Our Board

Rachel Baird was appointed to the Board of the Centre for Legal Studies in May 2024. She brings private practice experience (ACT, Victoria and Queensland) to the board, along with experience working at the Queensland Law Society with responsibility for the delivery of all professional development, the Practice Management Course and the specialist accreditation programs. Rachel also brings extensive governance experience to the board having worked with boards as a manager and through membership on boards across education, NFP, government and sports. In addition, Rachel has acted in an advisory capacity to many boards during times of crisis and during governance reviews. Rachel is a Senior Lecturer at the UTAS School of Law and has prior teaching experience at the Universities of Queensland and Melbourne. She is committed to preparing work ready graduates to the profession and working with the Centre in its delivery of high quality legal education.  

James (Jim) Walker was appointed to the Board of the Centre for Legal Studies in 2021. Jim graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1975 after completing a Bachelor of Laws and spent over 45 years in private practice in Hobart including 38 years as a partner at Clerk Walker and 7 years as a consultant with Simmons Wolfhagen, specialising in wills and estate planning. Jim also has experience in the not for profit sector as a long-time member of the Board of the Hobart Community Legal Service and current Chairman of Respect Ltd which operates 21 aged care facilities.

Amanda Thompson was appointed to the Board of the Centre for Legal Studies in 2019. Amanda was admitted to the legal profession in 2012 and spent almost ten years in private practice gaining experience in personal injury, workers compensation, and civil and estate litigation before moving to a role as in-house counsel with the Police Association of Tasmania in 2022. Amanda is a Past President of the Law Society of Tasmania in late 2022, in addition to her ongoing membership of several other Law Society Committees.

Anita Smith was appointed to the Board of the Centre for Legal Studies in 2019. She graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1991 and graduated from a Masters in Law from Monash University in 2009. Anita started her legal career in private practice and Tasmania and NSW community legal centres. She was the Chief of Staff to a Tasmanian Attorney General. Anita was the President of the Guardianship and Administration Board (Tas) for 13 years and held various other statutory appointments in that period. She is a Senior Member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Human Rights Division) and a sessional member of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Her main area of professional interest is human rights for people with disabilities. She has addressed international conferences on adult guardianship issues in eight countries, and written for publications in Australian, USA, Canadian and Japanese journals. She is a member of the international advisory committee for future World Congresses on guardianship and mental capacity issues. 

Luke Rheinberger has served as the Secretary of the Centre for Legal Studies Board since 2013. Luke is the Executive Director, Law Society of Tasmania, Secretary to the Board of Legal Education and the Law Foundation Inc. Luke graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1993 after completing a Bachelor of Arts and Laws. He began his legal career in Launceston before moving to Hobart, practising in civil litigation including workers compensation and construction disputes, before moving to his current role with the Law Society.