150 Years - A Celebration
By Sandra Gully
APJ Law is celebrating its history as a firm of 150 years of continuous practice in 2025, having a significantly long connection to the New England.
"We're committed to being here," Senior Associate Sandra Gully says, having researched APJ's history. The development in the region (agriculture and mining) in the 1860’s, saw a need for legal support. TJ Kearney of Inverell travelled to Glen Innes, in 1875 opening the doors to what would become APJ. "The firm was established and has been in continuous practice since that point, under different names and stewardship, but with the same connection to community" she said. APJ is among the 10 oldest continuously operating law firms in NSW.
In her research, Ms Gully found documents suggesting the Firm’s origin may be earlier (1855), but said old papers and records are nearly illegible on microfiche records available in NSW Archives and would be difficult to confirm. The Law Society (commenced in around 1835) has records on firms commenced about 1935.
The Glen Innes office at 342 Grey Street, was built in 1935 by Col. PP Abbott as he neared retirement. He invested in the firm for his sons, DW Abbott and PM Abbott, who took charge over the next 40 years. The Glen Innes office has now been across from the Glen Innes Courthouse for almost a century.
“This continued presence and commitment to the community, has been a very strong theme in my research of the Firm, which continues today." Ms Gully said. Mr Abbott's two sons led the Firm over many decades. In 1979, they welcomed Peter Pardy, then in 1982 Mac Jenkins - the P and J of the brand – to form Abbott, Pardy and Jenkins for almost another 30 years.
The Armidale office, positioned around the business precinct since approximately 1995, has been located front and centre of Hanna's Arcade for more than a decade. In Armidale, the Firm had mergers with other law firms: Tilbury and Co (2000) and historic Weaver, General and Harrison (2005).
Ms Gully said “although informally known as APJ, “APJ” only came to be formalised in 2008”.
Ms Gully commenced employment at the Glen Innes office in 1998 (around her horseriding) and from 1999, she assisted Mr Pardy as a paralegal. He encouraged her to study a law degree and she eventually relented, commencing studies part-time (later also working at UNE with a young family) and was admitted to practice law in early 2018. "It was always my hope to return to APJ for the culture and to serve the community," Ms Gully said - she is now a Senior Associate with APJ.
"You look through the old photos, which include staff and see they're like family. In paper articles, the long connection to Glen Innes and Armidale is evident, they're really there for their clients," she said.
Ms Gully observed that history drives the passion and commitment of APJ's current team of solicitors to continue their community-focused work. "They provide support to the community – not to make a big deal of it, but to be involved and part of the community," she said.
With employment at APJ spanning almost 30 years, Ms Gully observed the Firm strived to take care of its staff and the community, which is how they've forged such a strong reputation as a firm to work for - and work with. "Some of our staff have been with us for 50 years. My own connection (since 1998) is now part of that story, and I’ve seen the Firm’s place in our communities build on this foundation of longevity, reliability and professionalism."
"APJ holds a prominent place in our communities, we engage in local events; support the university; engage with growth and development – promoting improvements for our communities because we live here, we want to be here, and it's important to us."
"I'm looking forward to the future, because there's a lot more that we've got to offer."