Gabrielle Canny Legal Services Commission

“With this appointment, the Commission is entering a period of change and a new perspective needed to meet the expected recommendations of the current review of publicly funded legal aid services in South Australia and the national review of Commonwealth Government legal aid services in Australia,” said Chair Deej Eszenyi. “Having worked for legal aid commissions in South Africa, Western Australia and ACT, as well as in private practice, I have the unique perspective of having seen both sides of the legal aid equation – as a provider of a legal aid engagement, as well as representing clients receiving a grant,” said Gabrielle. “I am delighted to lead an organisation that is not only an integral part of South Australia`s legal framework, but also plays such an important role in the lives of hundreds of thousands of community members.” The Legal Services Commission runs South Australia`s largest law firm with 39 criminal defence lawyers, 25 family lawyers working on internal legal aid cases and 42 Access Services Division lawyers providing legal advice and specialist legal training. “Gabrielle brings a unique combination of management and legal practice skills that are very difficult to find in a lawyer, and it is particularly gratifying that we were able to find these skills here in South Australia. Legal aid not only provides legal representation to clients who cannot afford their own legal fees, but also legal information, advice and education, and provided more than 100,000 free legal information and advisory services in the last financial year. Gabrielle`s appointment is one of several recent appointments in the justice sector, including Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, Police Commissioner Gary Burns, Attorney General`s Office CEO Rick Persse and District Attorney Adam Kimber Director. The previous director, Hamish Gilmore, retired at the end of July this year after 13 years in the position. The president of the Commission des services juridiques, Deej Eszenyi, announced on the 30th. It was announced that Gabrielle Canny had been appointed Director of the South Australian Legal Services Commission. A graduate of the University of Adelaide, Gabrielle has worked extensively in Australia and abroad. She has been with the Commission des services juridiques for 11 years, the last three of which were as assistant director.