Judy Courtin Legal

Andrea Wilkins  PracticeManager

Andrea has been with the firm from the beginning as our Practice Manager.  She is wholeheartedly committed to helping our clients attain justice and healing.  
Andrea oversees systems and processes, financial management and legal costing as well as helping to look after the team so that we remain and happy and thriving workplace.

Di Roberts  Legal Assistant

Di undertook a combined Arts/Law degree at Monash University, before combining family life and running her own conveyancing business. She has also worked in a variety of legal support roles over the years, and spent ten years at Springvale Monash Legal Service where she facilitated access to justice for those most in need. Di’s vast experience, together with her compassionate and empathetic nature, brings a client-focused approach to her role at Judy Courtin Legal and she is excited to be part of a team that advocates for the rights of survivors of child sexual abuse.

Elissa Lowenstein  Lawyer

Having worked for many years as a wholistic health practitioner and trauma-informed coach, Elissa brings her wide-ranging skills, life experience and her passion for helping people to the law.
An advocate at heart, Elissa came to the law later in life. She completed her mediation training with the Victorian Bar Association during her studies. Her legal work has always involved representing victims of institutional abuse.
As a lawyer, Elissa listens to the concerns and needs of her clients.
Elissa feels she has ‘come home’ working at Judy Courtin Legal. The unique client-focused and caring approach to the law is how she believes lawyers can best serve their clients.
It is a privilege to help survivors of institutional abuse find the justice and accountability that is right for them.
Elissa is a mother of two children and grandmother to a beautiful girl.

Emerson Street  Paralegal

Emerson is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws at Monash University. He has a keen interest in human rights law which led him to undertake a major in this area. This, combined with his passion for advocacy, has shaped his interest in the work of institutional child abuse law. Emerson is delighted to put into practice the theory of his studies through real-life application. His hard-working nature, dedication and eagerness to learn enables him to meaningfully support the work of Judy Courtin Legal in his role.

Gayle Fulford Client Support and Advocacy

Gayle brings a deep passion for social justice in her Client Support and Advocacy role.  Her previous trauma-informed counselling and advocacy work supporting clients who have experienced sexual assault and family violence is extensive.  Gayle supported survivors from Ballarat and surrounds as they bravely spoke out and provided their submissions to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
It has been an honour for Gayle to walk alongside and learn from First Nations Peoples in many different projects throughout her career.
Gayle is excited to be part of a dedicated and compassionate legal team that works tirelessly towards justice and accountability for their clients.  Gayle will be working alongside the legal teams to help support our clients throughout the legal process.
Outside of her role at Judy Courtin Legal, Gayle enjoys gardening, self-sustainability, reading and travel.  

Haven Roberts Paralegal

Haven is currently completing a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts at La Trobe University with a major in linguistics. Throughout her studies she has volunteered extensively with organisations acting on behalf of people who have struggled to access the justice system in an equitable manner. This has inspired her interest in the area of institutionalised abuse and she is passionate about assisting our clients, and particularly those in need of a helping hand. Haven brings her excellent communication skills, hard-working nature, and enthusiasm to the practice and is eager to apply her skills learnt throughout her degree.

Isabella Perez Law Graduate

Isabella completed a Bachelor of Criminal Justice in 2019. She is now in her final semester of the Juris Doctor at RMIT University. Isabella previously volunteered at The Bridge of Hope Innocence Initiative and the Magistrates’ Court, sparking her interest in court procedure, law reform and miscarriages of justice. Isabella is motivated and caring, and she strives to approach her work with the client’s needs at the forefront of all she does.

Jamila Bayani Paralegal

Jamila is an ambitious student pursuing dual degrees in Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Psychological Studies at Victoria University. Her educational pursuit embodies a fervent dedication to comprehending the fusion of law and psychology in advocating for marginalized communities worldwide. Joining Judy Courtin Legal in 2022, Jamila dedicated herself to supporting and advocating for survivors of institutional child abuse, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to seeking justice and providing assistance to those affected by such trauma.

Jasmine Cochrane Paralegal

Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from La Trobe University and recently completed Practical Legal Training at Leo Cussen Centre for Law. She has undertaken placement at a Community Legal Centre and a
not-for-profit service for women who have experienced family violence. Through these experiences, Jasmine has developed a strong interest in assisting survivors of abuse.

Judy Courtin Lawyer, Principal

Judy is an ongoing campaigner for legal and other reforms in the area of institutional sexual abuse. She advocated strongly for both the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse and by Religious and Other Organisations (Victorian Inquiry) and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission) and represented victims at the Royal Commission.
Judy continues to write extensively to advocate for, and represent the voices of, victims and their families, whilst addressing their legal and human rights.

Jules Boas Legal Assistant

Jules is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University with a major in philosophy and a minor in politics and international studies. Throughout his studies, he has volunteered with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the Australian Electoral Committee, among others.

Kalani Dharmapriya Paralegal

Kalani graduated from a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Neuroscience, at the University of Melbourne in 2019. She is now studying the Juris Doctor at La Trobe University. During her undergraduate degree, she completed a placement in Battambang, Cambodia where she learned of the widespread, systemic injustices affecting the Cambodian people, ultimately motivating her to pursue a career in law. Kalani is passionate about equal opportunity and human rights law. She is driven by the like-minded team at Judy Courtin Legal and hopes to harness her experiences to help advocate for survivors of institutional abuse.

Linda Mollica Paralegal

Linda has more than 20 years working in administrative roles. 
She has worked in a variety of different sectors such as Insurance, Superannuation, Construction and Medical. She has spent most of her time working as an Executive Assistant and has extensive management and secretarial skills.
Linda is highly motivated and her exceptional communication skills are an invaluable contribution to the pursuit of victims of institutional abuse.

Melissa McVey  Lawyer

Melissa has recently completed a Bachelor of Law and Arts at La Trobe University and her practical legal training with Leo Cussen.
Throughout university Melissa volunteered with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre which has led her to understand the complexities of accessing the justice system and motivated her to assist those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. 
When not working, Melissa enjoys freediving, paddle boarding and being around the ocean.

Nadine Daniel Lawyer 

Nadine joined JCL in 2019 after ten years with Victoria Legal Aid. Nadine is committed to providing access to justice and is a dedicated member of the JCL team. 

Niko Medic  Lawyer

Niko has recently completed a Bachelor of Laws at Swinburne University of Technology and Practical Legal Training at Leo Cussen Centre of Law. He has experience in consulting assisting clients who have experienced severe trauma while volunteering for the Legal Action for Afghanistan Initiative. Through communicating, studying, and understanding the drastic effects of institutional abuse, Niko is passionate about helping clients in their matters. His ability to adapt to new challenges and expediently learn makes him a valuable member of the Judy Courtin Legal team.

Sachita Sood Law Graduate

Sachita graduated from a combined Law and Criminology degree at Deakin University in 2022 and will now complete her Practical Legal Training with the College of Law. She has completed a placement at a Family Violence and Family Law Clinic at a Community Legal Centre and worked in the Deakin Employment Law Clinic, helping individuals access the justice system and receive their entitlements through the legal process.
She has learnt about trauma-informed legal practices throughout various paralegal experiences and is committed to applying this knowledge to her work in institutional child abuse at Judy Courtin Legal.

Samantha Camilleri Senior Lawyer

Samantha previously worked for Maurice Blackburn and Wisewould Mahony Lawyers.
She has had extensive experience seeking compensation for clients who have suffered from both physical and psychiatric injuries, including the Black Saturday Bushfires and DePuy Hip Implant class actions.
Samantha’s pro bono work with the Mental Health Legal Clinic, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Springvale Monash Legal Service, has also given her the opportunity to advocate and deliver successful legal outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
She is now committed to fighting for justice and compensatory remedies for survivors of abuse against the many institutions who were an abject failure in protecting those within their care.

Samuel Sheppard Lawyer 

Samuel is a qualified lawyer with several years’ experience, with a keen interest in multiple areas of the law including personal injury law, tortious liability, and civil litigation. He currently practices across various jurisdictions in Australia including Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia. Samuel enjoys the various aspects of working on historical abuse matters, including the challenge, the fight, and obtaining justice for his clients.

Sarah Kivinen Lawyer

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws from Deakin University (2020) and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Leo Cussen Centre for Law (2021). Prior to her work in Institutional Abuse, Sarah gained experience in a broad range of advocacy with a focus on access to justice. This included volunteer work for Victoria Legal Aid, the Prison Legal Education and Assistance Project, and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. In the aftermath of the 2016 Royal Commission, in hand with significant legislative changes, Sarah is determined to provide full access to justice for all her clients. Sarah has substantial experience in litigation, primarily as solicitor with carriage of claims issued in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Tashi McPherson Lawyer

Tashi completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychological Science at La Trobe University. As a part of her studies, Tashi volunteered at various Community Legal Centres and worked with the Child Protection team at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Child Protection placement sparked her interest in helping vulnerable people access justice, and she ensures her clients have a positive legal experience.
Tashi has been at Judy Courtin Legal since 2021, and has experience practicing in various jurisdictions in Australia, including Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania.

Tatiana Shumskaya Paralegal

Tatiana has had significant legal experience, both as a lawyer in Russia, and as a Senior Paralegal, Legal Assistant, and Administrator in Australia.
In more recent years, and prior to joining Judy Courtin Legal, Tatiana devoted herself to her family. However, she felt a need to return to the workforce to an environment where her highly accomplished professional skills could be utilised.
In Tatiana’s own words, when applying for her position at Judy Courtin Legal:
“… I am also inspired by your company’s work supporting victims of institutional abuse and would be honoured to be able to contribute …” 
Her contribution has indeed been invaluable. Her compassion has shone through, and her ability to carry out complex assignments in high-volume and deadline-intensive situations cannot be understated

Yahila Kumarasinghe Paralegal

Yahila completed her law degree at the University of London in 2016 and earned her postgraduate degree in Justice and Criminology in 2021.
She will commence her PLT at the start of 2024. With prior volunteer work at the Bridge of Hope Innocence initiative and experience in class actions and personal injury law before joining JCL, she is dedicated to leveraging her experience to pursue justice.