Yvette Holt

Yvette has a BA (Hons) / LLB (Hons) from the University of Sydney, graduating in 1997 and a Masters of Law (Hons) from the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1998.

Yvette has been a lecturer and tutor at Southern Cross University since 2006. Yvette also works part-time in criminal law practice in the Northern Rivers in NSW.

Her previous experience includes working for 4 years at Allens law firm in Sydney, primarily in the Litigation department. In addition, she has worked as a legal research officer at the New South Wales Law Reform Commission (on the Review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) Report 92 (1999)) and as an Associate for a Federal Court Judge. Yvette has also done volunteer work at a number of community legal centres in Sydney, including the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH), the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS), the Disability Discrimination Legal Centre and the Redfern Legal Centre.

Sophie Anderson

For over 25 years, Sophie has worked as a lawyer & advocate in criminal law (since 2000), and occasionally practices in employment law, discrimination and civil litigation. She started her legal career working with the Aboriginal Legal Services in Sydney, and then in regional NSW. Sophie was called to the NSW Bar in 2014 & was the recipient of the Christopher Gee Memorial Prize for Advocacy & Evidence.

Sophie has previously lectured & tutored at Southern Cross University, Lismore (NSW). She is a current committee member of the Law Advisory Committee of SCU. In 2015, she was the runner-up in the NSW/ ACT Rural Women’s Awards and actively mentors lawyers in regional areas. Sophie is a member of the NSW Bar on the criminal law committee, and wellbeing committee, and is the North Coast representative. She is currently a member of the Bugmy Bar Book committee.

Sophie is currently a co-host Podcast presenter on “5 Cases Podcast” hosted the Legal Aid NSW Criminal Division.

Sophie currently practices from Lismore, and does Trial work, Appeal work and appearances in all courts & jurisdictions in NSW.

Binnie O'Dwyer

Binnie is a criminal defence solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service in Lismore. She began practicing law in 2015 after completing a double Law/Indigenous Studies degree at Southern Cross University. She appears in the Children’s Court mainly, as well as the Local and District Courts for adults.

Prior to being a solicitor, Binnie was involved with the environment movement and worked with Aboriginal communities trying to protect cultural heritage and sacred sites from mining and other development. She has also been involved with Friends of the Earth, Lock the Gate and local community groups campaigning on climate change, old growth forest logging and First Nations people's rights. 

Community activism has given her the groundwork to come into criminal practice with a passion for justice and an understanding of the need for Aboriginal people to have a voice within the legal system. 

Originally from Aotearoa but settled in Australia since 1981, Binnie has been a Lismore local for the last 28 years. She lives with her two children and likes to garden and read novels in her spare time.