The third generation bush lawyer – as he calls himself – is about to embark on his sixty-first year at the bar, 12 years off his grandfather’s 72-year career with the international firm Sparke Helmore. 

And like his grandfather Mr Cleaves has a particular view about retirement: “I’m going to remain doing what I’m doing till the day I die.” 

Watching Mr Cleaves in action it is easy to see why he has been a steadfast part of the Hunter legal fraternity, and now patron of the Hunter Valley Law Society, for so many years. 

“As the late Peter Harvey, Canberra said: ‘It’s good to play where you get your pay,” Mr Cleaves said. “It’s great theatre, there’s an opportunity to render help to people in need, there is a fantastic esprit de corps among criminal lawyers and the work is always varied, interesting and very  satisfying.”

The barrister has practiced most fields of law, was admitted to the bar in Papua New Guinea, retained 14 QCs at one time while working for News Limited and briefed three high court judges throughout his career, been a director of NBN television and a director, patron and volunteer to countless charitable organisations throughout the Hunter. 

But after 60 years his passion is still criminal law and the cases that continue to trouble him even today – in particular the unsolved murder of Cessnock woman Allison Newman. 

“A girl was found naked under corrugated iron at a rubbish tip in Bellbird near Cessnock.

The coroner sent to inquire as to the cause of her death, was unable to make a finding and nobody was ever brought to account for what obviously was a murder,” Mr Cleaves reflected on the case. “I was extremely disappointed and I’ve continued to this day to ask all of my Cessnock clients who might have some information to let me know and no one ever has.” 

He said it’s hard not to feel emotion for clients in criminal matters. 

“I had a case once where my client telephoned me in the middle of the night, she’d informed her husband she was calling the police because of his behaviour towards her and he shot her dead while she was speaking to me on the phone,” he said.

“[It was] Horrific, horrific. It’s wrong to say you don’t get involved with your clients when you’re a criminal lawyer. You’re told not to but it’s impossible not to feel emotion and be seriously effected by the result that’s imposed upon a client especially if it’s jail.”

One of the things noted by Mr Cleaves’ colleagues during a celebratory morning tea roast at Maitland Local Court last week was his generosity and humility towards his clients whom he often acts for pro bono. 

“I act for them whether they qualify [for legal aid] or not, I never reject anybody, if they don’t qualify for legal aid I am able to act for the pro bono so nobody ever walks out of my office unrepresented. I had always had an ambition.” 

Growing up, the now father of three was significantly influenced by the founder of Lifeline and the superintendent of Wesley Mission in Pitt Street, Reverend Dr Sir Alan Walker. 

“[His] principal activity in life, similar to what Pope Francis the first has said was the poor and the hungry or social justice, and that’s remained with me throughout my career,” he said. “It’s not too heavy but it’s the truth.”