Two Emigrate Lawyers Team Members Named Finalists in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2026

For a growing law firm, having two members of our team recognised in the same national awards program is a meaningful milestone. It also reflects something central to the culture we are building at Emigrate Lawyers: creating genuine opportunities for women to learn, progress, lead and bring their own perspectives to the profession.

Ava Gordon — Finalist, Legal Operations Professional of the Year

Ava joined Emigrate Lawyers without prior knowledge of the legal services industry. What has distinguished her journey is her ability to learn quickly, take responsibility and translate that learning into leadership. She now leads the Growth team at Emigrate Lawyers, contributing to how the firm communicates, develops and connects with the communities it serves.

Ava is also a member of the LGBTIQ+ community and a vocal advocate for LGBTIQ+ clients and communities. That lived perspective and advocacy are particularly meaningful in a migration practice where some clients seek assistance in circumstances involving sexuality, gender identity, discrimination or persecution. At Emigrate Lawyers, inclusion is not intended to be a marketing statement: people with different backgrounds and lived experiences should have a genuine voice within the organisation.

Her recognition as a finalist for Legal Operations Professional of the Year is an important acknowledgement of a professional journey built through adaptability, initiative and leadership.

Nur Anisa Zainudin — Finalist, Law Student of the Year

Nur Anisa’s story at Emigrate Lawyers demonstrates what can happen when emerging legal talent is given an opportunity to develop. She first joined the firm as a Practical Legal Training (PLT) student. From there, she progressed into a paralegal role and, following her progression through the early stages of her legal career, is now a full-time lawyer at Emigrate Lawyers.

Her progression from student placement to a professional legal role is something the firm is especially proud of. Graduate and PLT opportunities should be more than temporary placements: done properly, they can provide emerging lawyers with substantive exposure, mentoring, responsibility and a pathway into the profession.

Women’s empowerment at Emigrate Lawyers

Women’s empowerment within a law firm is demonstrated most meaningfully through opportunity: who is trusted with responsibility, who is supported to develop, whose ideas are heard and whether there are genuine pathways into leadership.

The journeys of Ava and Anisa are different. Ava entered an unfamiliar industry, developed rapidly and now leads a team. Anisa entered through PLT, progressed to paralegal work and is now practising as a lawyer. Together, their stories demonstrate the importance of creating a workplace where women at different stages of their careers can build capability and progress on merit.