Sarah-Jane MacDonald
LLB, AccS(Fam), Grad Dip (Leg. Prac.)
Legal Practitioner Director, Accredited Family Law Specialist & Parenting Co-Ordinator
Sarah-Jane is a strong advocate of practice in the regions, having practised in the Toowoomba Region for the entirety of her legal career. Sarah-Jane has been admitted in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia since 2014, after completing her Bachelor of Law degree at the Toowoomba Campus of the University of Southern Queensland.
Sarah-Jane is currently the Legal Practitioner Director of MacDonald Law (Qld) Pty Ltd. For Sarah-Jane, working with people is the crux of why she has continued to work in the family law sphere since her admission. She enjoys providing advice to client's in plain English and being part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. In 2023 Sarah-Jane was qualified as an Accredited Family Law Specialist and continues to assist families navigate separation.
Sarah-Jane's background also includes a comprehensive understanding of criminal matters, wills and estates, property and business matters. Therefore, she is uniquely qualified to assist with family law matters which often touch on each of these points.
Sarah-Jane is regularly involved with collaborative practices and other alternative dispute resolution processes to help her client's achieve the best possible and commercially sound outcomes. In 2022, Sarah-Jane completed her training as a Parenting Co-Ordinator and is now available to assist families in a collaborative way after final Orders have been made. She loves having the opportunity to support families after the framework surrounding court process is finished and final court orders are made. She draws on her knowledge from practice in the family law sphere for more than a decade to assist post separation families in the parenting coordination process.
Boasting a full family law file load and overseeing a number of other active legal departments within her firm; Sarah-Jane continues to be people focused and results driven. She regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Magistrates Court. Sarah-Jane travels to appear in Courts from Cairns to Hobart.
In 2026 Sarah-Jane is the Deputy President of the Queensland Law Society, and will transition to be President in 2027. The Queensland Law Society is the peak industry body for more than 13,000 lawyers in Queensland and advocates on behalf of, and regulates the profession. This role is an opportunity for Sarah-Jane to lead the profession she is so proud of and to advocate on behalf of the profession for genuine changes to the legislation.
Sarah-Jane has remained actively involved in the local Toowoomba region. Sarah-Jane has served on the General Management Committee of the Downs & South Western Qld Law Association for a decade including as President for 3 years. Sarah-Jane volunteers her time by giving pro bono legal advice with the Women's Legal Service Queensland. Sarah-Jane is also a past chair of the Toowoomba & South West Qld Family Law Pathways Network. Additionally, she is the current Secretary, and past President, of the Fairholme College Old Girls Association. Sarah-Jane has also provided adjudication services for high school debating competitions. She has been recognised for her community involvement by being previously awarded the Regional Young Citizen of the Year Award.
Sarah-Jane leads an active lifestyle, and you can usually find her on the weekends after being to the gym, strolling around a produce market.
If you would like to book an appointment with Sarah-Jane, please call. Sarah-Jane is able to attend appointments in both our Toowoomba and Brisbane offices; as she runs files from both locations.
