04/02/2026
We’re thrilled to share that our Founder & CEO, Carolyn Devries, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Smokeball Community Hero Award! ❤
Through New Way Lawyers, Carolyn has championed access to justice for all—from pioneering Australia’s first non-profit law firm, to creating our private Facebook group Lunch with a Lawyer, and launching programs supporting domestic violence victims at work.
We’re proud to see her vision recognised on a national stage ❤
Announcing the fourth finalist for our 2026 Community Hero Award: Carolyn Devries from New Way Lawyers! 🎉
As Founder, CEO, and Principal Lawyer of New Way Lawyers, Carolyn pioneered Australia's first non-profit law firm, creating a third model of legal service provision for those who don't qualify for government funding and cannot afford private legal costs. For more than 15 years, her firm has served over 10,000 individuals with legal advice and representation. In 2019, Carolyn launched ‘Lunch with a Lawyer’, a free online service where each weekday, a lawyer from her firm spends their lunch break answering questions and providing legal information to members. Lunch with a Lawyer now serves over 9,000 users with over 2,400 questions answered annually.
In 2025, she helped to launch the Safe and Supported at Work Program in partnership with Relationship Matters, providing domestic violence victims access to legal advice and counselling through employer-funded Employee Assistance Programs, an initiative launched by the Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence.
Learn more about our 2026 finalists: https://go.smokeball.com.au/l/932333/2026-02-02/9fhqs