PUBLICATIONS
NATIONAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY REPORT 2015
On 14 April 2015, the AALA launched its report on cultural diversity within the legal profession.
Previously, the existence of a “bamboo ceiling” in the legal profession has only been supported by anecdotal evidence. The AALA Cultural Diversity Analysis is the first research project of its kind in Australia which specifically addresses the gap in statistics on the level Asian Australian representation in the senior ranks of the legal profession – from solicitors, to barristers and the judiciary.
Our infographic shows a summary of the report’s key findings.Obtain a full copy of the report and view the infographic below.
FOREIGN QUALIFIED LAWYERS SUBCOMMITTEE, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) GUIDE - JULY 2021
The Foreign Qualified Lawyers Subcommittee was established in 2020 by foreign qualified lawyers, for foreign qualified lawyers.
Due to high demand, the FQL Subcommittee have come together to publish a Frequently Asked Questions Guide (FAQ Guide). The FAQ Guide is current as of July 2021 and is intended to provide a brief introduction to qualification in Australia. The FAQ Guide continues to be developed and the FQL Subcommittee welcome your feedback.
To contact the FQL Subcommittee, email Kripi Bhatt (Chair, FQL Subcommittee) at nsw@aala.org.au
SUPERDIVERSITY INSTITUTE REPORT (2019)
The AALA inaugural National Cultural Diversity Summit in 2020 welcomed Mai Chen, Chair of the Superdiversity Institute for Law, Policy and Business. Based in New Zealand, Chen's advocacy and research explores the issues and barriers that CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) parties encounter in litigation and court systems. The Report provides an indepth insight into the impact that culture, language and the rule of law have on CALD parties and the premise of equal access to justice. After survey and responses across the industry, the report makes 43 wide-ranging recommendations for Judges, interpreters, Ministry of Justice, legal practitioners, investigators and educational providers.
NSW Branch, Cultural Diversity Pilot Outcomes Report 2022
In 2022, the NSW Branch together with the Women Lawyers Association launched the Cultural Diversity Pilot Outcomes Report.
The Report was based on the data collated from a NSW-wide survey open to all NSW solicitors together with a Focus Group which asked culturally diverse lawyers to reflect on the outcomes of the Survey but also to share their own experiences and opinions of the barriers faced to career progression.
With the support of King and Wood Mallesons, we are proud to have launched this Pilot and we hope that it serves to prompt conversations but most importantly, to impact change and further research.
On 10 November 2022, the Report was formally launched at King and Wood Mallesons, Sydney, with the Honourable Tom Bathurst KC as keynote, together with a panel chaired by NSW Branch Patron Katrina Rathie. The panel included Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan, Mariam Veiszdeh, Dr Alanna Kamp, Sonia Gandhi and Jahin Tanvir. Guests also heard from the AALA National President, Molina Asthana, NSW Branch President, Marija Gurlica and NSW Branch Member, Dora Cheung.