Why the Name "Smoke"?

In 2012, Principal Lawyer Melanie Tait's Dad was diagnosed with brain cancer. During the last few months Melanie spent with her Dad, they had many conversations in which Melanie's Dad encouraged her to go back to university to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.

Sadly, Melanie's Dad passed away on 6 December 2012.

In February 2012, Melanie took her Dad's advice and applied to university to study law, and was accepted not long after.

Melanie graduated university in 2018, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 6 December 2019. Seven years to the day since her Dad passed away.

Melanie's Dad always called her by the nickname "Smokey" or "Smoke", as after she was born her eyes were a smokey grey in colour. So, in honour of her Dad, Melanie named her law practice after the name he affectionately called her all her life, "Smoke" Family Law.