The Victorian Women Lawyers and the Women
Barristers Association will work to assist the
next generation of female lawyers via the 2010
Law Student Mentoring Program.
Now in its third year, the program facili
tates the pairing of mentors and students
who share common professional interests
and geographical proximity, to meet at least
once a month.
Running from April 2010 to April 2011,
the program aims to encourage the next
generation of Victorian female lawyers to
gain valuable insights into the legal profession
from current practitioners.
Mentors can specify particular students
they would prefer to mentor, such as a stu
dent from a particular university or with par
ticular legal interests.
Justice Marcia Neave AO of the Victori
an Supreme Court, who will launch the pro
gram at Middletons, has encouraged stu
dents in Victorian law schools to participate
in the 2010 program.
“Career progression, the culture of law
firms and work/life balance are among the
hot topics that female law students are con
cerned about and that practitioners deal with
on a daily basis,” she said.
“Additionally, practitioners seek oppor
tunities to develop their leadership skills
among their junior peers.”
According to feedback from last year's pro
gram, in which 120 pairs participated, the men
tors involved said they developed valuable lead
ership skills and gained rewarding insights,
without compromising their work commitments.
Justice Neave emphasised the “mutual ben
efits of interaction between young and more
experienced women lawyers” as just one of
the many reasons students and practitioners
should participate.
