Fifty years ago, on April 30, 1965, Mr Williams was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Sydney after a year as a law clerk in a Sydney firm.

Soon after he joined Brian Buffier’s firm in High Street Maitland and by 1970 was ensconced in Thompson Norrie Solicitors.

Mr Williams later became a partner in that firm with Peter Kirsop in 1995.

MRM Lawyers took over Thompson Norrie Solicitors in 2010, but Mr Williams continued and specialises in local government planning law two days a week.

Mr Williams said running a business and practicing law was a difficult combination.

“One has to become compassionate in a client’s cause and convey that to a judge or magistrate inside a legal straightjacket,” he said.

“The man on the street only judges a lawyer on results but, for a lawyer, [the job] is a forensic task.

“The forensic component is a mix of science and art.”

Mr Williams said it was difficult to nominate one standout case from the past 50 years.

“I have been involved in a number of cases over the years that have resulted in the change of direction in different laws,” he said.

“To a lawyer, that’s somewhat of an achievement.”

MRM Lawyers has four partners Martin Kelly, Wayne Dever, Stephen Bray and Paul Mantash.

Mr Williams enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and on his beef cattle property on the outskirts of Maitland.

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