National Golden Gavel
Each year, young lawyers test their public speaking skills and comedic genius at Golden Gavel competitions across the country. The winners of each state and territory competition face off at the National Golden Gavel, to prove that an ounce of wit is worth a pound of argument.
The prestigious National Golden Gavel, presented by the Young Lawyers' Committee of the Law Council of Australia, provides an opportunity for early career lawyers to showcase their advocacy and comedy skills, with each given five minutes to argue their case on a usually far-fetched legal topic – revealed only 24 hours beforehand.
The 2024 National Golden Gavel was held in Melbourne on 22 November 2024 and was hosted by the Law Institute of Victoria, where seven young lawyers from across Australia competed for the coveted title.
Sarah Cooney (Victoria) Claudia Weatherall (Australian Capital Territory) were the joint winners, while Sydney Lee (Tasmania) the runner-up. The Law Council congratulates all the finalists for their highly entertaining presentations.
The winners of the 2024 Australian Young Lawyer Awards, Ms Kate Adnams, and the Queensland Law Society Future Leaders Committee, were also announced.
Information about the 2025 National Golden Gavel will be provided later in the year.
Last Updated on 11/02/2025