September 22, 2014
Working women give female students a glimpse of life as a lawyer
Fifteen female law students celebrated their journey through the 2014 Lucy Mentoring Program at a graduation ceremony in Sydney on Thursday 18 September.
LUCY mentor Justice Nicola Pain of the NSW Land and Environment Court and her mentee, final year law student Kate Weaver. Photo: Mostafa Photography
The twelve-week-program, which is co-sponsored by the School of Law and Careers Central, matches students with female lawyers based on the pair’s mutual professional interests, placing students in an environment where they can gain practical work experience as well as learn from others with some experience how to navigate a path to career success.
“The female lawyers who mentor our students in the LUCY program do it out of a sense of commitment. Having achieved in a male-dominated profession, they are keen to create networks and opportunities for other young women,” senior law lecturer, Dr Julia Quilter, said.
Kathryn Elizabeth Weaver, 22, from Cambewarra, NSW, said she welcomed the opportunity to meet and get to know her mentor, Justice Nicola Pain of the NSW Land and Environment Court, as well as other girls participating in the program.
“Though all the participants have varying interests, we are all very similar in that we are goal orientated and committed to giving ourselves the best possible start to our professional lives. It’s always very encouraging to be surrounded by people with similar values and in this way the program was very rewarding.”
Across the cohort of LUCY program participants there are students who hope to carve out a career in media, commercial, family and criminal law. Some hope to work in the private sector while others wish to work in a public service practice. The range of jobs represented by this year’s mentors is equally diverse.
“Our students are incredibly lucky to have amazing mentors from the breadth of the legal profession -- from Judges to Crown Prosecutors and solicitors – from which they gain first-hand experience. Students have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with their mentor and are provided with a network for their future careers,” Dr Quilter said.
LUCY mentors and UOW alumnae Claire Osborne, Senior Associate at RMB Lawyers, and Erin Lynch, Senior Associate at People + Culture Strategies
Erin Lynch, a UOW alumna who was recently recognised at the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards, said she joined the program because she understands how valuable such experience and networking opportunities are for young lawyers.
“I volunteered for the program because I thought it was a great initiative and a way for me to learn from my mentee as well as impart what I have experienced in the last six years of practise on a young woman who is just starting out, including the options available to her after studying law,” Ms Lynch said.