Yet the struggle to attract and retain lawyers in rural areas means access to justice is not so straight forward for some. 

Law Council of Australia president Fiona McLeod said there are problems retaining legal practitioners in country Australia which impacts access of legal services. 

“Young graduate lawyers are often looking for short term experience in remote areas,” Ms McLeod said.  

“Working with disadvantaged clients is challenging and there is a difficulty in providing services because they are chronically underfunded,” she said.

Ms McLeod said solicitors last an average of 12 months in remote areas.  

“Young lawyers can become frustrated because they feel they cannot service a community properly. All of that adds to the challenge and the pressure on individuals,” Ms McLeod said. 

“It is a fabulous opportunity to deliver services where they are most needed but at the same time it is challenging. 

“If we are going to attract young lawyers and keep them we need to be providing proper support to them. Without access to support networks people do not feel connected to the community and look to move back to cities,” she said.

Harley Dannatt spent five and a half years as a lawyer at Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency. 

“It was my first job as a practicing lawyer, the things I was exposed to you could not imagine that in a city. You are really thrown in at the deep end,” Mr Dannatt said.  

“There is no doubt that what you are exposed to up here is really challenging and traumatic. I do not know if people are really prepared for that.

“They are going to be exposed to domestic violence, homelessness and poverty. Vicarious trauma is a real thing. 

Mr Dannatt said stagnating salaries can influence people’s decisions to leave Katherine. 

“Working for a community organisation, there is a pay cap. The entry level salary is really competitive with down south but after a few years it is hard to keep up,” Mr Dannatt said. 

“I think it is pretty admirable that people come up here, but it is understandable why they leave. Most people get over worked.”

Mr Dannatt said he moved to Katherine seeking adventure. 

“I think the idea of remote work really appealed to me, who wouldn’t want to be a bush lawyer, flying in planes across Arnhem Land driving through the desert to Lajamanu,” he said. 

“People back home expect you to be really isolated here as a young professional but there are so many social events for young people in town.

“It is actually the opposite to what people think. There are better social networks here than in the city.”

Tomorrow’s installment – Pilots