Award-winning senior associate Mei Gong has noticed that some young lawyers are reluctant to nominate for law awards, as they feel – among other things – that they might be undeserving. Experience has taught her that not only is this not true, but that those who do put themselves forward for recognition will reap a multitude of personal and professional rewards.

Editor’s note: submissions for the 30 Under 30 Awards 2024 close on 26 October. Please contact Mitch Crisafulli on 0449 523 760 or via email if you have any questions.

In this episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Jerome Doraisamy welcomes back Johnson Winter Slattery senior associate Mei Gong (who won the Competition, Trade and Regulation category at the 30 Under 30 Awards 2023) to discuss her journey in law to date, how and when she first nominated for a Lawyers Weekly award, being a finalist in one year and winning in the next, and her perceptions of reluctance or fear among others to put themselves forward, and why.

Ms Gong reflects on the steps involved in making an awards submission, the flow-on benefits that come with seeking such feedback on one’s work outside of the normal professional development process, the perspective one gains from looking back on their work in the past 12 months, why young lawyers should have more confidence in themselves, and overcoming self-limiting mindsets in order to celebrate one’s many achievements as an emerging leader in the legal profession. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights!