Country Member

I’m seeking your vote for Councillor of The Law Society Council of New South Wales to help build a profession that leads with empathy, acts with integrity, and creates pathways to support solicitors through every stage of practice, regardless of firm size or location.

As Founder of Seton Family Lawyers and an Accredited Specialist, my daily work centres on client advocacy, firm management, mentorship and innovation. I’m running to bring a grounded voice to Council that understands the real-world pressures of legal practice.

If elected, I’ll focus on delivering the following key pathways and priorities.

PATHWAYS FOR REGIONAL PRACTICE AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Rural and regional practice matters deeply to me. Living and working on the Central Coast, I see how regional legal communities thrive on strong collegiate networks, deep local ties, and dedicated solicitors. As Secretary of the Central Coast Law Society, I work closely with local practitioners and see regional pressures, like resourcing gaps and court bottlenecks, firsthand.

Through early adoption of innovative technology, and sharing such experience and implementation with fellow local practitioners, I have implemented effective strategies to improve the efficient and costs-reducing delivery of legal services that keeps complex cases local and enables smaller firms to compete with larger ones.

On Council, I will advocate for:

• Stronger regional support: Championing initiatives that help local practitioners retain complex matters within their local communities.

• Viable regional career pathways: Fostering career progression that encourages solicitors to develop and sustain long-term practice outside capital cities.

PATHWAYS FOR WELLBEING

Having experienced burnout in my own career, I know generic wellness advice often fails to address the pressures of daily practice. To protect my team, I built the Ironbark Initiative, a practical framework that manages workload fatigue and proves we can deliver quality client service without compromising our health. This initiative cut stress-related leave by 55% over three years.

Recognised by The Law Society of New South Wales as 2024 Wellbeing Champion of the Year, and invited to share these frameworks in LSJ Masterclasses and national keynotes, I’ve seen how eager practitioners are for realistic physical and mental health strategies.

On Council, I will advocate for:

• Practical wellbeing tools: Championing tools and resources across education and member support frameworks.

• Sustainable practice strategies: Promoting frameworks that help solicitors manage workload fatigue while protecting their health and firm viability.

PRACTICAL PATHWAYS FOR CAREER GROWTH

Keeping solicitors in our profession requires more than formal training. It takes genuine mentorship that builds confidence and creates pathways for lawyers at every stage of their career.

Driven by this belief, I built a cascading mentorship model in my own firm, supporting team members from law students through to admission, and solicitors stepping into partnership. Over the past three years, I’ve brought that same commitment to the broader profession as a Law Society Mentor, supporting regional practitioners through major career transitions, such as returning to work after parental leave. This work was recognised when I was named Mentor of the Year at the 2025 Partner of the Year Awards.

On Council, I will advocate for:

• Accessible regional mentoring: Championing initiatives that connect solicitors outside major cities with experienced mentors.

• Practical career pathways: Promoting Law Society support that helps firms train, retain, and elevate emerging leaders across NSW.

PATHWAYS FOR SENIOR FEMALE LEADERSHIP

Over my career, I’ve seen too many brilliant female colleagues leave practice because of rigid working models. In my own firm, we challenged these norms by introducing paid family time, flexible working models and structured leadership pathways. This built a firm where women make up half of our partnership and lead at every level. Closing the gender leadership gap across NSW starts with listening to female practitioners and building flexible workplaces where great lawyers can thrive long-term.

On Council, I will advocate for:

• Practical flexibility frameworks: Championing resources that help firms implement realistic flexible working and parental-support models.

• Support for firm leaders: Promoting guidance that helps practice leaders retain experienced female talent and build clear pathways to equity partnership.

MODERN GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION

Technology should make legal practice simpler, not more stressful. Good Council governance provides the ethical oversight and practical guidance solicitors need to navigate AI shifts safely, helping firms adopt genuine efficiencies while protecting against compliance risks. As an AI verifier, I’ve seen firsthand how technology can streamline daily workflows, and why expert human oversight remains critical to safeguard accuracy and ethical standards.

Additionally, my governance experience includes serving as a Secretary of the Central Coast Law Society, a Legal Officer in the RAAF Reserve, a member of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Family Law Advisory Committee, and on The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee. Bringing together private practice leadership, ethics oversight, and military service, I understand what it takes to ensure transparent decision-making, sound fiscal management, and genuine accountability to our members.

On Council, I will advocate for:

• Usable technology guidance: Clear, practical Law Society frameworks that help solicitors adopt new tools safely without risking compliance or ethics.

• Transparent governance: Open communication, fiscal responsibility, and clear accountability from Council to its members.

PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU

It would be a privilege to serve you as Councillor, and represent your interests across the state. To ensure the Council delivers real value for every practitioner, I’m proud to stand alongside two dedicated and talented practitioners.

If you receive the invitation to vote by email, please take a moment to vote for:

• Michael Seton
• Lauren Absalom
• Moira Saville

To find out more about us, please visit: https://www.lawsocelections.com.au

If you choose to vote using the ballot paper when it arrives over the coming days, please vote using the “How to vote” on our website.

Thank you for all you do to build our profession and support your local community.

T: 02 4397 4797
E: michael@setonfamily.law
W: https://www.lawsocelections.com.au