MissionOur mission is to empower law students and graduates in Australia and other jurisdictions to advance their professional progress and achieve their professional ambitions.
"Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela
We are here to level the playing field for all law students.
About ALCA
Aus Legal Careers Advance (ALCA) is a careers platform that offers insights on how to tackle career-related challenges commonly faced by law students in Australia.
“The separation of talent and skill is one of the greatest misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel, who have dreams, that want to do things. Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.” - Will Smith
At ALCA, we believe that taking control of your career is a skill that can be developed and honed with effort and diligence.
About the Founder
Hello, I'm Jimmy
In-House Lawyer, former Private Practice Lawyer, Mentor
I am currently an in-house lawyer at an ASX-listed company. Prior to that, I spent a few years working at leading Australian commercial law firms.
I am passionate about empowering university students and junior professionals to achieve their potential. Having participated in formal mentoring programs as a mentor, I have had the chance to do this on a small scale. The mission of this platform is to, on a large scale, empower law students and graduates to achieve their professional ambitions.
So why do I do this? I want to help level the playing field for all law students.
As a child of working-class parents, I practically knew nothing about law school, the legal profession, being a lawyer or even corporate Australia until I attended university. I understand that there is information asymmetry between law students of different academic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and that access to information is the great equaliser.
As a law student, I didn't get a summer clerkship offer (and faced the gut-wrenching disappointment of getting no offers after some final round interviews). As a junior lawyer, I was turned down for numerous private practice and in-house roles. I understand what it feels like to be a law student or graduate who is just hoping that any law firm or employer will give them a chance.
After years of learning from my mistakes, I am now in a position to help you better navigate through the challenges which I have faced.
I don't profess to have all of the answers to how you can definitely secure that summer clerkship position, paralegal role or graduate/entry-level job. However, this platform will provide you with some useful insights on how to maximise your chances of doing so.
I hope that ALCA will provide you with practical advice on how you can build your competitiveness as a job applicant.
Jimmy's Publications
Jimmy's Mentoring Experience
- Mentor for Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) programs (2024)
- Panelist for the UNSW Law Society Event - In-House Legal Counsel Panel (2024)
- Speaker for the College of Law webinar - Next Steps: Exploring Options Beyond Clerkships & Grad Programs (2024)
- Panelist for the USYD South East Asian Law Society Event - SEALS Legal Careers Talk (2024)
- Mentor for the Asian Australian Lawyers Association Mentoring Program (2023)
- Mentor for the Law Society of NSW Mentoring Program (2023)
- Panelist for the UNSW Law Society Event - Practice Series: Litigation and Disputes Panel (2023)
- Mentor for a Law Firm's Seasonal Clerkship Program (2023)
- Mentor for the UNSW Accounting Society Development Program (2018)