Get to know the Law Council’s 2026 President
3 February 2026
On 1 January 2026, Tania Wolff commenced her term as President of the Law Council of Australia. Tania is a VCAT member and a sessional legal member of the Mental Health Tribunal. She was President of the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) for three years from January 2021 to November 2023. Prior to being elected to the Executive of the Law Council, Tania was a director from 2021-2023.
Tania is an accredited specialist in criminal law and has particular interest in mental health and drug and alcohol-related criminal offending. She has focussed much of her professional career on advocating for improved criminal justice and community responses to these issues.
From 2012–2025, Tania was Director of First Step Legal where she led a unique health justice partnership embedded within First Step, a mental health and addiction services clinic in St Kilda. In this role she assisted some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged in our community. She has driven the expansion of health justice partnerships into other mental health, addiction, family violence and housing service settings.
Tania is a long-time proponent of compassionate legal practice, trauma-informed practice, therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) and the expansion of specialist courts. She is committed to advancing TJ, restorative justice, and justice reinvestment initiatives to better tackle the causes of crime and improve community safety and wellbeing. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Why do you think it’s important for the Australian legal profession to be represented by an organisation like the Law Council?
The Law Council plays a vital role as the national voice of the Australian legal profession. In a federal system, where laws and legal practice are shaped across multiple jurisdictions, there is real value in having a body that can bring together diverse perspectives and speak with authority on issues of national importance.
The Law Council does more than represent professional interests. It advocates for the rule of law, access to justice, and the integrity of our legal institutions — values that underpin a healthy democracy. Importantly, it draws on the lived experience of lawyers practising across the country, through its Constituent Bodies and expert sections and committees, to inform policy positions that are practical, principled and evidence-based. That combination of independence, expertise and national reach is essential.
Why did you decide to stand for President?
I stood for President because I care deeply about the role the law — and the legal profession — plays in people’s lives. Throughout my career, I have seen law at its best as a force for fairness, protection and opportunity, particularly for people experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.
Having had the privilege of leading the Law Institute of Victoria for three years, I saw first-hand the importance of strong institutions, constructive engagement with members, and principled advocacy grounded in practical experience. I was motivated to stand at a time when public confidence in institutions is fragile and trust cannot be taken for granted. In those moments, leadership matters, and so does the way institutions listen, speak and act. I wanted to bring that experience to the national level — to listen carefully, advocate thoughtfully, and help strengthen the institutions that support both the profession and public trust in the law.
What do you hope to achieve this year in your role as President?
This year, I hope to advance a focused, practical agenda that strengthens access to justice, supports sustainable legal practice, and reinforces confidence in our legal institutions.
A key priority will be advocating for reform where the justice system is failing those it is meant to protect — particularly children and young people. I also want to shine a light on the essential, and often unrecognised, contribution lawyers make to their communities.
This year will also see the work of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism. The Law Council will be ready to support the Commission and play an important educative role for the broader community.
Equally important is strengthening the Law Council itself: ensuring its governance remains robust and fit for purpose, and that its advocacy is informed by close engagement with Constituent Bodies across the country. Above all, I want the Law Council to continue to lead with integrity and purpose.
What are some of the key policy areas you hope to address during your tenure?
Access to justice will be a central focus of my presidency. Legal need continues to grow, yet legal assistance services remain chronically under-resourced, creating real risks of postcode justice, particularly in rural and regional communities.
Child justice is another critical priority. Australia’s continued reliance on punitive approaches — including the detention of very young children — is both ineffective and inconsistent with our human rights obligations. Evidence-based prevention, early intervention and diversion must be prioritised.
I am also focused on issues affecting the profession itself, including the sustainability of legal aid practice, legal education and training, and preparing the profession for regulatory and technological change. Across all these areas, my approach will be grounded in evidence, fairness and the long-term public interest.
What do you think are the biggest challenges the legal profession is currently facing?
The profession is navigating a period of significant change and pressure. Many lawyers are dealing with increasing workloads, economic constraints, and the emotional demands of practice, particularly in areas serving vulnerable communities.
This year, the introduction of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations for the legal profession will be a major challenge. While the profession understands the importance of these reforms, there is a clear need for practical guidance, adequate transition time, and a regulatory approach that supports compliance rather than punishes uncertainty.
At the same time, rapid developments in artificial intelligence are reshaping legal practice. AI offers real opportunities to improve efficiency and access to justice, but it also raises complex questions about ethics, confidentiality, professional responsibility and training. Navigating these changes will require thoughtful regulation, education, and leadership grounded in the profession’s core values.
Last Updated on 03/02/2026
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