In February 2022, the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation launched the Colin Biggers & Paisley Indigenous Cadetship Program. The program forms part of Colin Biggers & Paisley's Indigenous Engagement Strategy, which seeks to increase employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the field of law and business services. We believe in promoting a diverse, inclusive and supportive workplace where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are provided with equitable opportunities to develop their careers. The cadetship program supports our commitment to provide these opportunities and actively promote the participation and career development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within our business.
 
Cadets are offered part-time employment for the duration of their law degree and provided the opportunity to work closely with our lawyers who are experts in their areas of legal practice. We provide cadets with the opportunity to build new skills, knowledge and experience, and to gain a greater understanding of our clients and their business. We support our cadets as they complete their studies by offering practical and challenging work, formal mentoring and professional development and networking opportunities, as well as conference attendance.
 
We are very pleased to welcome our first cadet Andria Symington. Andria is a proud Kaurareg woman from Thursday Island, currently living on Darkinjung Country (NSW Central Coast). Andria is a third-year law student at Macquarie University and began her time at Colin Biggers & Paisley working in the Knowledge and Precedents team assisting with a number of important behind the scenes tasks before rotating in to the Pro Bono & Responsible Business team.

Andria discusses her Cadetship experience:
 
"Working for Colin Biggers & Paisley has been an exceptional opportunity while completing my studies. I began working in the Library/Knowledge & Precedents team who welcomed me willingly and allowed me to be a part of the precedent migration where I learnt more than I could imagine coding, formatting and styling documents.
 
Since working in the Pro Bono & Responsible Business team, I have been introduced to research tasks and matters that make a difference. The pro bono team assist people with different stories, backgrounds, cultures and age to access justice.
 
Recently, I completed a research task based on the age of criminal responsibility in Australia. This task involved assessing legislation in each jurisdiction to determine what legislation would need to be changed nationally in order to raise the age. Completing this task has made me incredibly passionate about this issue.
 
I have also been truly lucky to have the constant support of the Pro Bono & Responsible Business team. The inclusion and will to learn and acknowledge First Nations peoples has exceeded my expectations. Working in the pro bono team has allowed me to learn and grow, and has opened my eyes to social justice issues happening around me."
 
Applications for the 2023 Indigenous Cadetship Program are now open. For more information and to request an application form, please contact Tamara Sims (tamara.sims@cbp.com.au)