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‘Young lawyers want their leaders to back them’

The current and incoming 2020 president of the Australian Law Students’ Association have shed light on what graduates are looking for in an employer.

user iconEmma Musgrave 17 September 2019 Corporate Counsel
Erin Ritchie
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Speaking on an episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) president Erin Ritchie and incoming 2020 president Margaret Cai said young lawyers increasingly want to work under someone who supports them – both on a professional and personal level.

“I think at the end of the day you expect the leaders in your workplace to stand up for you and to back you. I think that’s an important part of where our broader conversation goes. That it’s great for us as a law student body to advocate issues, but we need to have that idea reciprocated,” Ms Cai said.

 
 

“We need that message to come not just from bottom up but also top down. I think belonging and feeling like your voice is being heard and feel like youre being backed are really important.”

For the law students of today, considerations such as mental health and wellbeing are essential factors, with Ms Cai noting those who dont place importance on such issues could risk losing out on young talent coming through the ranks.

“I think what were starting to see more of, is that the offering for students going into the graduate market, its getting wider. Were seeing students go into consulting, were seeing them go into start-up companies,” she said.

“The traditional top-tier pathway isnt as clear and as defined as I think a lot of these law firms have experienced in the past.

“I think the real danger is that if your culture doesnt change, if your focus is not particularly strong on certain areas that we need it to be, then students just arent going to be choosing you as a firm or as a career path.”

Ms Ritchie offered a similar sentiment.

“I mean having gone through the clerkship process myself, I think, the words around culture and work-life balance have just become so prevalent,” she said.

“I think the next question that will start coming into that will be, ‘How do you deal with bullying, harassment in the workplaces? What are the processes? Do you have education and training for your staff members?’

“I think as people become more informed, those topics become more prevalent in the questions that law students ask and also in the cultural practices that occur.”

To listen to the full episode featuring Ms Ritchie and Ms Cai, see below.

Emma Musgrave

Emma Musgrave

Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.

Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences. 

Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.

She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University. 

Email Emma on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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