Carina Ford

Carina Ford, the Managing Partner at Carina Ford Immigration Lawyers, is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading migration law practitioners. She founded her own practice in 2004 after serving as an Associate at Gadens Lawyers in Melbourne for over three years. Carina is an Accredited Immigration and Administrative Law Specialist through the Law Institute of Victoria, demonstrating her expertise and commitment to the field. With an extensive background in migration and administrative law, Carina has played active roles in various legal boards and committees. Her notable positions include serving as Vice Chair of the Migration Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia and being a Fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia. She held important roles within the Law Institute of Victoria, such as chairing the Migration Law Committee and participating in the Refugee Law Committee, contributing significantly to shaping legal practice in these areas. Carina is part of a group of dedicated lawyers who established the LIV refugee legacy caseload group in 2015, aiming to assist applicants with limited legal funding. Her involvement extends to the Cancellations Working Group and contributions to the UNHCR Roundtable on Protection and Mental Health Concerns for Asylum Seekers. Her dedication to advocacy is further evidenced by her role in assisting split family applications, focusing on vulnerable refugees seeking to unite with their families in Australia. As a seasonal contributor, Carina frequently participates in submissions to legislative bodies, including Australian Senate Committees. She is involved in educational initiatives, writing the Student Visa section for the Lexis Nexis Migration service and presenting papers both domestically and internationally. Carina also teaches and mentors both seasoned and emerging migration agents and lawyers. Recognised for her exceptional contributions, Carina was named 'Lawyer of the Year' by Best Lawyers and 'Partner of the Year' by Lawyers Weekly in 2022. Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Law from Monash University, underpinning her commitment to legal excellence and leadership in migration law.