Capell will take part in the national swimming championships in Sydney on the 8 December. The championships are the first step towards securing a place in the revered Australian Olympic swimming team.

The 23-year-old is a part-time law clerk at McInnes Wilson in Brisbane, and has managed to combine a strenuous training schedule with his work and study.

“A usual week for me consists of 70—80 kilometres of swimming,” he said of his schedule. “I suffered six stress fractures in my back from overtraining. This injury restricted my performance through 2006 and early 2007. I have recovered well and my form has improved again.”

In recognition of this outstanding commitment to study and the Australian swimming team, Capell was recently awarded a $10,000 scholarship by Australian Unity, a major sponsor of Swimming Australia.

While few athletes consider life after sport until the twilight of their careers, Capell is planning well in advance for a successful legal career. “I’m only young in the sport but I am developing my profession as well,” he said.

Keddies moves into Wollongong

SYDNEY-BASED FIRM Keddies is set to open its fifth NSW office in Wollongong.

According to Keddies partner and founder Russell Keddie, the firm, which specialises in compensation matters, is moving into regional NSW in response to the growing demand for its services outside of Sydney. “While we are based in Sydney we are getting work from regional NSW. In the long run, it makes more sense for us to go to our clients rather than having our clients — many of whom have been through trauma — travel up to Sydney to see us,” he said.

Melinda Griffith, who will head up the firm’s new office, agrees. “[As] with most specialist law firms located in Sydney it’s a long way for people to travel just see their lawyers,” she said.

The Wollongong local, who has worked with the firm for the last 13 years, has been busy building up the firm’s client base in the Illawarra region for some time. Among other things, Griffith is a keen sportswoman who holds a masters degree in international sports law from Cambridge University and was part of the pro bono committee for the Sydney Olympic Games.