Carolyn Devries Named 2026 Community Hero Award Winner

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Carolyn Devries, CEO and Principal Lawyer, New Way Lawyers, has always been drawn to helping others. From her beginnings growing up on her family’s sheep farm in Central West NSW, to founding Australia’s first non-profit law firm, Carolyn has valued tenacity, treading off the beaten path, and doing things differently.

It is these very qualities that have seen Carolyn being awarded our annual Smokeball 2026 Community Hero Award.

Carolyn has previously been recognised for her work with New Way Lawyers as a state winner at the 2012 Queensland Telstra Business Women’s Award in the Community and Government category. She is also a leading voice in the legal and community sectors, regularly speaking at events and conferences.

We recently caught up with Carolyn and spoke to her about the ‘why’ behind New Way Lawyers, her invaluable advice for lawyers wanting to launch their own non-profit law firms, and what she plans to do with her $5,000 travel voucher prize.

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Congratulations on being our 2026 Community Hero Award winner! What does winning this award mean to you, and do you have any plans on how you will use your travel voucher?

I'm very grateful to Smokeball for acknowledging the work that I've done with New Way Lawyers. It’s validation and recognition of the idea that law can be practiced differently. For a non-profit law firm to be acknowledged in the mainstream legal profession, it affirms that access to justice and community impact matters, and values-driven practice is important. Being given this award is an opportunity to showcase and advocate for the non-profit law firm model and its benefits, and how it has come into its own alongside existing models of legal service provision.

What recharges and refreshes me is helping others. I’m planning to use the voucher to go on a mission trip to the South Pacific, where I can volunteer and lend a helping hand with my church community. The trip will probably take place over a couple of weeks and involves building schools and other hands-on work over there.

Tell us a little bit about why you founded New Way Lawyers. What is your “why”?

I've always believed that law is a helping profession before a commercial one, and I've always been drawn to areas of law that require a high level of care and empathy. I like being able to walk alongside and guide someone who is going through a difficult situation such as separation, divorce, or the loss of a loved one. I wanted to build both a legal service model and a firm that was mission-focused, while also being financially viable and sustainable. My aim was to show what happens when the client is the most important stakeholder, with care, excellence, accessibility, and innovation forming the foundation of everything we do. It did start as a bit of an experiment, but with an incredible heart for helping people, in a better way than the traditional model.

What problem were you trying to solve when you started the firm?

The structure of New Way as a non-profit speaks to the gaps we see in legal service provision. There are the traditional models of government-funded services, like Legal Aid and community legal clinics that many people aren’t eligible for. There are also private law firms where most people can't afford the fees of a private lawyer. The problem we’re trying to solve is to have a legal service provision model that is tailored to people who fall through these gaps.

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For a non-profit law firm to be acknowledged in the mainstream legal profession, it affirms that access to justice and community impact matters, and values-driven practice is important

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How has running a non-profit firm changed you as a lawyer?

It's been my hardest role, but the most rewarding! It’s given me the opportunity to lead with both my heart and my head fully engaged. I’ve had to ensure I keep my heart and my head in balance daily while staying true to the long-term vision of building a firm that has real impact but is also sustainable.

What has been the most rewarding and challenging aspect of the work you do with New Way Lawyers?

Without a doubt it’s seeing the human impact and seeing people who feel more supported as they go through a very difficult season in life. It’s witnessing the reconnection of parents and children after separation, and people being able to move forward with hope again. All those moments are by far the most rewarding. Challenges include seeing the scale of need. There are so many families who, even with us as a service provider, still fall through the cracks I mentioned earlier. There is such a huge need but there are resource constraints - it’s the recognition that you cannot help everybody, that is the most challenging. At the same time, that recognition encourages us to keep innovating, collaborating, and growing.

Can you describe one of your most memorable matters?

It is hard to narrow down to just one! If I were to choose one, it would be a client who had an incredibly complex parenting and property matter. There were lengthy court proceedings, and many ups and downs. The client shared that before coming to us, they had given up hope and were contemplating taking their own life. But after meeting with one of our lawyers and us becoming involved in their matter they felt there was hope and a path forward. It reminds me that the work we do is a great privilege but it’s also a great responsibility.

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There is never a perfect time do something like this. When I first started New Way Lawyers, there was no perfect time. You have to step out and believe you can do it.

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What do you think the most common challenge is in the legal profession now? Is there an underlying theme?

Personally, it’s seeing lawyers enter the profession because they want to help people, but over time, the structure of traditional legal practice can make them feel disconnected to that purpose. It’s how you keep the longevity of that purpose ‘fresh’, especially in the areas of family law and estate law.

You have made a significant impact in the community. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the best to the most people, what would that be?

There are two things that I would love to see increase and grow this year. One is where there is a partnership between health funds and family law professionals, where health funds connect and support members with early access to intervention services. People who are going through separation and divorce often develop health issues, especially stress. If there was support available at an early stage through health funds, it would be a powerful movement. The other initiative I’m passionate about is our domestic violence and family law employee assistance program, where employers can support their workers get access to legal advice. I’d like to get the health partnerships started this year.

What advice would you give someone considering launching a non-profit firm?

Define your vision and purpose - be clear in what you are trying to do and why. Secondly, design your financial stability from day one as having that financial sustainability and a viable financial model is critical to long-term success. Build strong governance, have a good board, and surround yourself with good advice. Fourth, be prepared for both support and scepticism as there will be questions about what you’re doing. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who believe in innovative models and who resonate with your vision is so important. There is never a perfect time do something like this. You have to step out and believe you can do it.

Learn more about New Way Lawyers at www.newwaylawyers.com.au or connect with Carolyn on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram

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