Coming from a family of lawyers, Peter Carter (LLB 1980) has strong views on the workings of the legal profession.

He followed his three brothers into the law and took over from his father, Ted, as managing partner of Carter Capner Lawyers in 1994.

It is a profession that Mr Carter takes great pride in, maintaining a sense of public duty that was developed during his student days.

He said he was committed to the notion of lawyers as the last line of defence for the public.

Compelled by the attraction to assist ordinary people, I went into consumer law,” he said.

“Since the anti-consumer tide that swept accross Australia in 2002-2003, representation of consumers has all but been wiped out.”

Mr Carter is Director of the Civil Justice Foundation, which he set up with a group of lawyers, to promote and encourage the protection and enhancement of the rights of the individual.

The Foundation campaigns for a more efficient and equitable civil justice system, helping society understand an individual’s point-of-view.

“The calls by those who decry consumer litigation and their lawyers who provide meaningful access to justice to those who cannot afford it is really a form of bigitory directed against the people the lawyers represent,” Mr Carter said.

Carter Capner is known for championing the rights of the consumer and the individual and Mr Carter has a successful track record of taking on government and big business.

In 1994 he helped defeat the Goss Labor government’s proposals to abolish common law workplace injury claims.

Between 2000 and 2003 Mr Carter was a member of the board of governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He was one of the founders of the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers’ Association and was its National President from 1998 to 1999.

Mr Carter remembers his UQ days well, particularly the three years living at St Johns College and the lasting friendships he made.

The memories were brought back recently when he completed an Executive Leadership Program at the UQ Business School.

Mr Carter said he had been looking for the skills to take the firm to the next level.

“The biggest single discovery from the program was to bring the authentic me to the table,” he said.

“How you apply leadership comes from within and you must develop your own style. You must be authentic.”