Justine Kilkenny

Justine joined the team in 2011 as a legal assistant. She completed her law degree after hours while she devoted her working time to developing her knowledge and expertise in all things dust and occupational diseases. By the time she completed her law degree, she had several years of experience in asbestos diseases claims, including a secondment to our NSW dust diseases team as a paralegal, where she worked on asbestos claims in NSW and the ACT.

Justine has a special interest in South Australian claims and although she is based in Melbourne, she regularly visits Adelaide, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and broader South Australia as required. Her experience in South Australia and NSW allows her to offer strategic advice to people who have worked in more than one part of Australia.

"I approach my work with equal parts compassion and ferocity. It is a special privilege to represent people facing terminal illnesses and I am forever changed by this work. Some people prefer a more hands-off approach and want to be guided by me. Others feel comforted by more regular contact. Whatever your preference is, I understand what is needed to remove stress and intimidation from the legal process and replace that with comfort and trust," says Justine.

"I have met people from all walks of life over the years. Talking to my clients about their working lives has taught me a lot about Australia’s history and allowed me to visit some beautiful parts of the country. The furthest I have travelled to see a client in one day was from Melbourne to Nambucca Heads and back!"

Although she loves travelling, Justine says she is a homebody at heart and enjoys spending her spare time with her family. She is originally from Queensland and says she has almost fully embraced life in Melbourne, except for the weather.

Memberships:

• Law Institute of Victoria 
• Australian Lawyers Alliance 
• Asbestos Council of Victoria GARDS