Kevin Rudd MP will deliver the keynote address to the Griffith Law School’s annual Meet the Profession event on this Thursday night.

About 150 law students will join alumni and legal professionals for the networking opportunity that opens doors to the future.

Among them will be 2011 graduate Joanna Czajkowski who returns with early experiences to share from government employment and Practical Legal Training.

“If I was attending as an undergraduate again, I would be saying we need to network tonight because these are the people we will be working with in the future,” Joanna says.

“This is a great opportunity to learn a lot about our future professional lives, and to meet leaders in the legal profession. It assists students in deciding a career path.”

Following her graduation Joanna worked for 12 months as a legal officer with the government where her focus ranged from policy to employment, to major infrastructure projects and legal services.

She is now completing an intensive Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice which involves hands-on experience of interviewing, negotiating, advocating and giving advice to clients.

“I hope I can now help other law students by giving them an insight into what it’s like to work for the government and what practical legal training is all about. I aspire be a mentor and encourage them to achieve their dreams.”

Meet the Profession involves undergraduates of all ages and a mix of barristers, partners and judges plus people in professions closely linked to law like HR officers.

“For me it offered a great insight into what commercial lawyers did, and that is what I want to do,” Joanna says.

The event is open to all Griffith Law School students, with students in their final and penultimate years encouraged to attend. It provides an opportunity to find out which companies are recruiting, which firms have clerkships, and where graduate programs may be on offer.

Meet the Profession starts at 6pm when Dean of Griffith Law School, Professor William MacNeil, will officially welcome all guests the Queensland College of Art, South Bank.

Mr Rudd’s address on globalisation and its implications for law schools and lawyers is scheduled for 6.15pm.

For more information regarding this event, click here.