Palyku and Ngangumarta lawyer Sophie Coffin, who has ties to Yindjibarndi country, won a prestigious award this month for her strong passion in promoting reconciliation, culture and the rights of Aboriginal women and youth.

Ms Coffin, from Bennett Litigation and Commercial Law, received the Law Society of Western Australia's Emerging Lawyer of the Year award.

Encouraging other Aboriginal people into the law is one of her passions but she recognises barriers to study, such as access to education, wellbeing and self-doubt.

"We need more Aboriginal lawyers and, aside from that, legal careers are diverse and open doors of opportunity. You can achieve whatever you set your mind to," Ms Coffin said.

Voice, community and possibility all played a part. As a WA Youth Representative of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Ms Coffin volunteered to advocate for the Voice.

"Our people are intelligent. We're the oldest living culture in the world for a reason and there is such a strong sense of community and connection between those of us in the profession, because we face the same unique challenges," Ms Coffin said.

"For me, it is incredibly motivational when I see Aboriginal women in the law in senior positions - it makes me think I could get there some day."

Ms Coffin told National Indigenous Times she was honoured to receive the award and grateful to her colleagues for the nomination.

"The award really reflects the whole community that I stand alongside, including my family and my cousin Tyson McEwan, another youth advocate for the Voice, whose strength and resilience - pre and post-referendum - helped me to keep going," she said.

"I also follow in the footsteps of Tammy Solonec and Kelsi Forrest, previous recipients of this award, for whom I have great respect."

Ms Coffin, who has also presented at international conferences on Indigenous leadership, was recently a founding member and moderator at the Law Society's first Aboriginal Youth Civics Leadership Day, held in the Supreme Court Gardens in Perth. The day was an opportunity for Aboriginal students from around the State to learn about civil leadership, the law and advocacy.

"I think we have a duty to young people to inform them about all of the paths they can take, with no limit, and believe in them to do so," she told National Indigenous Times.

"It was a great chance to connect and share stories and I think it was particularly important for regional students, because they are often overlooked for events like this."

Ms Coffin went to school in Geraldton and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia in 2018, before studying law. She was admitted to legal practice in 2023 and worked as an associate to WA Chief Justice Peter Quinlan for two years, before starting at Bennett this year.

"There are so many lessons I learnt as an associate that will stay with me for my career and life, generally," Ms Coffin said.

"Most importantly, I saw the human element of justice. From the importance of access to justice for vulnerable people, to understanding the impact of social issues on communities, to how important the right to a fair trial is."

Ms Coffin also mentors law students through her work as a guest lecturer and tutor at the UWA Law School and School of Indigenous Studies.