David Eldridge - LawyerI am privileged to be VALS' Regional Practice Lead for criminal law in the western region. I operate a discrete general legal practice, focusing on immigration and employment matters, also with a fair share of family and crime, and am appointed to the NT Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. Combining my trade of horticulture and my passion for the environment with skills developed as a lawyer, I worked as a Regional Land Management Coordinator for the Central Land Council, privileged to work on Arrernte land in an organisation led by Aboriginal people for Aboriginal people. I was senior solicitor at Central Australia Aboriginal Family Law Unit (CAAFLU) in Alice Springs, providing legal and social assistance to Aboriginal victims of family violence. The practise covers Family Law, Domestic Violence Orders, Child Protection matters and Criminal Injuries Compensation. It's similar to my previous job as managing solicitor of the Aboriginal Family Law Services (AFLS) Kalgoorlie, WA office. My Alice Springs and Ballarat-based general legal practise includes Wills, probate, leases, business, etc, particularly Family law and regular Court work. Successful matters include: Family law property settlements; Crime. Contests and complex pleas, often around mental health; Intervention Orders – applications negotiated and defended;Commercial leases including resolution at VCAT; Sports investigations and prosecutions (especially football and cycling);Unfair dismissals - advocating for employee or for employer; & Wills, Wills, Wills.I enjoy a casual role as tour guide for Red Centre Adventures, showing groups of tourists on ebikes around Alice Springs Trees. Arborist – with decades of high rigging experience, fully equipped, we can advise about, shape or remove complex trees. Career milestones include: Accredited specialist in Criminal law; Legal member of the Mental Health Tribunal; University lecturer; Partner in a Ballarat law Firm, sole practise in association with Ballarat Conveyancing - one of the region's largest conveyancing practises, managing solicitor AFLS & senior solicitor CAAFLU.Advocate, explainer, decision-maker, gardener.