Jane Bowes – Winner - Litigation Partner of the Year

Jane built a law firm from the ground up - no connections, no backing, no blueprint. She was told she wouldn’t make it in law. But she proved them all wrong.

This is the story of a woman who once doubted herself, went on to take out one of the country’s top legal awards, standing alongside some of Australia’s most recognised litigators. It’s not about ego. It’s about grit, purpose and proving that success doesn’t always come from where people expect it to.

How did you start down this career path?

I didn’t choose law because it was the obvious path - I chose it because I’d seen too much. I watched people I loved suffer at the hands of a legal system they couldn’t afford to navigate and didn’t understand. There were no lawyers in my family. No one to call when things went wrong. Instead, everyone turned to me - the fiery one, the one who wouldn’t back down, who would always stand up for what she believed in.

I saw injustice up close - raw, personal, and devastating - and I knew then that I wanted to be the one standing up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves. The vulnerable. The voiceless. The ones without power, privilege or a platform.

I was also told - loudly and often - that I’d never make it. That without connections, law wasn’t for someone like me. I was encouraged to marry a lawyer, not become one. But that only lit a fire in me. I had something to prove - not just to them, but to myself. That I could do this. That I would do this.

Watch me.

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When I opened my firm, I did so naively - and with nothing. No capital. No clients. No files. No referrers. Honestly, looking back, it was almost reckless. But any founder will tell you: you just need to start. You don’t need a shiny office with all the bells and whistles. You figure it out as you go. And if you fail? So what. At least you tried. Do you know how many people can’t even say that?

I walked away from a six-figure salary, all the perks, regular travel and a clear path to partnership… to chase a dream. I wanted to build a firm that reflected my values. A place where I could do things my way - no compromise, no politics, just purpose.

What I didn’t factor in was just how hard it would be to survive.

It was hard to keep the firm afloat, but it was even harder at home. Two small kids in school. We were the people who bought the cheapest (yes, embarrassingly so) house we could find. I remember people saying, “she’s a lawyer, and she lives there?” But we made that choice for a reason - because if were over-mortgaged, I wouldn’t have had the freedom to go out on my own.

In a plaintiff personal injury practice, the first two years often mean no income. So for the breadwinner - me - to go from being the primary financial provider to nothing, it was a massive adjustment for the whole family. But I held on to a simple truth: if you're not willing to sacrifice for a few years, you’ll likely spend the next 40 working for someone else.

It was humbling. We made it work.

And when I say we, I mean it. Because when you go from financial security to struggling to make ends meet, it strips everything back - especially your friendships. You learn who your people really are. Your circle gets smaller, but the quality? It skyrockets.

The reality of those early days was this: I was alone. Despite having run high-performing teams in major firms, I suddenly had no team. No CEO, CFO or Partners to bounce ideas off. No IT support, marketing, payroll or finance teams. No one to ask strategy advice. I was it. Flying solo. Treading water. But again, this is the founder’s journey - you start, and you figure it out.

Running a plaintiff personal injury practice made it even harder. There’s no trust money coming in upfront. You wait 18 to 24 months to see a cent. Meanwhile, the outgoings are constant. I had to be smart. Strategic. I had to outwork and outthink the competition at every turn.

At one point, I had 50 cents in my bank account, and I remember thinking, this might be it.

But I didn’t stop. I hustled, harder.

I kept going. Files started settling. Clients kept referring. Our reputation for being fearless litigators began to grow.

And now… here we are. A buzzing, growing, thriving practice.

We are no longer just surviving. We are unstoppable.

What inspires you in your role/industry? Why?

I’m constantly inspired by the people I act for. Many of my clients live with devastating, lifelong injuries - yet they’re often the most determined, resilient and positive people I’ve ever met. They refuse to be defined by what’s happened to them. That drives me every single day.

I’m also inspired by a deeper mission - to represent those who don’t have a voice. The people who get ignored, underestimated or overlooked. I built my firm in regional Queensland because people here deserve high-quality, city-standard legal advice without needing to travel hundreds of kilometres or settle for second-best. Access to justice shouldn’t depend on your postcode.

I’m deeply motivated to show younger women coming up through the profession that they do belong here - especially the ones who feel unseen, undervalued or like they’ll never quite measure up. I’ve been there. I’ve felt that. When I opened my firm, people were waiting for me to fail. I had no clients, no files, no money, and no safety net. I almost gave up more times than I can count. But I didn’t.

Three years on, I’ve built a seven-figure firm from the ground up. That didn’t happen by accident. It wasn’t luck. It was grit, vision, sacrifice and relentless work. I want to show women and my kids, that anything is possible when you believe in yourself, trust your instincts and refuse to quit. Especially when they tell you that you should. That the safer path is easier. But here’s the truth: playing it safe might feel comfortable - but life is too short for that.

And while there were doubters, there were also people in my corner. The ones who backed me. Encouraged me. Pushed me to keep going when I had nothing left in the tank. Their belief in me meant everything. They reminded me of my worth at a time when I’d forgotten it. I will never stop being grateful to those who helped me keep showing up - especially when it felt impossible.

What's your approach to customer service that separates you from the rest?

My approach has always been upfront, honest, and grounded in genuine advice. That’s why my firm’s motto is “Better outcomes. No bull.” It’s a nod to our Rockhampton roots - but more than that, it captures exactly how I work. I tell my clients the truth, always. No fluff, no false hope, and definitely no bull. That’s how I practise law, and that’s how I live my life.

It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But for the clients who value straight-talking, no-nonsense advocacy, it resonates. It also helps keep insurers and defendants accountable. I don’t back down. I fight hard, I speak plainly, and I’ll always advocate fearlessly for the people I represent. No bull.

What is the toughest challenge you've faced in your role? How did you overcome it?

In the beginning, it felt like I was constantly up against the giants. Competing with big firms wasn’t easy - I didn’t have the budget for million-dollar ad campaigns or flashy branding. What I did have was a deep connection to my local community, and a willingness to show up. I got out there. I built relationships from the ground up, one conversation at a time. And I still invest almost half of my time into business development - because it works.

People in our region know me. They trust me. They know what Bowes Legal stands for. No shiny, national brand can outmatch the trust we’ve built locally through honesty, hard work, and real results. We’ve built a reputation on outcomes and integrity, and now we have loyal clients and referrers who back us. That kind of loyalty? You can’t buy it. You have to earn it.

It hasn’t been easy. Competitors have tried to poach referrers. Larger firms have threatened to sue us. It was intimidating, especially early on, but I kept going.

Cash flow is one of the greatest challenges in personal injury law. For the first two years, there’s almost no money coming in - but the expenses don’t wait. Staff, rent, insurance, systems — they all need to be paid. You have to work smarter. Every dollar has to count. You learn fast how to be strategic, resourceful, and tough.

What are some of your goals for the next 5 years?

We’re in a period of rapid growth right now, and with that comes the challenge of scaling without losing who we are. The focus is on building the right team, doing exceptional work, and never losing sight of why we started. Clients first - always.

But just as important is the team itself. I’ve always wanted to create a workplace where people actually want to show up. Where we’ve got each other’s backs, where the energy is real, and where people feel supported, seen, and proud to be here. We’re a ride-or-die kind of team - and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Looking ahead, I’m focused on making sure the future of Bowes Legal doesn’t just rest on my shoulders. I want to create real opportunities for my team - equity, leadership, and genuine skin in the game. I can’t be the face of the firm forever, nor do I want to be. My vision is to lift others up as they rise through the ranks, and ensure Bowes Legal keeps thriving with the right people at the helm.

What did winning Litigation Partner of the Year mean to you?

When I was named a finalist for Litigation Partner of the Year, I wanted that title more than I could admit - even to myself. But it felt impossible. Out of reach. Especially for someone like me: a female litigator, running a startup firm in regional Queensland.

On the day of the awards, someone casually said to me, “you’ll never beat so-and-so - he’s a top-tier litigator.” And in that moment, I believed them. I looked around the room at the Partner Summit and saw brilliance everywhere - senior partners from national, top tier and global firms, speaking with confidence, commanding attention. I felt like a fish out of water.

I was a finalist in three categories that night. But by the time Litigation Partner of the Year came around - one of the last awards - I was mentally packing up. I remember thinking, why did I even think I belonged in a category this competitive? These were the heavyweights. The industry’s best. I was almost embarrassed to be sitting in the same room.

And then… they called my name.

I was in complete shock. Overwhelmed. I had won.

I had just beaten some of the country’s most established litigators - not just women, not just regional firms - but partners from top-tier, mid-tier, national and global firms.

It wasn’t until I got home that it really sank in: I earned this.

I built a firm from nothing - no clients, no referrals, no safety net - into a seven-figure business in just three years. We have litigated from day one, which is something most small firms shy away from, especially in plaintiff personal injury. The risk is enormous. The cost consequences can be devastating for both the client and the firm. But I had everything to prove, and I backed myself.

And that’s what this award represents to me:

Proof.

Proof that it doesn’t matter where you start, what matters is that you start.
That if you back yourself, work relentlessly, and keep getting up - even after the hardest knockdowns - you will get there.

Because eventually, you stop trying to prove everyone else wrong…
And realise you’ve proven something even greater:

That you are good enough.
That you do deserve a seat at that table.
And that winning doesn’t come from fitting in, it comes from believing in yourself, exactly as you are.

Being different, as hard and isolating as it can be, might just be your greatest strength. So be proud of it. Hold your head high.

Because you never know who you’re inspiring, simply by showing up as your true self.