Applications open
1 July – 31 August 2026
The 2026 program runs mid-September 2026 to May 2027, concluding around the SoCLA 2027 National Conference in Perth, WA.
About the Program
The SoCLA Mentoring Program was established in 2015 to support the professional development of members across the construction law community. What began as a modest initiative tripled in size by its second year and has continued to grow, reflecting both the appetite for genuine career support and the willingness of experienced practitioners to give their time.
What sets the program apart is its participant-led flexibility: relationships are shaped by the goals of the pair, not a prescribed curriculum. Every pairing is made personally by the program manager, after careful consideration of each application. It is an approach that takes more time than an algorithm and produces better results.
What's new for 2026
Program cycle
Mid-September 2026 to
May 2027
Applications open
1 July to 31 August 2026
Aligned with
SoCLA Membership Year
Concludes around
SoCLA 2027 National Conference, Perth WA
The Program is open to:
- Current SoCLA members*
- Members at any career stage: from students to senior practitioners.
- Mentors with a minimum of 5 years PQE.
- Participation as both Mentor and Mentee is available for those with 5+ years PQE.
- Places are capped to ensure quality matching for every pair.
* The SoCLA Mentoring Program is open to current members only. Membership renewals for the 2027 membership year open on 1 July - the same day applications open. Please ensure your membership is current before 31 August to be eligible to participate.
Fees
From 2026, a participation fee applies to members applying as mentees only.
Free to participate:
- Mentors
- Dual participants (mentor and mentee)
- Students/Graduates
$50 participation fee for YCC members:
- Mentee-only applicants (YCC members who are under 40 at the time of application)
$100 participation fee:
- Mentee-only applicants (who are 5+ years PQE and over 40 at the time of application)
These fees reflect the value of what mentors contribute - their time - and help support the ongoing administration of the program.
A hardship waiver is available for those who need it. Get in touch at mentoring@scl.org.au before applying.
2026 Program Sponsor
Proudly sponsored by
Sigma Executive is a specialist Australian firm offering executive search, coaching and strategic consulting to legal professionals across construction, infrastructure and energy. sigmaexecutive.com.au
Become a mentor!
If you have five or more years of post-graduate experience, you are eligible to mentor. Mentors are always in high demand. You can participate as both mentor and mentee at the same time.
Applications open 1 July 2026. To register your interest or ask any questions in the meantime, contact us at mentoring@scl.org.au
Why participate
The outcomes speak for themselves. Some participants have co-presented at the SoCLA National Conference. Others have been inspired to train for an ultramarathon. Some have stayed in touch long enough to meet up by chance in other countries, years after their initial introduction. These are not the kinds of connections a box-ticking program produces.
For mentees: clearer career direction, stronger professional networks, and access to candid guidance that is harder to find inside a workplace. Mentees have described gaining confidence to pursue new areas of practice, being challenged to move past self-imposed obstacles, and forming relationships with senior practitioners that have proved among the most influential of their careers.
For mentors: the perspective of the next generation, and the satisfaction of contributing meaningfully to the profession's future. It is one of the reasons our mentors return year after year.
The more you invest, the more you gain!
What our participants say
"
It is very clear that a lot of thought has gone into the pairing process. My mentor aligns perfectly with my preferences. It has been an incredible experience and I am very grateful.
Mentee
2025 program
"
I find mentoring very rewarding. Not only do I get to share hard lessons from 25 years of practice, but I learn a lot from the mentees as well. I invariably develop a genuine relationship with my mentees which I value.
Mentor
2024 program
"
Now in my second year of mentoring with SoCLA, I continue to be impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm the mentees bring to the conversations.
Mentor
2024 program
"
The process has been great and the commitment not too onerous. I have found it very rewarding and really enjoyed the journey. I think the program is great and well run.
Mentee
2025 program