Our Staff
"To be fully successful in the law, one does not have to be brilliant or exceptionally gifted. The most effective work in the world is done by ordinary people who put forth extraordinary effort. This is true of lawyers. Our strengths are magnified with experience and inspiration."
-President James E. Faust (J. Reuben Clark Law Society)
GENERAL MANAGER - Juanita Bennett - LLB/BMS
Juanita started her journey with Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato, as a volunteer 2005. At that time she was completing her studies at the University of Waikato, graduating with a LLB/BMS in 2006. The Centre employed Juanita in 2007 as a solicitor, followed by her promotion as Manager in 2010. “I absolutely love my involvement with the Centre and it is a privilege to be part of the mission. I firmly believe that access to legal services should be available to all individuals as opposed to only being available to the sector of society who can afford it.
What inspires me the most in my role is the endless generosity and humanity of those who work collectively to help others. The words of Nelson Mandela sums it up: “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
SOLICITOR - Justin Young - MA/LLB (Hons)
Alongside Justin’s law degree he has completed a Master of Arts. He has a particular interest in court work, employment and ACC law. He has worked diligently for Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato, since 2012 in striving to achieve the best outcomes for his clients.
LEGAL SERVICES MANAGER – Angela Smith - LLB
Angela has been working for Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato, since 2008 and has experience in a variety of legal areas. Angela enjoys the broad range of law on offer at Community Law Waikato and holds a particular interest in working with refugee clients and refugee reunification applications.
Angela finds the work very rewarding which has kept her here for over a decade. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make, one person (or starfish) at a time”. - Anon
SOLICITOR - Harriet Youn - LLB/BCom
Harriet joined Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato, as a solicitor in 2019. She started her career as a junior barrister in Auckland where she gained 7 years’ experience in a wide range of criminal litigation work. She then practiced on her own account for a couple of years in Hamilton. Harriet studied law and economics at the University of Otago.
SOLICITOR - Ellen Hockey - LLB
Ellen joined the team at Community Law Waikato in December 2019. Ellen graduated from the University of Waikato in 2019 and was admitted to the bar in August 2020. Ellen has experience working in various legal areas, with her interests being in Immigration and Employment Law. Ellen is passionate about refugee family reunification and has loved working at Community Law Waikato since 2019.
"What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while." - Gretchen Rubin
SOLICITOR - Madison Russell - BA/LLB (Hons)
Madison joined Community Law Waikato – Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato in August 2021. She completed her conjoint Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science from Waikato University in 2021. Madison is passionate about improving access to justice, and greatly admires Community Law’s role in doing just that. Madison has worked primarily in Immigration law since joining the Community Law team.
“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better” – Robert F. Kennedy
SOLICITOR - Leah Dangen - BA/LLB
Leah is of Ngāti Kahu ki Whaingaroa desent and joined the team at Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato in November 2021. She completed her conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Relations and Criminology from Wellington's Victoria University in 2021. Leah has worked in historical Human Rights abuses for three years as a law clerk and administration staff member. She has also worked with the Waitangi Tribunal. Leah is living out her dream by helping everyone she can at Community Law Waikato.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King Jr.”
SOLICITOR - Toni Crause - LLB
Toni joined Community Law Waikato in January 2022 as a volunteer case worker, and has worked in multiple roles at the Centre on her journey to being a Solicitor. After moving from case working to a front-line role in Reception, Toni was then promoted to Legal Assistant after she graduated with a Bachelor of Law in October 2022. Toni was admitted to the bar in May 2023, and is now employed as a Solicitor.
Toni enjoys the diversity of legal areas offered by Community Law Waikato and is passionate about advocating for others. Toni also enjoys supporting the Community Law kaupapa by presenting a ‘Law and You’ programme in the community.
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR – Janinne McKinnon-Thomas - BSoc.Sc
Janinne joined Community Law Waikato – Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato in November 2022. Janinne completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Social Policy) from the University of Waikato in 2019 and began working and volunteering in the community sector. Janinne has 20+ years working in administrative roles, more recently for non-profit organisations. Janinne has a passion for social justice, and is proud to be working at the Centre with such a professional group of talented lawyers with big hearts.
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu
RECEPTION – Tracey Gibson
Born and bred in the Waikato Tracey’s earlier jobs included riding track horses in Matamata, and eventually moved into administration, operations, and logistics. Tracey’s work experience and deep empathy for people lead her to her role at Community Law Waikato – Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato where she co-ordinates our reception team and volunteers.
With a love of horses and people Tracey volunteered for NZ Riding for the disabled for a number of years. Tracey loves being able to help people and meeting new people, and finds her work at the Centre very rewarding. Tracey also adores her whaanau, and house plants.
SOLICITOR – Caitlin Harrison LLB/BSoc.Sc
Caitlin first joined Community Law Waikato – Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato in 2014 as a volunteer caseworker and legal assistant. She later moved to the role of evening receptionist and caseworker coordinator while she completed her university studies. Caitlin graduated with a conjoint Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Social Sciences degree with First Class Honours in 2017. She was admitted to the bar in June that year. Caitlin practices in most areas of law that the centre offers but has a particular passion for our immigration, refugee reunification and employment law mahi. Caitlin has recently returned to her role as Solicitor in April 2023 after a stint in private practice and having her second child. Caitlin is proud to work somewhere where her values align so closely with the work she does.
“ I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do- Jana Stanfield”
SOLICITOR - Neil Shaw - LLB
Neil joined the team at Community Law Waikato - Te Tari Ture aa-Hapori o Waikato in August 2023. He graduated from the University of Waikato and was admitted to the bar in 1995. Neil has worked in private practice, government, and as in-house counsel. He moved into management when he joined the Auckland Community Law Centre (previously Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office) in 2012, and more recently has been the General Manager at YouthLaw in Manukau. Neil now lives in Kirikiriroa and is happy being a part of the Community Law Waikato team.
LEGAL ASSISTANT – Aroha Wainui - MSoc.Sc / LLB (Hons) / Milr
Aroha joined Community Law Waikato in July 2023.
Solicitor – Marree Sylva - LLB/BA (Hons)
Marree (Ngaati Mahuta ki te tai hauaauru/Ngaati Raukawa) joined Te Tari Ture aa Hapori o Waikato in August 2024. She began her conjoint degrees (Law and Arts with a double major in Te Reo Maaori me ona Tikanga and environmental studies) at the University of Otago and graduated with first class honours in 2015 from the University of Waikato.
Marree gained valuable experience in Maaori Land Law, property, Trusts and estate planning before finding her calling leading the Maaori Legal Team at Tairaawhiti Community Law in 2021. Marree is passionate about access to justice for Maaori and is currently the co-chair of Ngaa Kaiawhina Hapori Māori o te Ture (Maaori Caucus for Community Law Centres Aotearoa). Outside of her roles at Community Law, she also sits on the Te Hunga Roia Maaori Executive (Maaori Law Society) and is the secretary/treasurer and papakaainga project lead for her whanau trust. Marree grew up in Kaawhia and is the eldest of 6. Outside of work, Marree loves spending quality time with friends and whanau, traveling and spending time in the taiao (environment). “Mahia te mahi, hei paenga moo te iwi – Do what is necessary for the wellbeing of the people” Princess Te Puea Herangi
Team Highlights
Team Building on Waiheke Island Nov 2024
Some of our team (past and present) attending the annual New Zealand Law Society Gala dinner
Around the bridges Nov 2023
For our team building event in November 2023 we drove to Auckland for a series of activities including 'The Amazing Race' at rainbows end.
Our team swapped fluorescent lights and a professional wardrobe, for sunshine and cycle helmets.
We hired e-bikes and cycled from the Cambridge domain along the beautiful Waikato river. We headed off in the direction of Maungatautari past horse studs as far as the Karapiro domain and had lunch in the sunshine with incredible views of Lake Karapiro.
Toni joined Community Law Waikato in January 2022 as a volunteer case worker, and has worked in multiple roles at the Centre on her journey to being a Solicitor.
Toni was admitted to the bar in May 2023, and is now employed as a Solicitor.
