Global search

Primary navigation

Nicki Lees

Special Counsel
Nicki Lees

Nicki Lees is a social justice Special Counsel based in Maurice Blackburn’s Melbourne office. She is committed to and passionate about the protection and promotion of human rights in Australia.  

Practice Area

Social justice

Qualification(s)

LLB (Honours), BA, LLM (Distinction)

Nicki has a mix of global and domestic legal experience, including significant skills in international human rights law and human rights advocacy.

After completing Honours in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, Nicki completed a Masters in Law (LLM), for which she was awarded a distinction in International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. While in Geneva, Nicki also completed an internship at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Nicki joined Maurice Blackburn in 2011 as a trainee lawyer, and was admitted to practice in 2012. She spent several years fighting for the rights of individuals and groups of people, before leaving to work with women’s empowerment projects and undertake rule of law consultancies in East Africa. Nicki has long held a passion for helping those less fortunate, and returning to join our social justice team was an easy transition.

Nicki previously worked on the class action for people who did not received adequate care while in immigration detention on Christmas Island. She is currently working on our class action regarding the unlawful detention of people seeking asylum.

“All people should be equally protected by the law and respected within society regardless of their nationality, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or other status,” says Nicki.

Nicki previously worked as a Court Officer at the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia, as a youth worker at the Royal Women’s Hospital, and as an intern at the United Nations Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.

Her interest with Tanzania continues as Vice-President of a social enterprise that works with HIV positive women in Tanzania called Supporting and Empowering Women (SEW).

“Seeing the way in which the law can be such a powerful tool for positive social change is very rewarding. I enjoy being able to meet and talk with many diverse, passionate and inspirational people every day. My job is about providing individuals with a chance to have their voices and their stories heard, where they may not have had this opportunity previously.”

Accreditations & memberships

  • Law Institute of Victoria member
  • Victorian Women Lawyers member
  • Centre for Strategic and International Studies Global Young Leaders Program member, United States
  • Supporting and Empowering Women (SEW) Vice-President
  • Amnesty International Membership Appeals Committee
  • Amnesty International Global Youth Board member, 2010-2012
     

Awards

  • Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards Pro Bono Program of the Year, 2018
     

It doesn't cost you anything to know where you stand 

Office locations

We’re here to help. Get in touch with your local office.

Select your state below

We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Australian Capital Territory. If you need a lawyer in Canberra or elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory, please call us on 1800 675 346.

We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Tasmania. If you need a lawyer in Hobart, Launceston or elsewhere in Tasmania, please call us on 1800 675 346.