Asian Australian Lawyers Association NSW Branch Launches 2025 Mentoring Program with a Stellar Evening of Connection and Inspiration

On the evening of 7 August 2025, the Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) NSW Branch proudly launched its 2025 Mentoring Program with an engaging and well-attended event at Hall & Wilcox Sydney. Around 80 attendees came together to connect, share experiences, and celebrate the power of mentoring in the legal profession.

The highlight of the night was a panel discussion featuring Alison Choy Flannigan, Christina Li, and Jonathan Mo, who shared candid insights from both sides of the mentoring relationship. Christina Li reflected that having a career mentor is “not only a way to explore your career network, but a long-term relationship where take-aways and lessons are shared to help you grow.” Their stories inspired attendees to seek out meaningful mentorships and to consider the value of giving back by becoming a mentor.

The AALA Mentoring Program is a nationwide initiative that aims to provide members with opportunities to be mentored by senior members of the profession and to support those aspiring to senior or leadership roles by connecting them with respected, experienced practitioners who share AALA’s mission.

For the NSW Branch in 2025, the program has matched 36 mentors and 76 mentees into 64 pairs. In addition, from September to December 2025, the NSW Branch will run a Group Mentoring Program for those who missed the one-on-one matching or wish to share their career questions and experiences in a collaborative setting.

AALA NSW sincerely thanks Hall & Wilcox for their generous sponsorship and for hosting this special evening at their Sydney offices. We also extend our gratitude to the AALA NSW Student Subcommittee, including Dora Cheung, Alex Feng, Rob Chen, Eamonn Carpenter and Catharine Li, for their hard work in organising this year’s mentoring program. This collective support reflects a shared commitment with AALA to advancing multiculturalism in the legal profession and championing greater diversity in leadership.

Stay tuned for updates on future mentoring opportunities, and follow AALA for more events that inspire, connect, and empower our community.