Nick Meagher Developing People Program

The Nick Meagher Developing People Program, in memory of Nick Meagher, late Chairman of Sparke Helmore, gives encouragement through mentoring programs and employment initiatives to empower individuals to achieve and succeed.

Mentoring opportunities are offered to Sparke Helmore staff through the firm's own mentoring program, to high school students through the LEAPS ('Law firms Encouraging and Assisting Promising Students') and Reservior Student Mentoring programs, and to university students through the Lucy Mentoring Program.

LEAPS is a mentoring program targeted to assisting Year 9 Students to reach their full potential.

Sparke Helmore is one of several law firms participating in this program, in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and Training. Students selected for the program visit Sparke Helmore's office at lunch time and have a meal with their mentor and talk about topics like goal setting, stereotypes, respect and preparing for exams.

The emphasis of LEAPS is on sharing skills, encouraging students to set career and life goals, and empowering them to effectively deal with life challenges and opportunities.

The LEAPS program involves Sparke Helmore mentors visiting their mentee's school to meet their parents and guardians, a team building excursion to have some fun, and a graduation ceremony to recognise students' successful completion of the year long program.

Sparke Helmore has participated in LEAPS for the last two years and staff have mentored more than 50 students in NSW from Macquarie Fields High School, Marrickville High School and Newcastle High School.

The Reservoir Student Mentoring Program is similar to the LEAPS program, and involves Sparke Helmore participating in a partnership to mentor Year 9 students from Reservoir Community Secondary College in Victoria. This is the first year of Sparke Helmore's participation in this program through its Melbourne office.

The Lucy Mentoring Program is an innovative mentoring program to inspire, motivate and encourage the development of young women and equip them with the advice, networks and experience to assume leadership roles in both the public and private sectors.

The program was initiated by the Office for Women of the NSW Premier's Department and, this year, will be co-ordinated by participating universities.

Sparke Helmore Partners have been involved in past programs, and this year the program has become a formal component of SHARE's Developing People Program.

The Lucy Mentoring Program involves mentors and mentees working on a small work related project over several weeks, attending larger group sessions, 35 hours of work based activity within a Sparke Helmore office, and a final review session on completion of the program.

In addition to mentoring programs, Sparke Helmore's Developing People Program has embraced labour market initiatives to enhance equal employment opportunity, such as the National Indigenous Cadetship Program, for indigenous law students.

For further information

Email share@sparke.com.au or contact Michael Rosenfeld, Pro Bono & Community Programs Director.

Alternatively, contact your nearest Sparke Helmore office.