JD/PG IMPACT MENTORING PROGRAM What is the program? The JD/PG Impact Mentoring Program is a peer mentoring program offered by the UNSW Law Society that assists new JD/PG students with successfully transitioning into law school. First year students are paired with senior mentors who are trained to help navigate the demands of law student life in a friendly group setting. The program aims to support students holistically by emphasising the importance of building a healthy social network, and provides valuable opportunities to create strong social bonds through participation in weekly group meetings. How can it best assist Law students? (particularly first years) Mentoring sessions aim to: ● Foster a support network for new students; ● Provide a platform to acquire resources and develop study skills; ● Create a safe space for students to discuss any difficulties they are encountering, and if necessary, connect them to appropriate people and/or organisations; ● Educate about mental health issues and the importance of maintaining positive mental health and lifestyle; ● Foster cross-cultural engagement and inclusiveness; and ● Provide valuable tips and tricks on succeeding in law school!
How to get involved? The program will be run during Terms 1 and 3 for a total of 5 sessions, offered both online and in-person. We plan to offer students two intakes per term to allow a greater number of students to participate in the program. Students can apply to participate in either Intake 1 which runs from Weeks 1-5, or Intake 2 which runs from Weeks 3-8 (excluding reading week). And any other relevant information/testimony “I benefited a lot from participating in the mentoring program last year as it provided me with a strong sense of community and gave me a safe space to express myself and make new friends!” “The mentoring sessions were a valuable means of support to me during the initial weeks of starting law school. Talking to my mentor about the stress and worries of 2020 helped me refocus and gave me the helping hand I needed to enjoy my law school journey.” If you wish to sign up or have any questions, please email Adriana and Rachel at jdpg.mentoring@unswlawsoc.org.
33
