Accredited specialist list continues to grow

Harwood Andrews have added another Law Institute of Victoria Specialist to an already impressive line-up of legal professionals. 

Sonia McCabe is a Senior Associate in the Employment Industrial Relations and OH&S team at Harwood Andrews and has recently joined an exclusive group of Accredited Specialists in Workplace Relations which previously included only 23 lawyers. 

Sonia is one of just a few Victorian lawyers based outside Melbourne to hold the specialist accreditation, accompanied by Harwood Andrews Principal Jim Rutherford. 

Sonia and Jim are two of thirteen Harwood Andrews lawyers who hold specialist accreditations in 9 distinct areas of law.

Harwood Andrews Specialists include:
•    Dan Simmonds – Business Law
•    Rod Payne –Business Law
•    Richard Anderson – Commercial Litigation
•    Chris Thomas – Children’s Law
•    Deborah Mann – Commercial Tenancy Law and Property Law
•    Stuart Monotti – Commercial Tenancy Law and Property Law
•    Jim Rutherford – Criminal Law and Workplace Relations
•    Sonia McCabe – Workplace Relations
•    Andrew Robson – Wills and Estates
•    Justin Hartnett – Wills and Estates
•    Don Robinson – Property Law
•    Linton Drever – Family Law
•    Bridgette Kelly – Family Law

To become an accredited specialist, the Law Institute of Victoria requires lawyers to meet the following criteria:

• must have at least five years’ full-time practice experience and at least three years’ experience in their area of specialisation;
• must maintain a high degree of professional development in their area of specialisation;
• must pass a comprehensive assessment testing technical knowledge, writing and practical interview or advocacy skills. This assessment is developed and assessed by other senior Accredited Specialists, academics and members of the Victorian Bar; and
• need to apply for re-accreditation every three years, ensuring the highest standards are maintained.

Managing Principal Dan Simmonds sees Sonia’s recent accreditation as an important part of the firm's commitment to providing outstanding specialist legal advice in regional communities. “We believe it is important for our lawyers to become the experts in their area of law, and for their expertise to be accessible to regional communities” he said. 

“Supporting our lawyers by providing the appropriate training and time for them to not only gain but maintain their accreditation enables us to offer our clients an exceptional level of skill and knowledge that is hard to find outside of capital cities,” said Mr Simmonds.

Harwood Andrews’ specialised legal team were a huge part of why the firm was recently recognised as the best Regional/Suburban Law Firm of the Year for 2016 at the Australian Lawyers Weekly Law Awards.

For more information, contact:

Dan Simmonds
Managing Principal
T 03 5226 8513
E dsimmonds@ha.legal