More than a dozen alumnae from The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law have been named as finalists in the 2022 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards.

Among the outstanding alumnae recognised for their work in the legal profession is Jorgie Gorman (BA/LLB/GDLP '05), who was named as a finalist in the In-House Lawyer of the Year category.

Jorgie currently works as Partner, Senior Legal Counsel at global real estate consultancy and broker Knight Frank, where she has built a stellar reputation as one of the firm’s most trusted legal advisors over the past eight years.

“I am delighted and honoured to be named as a finalist in the Women in Law Awards and to receive industry recognition for my professional achievements over the last year. It is one thing to work hard and achieve success as a team, but it is another to be recognised and celebrated,” said Jorgie.

In July 2022, Jorgie was promoted to Partner at Knight Frank. In her role, she provides legal, transactional and project advice to over 1,000 internal clients across the Australia and Asia-Pacific.  

“My role at Knight Frank is very busy and fast-paced. As such, it is not often that I get the opportunity to sit back and reflect on my work,” she said.

“The process for the Women in Law Awards was a fantastic experience. I am proud of what I have been able to achieve, and it has driven my ambition to continue to make a positive impact, particularly as an advocate for gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.”

As she embarks further on a career that has her working on accounts across the Asia Pacific region, Jorgie reflects on her time at the ANU College of Law as an integral part of her journey by broadening her horizons and teaching her to think on a global scale.

“One of the best things about studying at ANU was the on-campus experience and being part of a diverse community of students and teachers from all over the world. This not only helped me adjust with the move to Canberra from Melbourne, but it has also shaped my career path by expanding my focus,” she said.

“The global outlook of ANU and the combination of practical and academic programs gave me an excellent foundation in my legal career as in-house legal counsel for a multi-national company working across a number of jurisdictions.”

As she joins other ANU alumnae finalists later this month in Melbourne for the awards ceremony, Jorgie hopes to see more women in leadership roles in the legal profession in the future. She believes self-confidence goes a long way towards breaking barriers and in helping young and aspiring female law graduates achieve their goals.

“As women, we often struggle with self-doubt and lack of confidence in our abilities. This is an ongoing battle of mine and something I continue to work on,” she said.

“The best advice I can give is to trust your own talents, work hard, make sure you have a strong support network so you can ask for help if needed, and most importantly enjoy the journey and celebrate your successes!”

The 2022 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne on Thursday 24 November. The following ANU College of Law alumnae have been named finalists in their respective categories:

General Counsel of the Year
Katherine Stapels (GDLP '16)

In-House Lawyer of the Year
Jorgie Gorman (BA, LLB, GDLP '05)

Innovator of the Year (Individual)
Marial Lewis (MLP '17)

Legal Operations Professional of the Year
Fabi Fugazza (GDLP '18)

Mentor of the Year
Andelka (Ange) Susa (GDLP '15)

NFP Lawyer of the Year
Isabella Copetti (GDLP '18)

Partner of the Year - BigLaw
Penelope Ford (BA/LLB (Hons), GDLP)
Amanda Ludlow (BA/LLB (Hons) '97, GDLP '98)

Pro Bono/Community Legal Centre Lawyer of the Year
Isabella Copetti (GDLP '18)
Sayward McKeown (JD '13)

Rising Star of the Year - BigLaw
Catherine Dent (GDLP '20)
Tara Dhanushkoti (BA/LLB (Hons) '18)

Rising Star of the Year - In-house
Passant Elashram (GDLP '18)

Senior Associate of the Year - BigLaw
Jade Tyrrell (GDLP '17)

Sole Practitioner of the Year
Adele Anthony (GDLP '15)
Marial Lewis (MLP '17)

Special Counsel of the Year
Kathy Neilson (BA/LLB (Hons) '09, GDLP '11)

Wellness Advocate of the Year
Adele Anthony (GDLP '15)