Taylor heads QLS
A TOWNSVILLE lawyer is the new president of the Queensland Law Society, the first time a local has led the organisation since 2000.
Purcell Taylor Lawyers director Ken Taylor moved to Brisbane to take up the role on January 2.
Mr Taylor said his North Queensland background gave him insight into the issues facing regional lawyers.
One of his first jobs as president will be touring the east coast, visiting Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and finally Townsville.
“The goal is to get around to all the regional areas that I can, as soon as I can, to find out some of the other problems in other regions,” he said.
“Some aspects are common throughout; access to justice is always an issue, having properly resourced courts is a particular concern.”
Mr Taylor is the third Townsville solicitor to have been appointed QLS president.
Jim Carey of Wilson Ryan & Grose held the position in 1984 and Raoul Giudes, a partner at Giudes & Elliott, was appointed in 2000.
Mr Taylor said that, as president, he wanted to address issues such as the impact of technology on the legal profession, access to employment for graduates and the retention of common law rights.
He said he also hoped to improve communication channels with key stakeholders and has already met with the Attorney- General.
“That includes not just government departments but the ministers and shadow ministers, the heads of the various jurisdictions and their representatives and insurance commissioners, to name a few,” he said.
Mr Taylor studied law in Townsville via correspondence through the Queensland Institute of Technology. After graduating in 1989, he worked at Roberts Leu & North for a number of years.
In the early ’ 90s, Mr Taylor travelled and worked in London.
He returned to Townsville and, with business partner Michael Purcell, established Purcell Taylor Lawyers in 1999.
Mr Taylor is an accredited specialist personal injury lawyer who, at Purcell Taylor, worked in litigation and insurance law.
He said the decision to run for president was not “taken lightly”.
“I was first approached about running for the position of president in the early part of last year,” he said.
“There were a lot of conversations with my family, and also my business partners, because it’s a burden on both areas.
“But it’s something that I think I could add to the society. I’ve had a lot of support.”
A new Queensland Law Society president is appointed annually.