meet shelby

Shelby MacDonald

SENIOR ASSOCIATE FAMILY LAWYER

Shelby is one of our Senior Family Lawyers, practicing in all aspects of Family Law.

After completing her Law Degree in 2016, she was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia the following year. Shelby has been with us since 2020.

Dedicated to ensuring the best results for her clients, Shelby’s practical approach ensures that wherever possible, timely and cost-effective resolutions are reached for our clients. She has recently completed her dual Masters in Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution to further her knowledge and skills in Family Law and provide outstanding results for her clients.

Shelby is experienced in all areas of Family Law including parenting, property, and domestic and family violence matters. She is also a qualified Parenting Coordinator. Shelby brings invaluable experience in criminal law matters to the team and is an accredited Criminal and Domestic Violence Duty Lawyer. She regularly advocates for her clients in Courts of varying jurisdictions, from local Magistrates and Children’s Courts, District and Supreme Courts of Queensland, and in the Family Law Courts.

Qualifications & Accreditations:

  • Masters of Family Law and Family Dispute Resolution with the College of Law
  • Legal Practitioner admitted to the High Court of Australia, 2017
  • Legal Practitioner admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland, 2016
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – Queensland University of Technology, 2016
  • Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts majoring in Archaeology – University of Queensland, 2016
  • Criminal and Domestic Violence Duty Lawyer Accreditation
  • Women’s Legal Service Queensland volunteer solicitor
  • Qualified Parenting Coordinator, 2023
  • Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, 2023
  • Member Family Law Practitioners Association
  • Member Queensland Law Society
  • Member Family Law Section Law Council of Australia
  • Member Pacifica Congress
  • Member Parenting Coordination Australia
  • Member Australian Institute of Family Arbitrators and Mediators

Areas of Practice:

  • Complex Property Settlements
  • Complex Parenting Disputes
  • Parenting Coordination
  • Children’s Matters
  • Grandparent representation
  • Mediation and Family Dispute Resolution
  • Consent Orders and Parenting Plans
  • Child Protection
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence matters
  • Binding Financial Agreements
  • Binding and Limited Child Support Agreements

your expert team of Family Lawyers and Mediators

Sarah Cleeland

PRINCIPAL SOLICITOR

Shelby MacDonald

SENIOR ASSOCIATE FAMILY LAWYER

Matt Stimpson

SENIOR FAMILY LAWYER

Kathryn McLoughlin

SENIOR FAMILY LAWYER

Testimonials

What our clients say

Thank you so much for all your support! It was a challenging battle from the get go but I knew we could win!

Kirsty S

Thanks so much for everything. Everyone at SC family lawyers has been amazing and really happy with the end outcome. Will definitely come back if there’s any need in the future.

T Sullivan

A big thank you for your support and guidance. Plus a big thank you for putting up with me. It is such a hard journey and I would not have made it this far without you. I appreciate you both.

Jackie M

Once again, thank you very much for your time, attention and patience throughout this process. Your assistance, and that of everyone involved at your office, is greatly appreciated.

Glenn H

I would like to take this opportunity to again thank you for all of your advice, support, guidance & knowledge in gaining such a favourable outcome for my kiddies future. Your patience in dealing with multiple backflips & 720 degree turns along the way this past year has been truly amazing & I’m in awe!

Nicole H