What's New

^{03 March 2023}

Legal Services Commission appoints new head of Family Law Division

South Australia’s largest legal assistance organisation, the Legal Services Commission, has appointed Stephen Bourne to head up its Family Law Division.

Stephen joins Legal Services as Manager, Family Law, with over 25 years post-admission legal practice experience across the public and private sectors in Australia and New Zealand.

A specialist in family and child welfare law, and an Approved Family Law Arbitrator and Independent Children’s Lawyer, Stephen’s most recent role was Solicitor Director and CEO at Medcalf Grant Lawyers in New South Wales.

The appointment follows the retirement of Ashley Kent who will handover to Stephen on 17 March, after 27 years of meritorious service as a Family Lawyer and Manager at the Legal Services Commission.

Legal Services’ Chief Legal Officer Lucinda Byers thanked Ashley for his excellent contribution to Legal Services and welcomed Stephen as he started in the important role for the organisation.

“Ashley has made an enormous contribution to Legal Services over a long period of time, in particular in leading our Family Law team and as an Independent Children’s Lawyer. We wish him all the very best in his well-earned retirement from full time practice and are grateful that we will continue to benefit from his expertise as an independent Chair of family dispute resolution conferences,” Ms Byers said.

“We’re thankful that Ashley will be handing over to Stephen over the next couple of weeks, and we’re thrilled to have someone of Stephen’s calibre fill this significant role within Legal Services.”