Earlier this year, the 2022 Lawyer’s Weekly 30 Under 30 Award winners were announced. These awards, now in their 10th year, provide an opportunity to recognise the rising stars and young talent that Australia has within the legal industry.
An impressive winner from the 2022 line-up was Chauntelle Ingenito from Chalfont Chambers. Against a notable list of finalists, Chauntelle was awarded as winner within the Barrister category, recognising her outstanding performance practicing at the bar.
On winning this accolade, Chauntelle was extremely excited, especially given the win comes in her first year at the Bar. “It is an honour to have been recognised by some of Australia’s leading legal practitioners as being the best in my field in my age bracket, noting that there are very few barristers under the age of 30 these days! It is recognition that the work I am putting towards my career is paying off. It is also recognition of the work I am doing outside of being a barrister in legal education for self-represented persons and trying to keep people out of the Family Court system as much as possible.”
The career trajectory that Chauntelle has been on, started in 2016 when she practiced largely in the areas of family law, criminal law, and dispute resolution as a solicitor. Since coming to the Bar in 2021, she has predominantly worked in family law in complex parenting and property matters on behalf of parents, grandparents, other family members and Independent Children’s Lawyers. Whilst she is a passionate advocate for her work in these specialty areas, Chauntelle is also a vocal supporter of her peers within the legal industry.
“Being a lawyer under 30 is a huge achievement and seeing the work of some of those nominated has been incredible. Some of my fellow nominees and winners have achieved incredible things for people so young. One of the most important aspects is that it takes years just to become a lawyer. Often, those who start university straight after high school are 23 or 24 by the time they are admitted to practice (after completing their degree and finishing their practical legal training components), so to achieve so much in the limited years of practice after admission is very impressive”, says Chauntelle.
In the short amount of time Chauntelle has been practicing, she has cultivated a reputation that anyone would be envious of. She has been described professionally as talented, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and caring. Whilst these traits come naturally, Chauntelle emphasises the importance of young lawyers taking advantage of the wealth of experience and wisdom of those around them.
“Your colleagues at the Bar are a fountain of knowledge, and the “Open Door Policy” is held very highly. I have found that it is often quicker to workshop an issue with a colleague who has likely had the exact same issue themselves previously, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. I have also learned that Ethical issues arise constantly, and there are so many colleagues available to workshop issues with, instead of finding yourself in precarious positions. At the Bar, your reputation is everything. A barrister hat is very different to a solicitor hat and being a member of the Bar holds a different level of responsibility to both the Court and the client. I could never thank my colleagues at the Bar enough for helping me get through the first year, including those in chambers who have supported me on a daily basis.”
Learn more about the work that Chauntelle Ingeninto is doing at Chalfont Chambers.
