FORMER ALS LAWYER RECOGNISED

Courtesy Kate Turtley-Chappel

GEOFF VIVIAN

A former Geraldton lawyer who is well known to Aboriginal people has won the first ever Attorney General’s award for a private practitioner who takes on ALS and Legal Aid cases.

Kate Turtley-Chappel said she had moved back to Perth and was now a partner in a private practice.

She said private lawyers who took on ALS and Legal Aid cases often ended up working for free (Pro Bono).

“Often what happens is you get given a grant, so Legal Aid will say: ‘could you do this specific job?’,” she said.

“Then what you realise is that that a lot more than that specific job is reqired and the Pro Bono element is what you then go on to do. Which they are not going to fund you for but because you are invested and know there’s merit you’ll often go on and do it yourself.”