Michael McDevitt

Background

About Michael McDevitt

Michael holds a Bachelors of Laws degree from the Queensland Institute of Technology. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1986 and is admitted as a solicitor of the High Court of Australia. Michael is also a Justice of the Peace (Qualified). Michael gained his accreditation as a personal injuries specialist solicitor in Throughout his career, Michael has placed a particular emphasis on personal injuries claims, to such an extent that he has now practiced exclusively in that area of law over the last several years. Michael has not only acted on behalf of Plaintiffs in respect of claims for damages resulting from motor vehicle accidents, work related injuries and in public liability claims, but also formerly acted on behalf of Defendant insurance companies. This has given Michael a valuable insight in how solicitors acting for Defendant insurance companies conduct their cases and how to "counter" their arguments. Michael is a member of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association. Whilst Michael is extremely professional in the manner in which he handles his cases and meticulous in their preparation, he also takes a common sense approach to litigation. He is sensitive to the needs of his clients and understands that for the majority of them they have only had limited experience with the law previously. For this reason, Michael recognises the needs of his clients and attempts to put them at ease as much as possible at the same time as attempting to remove the mystique surrounding personal injuries claims by explaining the relevant procedures in plain English. Michael is also aware of the costs associated with the litigation and attempts to minimise them where possible and is aware that most of his clients are ordinary people who are generally apprehensive about actually going to court. To this extent, he will attempt to negotiate settlements where possible, with a view to also achieving a prompt resolution of the claim, but at the same time keeping his client s interests as his number one priority. Michael is a long time resident of the Gold Coast, having moved there in 1976 and was educated at Aquinas College in Southport, prior to commencing his career in law. Michael has also been involved with several community and business groups. His sporting interests and hobbies include Australian Rules Football (Richmond), cricket, reading and history.