Be Brave. 

That’s Jade-Ann Reeves’ outlook. 

“Do the brave thing when you're scared. Back yourself. Dealing with fear and being brave is always a challenge, but there's so much reward when you do it. You’ll never regret the big calls that you make,” she says. 

Her own brave choices have paid off. 

“For me one of those decisions was to become a barrister very early on in my career.” 

Jade-Ann graduated with a double degree in Law (First Class Honours) and Social Science (Criminology, Politics and International Relations) from the University of the Sunshine Coast five years ago. 

She’s now forging a career as a barrister with her practice based at the prestigious Murray Gleeson Chambers in Brisbane. 

It’s a swift ascent and a thoroughly earned one – driven by her hard work, unwavering determination and a passion to advocate for others. 

After graduation, Jade-Ann was appointed to a highly coveted position as associate to the Honourable Justice Peter Davis, Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland and President of the Industrial Court of Queensland and the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.  

It was an invaluable experience.  

“I was in court almost every day with my judge and I fell in love with the whole world of advocacy. 

“Seeing people on their feet in front of me, it became more tangible that I could be a barrister as well.”  

Jade-Ann worked as a solicitor for a short time, before becoming the first UniSC law school graduate to be called to the Bar. 

“I've always wanted to do what I can to help people who are vulnerable. There’s a lot of vulnerability within the criminal justice system, especially in the work of defence.  

“You're dealing with people who are trying to navigate the legal system at the worst points of their life. 

“To be able to help them navigate that system, tell their stories, and protect their rights is such a valuable thing to do.”

Her work has taken her throughout Queensland and to the ACT where she’s appeared before the High Court – the highest court in the nation’s legal system. 

“I practise in lots of different places. Every matter is different and has its own complexity. Some weeks I'm strapped to my desk working up a matter and then other weeks I'm in court all week in trial,” she says. 

She’s always been motivated to excel, and from a young age saw education as a pathway to create her future. 

Growing up on the outskirts of central Queensland in low socio-economic circumstances, she persuaded her parents to send her to boarding school, ultimately becoming the first in her immediate family to finish high school. 

“I always advocated for wanting something different from where I'd come from. I saw more, I think, all the time in my life. And I just always wanted to get there no matter what it looked like. I just kept striving for it,” she says. 

Her interest in law was sparked in Year 12 when a refugee lawyer visited her school and shared his experiences. 

“He inspired me with how he used the law as a vehicle to help others. He spoke about how the law gave him a lot of intellectual stimulation, but at the same time he was able to use it to serve society, and that was appealing to me.”  

She’d originally applied to study psychology and criminology at university, but just days before the amendment deadline she switched her preferences to law and arrived at UniSC in 2016. 

It was another brave move to begin tertiary studies. 

“Everything I did was new to me. It was unpaved in terms of my family. I didn't have a roadmap. I figured it out as I went along.” 

She flourished in the close-knit environment of a smaller university campus, building strong connections with her lecturers and tutors. 

“I could talk to them about university, law school and assessment pieces and trusted that they wanted the best for me. I wasn't just a number to them. It really helped to have that support.” 

Her honours research project, supervised by Associate Professor Tim Peters, was a highlight. She explored the idea of giving legal personhood to nature, and her paper was later published in the Griffith Law Review. 

She’s continued at UniSC as a sessional lecturer, finding real joy in sharing her practical experience with students. 

“I love teaching. I love building relationships with students, knowing how beneficial it was for me. I also really love being able to provide students with an insight into practice. 

“Being able to show them that people from our university can go on [to be a barrister] and this is what it looks like, and this is how you get there. 

“I want students to know that where you go to university isn’t an impediment to where you want to be within the profession.” 

Dr Peters says Jade's contribution has strengthened the connection between classroom learning and professional practice.  

"It has been fantastic to have Jade return to UniSC in the classroom and share her experience and enthusiasm with our current students. 

"Jade throws herself into everything she does and, whilst it is no surprise to see the success she achieves, it is wonderful to watch her go from strength to strength," he says. 

What’s next? For now, Jade-Ann is embracing the chance to simply appreciate the milestone she’s worked so hard to achieve. 

“I've spent my whole life looking at the next thing. Finally, I got to where I wanted to be, which is at the Bar. I'm just so happy to take time to enjoy being a barrister.  

“My goal at the moment is to be the best barrister that I can be. And whatever comes from that will come from it.”