NSW Young Lawyers

Current Councillors

Below are profiles of the NSW Young Lawyers Executive Councillors. Members of the Executive Council who are not part of the Leadership Team are elected for a term of two years and must participate in and/or chair at least one Sub-Committee during their term.

Erin Baker 

Admitted as a Solicitor in 2021, Erin is a Junior Associate in private practice based in the Northern Rivers. Erin studied at Griffith University and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Government and International Relations, which included an exchange semester at Hong Kong University Faculty of Law. Erin completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at Bond University.

Erin has been a member of the NSW Young Lawyers since 2022, when she was elected Regional Delegate for the Far North Coast Law Society. Erin’s focus on Executive Council and as a regional practitioner is access to services in rural areas and ensuring wellbeing of young lawyers in the profession.

Seth Harlen

Seth graduated with his law degree from the University of Technology Sydney in 2022 and is now working as a paralegal in employment and family law with Gorval Lynch Lawyers and is also chair of the Business Law Sub-Committee.

Although early in his career, Seth has developed a vast professional network. His ability to connect with lawyers globally has resulted in him becoming an Ambassador for the Legally Speaking Podcast, one of the leading podcasts in the legal profession founded by London based legal recruiter, Robert Hanna.

In his free time, Seth enjoys plenty of video games and also volunteers with the HARS Aviation Museum in Albion Park. Once he completes his PLT, Seth hopes to get into aviation law and continue to grow his professional network.

 

Sarah Ienna

Sarah works in criminal law. She has been involved in NSW Young Lawyers since 2017, holding the positions of Secretary, Vice-Chair and Chair of the Criminal Law Sub-Committee. She was also a General Delegate in 2018 and 2019. Sarah was nominated for NSW Young Lawyer of the Year in 2020. 

Sarah is passionate about promoting wellbeing in the law, including mitigating vicarious trauma, empowering young lawyers to raise issues of concern in their workplaces, and equipping members of NSW Young Lawyers with skills to assist them in having a sustainable career in the law. 

Aside from her love of the law, Sarah has a lifelong passion for dancing. 

Jodie Sheen

Admitted as a Solicitor in 2018, Jodie is currently an estate planning lawyer in private online practice living in Parkes. She practices predominately in the areas of succession planning and estates. Jodie studied at Southern Cross University graduating with a Bachelor of Laws and has subsequently undertaken a Masters of Applied Law with the College of Law, with a focus on succession planning and wills, estates and estate administration.

 Jodie has been an active member of NSW Young Lawyers since 2020 when she was elected as one of the Regional Delegates for the Central West region. She is now Vice-Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Bush Web Sub-Committee and is a proud to advocate for regional issues and mental wellbeing in the profession. On Executive Council, Jodie’s key focuses will be encouraging, maintaining and facilitating mental wellbeing in the profession, and improving access to justice for people living in regional NSW.

 In her downtime, Jodie enjoys spending time with her two boys, learning new skills, building Lego Technic and hiking.

James Skelton

James is a member of Swaab's corporate, commercial and intellectual property practice with a focus on digital health, corporate transactions, commercialisation of intellectual property rights and brand-protection strategies. He has significant in-house experience with Ramsay Health Care and a large not-for-profit membership-based organisation.

James was previously named Australian Young Lawyer of the Year by the Law Council of Australia for his work on wellbeing and diversity in the legal profession as part of NSW Young Lawyers.

James was the 2022 Young Lawyer Councillor on the Council of the Law Society, having been an active member of NSW Young Lawyers since 2013, and has coordinated numerous submissions for the Communications, Entertainment and Technology Sub-Committee, which have been well regarded by both government and industry bodies.

Some key areas of interest have been copyright reform in the digital age, serious invasions of privacy and changes to the innovation patent system in Australia. James is an advocate for positive wellbeing and strong mental health in the profession, and is keen to increase membership engagement across a number of practice areas and geographic regions.

James holds a Bachelor of International Studies and Juris Doctor from UNSW.

Sarah Seher Yigit

Sarah is a family law solicitor at Pearson Emerson Family Lawyers specialising in all financial matters dealing with marriage including prenuptial and financial agreements or other relationship breakdowns including de facto and same sex relationships, and issues relating to children.

Sarah has been an active member of NSW Young Lawyers since 2020 when she moved to Sydney to work after she graduated with Honours in Law in Melbourne. At NSW Young Lawyers, Sarah previously acted as a wellbeing officer for the Family Law Sub-Committee in 2021 and was elected as the current Chair of the Family Law Sub-Committee in March 2022. During her time as Chair, the Family Law Sub-Committee has been awarded the 2022 Young Lawyers Patron's Award for Best Professional Event.

Sarah was previously the Associate to the Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia, as it is now known, and has significant experience working in the non for profit sector providing access to justice for victims of gender based violence.

Sarah has a passion for promoting diversity, equal opportunity and wellbeing in the profession. Sarah aims to advocate on these issues through the Executive Council and promote opportunity, community and support for Young Lawyers. 

Mirna Zeini

Mirna is a criminal lawyer at the Department of Communities and Justice with a practice predominantly focused on high risk offenders. She has previously worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and in various policy roles at the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Customer Service. 

Outside of work, Mirna volunteers as a portfolio manager at Diverse Women in Law, and works with community based organisations to assist asylum seekers and refugees. She has previously volunteered on the Red Cross’ Youth Advisory Committee.

She holds undergraduate degrees in law and international and global studies from the University of Sydney, the University of Adelaide and a Master of International Law and International Relations from UNSW. 

Mirna is passionate about diversity and wellbeing in the law, particularly amongst young practitioners.