Safe Place - Mentors and collegiality at the Bar

04/11/2021

Wellbeing

On Friday, 5 November 2021 at 5.00pm we will be discussing mentors and collegiality at the Bar.

We start our Bar careers as readers with one or two formal tutors - but then the journey can feel as though it is left to us.

Attendees will be invited to share their experiences, including challenges, of:

• developing strong relationships with other barristers while juggling commitments (and recently, while working from home);
• identifying and connecting with mentors or mentees;
• finding “sponsors” in the profession – more senior barristers who will champion your career (which can be particularly difficult for those with fewer personal “patronage” connections);
• acting as a support to those around them who may be facing career or personal challenges; and
• managing interpersonal conflict.

All members of the Bar are welcome to share about their successes and struggles in finding peer support – or, to listen anonymously as others discuss their experiences. Our hope is that Safe Place may assist barristers to feel supported, to know that others have faced similar difficulties and (to the extent participants are comfortable identifying themselves) to build connections with one other.

Safe Place is a confidential discussion group that takes place every two weeks. All participants are admitted to a Zoom webinar anonymously. You can:

• choose to identify yourself and speak;
• speak without providing your name; or
• listen, with other participants not knowing you are there.

The next Safe Place will take place on Friday, 5 November 2021 at 5.00pm.

Please register here.

Should you have any questions about the webinar, please contact wellbeing@nswbar.asn.au

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