News Archive

For our members in Victoria, voting is now open for the 2015 LIV Council Elections.

Zubair Mian, Vice President of the AALA, is running as a candidate under the Suburban category. We would encourage members to support Zubair, who has a strong commitment to promoting diversity within the profession. Zubair's nomination statement is below.

I Graduated from Melbourne University in 1985 and was admitted to practice in 1986. I am an experienced commercial litigator, principal at Mian Phillips, Lawyers, a boutique practice now in Surrey Hills, I established in 1988.

In 2014 I received Law Institute of Victoria, Certificate of Service Award and in 2015 I was finalist for, The Suburban Solicitor of the Year Award.

I was humbled, privileged and honoured when appointed Councilor and Board Member of LIV in August 2015. If interested, you may view and read my maiden speech to LIV Council at the link below: http://www.liv.asn.au/Practice-Resources/News-Centre/Speeches/LIV-Councillor%E2%80%99s-Maiden-Speech

I believe the Legal profession is going through challenging times. As we navigate through changes brought about by Legal Profession Uniform Law, strong leadership is essential to represent your interests. My diverse experience inspires me to represent you with compassion, sincerity and conviction.  My core promise to you, I will not disappoint you.

I am a strong advocate for ethnic and gender diversity in Legal Profession, passionate about improving conditions for Young Lawyers; assisting new graduates find employment and gain experience to further their career progression.

I currently serve as:

• Managing partner and Principal, Mian Phillips & Co, Lawyers;
• President of Eastern Suburbs Law Association, since 2012;
• Founding member and Vice president, Asian Australian Lawyers Association, since 2013;
• Registered and active Mentor LIV, AALA and informally since 1995;
• LIV Council Representative MPLA.

My contact details as follows:

Zubair Mian
Principal Lawyer
Mian Phillips & Co. Lawyers
422 Canterbury Road
Surrey Hills VIC 3127
Tel: (03) 9888 5885 | Fax: (03) 9888 6066
Email: zubair@mianphillips.com.au
web:   www.mianphillips.com.au

Dear Members,

On Thursday 29 October, the University of Melbourne's Asian Law Centre and Transactional Law Centre will co-host the seminar “The China Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), Legal Services & The Regional Context”.

This event is not hosted by the AALA, but AALA members are warmly invited to attend.

The seminar discusses the impact of ChAFTA on the trade in legal services between China and Australia and locates ChAFTA within the broader regional context. AALA's Treasurer Molina Asthana will a panelist at the event.

Following the seminar, two recent publications from authors at the Asian Law Centre will be launched:

• Andrew Godwin and Timothy Howse, Legal Services under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Surveying the Landscape (Asian Law Centre Briefing Paper)
• Andrew Godwin, China Lexicon (Vantage Asia)

The event will take place at King & Wood Mallesons Level 50, Bourke Place 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne from 5.30pm – 7.00pm.

For more information about the event, please refer to the event flyer.

To register for the event, please click here.

The Australasian Lawyer has recently published an article on the importance of diversity in today's law firms.

To read the article on Australasian Lawyer's website, please click here.

Zubair Mian, Vice President of the AALA, was recently appointed to the LIV Council. Zubair's maiden speech has now been posted on the LIV website.

To read the speech on the LIV's website, please click here.

Dear Members,

Please see below event invitation from the Diverse Australasian Women Network. The event is hosted in partnership with the AALA. .

DAWN will be holding our fourth conversation in partnership with the Asian Australian Lawyers Association. We are very excited to have Katherine Teh-White, Managing Director of Futureye and former Senator for Victoria Tsebin Tchen joining us on October 14th to kick start our conversation on the topic:

“Us & Them: What would it take for Asian Australians to feel accepted in Australian society”.

Reynah Tang, President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association will be facilitating and Dai Le, DAWN’s founder will be MC-ing.

Baker & McKenzie has generously offered to sponsor our fourth conversation. A special thanks to Tuanh Nguyen from Baker & McKenzie. The Event will be held on:

Date: Wednesday, 14th of October 2015

Time: 6pm for 6.30pm start

Where: Baker & McKenzie

19/181 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Please register & buy your ticket here: http://dawn.org.au/events/dawns-4th-asian-australian-leadership-conversation/ 

The Economist has recently published an article on racial discrimination against Asian-Americans. Amongst the statistics in the article, it was noted that "In 2014, whereas 11% of law-firm associates were Asian, 3% of partners were".

To read the full article, please click here.

On a similar topic, the New York Times recently posted an article on "The Asian Advantage". To read the full article, please click here.

The AALA would like to congratulate Zubair Mian on his recent appointment to the LIV Council.

Zubair is also the Vice President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association.

Please click here to view the announcement from the LIV’s website.

Dear Members,

The Asian Australian Lawyers Association Inc. (AALA) give notice of, and invite you to, the 2015 Annual General Meeting of AALA.  

The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 8 September 2015 commencing at 5.30 pm (for a 5.45pm start) at the Melbourne office of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, along with a video-conference link to the Sydney offices of Corrs Chambers Westgarth:

Corrs Chambers Westgarth – Melbourne  Level 25 567 Collins Street Melbourne  VIC  3000

Corrs Chambers Westgarth – Sydney Level 17, 8 Chifley 8-12 Chifley Square Sydney  NSW  2000

For the full details of the AGM and to register, please click here.

Dear Members,

For participants in the NSW AALA Mentoring Program, we will be holding a launch event on 2 September 2015. Mentees and mentors are encouraged to attend to meet and network with other members.

Note that this event will be open only to participants in the mentoring program in NSW. Applicant mentees will be contacted and advised of their allocated mentor before the launch date.

If you would like to participate in the mentoring program, you can still apply by completing an application form by no later than Friday 14 August 2015.

Dear Members,

BottledSnail is recruiting acting talent for their next major theatrical production.

BottledSnail Productions is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation that creates and supports high quality creative projects within Melbourne. Recognising that a significant number of legal professionals will experience mental illness in their career, BottledSnail works to provide a creative outlet and a way to give back to the community.

If you would be interested in applying, please click here for more details.