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DOWNS & SOUTH WEST QLD LAW ASSOCIATION
Management Committee
President 2024
Alysha Jacobsen
Alysha holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, being amongst the first cohort of graduates in 2011. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland in October 2012. Alysha has worked in the criminal law sector in Toowoomba for over 10 years.
Alysha is a Senior Associate at Bouchier Khan Lawyers and she appears almost daily in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on a range of criminal, domestic violence and traffic matters. She appears in Courts across the Darling Downs and regularly appears in the District and Supreme Courts.
​In 2020, 2021 and 2022 she was named in the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland Inspo List of women who have inspired. She was awarded the DSWQLA Regional Lawyer of the Year in 2023.
Alysha has served as our Vice President and Marketing Officer of 2023.
Alysha is on our Annual Cocktail Party sub-committee and the Law Ball sub-committee.
Vice President 2024
Kirstie Smith
Kirstie is a Mununjali, Yugembeh woman practicing in criminal law with Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Legal Services – Toowoomba (ATSILS) on Giabal and Jarowair country and a Lecturer in Law at University of Southern Queensland. She is the first person in her immediate family to not only finish high school, but also go to university. Kirstie has experience working in both prosecution and criminal defence, allowing her clients the confidence of having culturally supportive and sensitive representation.
Kirstie was admitted in 2020 and commenced on DSWQLA general committee in 2022. A mother of three, she worked full-time at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions while studying her dual degree, and undertaking volunteer roles with USQLS, Social Justice Commission Dignity Project, Off the Chain K9 Rescue Toowoomba, and tutoring Indigenous students at USQ under the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS).
She is a member of the Future Leaders Committee with QLS, Women Lawyers Association Queensland, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Inc, and Indigenous Lawyers Association Queensland. Kirstie continues her volunteer work through both DSWQLA and the Social Justice Commission Dignity Project.
Kirstie is on our Early Career Lawyers Sub-committee, Regional & Rural Roadshow sub-committee, the Law Ball Sub-committee, the Annual Cocktail Function Sub-committee, and the Law Right Legal Walk Sub-committee. She is routinely invited to speak on panels in the areas of criminal law, and First Nations issues.
Secretary 2024
Sarah de Wit
Sarah is a Solicitor at Murdoch Lawyers and acts for landholders in negotiations with renewable energy, coal seam gas and other energy and resource entities. Sarah also has expertise in compulsory acquisitions and commercial litigation. Sarah is passionate about regional and rural lawyering and loves to give back to the local profession through her involvement in the DSWQLA.
Sarah is on our Early Career Lawyers Sub-committee, the Law Right Legal Walk 2022 Sub-committee, and the Law Ball Sub-committee.
Sarah has served as our Secretary in 2022 and 2023 and was awarded the DSWQLA Emerging Lawyer of the Year Award.
Treasurer 2024
Alexandra Edwards
Alex was admitted in 2019 and is a solicitor with Wonderley & Hall. She practices predominantly in Wills & Estates to assist people who are preparing for or navigating some of life's toughest moments.
Alex grew up in the Toowoomba region; having completed her high school studies locally and obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Southern Queensland. Alex is well established in our region and recognises the importance of our small community mentality and the benefits of connections.
Alex is on our Early Career Lawyers Sub-committee.
Alex has served as our Treasurer in 2021 and 2022 and remained on the Committee in 2023.
Immediate Past President 2024
Bill Munro
Bill was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1978. He is an accredited specialist in Personal Injuries Law.
He sees the District Law Association as playing an integral part in the effective delivery of legal services to the community and for the well-being and governance of the profession within the region.
Bill is anxious to ensure that the traditional values and professional courtesies which have distinguished the profession over the centuries are maintained and at the same time ensuring that the practice of law remains relevant, rewarding and interesting to its members.
He is heartened by the advances in technology which enable continuing legal education to be made available to members throughout the region and by the camaraderie and goodwill which is evident among practitioners, despite the rough and tumble of everyday practice with its associated stressors.
He is committed to ensuring that the views and concerns of members are well known by the judiciary and the government of the day. He recognises that the profession is under scrutiny at many levels of society and is committed to leading the association in this region by seeking to ensure that its members continue as “…ethical, engaged professionals and citizens who understand the social, economic and environmental influences on and impact of their actions, and who are self-directed, resourceful, resilient and adaptable to change”*.
* University of Southern Queensland School of Law and Justice
Committee Member 2024
Naomi Cox
Naomi works as a Solicitor at Redhill Legal practicing in family law, child protection and domestic violence. Naomi has been involved with the Association and a committee member since 2011.
Naomi is on our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Sub-committee and is an organiser of the Annual Ladies in Law Luncheon.
Committee Member 2024
Paige Hetherington
Paige was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2023. She has worked predominantly in the criminal law sector in Toowoomba since approximately 2017 when she first began her legal career.
Paige is a Solicitor at Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers and appears regularly in various Courts across South East Queensland.
Paige joined the DSWQLA Committee in 2023 and serves as a general committee member.
Committee Member 2024
Sarah-Jane MacDonald
Sarah-Jane is an Accredited Family Law Specialist and Director at MacDonald Law. Sarah-Jane is very committed to improving our region and access to justice particularly across the Darling Downs. Sarah-Jane is a member of the Queensland Law Society Domestic & Family Violence Policy Committee, and continues to advocate for good law in the domestic violence space particularly for vulnerable regional Queenslanders. Sarah-Jane has been a special witness before the Legal Affairs & Justice Committee in relation to the recent amendments as a result of the Hear Her Voice Reports. Sarah-Jane is also a member of the Queensland Law Society Practice Management Course Committee.
Sarah-Jane is a Councillor with the Queensland Law Society for 2024 - 2025 and hopes to represent our Region proudly.
Sarah-Jane is a big supporter of the Association, having previously served as President for 3 years and on the Executive Committee for a number of years. Sarah-Jane is a member of the Ladies in Law Committee, among others, and proudly assists the ongoing organisation of this fabulous event.
Committee Member 2024
Erin McDonald
Erin McDonald was admitted as a solicitor in 2021 and works with Groom & Lavers Solicitors in conveyancing and property law. Erin holds a Double Bachelor of Business and Laws from UniSQ (with Distinction), where she also worked in peer tutoring and volunteered as Education and Careers Officer and then President of the UniSQ Law Society.
While a student at UniSQ Erin was a recipient of the Unsung Hero Award, Faculty Medal and was included on the Woman Lawyers Association of Queensland Inspo List 2019.
Erin has a passion for serving, and has been involved in various committees from a young age, and is looking forward to the opportunity to further serve the local legal community.
Committee Member 2024
Lexi Richards
Lexi was admitted as a Solicitor in 2018 and has practiced exclusively in Family Law since her admission. She has recently received accreditation as a Nationally Accredited Mediator (NMAS) and is working towards her accreditation as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
She is currently employed at Murdoch Lawyers in Toowoomba and is an active member of the local Toowoomba community.
Committee Member 2024
Francene Ridley
Francene completed her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern Queensland in 2023. While studying, she worked part time at the Office of the Director Public Prosecutions in Toowoomba and held volunteer positions with the USQLS. In 2023, Francene was the associate to His Honour Justice Burns in the Supreme Court at Brisbane.
Francene is on our Early Career Lawyers Sub-committee.
Committee Member 2024
Miranda Woodland
Miranda is the Team Leader of the Family Relationship Centre and the Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Service at CatholicCare Socials Services.
Miranda is a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and NMAS accredited mediator. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2014 and has experience working in Government, Private Practice and the Community Legal sector.
Miranda served as Secretary of the DSWQLA in 2021. Miranda is passionate about supporting our local legal community to foster collaborative working relationships and to improve outcomes for families.
Student Liaison 2024
Rasha Abdualhasan
Rasha is in her final year as a Law student at the University of Southern Queensland. Rasha worked as an admin officer at Toowoomba court house, and currently working as a paralegal at the Child Safety Department, and held volunteer positions with the USQLS. In 2023.
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Downs and South West Queensland Law Association (DSWQLA)
PO Box 924, Toowoomba, Queensland, 4350
DSWQLA respectfully acknowledge the ongoing care and dedication the Jarowair, and Giabal people of the Wakka Wakka Nation devote to their country, air, and waterways with great patience and enduring, unbreakable resilience. We celebrate the stories, culture, and traditions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations and communities who also work and live on the lands we are privileged to now work and live on. As a legal association we pay specific respect to the law women and law men who for tens of thousands of years have ensured the peace, order and good governance of this place, long before it became known as the Darling Downs.
The DSWQLA respectfully acknowledge the ongoing care and dedication the Jarowair, and Giabal people of the Wakka Wakka Nation devote to their country, air, and waterways with great patience and enduring, unbreakable resilience. We celebrate the stories, culture, and traditions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations and communities who also work and live on the lands we are privileged to now work and live on. As a legal association we pay specific respect to the law women and law men who for tens of thousands of years have ensured the peace, order and good governance of this place, long before it became known as the Darling Downs.
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