She actively championed initiatives addressing climate change and modern slavery issues
The Victorian Bar has awarded the 2025 Pro Bono Trophy to Fiona McLeod AO SC.
McLeod’s win was announced at the 2025 Victorian Bar Pro Bono Awards. The accolade recognised her advocacy of pro bono initiatives addressing issues of climate change, human trafficking, modern slavery and justice for First Nations communities.
“Justice is so important, yet so unavailable to many of us in this country. You don’t walk away from this work untouched. It is the greatest privilege of my life to have appeared for some of these clients”, McLeod said in a speech stating that she was accepting the award on behalf of her clients as well as those she could not represent.
She also described the Victorian Bar as “extraordinary across Australia and across the world for the work we do”.
“I am privileged enough to do some international work as well (where) they talk with envy about the pro bono culture in Australia”, McLeod said.
She is the 10th person to receive the Victorian Bar Pro Bono Trophy.
