Rita Thakur

Rita Thakur is a distinguished partner whose legal career is deeply rooted in her extensive background in psychology and social work. Her academic journey began at Bombay University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology, in 1975. Her passion for understanding human behaviour led her to complete a Masters in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work at the prestigious TATA Institute of Social Sciences in 1977. After immigrating to Australia in 1984, Rita pursued a law degree at the Institute of Technology Sydney (later University of Technology Sydney), graduating with Honours in 1990. While studying, she gained valuable experience as a counsellor with the Department of Community Services, working with children who were victims of neglect and abuse. Rita's legal career was launched when she was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia. Initially practising at a local firm in Shellharbour, she focused on Family Law and briefly held a partnership. In 1997, she realised her vision of a balanced practice by founding Rita Thakur & Associates, the first boutique Family Law practice in the Illawarra. Her early work was centred on filing compensation claims for victims of abuse, a significant area of her practice until legislative changes. Despite this, Rita has continuously leveraged her expertise to deliver empathetic and insightful solutions for her clients in family law matters. Celebrating 25 years of service in 2022, Rita is a respected figure in her field, recognised for her ability to navigate complex problems with a client-focused approach. She is currently active in the legal community as a member of Collaborative Family Lawyers Illawarra Shoalhaven and serves as the President of Alliance Francaise Illawarra, demonstrating her commitment to both her profession and community.