Trailblazing compensation law firm Travis Schultz & Partners (TSP) has once again lived up to its reputation for finding the next generation of leading lawyers, with senior associate Rachel Last and associate Jemma Barnard named as two of just ten national finalists for the highly coveted Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards in the category of Rising Star of the Year.

The Women in Law Awards are considered the gold standard for excellence and were created to provide a platform for women in the legal industry to highlight their accomplishments, be nationally recognised for their outstanding hard work and showcase role models for future female leaders in law to aspire to.

TSP Managing Partner, Travis Schultz, said Ms Last and Ms Barnard’s nominations proved again the quality of expertise coming out of the Sunshine Coast legal fraternity.

“To have two of our young lawyers reach the finalist stage in this national award is an incredible achievement and is a reflection of what both Rachel and Jemma bring to the legal profession with their dedication and enthusiasm,” Mr Schultz said.

“They are two of the most impressive young lawyers that I’ve had the privilege of working with, possessing not just the attributes of being values driven, hardworking, conscientious and intelligent but also being wise beyond their years, allowing them to truly achieve the best outcome for their clients.

“The TSP team are very proud of everything the duo has achieved in their respective careers, and we are privileged to work side-by-side with them as they continue to sharpen their skills with each matter.”

Ms Last said making the finalist list alongside a cohort of exceptionally talented and passionate lawyers, including her colleague Ms Barnard, was a great honour.

“I feel incredibly honoured to be a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards. It’s an exceptional opportunity for women to showcase their achievements and propel their careers forward,” Ms Last said.

“This recognition has energised me to continue to build my expertise within the legal profession, which is something I know I will be able to do while surrounded by the incredibly talented team at TSP.”

Ms Barnard echoed Ms Last’s sentiments.

“It’s an honour to be shortlisted with some of the most talented female lawyers in the country, including Rachel,” Ms Barnard said.

“Making up 20 per cent of the finalists in this category, this recognition shines a light on our team at TSP and the contribution they’ve made to the compensation law space.”

Ms Last joined the TSP team from a commercial law background, but after less than three years with the firm honed in on her personal injury law skills to the point where she can now be found leading a small team to manage 80 matters of her own.

“Apart from achieving the best outcome for my clients, what I love about my work is helping people to see the light when they feel most defeated and ensuring they feel supported throughout their whole legal journey,” Ms Last said.

Meanwhile, at just 25 years of age, Ms Barnard’s promotion to the position of associate in 2021 was fast-tracked and occurred just ten months after her admission.

“Under the support and guidance of Travis Schultz and Tim McClymont, I’ve gained tremendous experience through handling a diverse caseload across all three areas of compensation law,” Ms Barnard said.

The finalist list features more than 286 high-achieving professionals within the legal industry, across 31 submission-based categories.

Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy said significant strides have been made towards parity in the legal profession, but there remains a way to go.

“It is Lawyers Weekly’s great privilege to host this event, and to acknowledge and celebrate the myriad of accomplishments achieved by the extraordinary women contributing to our nation’s legal profession,” Mr Doraisamy said.

The winners of the awards will be announced at a black-tie dinner on Thursday, 24 November, at the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne.

For more information about TSP visit schultzlaw.com.au.

For more information about the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards visit www.lawyersweekly.com.au/women-in-law-awards

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Media contact: Natalie Baker, Fresh PR & Marketing | 0438 827 766 | natalie@freshprm.com.au