What is Bridging the Gap?
Bridging the Gap is a mentoring programme, sponsored by IPLS, which is run by the Wellington Young Lawyers’ Committee and the Victoria University Law Students’ Society. It’s now in its sixth year – moving from strength to strength each year. Bridging the Gap aims to do just that: ‘Bridge the Gap’, so to speak, from being a student to entering the profession and the first years of practice.
How does it work?
Bridging the Gap matches up young lawyers and students as mentors and mentees. It also involves events during the year to facilitate more interaction between law students and young lawyers, in all areas of legal practice. In 2016 we introduced a further initiative, Workplace Tours, which we repeated successfully in 2017. This initiative focuses on exposing students to the range of legal roles outside of the oft advertised career paths at national firms. It was also a great opportunity for students to hear from experienced lawyers, whose own career trajectories vary greatly, and more often than not, have not been linear.
In 2017 there were tours at 13 different workplaces – ranging from government departments and agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Crown Law Office and Pharmac, to small law firms, barristers’ chambers and in-house roles at TradeMe and Xero. Mark Wilton, principal prosecutor for the Police Prosecution Service, was also kind enough to host a tour, incorporating a visit to the local Police station and observation of police prosecutors in the District Court.
How do I get involved?
We call for expressions of interest for mentees at the beginning of the academic year – during March and April each year. If you want to know a bit more, feel free to get in touch with Daniel Mahoney - our Careers Officer. We’re always open to hearing suggestions, ideas and feedback.
Bridging the Gap is a mentoring programme, sponsored by IPLS, which is run by the Wellington Young Lawyers’ Committee and the Victoria University Law Students’ Society. It’s now in its sixth year – moving from strength to strength each year. Bridging the Gap aims to do just that: ‘Bridge the Gap’, so to speak, from being a student to entering the profession and the first years of practice.
How does it work?
Bridging the Gap matches up young lawyers and students as mentors and mentees. It also involves events during the year to facilitate more interaction between law students and young lawyers, in all areas of legal practice. In 2016 we introduced a further initiative, Workplace Tours, which we repeated successfully in 2017. This initiative focuses on exposing students to the range of legal roles outside of the oft advertised career paths at national firms. It was also a great opportunity for students to hear from experienced lawyers, whose own career trajectories vary greatly, and more often than not, have not been linear.
In 2017 there were tours at 13 different workplaces – ranging from government departments and agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Crown Law Office and Pharmac, to small law firms, barristers’ chambers and in-house roles at TradeMe and Xero. Mark Wilton, principal prosecutor for the Police Prosecution Service, was also kind enough to host a tour, incorporating a visit to the local Police station and observation of police prosecutors in the District Court.
How do I get involved?
We call for expressions of interest for mentees at the beginning of the academic year – during March and April each year. If you want to know a bit more, feel free to get in touch with Daniel Mahoney - our Careers Officer. We’re always open to hearing suggestions, ideas and feedback.