Early Career Lawyers Professional Development Series

Join us for our Early Career Lawyers Professional Development Series, designed specifically to help you build the skills and confidence needed to advance your career. This series will provide valuable insights into the tools, strategies, and leadership qualities necessary to transition into senior roles and leadership positions. Whether you're aiming for partner, in-house counsel, or another leadership track, our expert speakers will share practical advice, real-world experiences, and actionable steps to set you up for long-term success. Don't miss this opportunity to invest in your future and connect with fellow rising professionals on the same career path.

 

SESSION 1

LEVEL UP: ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Panel session with Ming Li, Australian Transport Safety Bureau; Gabrielle Sullivan, Sullivans Legal Co.; Richard Donaldson, Norton Rose Fulbright and Kate Martin, Moray & Agnew
1 point in core area 3 - professional skills

Join us for an engaging panel discussion designed specifically for new lawyers, focused on the essential topic of advocating for your own professional and personal development. 
This session will explore key areas of growth including: 

  • Technical and non-technical skill building 
  • Management and leadership development 
  • Performance and portfolio enhancement 

Our panel features a dynamic mix of voices: an experienced employment lawyer, government lawyer, and two passionate members of our New Lawyers Committee. Together, they’ll tackle the all-important questions that help uncover practical tools and strategies to support your career journey. 
Whether you're just starting out or looking to take the next step, this is your opportunity to gain valuable insights, ask questions, and connect with peers who are navigating the same path. 

 

SESSION 2

HOW TO BUILD A PERSONAL BRAND WITHOUT BURNING OUT

Presented by Sue-Ella Prodonovich, Prodonovich Advisory
1.5 points in core area 3 - professional skills

There are three pursuits relevant throughout the careers of lawyers: nurturing sustainable networks of influence, reliably delivering quality advice, and building a reputation in your market. The aggregate of these factors build your personal ‘brand’. 
The challenge is how to approach this if you’re not comfortable with self-promotion, you don’t enjoy ‘schmoozing’, or you are time-poor. The good news is that there are effective tactics even the most reserved professional can employ with minimum fuss. 
In this 90-minute session, Sue-Ella Prodonovich, an expert on Business Development for lawyers, will share some tactical ideas and bust a couple of BD myths. The session will cover…  

  • An introduction to personal brands and the role they play 
  • Networks, Tribes and Ties: Ideas for seeding a career-long support base 
  • Awareness and understanding: Ideas to improve visibility (and save time) 
  • Light-Touch and High-Intensity: Different approaches to suit your style 
  • “Isn’t it the Partner’s job to have a personal brand?” or “If I do a good job that will be my ‘brand’”.  Busting myths & Q&A 

Please note this session will not be recorded.

DETAILS

  • When: Thursday 2 October  I  3:00pm - 6:00pm (registration from 2:30pm) 
  • Where: ACT Law Society Training Room, live streaming option available 
  • Cost: $40 New Lawyer and Student Members, $100 Members, $210 Non-member (includes afternoon tea and post-event networking)
  • CPD: Members will earn 2.5 CPD points in core area 3 (Professional skills)
  • RSVP by Monday 29 September
  • Please note in-person attendance is highly recommended for maximum benefit
  • For further information please contact events@actlawsociety.asn.au

Reduced rates may be available to some of our members to ensure equal training opportunities. Please make contact to discuss your eligibility.

 

MEET THE SPEAKERS

SUE-ELLA PRODONOVICH

PRODONOVICH ADVISORY

Sue-Ella is an award-winning author, teacher, and adviser to lawyers and professional services firms. Her consulting practice, Prodonovich Advisory, focuses on developing the Business Development skills of professionals. She assists firms with leadership development and client listening programs and her BD45 service provides a private ‘sounding board service’ for Partners.

 

GABRIELLE SULLIVAN

PRINCIPAL  I  SULLIVANS LEGAL CO. 
Gabrielle is Principal at Sullivans Legal Co. She is an accredited specialist in Employment & Industrial Law. She also has over 20 years experience in the practice of civil law, and is a GAICD qualified company director and long term Doyle’s listed ‘Best Lawyer’.

 

MING LI

SPECIAL COUNSEL  I  AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU
Ming has over 17 years experience working in Australian Federal and State government across multiple roles in legal practice, policy development and international relations. He has post-graduate degrees in law, public administration and transport safety investigation. He is currently Special Counsel at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, an independent national transport safety investigator. His in-house role includes managing legislative reforms, providing legal and strategic policy advice to senior executives, and representing the ATSB in external engagements, including as an Australian senior official at international meetings and as legal expert embedded in overseas accident investigation deployments. He is a contributor to the textbook Aviation Law in Australia (6th Ed), is a university lecturer, and has presented at high-level International Civil Aviation Organization (United Nations) forums on aviation safety and at law conferences. He had previous stints as a policy adviser at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, a research officer at the Department of the Senate (Federal Parliament), and as a lawyer at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

 

RICHARD DONALDSON

SENIOR ASSOCIATE  I  NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT
Richard was admitted in October 2019 and has been on the New Lawyers committee of the ACT Law Society since 2023. Richard is a public law and commercial lawyer at the Canberra office of Norton Rose Fulbright, specialising in civil litigation, administrative law and Royal Commissions. Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright, Richard progressed through the graduate program at another national firm ultimately settling in the litgation practice group. Richard is motivated to support new lawyers to understand the diverse range of opportunities available in the legal profession.

 

KATE MARTIN

ASSOCIATE  I  MORAY & AGNEW
Kate was admitted to practice in 2021. She is currently a solicitor at Moray and Agnew, practising in insurance litigation. Prior to being admitted Kate was the associate to Justice Mossop and then to Associate Justice McWilliam (as her Honour then was) of the ACT Supreme Court.
In her practice Kate appears regularly in the ACT Courts before Registrars, Magistrates and Judges. She also serves as a member of the ACT Law Society’s New Lawyers Committee.

Event registration terms and conditions

ACT Law Society invoices have payment terms of 14 days. Fees are payable upon registration. A 1.2% surcharge may be incurred on payments processed via credit/debit card. The Society reserves the right to cancel or alter events at its discretion, and in such circumstances, attendees will be notified via email. 

Definitions — 'Registration' means any booking given to the Society in writing, on our website, or by phone. 'Member' means any member of the ACT Law Society, including associate members and honorary members. 'New Lawyer' means any member who has held a practising certificate for five years or less. 'CLC' means any member working for a recognised community legal centre, or holding a volunteer practising certificate. 'Student' means any member holding a student membership.

All cancellations must be made in writing, and all cancellations will incur a fee, however, no charge will be incurred for substituting another person. Outside of the cancellation periods given below, a $10 administration fee will be incurred for any cancellation made. If a registered attendee fails to attend without notifying the Society in writing, no credit or refund will be offered and 100% of the total cost will be retained by the Society. 

CPD Events — In the case of CPD events held at an venue other than the Law Society, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event. In the case of CPD events held at the Law Society, for cancellations made up to two working days prior to the event, 50% of the total cost will be retained by the Society as a cancellation fee and the balance may be used as a credit towards other CPD events or be refunded. If you choose to keep a credit it will remain valid for 12 months from the event date, after which time it will expire. For cancellations within two working days of the event, no refunds or credits will be applicable. 

Webinars — In the case of live or on-demand webinars, as connection details are sent when registration is completed, no refund or cancellation is available. 

Social events — In the case of social events, no refund can be made after the RSVP date of the event.

Attendees of events consent to filming, photography and sound recording as members of the audience. By registering and attending this event you agree to being filmed or photographed which may be used for marketing or promotional purposes

 

 

Registration

In-person registration (members) $100.00(GST incl.) Add to Cart
In-person registration (non-members) $210.00(GST incl.) Add to Cart
In-person registration (New lawyer and student member) $40.00(GST incl.) Add to Cart
Live streaming registration (member) $100.00(GST incl.) Add to Cart
Live streaming registration (non-member) $210.00(GST incl.) Add to Cart
Live streaming registration (new lawyer and student member) $40.00(GST incl.) Add to Cart
 

Schedule

Speakers

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