Marque Lawyers paralegal and the Women in Law Awards 2023 Law Student of the Year winner Daphne Fong told Lawyers Weekly that the support she received early in her career “played a pivotal role” in helping her achieve professional goals.

“To best support young lawyers as they embark on their careers, firms should prioritise work/life balance and mentorship. I have experienced such support during my time at Marque Lawyers, where my supervising partner and senior associate have played crucial roles in my professional development,” she said.

“Recognising the importance of maintaining a healthy work/life balance, my senior associate and partner at Marque Lawyers have consistently ensured that my workload is manageable. Through ongoing and almost daily conversations about my studies and responsibilities, they have prevented me from feeling overwhelmed. This continuous support has been instrumental in providing me with a sense of comfort, knowing that I have mentors who genuinely care about my wellbeing and success.”

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Choosing a firm that supports young lawyers can be a key driver in early professional success – and La Trobe University Law Students’ Association immediate past president and Women in Law 2023 Law Student of the Year finalist Andrya Younan emphasised the importance of looking after junior employees’ wellness.

“Find a firm that looks after young lawyers. Given how stressful the legal industry can be, law firms can be supportive of young lawyers by ensuring that mental health is looked after. This also means that young lawyers need to look after their wellbeing by being active and engaging in different activities that can take their mind off work,” she said.

“Engaging in training and professional development will prove beneficial to individuals, and all the learning will indicate that they are a valuable asset to the team.”

Training and professional development can also look like regular one-on-ones or mentoring sessions, something which Fong has found to be especially helpful.

“An essential element of support has been the regular reviews conducted throughout my first two years at the firm. Having a three-month review and subsequent reviews every six months allowed me to discuss my goals, track my progression, and express my thoughts on the type of work I was engaging in. This feedback mechanism was invaluable in shaping my career path and refining my professional aspirations,” she added.

“The ability to discuss my goals and receive constructive feedback during regular reviews empowered me to actively pursue opportunities for growth and advancement. As a result of this supportive environment, I have been able to reach significant milestones.”

Further to this, it is “crucial” for young lawyers to recognise the “significance and excitement” of both networking and mentoring.

“Personally, I have gained valuable insights through participation in networking events and the more traditional approach of engagement, LinkedIn. Establishing connections with some of the most accomplished lawyers occurred simply by reaching out to them through direct messages on LinkedIn and actively engaging with their posts,” Younan said.

“A mentor can play a pivotal role in providing direction and guidance, ultimately steering one in the right professional direction. Some firms offer mentorship as a component of their professional development programs, but in instances where this is not available, attending external networking events organised by reputable organisations can be equally beneficial. A five-minute conversation in a legal networking event can significantly alter an individual’s perspective and profoundly impact their journey in the legal industry.”

And while mentorship can take many forms, it is an “essential aspect of legal career development”, added James Morgan, Herbert Smith Freehills solicitor and finalist at the 30 Under 30 Awards 2023.

“This can take many forms, from formal mentoring programs through to simple casual coffees and networking discussions. In fact, while formal mentorship can, of course, be invaluable, I have often found that the greater value is frequently in the informal and simple opportunities for growth.

“For my part, I have been fortunate to work alongside many exceptionally talented colleagues – and have benefited greatly from both their direct instruction and simply from observing how they conduct themselves. There is much to be said for the value of learning through simple observation of talented lawyers’ day-to-day approach to their work and, in doing so, understanding how you might improve. Many of the most extraordinary and accomplished members of the profession have themselves adopted their own characteristics from those who mentored them years ago,” he said.

“I would encourage all young lawyers to actively seek out both formal and informal opportunities to learn from mid-level and senior members of the profession. Two of the most crucial requirements of growth for young lawyers are experience and, of course, the opportunity to learn from those who have already enjoyed the benefit of experience.”