NSW solicitors honour a Western Sydney justice pioneer

Law Society of NSW

Media Release

Friday, 6 March 2026

NSW solicitors honour a Western Sydney justice pioneer

A Western Sydney solicitor whose work has supported the Macarthur region’s development into one of Australia’s fastest growing urban centres has been recognised with life membership of the Law Society of NSW.

President of the Law Society Ronan MacSweeney says the conferral of life membership on Jim Marsden OAM adds to honours he’s received for his enormous contributions to the law and his beloved Macarthur community.

“Life membership of the Law Society of NSW recognises more than longevity in the law. It’s a recognition of a solicitor member’s distinguished and meritorious service to the administration of justice and extends to their achievements outside the law,” Mr MacSweeney said.

“Mr Marsden’s achievements have been astonishing, from advising on greenfield developments in Sydney’s south-west to guiding the partnership between the Balmain and Western Suburbs Rugby League clubs that resulted in the establishment of the Wests Tigers, and everything in between.”

Working alongside his solicitor brother, the late John Marsden AM, Jim built Marsdens Law Group into a western Sydney legal powerhouse of 200 staff, expanding from their head office in Campbelltown to another four locations across the south-west, and into the Sydney CBD.

Mr Marsden was admitted to practice law in 1975, meaning he has passed a half century of practice as a solicitor and member of the Law Society. Since 1980 he has been a principal at Marsden’s Law Group, and has led the firm as Senior Partner since 2006.

“Mr Marsden has mentored generations of early-career lawyers who’ve developed flourishing legal careers of their own. He grew a glowing reputation for expertise in property law, and helped modernise conveyancing law, including as a member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Task Force,” Mr MacSweeney said.

“In the finest traditions of the legal profession, Mr Marsden showed a practical commitment to providing access to the most vulnerable in our community through pro-bono legal work, winning the 2012 Law Society Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award.”

Mr MacSweeney said Mr Marsden has been an exemplar of service in the solicitor profession, involving himself deeply in business, sports, artistic and charitable communities of the Macarthur region and beyond, often in senior leadership positions. This commitment was recognised in the 2013 Queens Birthday Honours list with an Order of Australia Medal ‘for service to the community of Campbelltown’.

“On behalf of the state’s solicitor profession, I congratulate Mr Marsden on this award of life membership.” Mr MacSweeney said.

Media contact
Damien Smith | Director, Media and Public Relations
The Law Society of New South Wales
M: +61 417 788 947
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