Published: 21 March 2007

The journey through law school and the transition to legal professional practice can be challenging and confronting for many law students.  The journey is much easier if the student is able to establish connections with the profession before graduation.  To assist with this process the University of Queensland Law Graduates Association and the TC Beirne School of Law have launched a mentoring program for final year law students.  The program matches law students with a legal professional who can provide the student with insight into the realities of legal practice and who can be approached for practical advice and guidance about improving study techniques, choosing a career path, and locating job opportunities. Mentors and students are given some assistance in determining the type of guidance to be provided and establishing mutual expectations but are otherwise left to negotiate the details of the mentoring relationship themselves.

To date more than 60 graduates of the Law School – including legal practitioners, members of the judiciary and leading business people in Australia and overseas – have registered as mentors, and new mentors are registering every day.  Most of these mentors have agreed to mentor multiple students.  Since the program was officially launched in February, more than 50 final year law students have been matched with mentors.  It is hoped that upon graduating, these students will become mentors themselves, and as the number of available mentors increases, the program will be opened up to all law students enrolled at the university.

If you are a graduate of the Law School or a final year law student and interested in participating in the program you should visit www.law.uq.edu.au/mentor to register your interest.