A rising Sunshine Coast legal star, who is a passionate advocate for mental health and gender equality, has been shortlisted for a prestigious law award.
Travis Schultz & Partners Associate Rachel Last is among the finalists for the Weekly Women in Law Awards.
The awards recognise the outstanding women who influence the legal profession in Australia, by showing key leadership qualities and providing a role model for future female leaders in law.
Ms Last said her nomination in the Rising Star category was an honour and it provided reassurance that she was on the right path.
“June 2021 marked three years in legal practice for me, during which time I made the daunting decision to move away from commercial litigation to personal injury law,” she said.
“Being a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards is an absolute honour and gives me confidence that I am truly doing work that makes a difference and positively influences my profession.”
TSP Managing Principal, Travis Schultz, said the firm was proud but not surprised that Ms Last made the list of finalists.
“In the 18 months Rachel has been part of the TSP team, she has demonstrated a dedication and passion for her field and consistently achieves excellent outcomes for her clients who she fiercely advocates for,” Mr Schultz said.
“Rachel is also one of the most fearless advocates for mental health and wellbeing awareness in the legal profession that I have come across, and I am incredibly proud of what she has contributed to the expertise of our team and the wider legal industry.”
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Ms Last became a member of the University of the Sunshine Coast Alumni Mentoring Program in the past 12 months and she said it had provided her with an opportunity to mentor law students about mental health warning signs, seeking help early and striving for a healthy work/life balance.
“I try to speak openly, honestly and without fear to my peers in the legal community about my own mental health struggles, in the hope of reducing the stigma around mental illness,” Ms Last said.
Ms Last was nominated for the University of the Sunshine Coast Outstanding Alumni Awards earlier this year, for her work as a mental health advocate, after she was a finalist in the Wellness Advocate category in the 2021 Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards.
“I am not a mental health advocate for praise or recognition,” she said.
“I do the work because I truly believe it is a topic that must be talked about in order to break down the walls around mental health, particularly within the legal industry.”
In addition to her work at TSP, Ms Last is a volunteer with the Suncoast Community Legal Service, providing pro-bono advice to those who might not otherwise have access to it.
She was also recently appointed as an Ambassador for the Sunshine Coast Young Chamber of Commerce, an initiative dedicated to supporting young, driven professionals striving to make an impact in the business and professional world on the Sunshine Coast.
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When asked about her vision for women in law, Ms Last points out the disparity between men and women in leadership roles and the challenge of choosing between family and a successful career.
“In 2021, female lawyers outnumbered their male counterparts across all states and territories in Australia for the first time, but a disparity still exists between men and women in leadership roles across the profession,” she said.
“Perhaps the greatest challenge that comes with being a woman in a (previously) male-dominated industry is one I have yet to face: Do I take time out from my career to have children and risk being overlooked for promotions in my absence?
“Do I split my focus between home life and work and risk being seen as less dedicated than my male counterparts?
“Unfortunately, so many women in law are still being tormented by these questions.
“My vision is to see gender equality achieved in all aspects of the legal profession, where women are supported, flexible working arrangements are encouraged, and where women are not having to choose between their families and their careers.”
The Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards finalists list features 295 high-achieving professionals within the legal industry, across 31 submission-based categories.
The Awards will be held on November 25, in Sydney.
For more information about TSP visit schultzlaw.com.au.
For more information about the Women in Law Awards visit lawyersweekly.com.au.
