Newbie lawyers in the Toowoomba region have clearly warmed to the idea of regular networking.
Downs and South West Queensland Law Association (DSWQLA) and Queensland Young Lawyers (QYL) hosted a sold-out Winter Warmer Brunch last Saturday to support early career lawyers (ECL).
Toowoomba’s Urth Café was buzzing with members of the University of Southern Queensland Law Society, Queensland Law Society’s Future Leaders Committee (FLC) and local lawyers from a range of fields.
Guest speaker Georgia Athanasellis, host of The Callover podcast, legal counsel, children’s book author and FLC member, opened the event by listing 10 things she wished she knew at the start of her career.
The list included having the confidence to seek out like-minded committees and communities.
DSWQLA committee member Kirstie Smith said the popularity of the brunch showed ECL were keen to network.
“There is a keenness in finding safe spaces to learn, collaborate and refuel together,” Kirstie said.
“The opportunity to do so at an event without the pressure to drink was an added bonus. ECL are acutely aware that booze-friendly events have their time and place but so do genuine connections, awareness and a confidence you are meeting a person’s real self.
“Despite the availability of networking events more broadly within the profession, it can be difficult to find events that welcome ECL from across the different legal demographics: law students, private lawyers, government lawyers, practitioners from micro firms or community legal, academics and those who practise in house.”
Kirstie said DSWQLA and QYL were rapt with the response to the brunch and excited to plan more joint events for ECL.
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