Ashurst Clayton Utz G+T Launchpad 2 Law: Launches NSW Rural Legal Pathway

• Ashurst Perkins Coie, Clayton Utz, and Gilbert + Tobin have launched the Launchpad 2 Law initiative to create a legal career pathway for students in rural and regional NSW.
• The program includes school visits by lawyers, university representatives, and corporate partners, along with financial support, mentoring, and resources for university applications.
• Nine annual scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded to qualified NSW law students, who will also receive ongoing mentorship.
• An annual Scholars' Day & Dinner, featuring NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell AC as the keynote speaker for the first event in February 2027, will be held in Sydney.
• The initiative aims to address the lower rate of direct university transition among rural students by providing direct engagement and support, fostering diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

The core objective is to engage with students from these communities, providing them with essential support and resources to pursue a career in the legal profession.

A significant new initiative, the Ashurst Clayton Utz G+T Launchpad 2 Law program, has been established to foster a clear NSW rural legal career pathway for students residing in regional and rural areas of New South Wales. This collaborative effort brings together three prominent Australian law firms: Ashurst Perkins Coie, Clayton Utz, and Gilbert + Tobin (G+T). The core objective is to engage with students from these communities, providing them with essential support and resources to pursue a career in the legal profession.

The program is designed to directly address the challenges faced by students outside metropolitan areas. It encompasses a multi-faceted approach, including direct engagement through school visits, offering financial assistance, providing mentorship, and disseminating crucial information and resources to aid with university applications. Each of the participating firms — Ashurst Perkins Coie, Clayton Utz, and Gilbert + Tobin — has committed to conducting a minimum of five school visits annually, with initial outreach already completed in locations such as Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, and the South Coast. These visits involve legal professionals, university representatives, and corporate partners, ensuring a comprehensive perspective for aspiring lawyers.

Beyond initial engagement, the Ashurst Clayton Utz G+T Launchpad 2 Law initiative provides substantial ongoing support. A key component is the provision of Australian law firm scholarships, with nine awards of $10,000 each distributed annually to eligible students pursuing a law degree within NSW. These scholarships are complemented by a robust mentorship program, ensuring that scholars receive guidance and support throughout their university studies.

Prominent legal figures are actively involved in the program, including Tony Damian and India Becroft from Ashurst Perkins Coie, Hiroshi Narushima from G+T, and Kirsten Webb and Lauren Judge from Clayton Utz. To further solidify community and professional connections, an annual Scholars' Day & Dinner will be hosted in Sydney. This event will feature a panel discussion, a workshop focused on legal and career skills, mentor pairings, and a formal dinner. The inaugural Scholars' Day & Dinner is scheduled for February 2027, with NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell AC slated to deliver the keynote address. Additionally, a dedicated website and resource hub has been launched, offering detailed information on university entry pathways, scholarship opportunities, and other valuable materials for students considering a legal career.

The impetus behind the Ashurst Clayton Utz G+T Launchpad 2 Law program stems from a recognized disparity in educational and career progression. The participating firms collectively noted that students from rural and regional New South Wales, despite often achieving high academic results, are less likely to transition directly into university compared to their metropolitan counterparts. This gap is often attributed to limited opportunities for these students to interact with practicing lawyers or to visualize a clear path into the legal profession.

Through this Gilbert + Tobin community initiative, alongside the efforts of Ashurst Perkins Coie and Clayton Utz, the firms aim to bridge this divide. Their joint statement emphasized the program's goal to change this dynamic by directly embedding their people within these communities, reinforcing this commitment with school visits, scholarships, and mentoring. This strategic focus on law firm diversity inclusion Australia is further supported by corporate sponsors including Ampol, SP Search & Consulting, and Trilogy Hotels, underscoring a broader commitment to equitable access to the legal profession. The firms have also extended an invitation to rural and regional NSW schools to host Launchpad 2 Law visits, encouraging wider participation in this vital talent pipeline development.

This initiative highlights a strategic focus by leading Australian law firms on talent pipeline development and corporate social responsibility, particularly addressing access to the legal profession for students from rural and regional areas. Other firms may consider similar programs to enhance diversity, attract future talent, and strengthen their community engagement.

Source: Original reporting via Australasian Lawyer