Ms Wong – who won the award last year – is a former special counsel at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Perth and is an experienced construction disputes specialist who has acted on complex international and local arbitrations, large-scale litigation in both federal and state jurisdictions, adjudications under security of payment legislation (in Western Australia and the Northern Territory) and mediations.

She also provides front-end contract and risk advice to multinational clients and has acted for multinational and national entities, including major mining, engineering, construction, and property development companies.

Award opens floodgates of opportunities

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After winning the Mentor of the Year award last year, many junior practitioners requested her to mentor them on being a construction law specialist, a lawyer in private practice, and a woman of colour in the law, “which was fantastic to see”, Ms Wong told Lawyers Weekly.

“We all have different facets of our identities so I am conscious that sometimes I can tick one or two boxes for them and will have to reach out to my network for the others,” she said.

“The award helped me give the visibility to encourage more mentees who were struggling with the long-standing problem, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’, to bring their whole selves to work, voice their opinions, and pursue their dreams.”

An ever-present challenge in the legal profession is rising through the ranks without many role models who “look like you”, which could lead to impostor syndrome, according to Ms Wong.

To overcome this, she suggested that lawyers pick a person (or people) they admire and emulate them by thinking about how they would handle a particular situation.

Mentor award a nod to diversity in law 

Ms Wong said it was pleasing to see the inclusion of the mentorship category at the Women in Law Awards, which she said acknowledged her efforts as a mentor with a focus on diversity and inclusion.

“The importance of mentoring, as well as acknowledging that mentees are a diverse group with different needs so that mentoring cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ proposition, is often overlooked,” she noted.

Moreover, an awards program like the Women in Law Awards affords a larger share of public platforms for women who are under-represented at the higher levels of the legal profession, Ms Wong said.

“I’ve had so much interest and positive feedback from other women about these awards and that’s a sign of what it means for them,” she said.

Highlighting trailblazing female practitioners

When asked to highlight the achievements she included in her award submission, Ms Wong listed being inaugural secretary of the West Australian branch of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association and its president for the last four years.

The association holds professional development seminars, cocktail and cultural events, as well as student outreach.

“One driving motivation was to highlight trailblazing female practitioners from the Asian-Australian community who deserve further recognition, including magistrates, Olympians, and internationally-recognised specialists in their fields,” Ms Wong said.

Alongside this, Ms Wong sits on the West Australian committee of the Lighthouse Club (a charitable organisation that raises funds for young people with educational disadvantages) and the West Australian committee of the Society of Construction Law (which aims to share knowledge with respect to developments in construction law).

Above all, Ms Wong said she could not forget the women she has mentored at her law firm.

“It gives me great joy to see a lawyer whom I’ve mentored flourish in their career,” she enthused.

The importance of mentors

Ms Wong places high importance on mentorship because it provides a safety net and support for new and young lawyers who are learning how to navigate the legal profession.

A successful and fulfilling legal career should not only be based on a lawyer’s skill and experience but also the strength of their connection to others, including mentors, she asserted.

“Firstly, they’ve been there and done that and can provide you with valuable career guidance. Not everyone gets dealt cards which means they can navigate the legal profession with confidence, familiarity and ease,” Ms Wong said.

“I’m the daughter of immigrants who had very little experience with the Australian legal system and I grew up without any family friends or relatives practising in the law. For people like me, mentors play a key role launching a career – they provide information about firms, practice areas, what to expect and how to behave.”

Moreover, because the legal profession can be challenging to navigate (as lawyers suffer from higher rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse problems than the general population), Ms Wong said having a mentor who can understand these pressures and provide advice about self-care and measures to preserve mental wellness is invaluable (as are cautionary tales about what not to do).

In unison with this, sponsorship is as important for new lawyers to forge a successful career, Ms Wong added.

“No one can have a successful career without mentors and sponsors,” she said.

“Mentors give you advice but sponsors sell you, they go out and tell clients and colleagues about how amazing you are. It can be harder to find sponsors than mentors but they need to be there and sometimes they need a push. Mentors need to remember that they can be a sponsor too.”

How to be an award-winning mentor

As for what makes an award-winning mentor, Ms Wong said having a genuine passion and commitment for mentoring are crucial as they must carve time in their busy schedules to teach their mentees while building a strong relationship of trust with them.

“It should never be an afterthought or a chore,” Ms Wong advised.

She concluded by encouraging this year’s award entrants to “let their passion shine through”, focus on their impact, demonstrate their commitment to building lawyers they believe in, and highlight their own personal growth journey.

The Women in Law Awards program is the benchmark for excellence, recognising the outstanding women influencing the Australian legal profession. It is the pinnacle event for recognising female talent in the Australian legal industry and presents an opportunity for leading women to showcase the depth of their talent, attract more clients, and propel their career.

The prestigious national awards program shines a spotlight on executives, barristers, academics, pro bono, rising stars, and other legal professionals in large and boutique firms.

Click here to submit an entry or nominate a worthy colleague by 9 September 2022 to be in the running for these prestigious awards.

For more information, including categories and judging process, click here.