1 minute read
ADLS University Programmes
ADLS is committed to supporting legal professionals and future law graduates throughout the early stages of their careers by offering professional development and collegial opportunities through a range of programmes and initiatives.
Building connections between the profession, academia and law students is an essential focus for us. Continuing our long tradition of supporting law students by providing opportunities for career growth and networking, ADLS, in partnerships with six New Zealand law students’ societies, runs programmes designed to assist future law graduates with their entry into the profession.
Advertisement
Introduction of University of Otago to the ADLS University Programmes
Earlier in 2019, ADLS was pleased to welcome the Society of Otago University Law Students (SOULS) to the ADLS University programme. Teddy Rose, the 2019 term President of SOULS played a key role in the launch of this programme, which is sure to be a longlasting relationship. The University of Otago is the final New Zealand university to join the programme, which makes this a notable milestone for ADLS.
To launch the partnership, ADLS held a pizza lunch and buddy evening in Otago in August 2019. The pizza lunch garnered 30 student registrants and the buddy evening had a total of 15 students paired up with Newly Suited lawyers forming their new mentoring relationship.
Student Registrations
In addition to the recent on-boarding of SOULS, ADLS continued to support the programme across each of the New Zealand universities. A total of 304 students became new members of ADLS, bringing the total student membership count to 990. Nearly one third of ADLS’ current student members joined during 2019; pleasing growth and evidence that students value the support that ADLS can provide.
Work Experience Programme
The total number of ADLS facilitated work experience listings for law nearly doubled this year, to reach 45. Although pleasing, there is still work to do to increase opportunities for students outside Auckland.
Buddy Programme
The purpose of this programme is to help senior law students develop a relationship with a contact in the profession, who could provide valuable support and guidance. Over the year, 115 students from five law schools were buddied up with a Newly Suited lawyer, achieving 61% growth in buddy connections and demonstrating the keen interest amongst students to connect to the legal profession, as they prepare for their transition to a career in the law.
