Before the Court - Deakin Law Students' Society

Join Ava and Will as they speak to Katherine Plint. Katherine Plint has spent more than 40 years working and volunteering across many vocations that have shaped her life. From courtrooms across the country to the open paddocks on her farm, Kat’s life has been defined by service, resilience, advocacy, tragedy and adversity, and today we’ll hear how all of those experiences shape the work she does in working as a solicitor in domestic and family violence and child protection law. She is the recipient of the City of Ipswich Australia Day Medallion in 2009 and was Queensland’s Volunteer of the Year for Child Protection in 2012 and is an accomplished champion and advocate for water safety, author and community volunteer. Katherine studied her Bachelor of Laws from CQUniversity (Central Queensland University) from 2019 to 2022, completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice through the Queensland College of Law 2023, and is now deepening her knowledge in studying her Masters of Domestic and Family Violence Practice at CQUniversity and solicitor since September 2023...

Join Ava and Emilia as they speak to Eva Medcraft. Eva Medcraft is the principal solicitor at Medcraft Legal, practicing as a criminal defence lawyer. Eva graduate from CSU and began practicing in commercial law for 5 years before transitioning over to criminal law, where she now acts in a variety of matters from violent offences, drug related offences, bail applications and court appeals. Additionally, Eva is also a member of the NSW Legal Aid Panel where she provides Legal Aid services. She is also regional president of the Albury and District Law Society.

Join Ava and Will as they speak to Nicholas Donaghy. Nicholas is a Principal Solicitor at the Office of Public Prosecutions and an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law. For 11 years, Nicholas was a solicitor in the OPP's Specialist Sex Offences Unit (SSOU), during which he managed the OPP’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.Following SSOU’s dissolution in 2022, he was appointed to lead the OPP’s inaugural Specialist Sex Offences Committee. He now triages and oversees sex offence matters across the OPP and delivers training and advice internally and externally. Nicholas has prosecuted hundreds of matters, including many high-profile and complex cases.

Nicholas graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Laws in 2005 and then went on to complete his Postgraduate Diploma of Legal Practice with the College of Law. Earlier in his career, he served for five years as a Judge’s Associate at the County Court, working with 39 different judges - primarily with the now Deputy Chief Judge of the County Court Meryl Sexton.

Join Ava and Georgia as they speak to Jane Libbis and Eve Smith from Umbrella Family Law.

Jane Libbis is a Managing Partner and Founder at Umbrella Family Law, and has worked exclusively in family law for over 20 years. Jane is also a Parenting Coordinator and provides valuable assistance in facilitating effective co-parenting arrangements. Jane graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws and went on to complete further studies at Swinburne University completing a Graduate Diploma in Counselling in 2010.

Eve Smith is a Managing Partner and Founder at Umbrella Family Law; she has practiced exclusively in family law since her admission to practice.Eve graduated from Northumbria University in England with a Bachelor of Laws in 2002 and has since completed further legal education at Deakin University. Subsequently Eve has practiced family law and is admitted as a legal practitioner in both Australia and England and assists clients internationally. Eve was also a Finalist for the Lawyers’ Weekly Partner of the Year award in 2025.

Join Emilie and Emilia in this bonus episode as they speak to Nina Vallins. Nina is a barrister for the Victorian Bar specialising in common law, specifically institutional and public liability cases, as well as a wide range of other areas. Prior to becoming a barrister, Nina worked as a solicitor for cases involving historical child abuse and sentencing applications. Further, Nina has experience as an associate at the county court in the civil division. 

Join Henry as he chats with Alice Mayne (student and former DLSS Director of Education) about all things wellbeing - this is an episode about a really important topic and is not to be missed!

Join Henry as he chats with former DLSS president Courtney McKenzie about all things time management ... crucial ahead of the upcoming assignment season!

Join Ava and Emilia as they speak to Ali Abachi. Ali Abachi is a senior associate within the Commodities Group and Litigation Team at HFW, in the Melbourne office. Within this area, Ali predominately specialises in insolvency, construction and broader contractual disputes. Throughout his career Ali has acted for both small and large companies, as well as financial service providers and high net worth individuals, with many of his matters going on to set important precedent in the world of Australian Corporate Law.  

Ali Completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in International Relations & Affairs) at Deakin University in 2013. He then went on to study a Masters of Law, specialising in International Commercial Law at the Australian National University in 2021. 

Join Ava and Will as they speak to Patrice Fitzgerald. Patrice Fitzgerald is the founder, director and Principal Lawyer at Safe Space Legal, the first firm in Australia to practice exclusively in child safety and safeguarding law. She has dedicated her career to protecting children and vulnerable people and works with organisations to ensure children and vulnerable people are kept safe.

Patrice completed a Bachelor of Laws at La Trobe University in 2004 and was subsequently admitted to practice in 2006. She has also obtained additional qualifications in investigations and interviewing children.

Alongside her role at Safe Space Legal, Patrice is also a Sessional Member of the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal in the Review and Regulation List (Child Welfare).