Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said Elizabeth Olsson will replace Master Mark Rice, who resigned his commission earlier this year.

“Elizabeth Olsson is an exceptional candidate for the position, with a long, distinguished career, having practised for more than 30 years across a number of different areas of law,” Chapman said.

“As a senior associate at Mellor Olsson Lawyers since 2004, she has undertaken commercial and estate litigation as well as industrial relations, personal injury and product liability litigation. 

“She has also had experience in family law, and played a key part in representing victims of the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires in their personal injury claims.”

Chapman said Olsson’s wide range of skills and experience would be an asset to the position.

“Ms Olsson sat as Chair of the Law Society Bulletin Committee from 1995 until the end of 2016, and has contributed dozens of articles to the Bulletin, the Trade Practices Law Journal, and Australian Product Liability Reporter,” she said.

“She was also awarded the Brian Withers Award in 2017, recognising her exceptional and outstanding service to the Law Society, its members and the profession.

“She is also an avid member of the highly-regarded Gilbert and Sullivan Society of South Australia, having participated both on and off the stage in multiple productions – and I have no doubt her ability to think on her feet and keep calm under pressure will be invaluable in her new role.

“I congratulate Ms Olsson on this new opportunity and would like to thank Mr Rice for his significant contribution to the District Court over the last 18 years.” 

Olsson will begin her new role on Monday.