Presented by the President of the Law Society of Western Australia, Dudley Stow, the Award recognises legal practitioners making a significant contribution to the WA legal profession and community.

Rakoczy has worked at Clayton Utz for four and a half years and is a member of the Perth commercial litigation team. She has been co-ordinator of the Perth Community Connect committee for two and a half years.

As part of the Community Connect program, Rakoczy and colleagues from the firm travelled to the Tiwi Islands, north of Darwin, to help run a holiday program for Aboriginal children with the Red Cross in the remote community of Milikapiti.

Over the past two years, she has also served as legal adviser and mentor on the Committee of True Blue Dreaming — a youth and community development program for 12 to 18 years olds living in rural and remote Australian communities.

Rakoczy described herself as a lawyer with equal passion for commercial litigation and access to justice."I am passionate about working as a commercial litigator and also about contributing to the community, especially to disadvantaged or at-risk youth.

“I feel very fortunate that Clayton Utz has given me the opportunity to pursue and develop both passions, with the support and resources of the firm,” she said.

Commenting on Rakoczy's award, Clayton Utz Perth managing partner Geoff Simpson said: "Not only is Anna a great asset to Clayton Utz and the firm's Community Connect program, but also to the broader community and the legal profession."