LEAPS, which stands for Law Firms Encouraging and Assisting Promising Students Program, is run by the Department of Education and involves promising Year 9 students at risk of leaving school early.

Each student is paired with a junior lawyer who provides mentoring support for the duration of the 6 month program. The program consists of 10 mentoring sessions designed to assist the students in their growth and development into young adults – focusing on skills that will assist them in their future. The sessions focus on practical topics such as goal setting, cyber bullying and resume writing.

This marks our 12th year of partnership with James Meehan High School, located in Macquarie Fields in Sydney, and this year, 20 students (a record number), were selected by the school to participate in the program.

The end of the program was marked by a Graduation Evening, held at James Meehan High School and attended by the mentors. At the ceremony, each mentee and mentor gave a short speech in front of family, friends and teachers on what the program and their mentor relationship has meant to them.