees are not eligible for nomination
• Teams or firms are not eligible. This award is open to individuals only.

Award criteria

Performance (marked out of 10)
The nominee has demonstrated an outstanding level of performance at work over the past 12 months in a manner that sets them apart from other lawyers of similar experience.

Leadership (marked out of 10)
The nominee shows outstanding leadership and high achievement in a field of legal endeavour that benefits the profession and/or community.

Personal and professional contribution (marked out of 10)
The nominee demonstrates a personal and professional contribution to community access to justice that has great impact and benefit, in addition to their usual responsibilities.

Significant benefits to Queenslanders (marked out of 10)
The nominee demonstrates how their specific involvement on selected matters contributed to its overall success and/or delivered significant benefits to Queenslanders.

Professional commitment beyond the call of duty (marked out of 10)
The nominee shows attributes of an emerging leader evidenced by their vision, adaptability and commitment to enhancing the reputation of the profession within the community