Login
Great legal minds prepare to welcome new lawyers to the profession
With admissions indefinitely cancelled in Victoria and NSW as a result of the pandemic and social distancing restrictions, two recent law graduates have put together an event that would allow new lawyers and their families to celebrate their achievements in law.
Naomi Neilson
In Victoria and NSW, the graduating class of 2020 is being heralded into their new profession “on paper” with little option to celebrate officially – either in person or virtually – with their peers, friends and families. An event created by two recent legal graduates is seeking to rectify this with a big, virtual celebration hosted in both states.
Ms Costi and Ms Janson were both due to be admitted to the profession in early 2020, but both had their ceremonies cancelled as a result of the pandemic. Ms Janson added that her university graduation was another casualty of the social distancing restrictions.
“We want the admitted class of 2020 – in the presence of their families and friends and others in the legal profession – to feel like their outstanding achievements [will be] just as celebrated as the lawyers who have gone before them,” Ms Janson said.
In a survey, the two found that many new lawyers feel that they are “missing out” on a significant career milestone. Ms Costi said that in what has been an “unprecedented, difficult” year for the legal profession and for studying lawyers, it is “critical that we are coming together to honour their achievements and milestones of those entering it”.
Ms Costi added that while those lawyers who have been admitted on the papers would still miss out on the “solemnity of an admission ceremony”, the event hopes to continue to remind students of the “non-negotiable ethical behaviour required of them”.
As part of the event, several leaders in the profession will join the respective panels in both states where they will provide advice and reflections relevant to the new lawyers.
The NSW panel includes Governor of NSW the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, former Federal Circuit Court of Australia judge Stephen Scarlett OAM, the Indigenous rights advocate and barrister Professor Larissa Behrendt AO and barrister and former NSW attorney-general Greg Smith SC. The graduates have also organised the panel to be chaired by Allens Linklaters chairman Fiona Crosbie.
The Victorian panel will feature commercial barrister and human rights advocate Julian Burnside AO QC, CEO of Equality Australia Anna Brown OAM, barrister and educator William Lye OAM QC and women’s advocate and principal legal officer Jill Prior.
Both events will also feature a special message from former justice of Australia’s High Court, the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG.
Rather than focusing on the legal components of admission speeches, Ms Janson and Ms Costi have broadened the scope out to tangible insights as well as “tips and tricks” for lawyers to walk away with and take with them into the legal profession.
“We believe that these events are great opportunities to hear from some of the greatest legal minds in Australia on how young lawyers can put their best foot forward for their careers and survive in the legal profession,” Ms Costi and Ms Janson said.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
