Former Moruya High School student Josie Dempster has won a national Barrister of the Year award.
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Ms Dempster accepted the award in front of thousands who attended the Australian 30 under 30 legal awards in Sydney last month.
When Ms Dempster graduated high school in 2009, she had no idea what career path to take.
"I had no idea what I wanted to do," she said.
"I wanted to be an actor and toyed with idea of becoming an accountant."
She definitely did not see herself as a barrister before the age of 30, let alone receiving prestigious awards.
Ms Dempster began studies of law and economics at the University of Wollongong. She then completed the final two years of her law degree at the Australian National University (ANU).
"I am glad I went to ANU as it opens doors and people like seeing ANU on a resume," she said.
However, it wasn't all that easy finding her feet.
Having grown up in the small country town of Moruya, Ms Dempster said her move to Canberra was "terrifying".
"Being from a small town, not knowing anyone in the profession and going to a uni like ANU, I found it overwhelming," she said.
She didn't have any mentors and no one in her family or friends understood the world of law she was about to step foot in.
"It was a matter of stumbling my way through," Ms Dempster said.
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After three years working as a lawyer in Canberra, Ms Dempster decided to bite the bullet and sit the Bar exam to become a barrister.
"I had always planned to go to the Bar, but had planned on doing that a lot later in my career," she said.
"I was afraid if i didn't do the exam the year I contemplated it, I would have chickened out. The prospect of fear prompted me to sign up."
In 2018, Ms Dempster was admitted to the NSW Bar Association.
It was a big decision for Ms Dempster, to leave her reliable salary as an employed solicitor to become a self-employed barrister.
"It was daunting, to go from full time work, to having no work," she said.
"You have to build a practice from scratch."
She managed to create a profile after three months working for free.
Ms Dempster did pro bono work alongside a senior barrister.
Her goal was to get as much experience as possible, saying yes to every opportunity.
"I put myself out there as an eager barrister - and it worked," she said.
She picked up matters involving serious criminal offences, and one trial which was an inquest into a death.
Ms Dempster is still passionate about pro bono initiatives.
She recently represented a woman with a sexual assault matter before the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Through mediation, Ms Dempster was able to help the woman resolve her complaint of an employer who sexually assaulted her in the workplace.
"I am grateful I can do good things for people who need help," she said.
Ms Dempster is now also a member of the Australian Bar Association's Ethics Committee and the ACT Bar Association's Women Barristers' Committee.
She is a casual tutor of litigation and dispute management at the ANU and volunteers as a mentor through the Women in Law Organisation and ACT Young Lawyers' Mentoring Program.
"I do what I can to support people in the profession, because I know what it's like not having the friends circle or family with experience in the legal profession," she said.
Ms Dempster helps newbies establish themselves and create networking relationships.
She said young people click with her. Especially since she has been vocal over mental health issues.
Ms Dempster has written articles about dealing with stresses in the day-to-day life of a female barrister."Young people who I am mentoring are really receptive to that - they are really woke and understand that mental health is a part of people's lives," she said.
"In the legal profession, it is just shut up and get work done and not to talk about day-to-day struggles."
She was on a mission to break that taboo.
"At the Bar it can be isolating, as you work for yourself - you don't have an employer and you don't have colleagues," she said.
"It's about opening up communication and breaking the stigma that's attached to mental health issues."
She has written a number of articles on her own experiences, where people can reach out and seek advice.
Ms Dempster is one of seven female barristers in NSW under the age of 30.
Only 24 percent of barristers in NSW are female.
"It has taught me, women should always support other women, which is why I participate in mentoring programs," Ms Dempster said.
"I want women to be brave and come to the Bar, enjoy their experiences and always feel supported."
Ms Dempster chairs the ACT Bar Association's Health and Wellbeing Committee and has organised virtual events, such as trivia, for women in the profession to connect.
Ms Dempster plans on staying at the Bar for as long as possible, as she enjoys the freedom and flexibility of being self-employed.
She visits her family at Moruya and Tuross Head when she can, making sure she dips her toes in the ocean.
"It is so grounding, the beach is my happy place," she said.
"Walking in bare foot and bike riding the Tuross Boulevard is how I like to spend my time when I am down."