Meet the Team at
Athenais Legal
Dieter Kalle
Legal Practitioner Director
Dieter was admitted to practice in Queensland in 1998 after completing five years Articles of Clerkship..
He has remained in private practice since his admission with his primary focus being in the area of practice of family and relationships law.
In January 2013 Dieter and his family relocated to the South West. Since that time Dieter has built an extensive client base assisting clients to resolve complex parenting and financial matters in the Family Law space.
Dieter is a skilled advocate and negotiator, where possible he looks to resolve matters without the need for clients to experience the significant emotional and financial costs associated with a trial. Having said that, Dieter is an experienced trial advocate.
Significantly, Dieter is briefed as an Independent Children’s Lawyer by Legal Aid Western Australia on a regular basis. The role of ICL is a challenging one and involves detailed analysis of all the material submitted by each of the parties and any expert reports tendered to the Court in evidence. This is a crucial role in advocating parenting arrangements focusing on the best interests of the Child or children.
As well as being one of the most experienced family law advocates in the South West Dieter is also a Rugby Dad and if he isn’t at the office you will likely find him on the sidelines cheering on his son.
Sel McCrickard
Criminal Law Expert
Sel was admitted to practice in 1999 in Victoria. In 2004 she was Accredited as a Criminal Law Specialist.
Sel has worked extensively in Criminal and Family Law (including restraining orders) in Victoria and Western Australia. She has worked in the private sector, the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions, Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) including VLA’s Public Defenders Unit as well as a period as a barrister in Victoria.
Sel has held Management Roles with Victoria Legal Aid and Community Legal Centres in Western Australia.
Sel is a passionate and experienced advocate and has appeared in the Magistrates Court, County Courts and Supremes Courts in Victoria representing clients for Pleas in mitigation, bail applications and trials.
After relocating to Western Australia in 2018, Sel practiced in the Pilbara and the Perth Metro Area prior to moving to the beautiful Southwest. She continues to appear regularly in court representing clients charged with criminal offences and those seeking to apply for or defend restraining orders.
Sel also represents family law clients and regularly appears in the Family Court for parenting and property matters. She is a skilled negotiator and effectively represents clients participating in Family Dispute Resolution Conferences.
Sel is a trauma informed lawyer and understands the stresses clients experience when navigating the Family Court system. Sel is committed to assisting clients to resolve their family law matters in a timely way without court proceedings where possible.
Sel has taught with the Australian Advocacy Institute and has also lectured in Trial Practice and Advocacy at Monash University in Melbourne..