If you’re a social media scroller, you’ve likely seen those memes made up of two photos: one labelled ‘How it started’, the other, ‘How it’s going’. Two snapshots in time, that can, on occasion, convey a story worthy of a novel or autobiography. Applying this meme to our careers, most of us can pinpoint what started us on our path to practising law, and where our journey is up to now.

My first steps were a confident stride towards becoming a veterinarian. Now, I have the privilege of leading a profession that upholds and advances one of the strongest institutional pillars of our country, the rule of law. We all start somewhere, and the Law Society of NSW plays an important role in helping people turn an aspiration for a legal career into a reality; and then supporting their ongoing success in practice. That’s been one of my President’s Priorities this year.

Last week, we held our second Welcome to the Profession event for 2025, attracting scores of newly admitted lawyers eager to hear from experienced practitioners on the many paths available to solicitors for a fulfilling career. Meeting and engaging with these new lawyers in person gives me great confidence about the future of our profession.

Our support and encouragement for young people to consider the law as a career extends well before admission. In May, we travelled to the University of Wollongong to hold a Young Justice event, which attracted high school students from the Illawarra and beyond.

Over the next fortnight, we will also hold the two grand finals in our 2025 Mock Law program. On Friday, Sydney Boys High School and James Ruse Agricultural High School compete in the Mock Mediation Grand Final. Next Tuesday, 2 December, Maronite College of the Holy Family and Chevalier College are the grand finalists for the Mock Trial at the University of Sydney Law School. These competitions challenge students with realistic courtroom scenarios, and are a true test of emerging legal talent.

For those who go on to study law and achieve admission, the Law Society’s student membership and NSW Young Lawyers sub-committees provide invaluable development, networking and contribution opportunities to help transition confidently into practice. The voice of these early career lawyers is embedded in our governance, with the Immediate Past President of NSW Young Lawyers taking their place on the Council of the Law Society of NSW for a 12-month term. We recently welcomed Timothy Roberts into that role.

Our work with young people considering a life in the law is an important means of sparking ambitions for a career that can lead to an innumerable variety of opportunities to serve the justice system, and the wider community. Maybe even as a future President of the Law Society!

Jennifer Ball, President, The Law Society of NSW