By Kevin Dolman There are powerful reasons for increasing the number of indigenous lawyers.
Indigenous people are more likely to engage an indigenous lawyer.
It is likely that an indigenous lawyer will be empathetic to the client's concerns, and may be able to overcome many of the factors which often prevent indigenous people from accessing the law. The indigenous lawyer is likely to be better able to communicate effectively with the client and thus better able to represent the client's interests. But within these positive aspects there are dangers for indigenous lawyers. This article discusses issues which are likely to arise as an increasing number of indigenous people undertake a law degree and move into the legal profession. In the past six or seven years the number of indigenous law students at Australian universities has tripled to approximately one hundred and fifty.