Mills Oakley, Circle Green Community Legal win in firm, not-for-profit categories, respectively
Dr Tony Buti, Western Australia’s attorney general, has announced the following winners of the 2026 Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards: Greg McIntyre (Individual), Kate Pearson (Legal Aid Panel Member), Mills Oakley (Law Firm), and Circle Green Community Legal (Not-for-Profit).
“Congratulations to the deserved recipients of these awards, which recognise and celebrate the lawyers and organisations who dedicate themselves to equal access to justice,” Buti said.
Buti named the winners during the Western Australian law society’s 2026 Gala Awards Evening on 4 September 2026. According to the WA government’s update, this ceremony marked two decades of staging these awards.
“I want to thank all the finalists for the time and expertise they have generously dedicated to helping disadvantaged people access justice,” said Kylie Maj, director general of the WA Department of Justice.
The state government’s announcement provided more information regarding this year’s winners.
McIntyre’s award aims to recognise the significant amount of time he has worked pro bono for the families of children with disabilities dealing with discrimination.
The Mabo barrister has worked on notable human rights and native title cases. For instance, he served as Eddie Koiki Mabo’s solicitor in the 1992 case that affirmed traditional ownership.
He has spent almost five decades on pro bono matters, human rights advocacy, and public interest litigation. He has held leadership positions at the Law Council of Australia and the Law Society of Western Australia.
Pearson’s award seeks to honour her commitment to social justice and her efforts to act on behalf of those across regional and remote communities. She has engaged regularly in pro bono work.
The barrister has belonged to numerous criminal and family law legal aid panels. She has supported and mentored junior lawyers, particularly those in regional areas.
With over 7,100 pro bono hours clocked amounting to more than $3m these past two financial years, Mills Oakley is being distinguished for its pro bono legal work through the national community legal service that it owns and finances.
The award aims to recognise the firm’s assistance to clients and communities throughout regional and remote areas.
Circle Green Community Legal’s award seeks to honour its efforts to help marginalised people across the state in connection with matters involving workplace, tenancy, humanitarian, and family violence law.
The award also recognises the legal centre’s advocacy regarding housing security, tenancy reform, and anti-discrimination legislative reform, as well as its project intending to improve outcomes for protection visa applicants.
Here are some other recent WA law news stories.
On 4 August 2026, the WA government announced the appointment of the following new judges as of 10 August 2026: Stephen Lemonis to the Court of Appeal of Western Australia, as well as Tania Jeyamohan and Steven Wong to the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
On 14 June 2026, the WA government shared a plan to create a judicial commission that would serve as an independent watchdog to deal with complaints regarding the conduct and capacity of judicial officers, bringing the state into line with Australia’s other jurisdictions.
Enjoy this story? Read the latest Australian legal news on the main page!
