Heidi Yates, 2022 ANU Alumna of the Year and former ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner, is a solicitor and leading advocate for victims’ rights and family violence law reform. During her seven-year tenure, she spearheaded major initiatives including the ACT Witness Intermediary Program, the Victims Charter of Rights, and specialised legal services for sexual assault survivors. 

Q: You completed a Bachelor of Laws in 2005 and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice in 2006. Why did you choose to study at ANU Law School and what made you interested in legal practice and social justice? 

A: The principles of social justice have been a guiding force in my life and ultimately shaped my decision to pursue a career in law. Growing up in Canberra as the second of four kids, I was part of a family where colourful discussions about life, community, politics (and how much my sister would pay me to eat her peas) were held nightly around the dinner table. Debate was encouraged. When it came time to choose a path to university, I considered social work and law—two fields offering opportunities to drive meaningful social change. I ultimately chose to study Arts/Law. With one of the world’s best law schools on my doorstep, it was always going to be ANU. 

Q: You convened the Community Law Clinical Program at the Law School. Can you tell us more about the program, your experience in convening it, what you found to be the biggest challenge and achievement respectively? 

A: Undertaking the ANU Youth Law Clinical Program as part of my undergraduate studies in 2004 was life-changing. The course convenor, Judy Harrison, was doggedly inspirational.  The course was my first exposure to the crucial frontline work delivered by Legal Aid and Community Legal Centres. With only a dozen students, course discussions covered every social justice issue you can imagine. Ten years later, having been inspired by Judy to devote my first decade of work to Legal Aid ACT and the Women’s Legal Centre, I jumped at the opportunity to take on the role of convenor for the Community Law Clinical program.  

The Program, based at Canberra Community Law (CCL), immerses students in real-world legal work across housing, social security, disability discrimination, and other critical areas. Teaching the course was a privilege: students shadow CCL solicitors, meet weekly to reflect on their experiences, and deliver a research project addressing an issue of real significance to CCL clients. 

The biggest challenge was supporting the students to adjust to the demands of real client work—but the greatest achievement was seeing students develop practical skills and deepen their understanding of social justice. I highly recommend clinical programs to every undergraduate student at the Law School. 

Q: Reflecting on your time at Law School, what were some of your highlights? 

Law School was never easy, but through the ups and downs, I built connections with fellow students and lecturers—many of whom have become lifelong friends, colleagues, and mentors. I’ll always be grateful for the personal and professional relationships that ANU Law School made possible, and for the sense of community that continues to shape my life and career. 

Q: You’ve accomplished so much, from being named the ACT Law Society’s Young Lawyer of the Year (2008) and a Young Australian of the Year Finalist (2011), to serving as Executive Director of the ACT Women’s Legal Centre and inaugural Chair of the ACT LGBTIQ Ministerial Advisory Council. Which skills or knowledge from ANU Law School have been most valuable in your career, and how did the Law School equip you for these accomplishments? 

A: Many of the teaching staff whom I had the privilege to learn from at the ANU Law School have had an enduring impact on my life and professional career.  Lecturers including Margie Rowe, Judy Harrison, Wayne Morgan and Justice James Stellios gifted me the foundational legal knowledge I needed to kick-off a legal career. They also taught me curiosity, critical thinking and reflective decision-making, encouraging me to go in search of views that differed from my own, to pause and ask, “What might I be missing here?" The collaborative and dynamic environment of the Law School inspired me to seek out workplaces that valued similar openness and rigour, making the legal assistance sector a perfect fit. ANU Law School’s commitment to promoting access to justice and upholding the rights of those often unheard has guided many of my personal and professional choices over the last 20 years. 

Q: What advice would you give someone thinking about studying at Law School? Is there anything you wish you had known before starting? 

A: I still remember week 11 of my first-year Torts course in 2000, when my brilliant—and intimidating—lecturer, Professor Adrienne Stone, casually mentioned “wrapping up work on our summaries.” What? A summary? I was supposed to have kept careful, considered notes on every case we’d discussed since week 1? Uh-oh. 

My advice —track down and make friends with students in the years above you – talk to them about how they study and what works (and whether they’ve got a Torts summary they can lend you). 

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share? A thank you, shout-out, or final reflection? 

A: Being part of the ANU community has shaped my life in countless ways—student, tutor, lecturer, parent, course convenor, and even as a small business owner, running the Gods Café on campus with friends, Tony and Judy Hodgins. To those new to ANU: lean in, get involved, and make connections. The challenges, the collaborations, the late-night conversation, they’re all part of what makes this place extraordinary. ANU isn’t just where you work or study—you have been handed the opportunity to grow, belong, and discover what you’re capable of. Make the most of it.