About Us
Bethany Richmond
Bethany started working in law whilst she was studying a Bachelor of Laws at the University of New England. In 2015, she began working with a Community Legal Centre gaining experience in a diverse range of legal fields including family law, criminal law, drafting of Wills, Power of Attorneys and Enduring Guardianships and Victims Compensation Claims.
In 2017, she relocated to Wagga Wagga joining a local private practice in which she specialised in Family Law matters and Wills & Estates.
Bethany is an admitted solicitor in both the New South Wales Supreme Court and High Court of Australia. Bethany specialises in all aspects of family law including parenting matters, property settlements, spousal maintenance, divorce applications and relocation cases.
Bethany also has experience in Wills & Estates, from drafting Wills, Power of Attorneys & Enduring Guardianships, to estate administration, as well as contested estates and litigation including testamentary incapacity cases and family provision claims.
Bethany's primary approach is resolve matters where possible through alternate dispute resolution such as mediation. Where that is not possible, Bethany is an experienced advocate in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, and NSW Courts.
Bethany understands the legal, practical and emotional difficulties which arise after a separation. Bethany prides herself on being available for clients, giving them expert advice and ensuring they understand and participate in every stage of the process.
Tessa Ward
Tessa graduated from Flinders University in Adelaide with a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice in 2014 and was admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister of the South Australian Supreme Court in 2015 as well as being admitted to the High Court of Australia.
Prior to moving to Wagga Wagga Tessa practised for several years in Adelaide at an established boutique firm specialising in Family Law, Succession Law and Wills & Estates. Tessa has experience representing clients in a wide range of Jurisdictions and has appeared many times in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Supreme Court of South Australia as well as appearing in various Magistrates/Local Courts.
Tessa specialises in all areas of Family Law and can assist clients with parenting disputes, property settlements, spousal maintenance claims, child support matters and applications for divorce.
Tessa understands the emotional and financial toll that legal matters and particularly Court proceedings can cause on clients and is dedicated to working closely with her clients to settle matters through alternate dispute resolution processes wherever appropriate. Tessa is passionate about clients not feeling like another number in what can be a very fractured, laboured, and stressful system for anyone dealing with a family law dispute.
Makenna Lucas
Makenna began working in law in 2018 as a legal receptionist at a private firm in Wagga Wagga. Since being promoted to a law clerk role in 2019, Makenna has assisted solicitors in various areas of law including Family law, Criminal law, Wills and Estates and Civil matters as well as managing general administrative tasks.
Makenna joined Richmond Ward Lawyers in 2024 as Law Clerk. Makenna is involved in all areas of client and file management, including assisting with the drafting of court documents and correspondence, liaising with clients, electronic filing and preparation of briefs.
Since joining Richmond Ward Lawyers, Makenna has also been appointed as a NSW Justice of the Peace and can assist with witnessing and certifying client documents including statutory declarations and affidavits.
Makenna understands that legal matters, particularly family law matters, can take a toll. As such, Makenna prides herself on providing efficient legal services to ensure matters proceed as seamlessly as possible.