Yanji Robson-McInerney (Yan Robson) completed a double degree of Bachelor of Humanities and Social Sciences (Politics) in 2002 and Bachelor of Laws in 2005 at the University of Adelaide. During her study Yan undertook an Indigenous cadetship with the Legal Services Commission of South Australia for three years. After graduating from the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Yan was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Australia in 2005.
Yan's legal career began as a legal advisor for more than three years giving legal advice in areas of criminal law, family law and some areas of civil law at the Legal Services Commission of SA. Yan was approached, by the criminal law section, to become a duty solicitor. The duty solicitor role promotes efficiency, advocacy and adaptability; as the solicitor finds out that morning who is in custody, their charges, rapidly obtains instructions for a bail application and soon thereafter advocates as per those submissions.
Part way through her second year as a duty solicitor, a named partner of a busy reputable law firm requested Yan Robson to replace him, as he was leaving his 30-year role as partner and founder of that law firm to become a Magistrate. This upward career step saw Yan Robson, at 27 years of age, taking over conduct of about 250 clients with various criminal law matters; in the Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrates Court, including regional courts and Youth Courts. Having experienced private practice in such an intensive role, after 10 months, Yan Robson decided to begin her sole practice: Yan Robson Barrister & Solicitor on 26 July 2010.
Since 2010 Yan Robson Barrister & Solicitor grew in reputation into a busy sole practice by her commitment to representing clients with the utmost professionalism and skill for reasonable legal fees, including Legal Aid work. With extensive experience in representing clients at trial, submissions for a guilty plea, bail applications and appeals, Yan is skilled in firmly advocating for clients' best interests during proceedings. Yan Robson Barrister & Solicitor earned a reputable place in Adelaide, as a reliable practice that effectively negotiated with prosecution and genuinely cared about the clients. Yan's experience has seen her deal successfully with a broad range of matters from driving offences to murder. Yan Robson prides herself on getting to know her clients to ensure that the Court is dealing with the defendant as a person, using a compassionate and holistic approach to criminal justice. At all times clients are clearly communicated to about the Court processes so that they are well informed about the legal proceedings in which they find themselves. Yan's clients are well advised of the various possible outcomes, with the best interest of the client always being the ultimate outcome.
In late 2022, the Courts Administration Authority imposed an online Court portal, which originated in the civil jurisdiction, across to the criminal jurisdiction. It is the opinion of Yan Robson that the portal, when applied to criminal law, is breaching fundamental principles of criminal justice. After numerous efforts to have such rectified, to no avail; Yan Robson Barrister & Solicitor being the only owned and operated Aboriginal criminal defence law firm in the State was closed on 30 June 2023.
Since mid-2023 Yan Robson has been practising, researching and supplementing her experience and knowledge in wills & estates, as well as conveyancing. Having had the opportunity to see how other firms practise in this area, what Yan noted was that this legal area can be quite administrative with some estate administrations being protracted over many years. As a systems-oriented person Yan soon constructed professional operating systems that provided for consistency, efficiency and regular client reporting mechanisms, to address the pitfalls noted in this area of law.
Having been appointed as a Sessional Ordinary Member of South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) in late 2025 and wishing for flexible work to accommodate such commitment,
from such Memento Mori Legal was born.
Establishing Memento Mori Legal enables Yan Robson full flexibility to be able to service the wonderful people who entrust her with their estate matters, to the exacting, high standard of professionalism always exhibited by Yan. Being pedantic on form and procedure Yan Robson's skills are well suited to Wills and Estate law. As well as being able to compassionately care for clients' legal needs at fair and reasonable rates. Memento Mori Legal provides flexibility for clients with our Online Process, by emailing [email protected] at any time and from any place; appointments outside of business hours; electronic remote communications (where appropriate), and travel to clients, on an 'as needs basis'.
Extracurricular Activities
- Yan Robson has been a member of the Law Society of South Australia since 2004
- A director on the board of directors of Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement in 2023 to 2024
- A committee member of the Law Society Aboriginal Issues Committee in 2019 to 2022
- A committee member of the Law Society Criminal Law Committee from 2015 to 2020
- A board member of Tandanya (the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute) in 2012 and 2013
- A member of Women Lawyers Association of South Australia and a member of Women's Legal Services (SA) Inc in 2013
- An elected nominated delegate of the South Australian Indigenous Legal Professionals Association Committee in 2008
- A friend of the Indigenous Law Student Mentoring Program from 2005 to 2023