Kate Ashmor

At 12, Monash arts/law graduate Kate Ashmor (BA(Politics) 2005, LLB 2005) decided the best way to channel and make money from her argumentative tendencies was to become a lawyer.

At 30, she is now the Convenor of Victorian Women Lawyers (VWL), the peak organisation for female lawyers in Victoria, and a commercial lawyer for the Victorian Government.

After graduating from Monash in 2005, Kate started her career in a boutique private practice firm before moving in-house to a finance company.

She now specialises in commercial contracts and intellectual property for the Victorian Department of Transport, providing advice about the contracts for the operation of trains, trams and buses in Victoria, along with funding agreements and management of intellectual property assets.

She was elected Convenor of VWL in late 2010. The organisation represents more than 600 members including legal practitioners, law students, barristers, judges, academics and former lawyers.

In her volunteer role, Kate chairs an executive committee of 20 and is the “champion” for the organisation’s events, programs and law student mentoring program.

“It is an ongoing challenge to serve and support all female lawyers in Victoria, especially those regionally based, but VWL is working hard to provide a forum for all female lawyers to network and feel represented.

“I never cease to be amazed and inspired by the many talented women who are involved in our executive committee and who attend our events,” Kate said.

Kate said the highlight of her career so far was presiding over her husband’s citizenship ceremony when she was a councillor for the City of Glen Eira (2005-2008), closely followed by instructing in a Supreme Court trial and creating VWL's Law Student Mentoring Program.

She said her goal going forward was to make a positive and valued contribution to justice in Victoria.

“Being a Monash graduate has certainly opened up doors for me especially in employment and networking with other professionals,” Kate said.

“I am so fortunate to have had opportunities to make a difference and I intend to make the most of them."

Photo: Courtesy the Law Institute of Victoria