Luke Shearston

Luke, a Senior Associate at Gillard Family Lawyers, is an accredited specialist in Family Law with a strong foundation built over nearly a decade in the community legal sector. Joining the firm in May 2018, he brought his vast experience as a family law and duty solicitor at the Family and Federal Circuit Court in Newcastle. Luke earned his Bachelor of Laws/Arts degree with Honours from Newcastle University, majoring in English and Classics, which underpins his reputation as a well-respected practitioner within the legal community. Known for his advocacy skills, Luke thrives on crafting persuasive arguments, particularly when faced with last-minute briefings. His tenure as a duty solicitor honed his ability to swiftly prepare compelling cases, a skill he continues to leverage as a private practitioner. Frequently entrusted with agency work by firms outside of Newcastle, Luke’s knack for pinpointing key issues deemed favourably by the courts makes him a valuable asset in complex legal situations. Beyond advocacy, Luke's expertise encompasses recovery applications and parenting matters, particularly under domestic violence circumstances. His community legal work included significant roles in supporting victims of violence through the Co-ordinated Family Dispute Resolution Program, funded by the government. This aligns with his professional interest in examining how parenting issues impact children's psychological development. Luke's thought leadership is evident through his presentations at the National Association of Community Legal Centres’ Conference in 2012 and 2017, where he focused on improving the delivery of family law services to self-representative litigants, reflecting his dedication to enhancing accessibility and effectiveness in family law practice.