Friends, colleagues pay tribute to Lee Lee Heah who died rock climbing at Mt Arapiles

A friend and colleague of a Christchurch lawyer who died when rock climbing in Australia has remembered her as a revered figure among the legal community.

Tributes have been paid for barrister Lee Lee Heah, who died after a fall at Mount Arapiles in western Victoria on Tuesday.

The 69-year-old fell as she scaled the final section of a climb called Eskimo Nell.

Senior Christchurch barrister Liz Bulger told RNZ the legal fraternity had been rocked by the tragedy.

"We're all feeling it today," she said.

"There's a big Lee Lee-sized gap in our profession and will continue to be felt for some time to come."

As a lawyer, Heah had been described by colleagues in the wake of her death as "unflappable", and Bulger echoed those sentiments.

"Even in the face of challenging clients, and being challenged by judges and challenging circumstances, she never lost her cool," she said.

"She was well known for fighting hard, often for people who'd had a number of lawyers before and fallen out with them, or disengaged with them.

"Lee Lee would often take on those kind of assignments and make something out of a matter that others had been unable to."

Despite her seniority, Heah still worked on a range of cases and work of varying levels of significance.

"Lee Lee still worked in the trenches," Bulger said.

"I think that's something that we should all do."

She was also known for mentoring young lawyers who had just entered the profession.

Outside of the courtroom, Heah - who believed in maintaining a good work-life balance - was an avid traveller.

She and Bulger often conversed on their respective travels.

"It always seemed to me, that she had just been on an amazing trip, or was about to go on one, and it usually involved mountain climbing or surfing.

"And going to places I'd never heard of and doing amazing things.

"Although she probably did half-a-dozen trips to my one."

The site where she died was a renowned rock-climbing destination, attracting outdoor climbers from all over the world.

In a Facebook post, the New Zealand Alpine Club's Canterbury Westland Section said it was saddened by the tragedy.

"Lee Lee had climbed with our mid-week rock climbing group over a number of years as well as attending climbing meets."

Other friends and family had posted heartfelt tributes on social media.

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