SA Mentoring Panel Discussion
As AALA starts its Mentoring Program for 2021, hear from a wide range of Asian Australian Lawyers about their diverse work experiences, lessons they have learnt along the way, and what they believe is required for a successful mentor/mentee relationship.
The mentoring panel discussion will be chaired by SA Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath.
Details of the Mentoring Panel Discussion:
Date: Wednesday 24th March 2021
Time: 5.45pm (for a 6.00pm start) to 7.00pm
Venue: The College of Law, Level 9, 19 Grenfell Street, Adelaide 5000
This event is free for all AALA members and non-AALA members. Light refreshments will be provided.
Please register your attendance. Due to COVID, limited spots are available so please register quick to reserve your spot.
If you are interested in participating in 2021 AALA Mentoring Program as a mentor or mentee, further details can be found here www.aala.org.au/mentoring-program.
Please email sa@aala.org.au for any questions.
Short bios of our chair and panel members are below.
Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath (Chair)
Jay McGrath was born in Singapore and is of Indian ethnicity. She is a graduate of Adelaide University Law School. She pursued criminal defence work in Adelaide before undertaking an internship at the District Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. On returning to Adelaide she accepted an offer as a prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions prior to being appointed to the Magistracy in 2011.
As a Magistrate, she has taken a special interest in the area of domestic violence and during 2018-2020 spent two and half years as the Manager of the Family Violence Court. She is particularly aware of the scourge of domestic violence in our community and has sought to develop improved outcomes within the Courts by liaison with the judiciary and administrative process, police, information sharing, in the Attorney-General’s Department, the legal fraternity, support services for victims and other relevant agencies. She circuits to remote Indigenous communities and other rural regions. She is a trained facilitator with the National Judicial College of Australia. She is a committee member on the Australian Association of Women Judges. She has presented to the judiciary at all levels and other stakeholders extensively in her role as the Family Violence Manager locally and interstate.
She is commencing at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court as of March 2021 taking up the position as Regional Manager of that Court.
Beyond the office, she is the mother of four children aged 15 to 22, three of whom are daughters. Understanding and recognising the role of women in justice is challenging but vital and she is committed to contributing what she can.
Helen Luu, Barrister at Bar Chambers
Helen Luu is a barrister at Bar Chambers. She practises primarily in public, administrative and criminal law. Before joining the Bar she worked as a prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (SA); an in-house Counsel at the Legal Services Commission; and a Senior Legal Officer advising the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC). Helen is also a Committee Member of the SA Branch of AALA.
Brian Vuong, Director at Kain Lawyers
Brian Vuong is a director at Kain Lawyers. He practises in corporate law and mergers & acquisitions. His experience includes acting on public takeovers, scheme of arrangements, Takeover Panel proceedings, capital raisings, private M&A, major infrastructure projects and strategic commercial transactions. Brian is also the Secretary of the SA Branch of AALA.
Melati Lum, Senior Solicitor at the SA Crown Solicitor’s Office
Melati Lum is currently a senior solicitor in the Prosecution Group at the Crown Solicitor's Office. Her criminal law background includes work in the ODPP, ICAC, and a stint prosecuting war crimes at the United Nations. Melati is also the author of the Ayesha Dean travel/mystery series for children.
Lesley Jayasuriya, Associateship with the Honourable Justice Hughes
Lesley Jayasuriya is a recent law graduate who is currently undertaking an Associateship with the Honourable Justice Hughes in the Supreme Court and South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Prior to this, Lesley has had experience working in the Crown Solicitor’s Office and the Office of the Solicitor General.
