Legal People Community and Charity Support

In this article we shine a spotlight on the special charities that Legal People are supporting this financial year with a percentage of their profits. Supporting organisations that are significant to the Legal People team is one of the highlights of a successful year, and a significant component of the Legal People employee value proposition.

The financial year that has been 2021-2022 has been an immensely challenging one for legal recruitment, so much so that we have never seen such demand for legal talent. Firms have more work than ever, and our team of specialist legal recruiters have worked enormously hard to fill a diverse range of roles.

Of course, a busy year brings with it financial dividends and it is an important part of the Legal People DNA to give back. Our contributions align with our company values of honesty, trust, respect, teamwork, professionalism, and contributing to a supportive and enjoyable culture. We are thrilled to be able to support a number of charities this year, each of which has a special connection to members of our team and their families.

Sharon Henderson, Director of Legal People says, “As a small business owner and the Director of Legal People, it is important to me that if we can do so, to give back to our community in a meaningful way and support great causes. This year, the Legal People team have chosen charities that are all very close to our hearts for different reasons".

This year Legal People are supporting:

Fight MND

Founded in 2014, FightMND was established with the purpose of finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

FightMND is the voice, and an advocacy platform for Australians who want to fight Motor Neurone Disease. MND is a debilitating disease that gradually takes away the patient’s use of their arms and legs, their ability to eat and swallow, their speech and their ability to breathe…all in an average timeframe of just 27 months. You can donate to their current Big Freeze campaign by buying a beanie or donating online here.

Sharon Henderson says “My chosen charities are Fight MND and Cancer Council Australia, both of which are extremely close to my heart, having lost family members to both diseases. I lost my mother to breast cancer (she was only 57 at the time) and within a year of her passing my grandmother (my mum’s mother) was diagnosed with MND and we lost her within 9 months. It was a devasting time for my family and more must be done to understand and fight both diseases. That is why these two charities mean so much to me and why I will continue to support them in their ongoing efforts to raise awareness and ongoing research.”

Cancer Council Australia

The not-for-profit Cancer Council relies on the generosity of the Australian community to help them fund education, research, and support for impacted families. The Cancer Council works hard towards preventing cancer and saving lives. Their innovative work ensures they can provide a wealth of information and support for anyone affected by cancer which, as a not for profit, couldn’t continue without donations from the community. You can donate to help them continue their important work here.

The Cancer Councils is particularly relevant to Legal People Executive Assistant Sheryl McCarthy, who says “I’m pleased that we’re supporting Cancer Council Australia as we all know people who’ve suffered with various cancers. We really do need to help get their messages out there, with the view to preventing others from needing to have what are often invasive treatments.”

Principal Consultant, Laine McKenzie has a very personal connection to the Cancer Council. Laine lost her sister at the age of 41 to an 18-month battle with stomach cancer. She left behind two young children and the Cancer Council was always there for the family when they needed support or assistance. Laine again experienced their support and services when she herself was diagnosed with a level 4 melanoma in her leg requiring aggressive radiotherapy treatment.

Laine says, “Even though everyone may be aware of the Cancer Council, and they might seem to be a big organisation, there is still so much more to be done in terms of research and more families that need support.”  Laine is pleased that during her career cancer outcomes have improved with new treatments and medical research. She goes on to say, “So many people have their own cancer experience where life gets turned upside down in an instant. With our Legal People donation, the Cancer Council will be able to support them too.”

Dementia Australia

Dementia Australia supports and empowers the estimated half a million Australians living with dementia and almost 1.6 million people involved in their care. Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia yet remains one of the most challenging and misunderstood conditions. The organisation was founded by carers more than 35 years ago and is today the national peak body for people impacted by dementia in Australia.

Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education, and support services. They advocate for positive change for people living with dementia, their families and carers, and support vital research. You can donate to Dementia Australia here.

Principal Consultant, Rosie Mamic has a strong affinity with Dementia Australia, having navigated the struggles of aging parents with dementia over the last 15 years. Her father suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and her mother was his carer for more than 10 years. Sadly, her mum went on to be diagnosed with vascular dementia. Rosie learned about living with and caring for family members with dementia via education sessions and seminars from Dementia Australia. She also attended counselling to help her process the deterioration she was witnessing in her parents. She learned how to support them and to understand how to cope with how she was feeling about the heart-breaking situation she found herself in. There are many resources available on their website, and Rosie’s advice to others dealing with a similar situation is to “Reach out for help to learn more. The better educated about the disease, the better you will cope with it. In my experience it wasn’t just that my parents lost their memories, they lost their cognitive functions and their whole personalities changed. I lost my parents whilst they were still alive.”

SisterWorks

SisterWorks is a not-for-profit social enterprise, based in Melbourne. Their mission is to support women who are refugees, asylum seekers or migrants to improve their confidence, mental well-being, sense of belonging and economic outlook.  They do this via work opportunities and entrepreneurship.

The SisterWorks Empowerment Hubs are workplaces and training centres that provide women who are refugees, asylum seekers or migrants with meaningful opportunities to develop pathways of education, employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership. You can help SisterWorks continue to support refugees, asylum seekers and migrants here.

Your donations help SisterWorks to train their sisters in cooking, sewing, IT literacy and business management skills. Donations also fund the necessary tools and materials required for their training.

Legal People Administrative Assistant, Tracy Hsu says that “SisterWorks is an amazing not-for-profit social enterprise that supports migrant, asylum seeker and refugee women to become financially independent and happily settled in Australia. I have been volunteering with them for 6 years and have enjoyed every moment. Having parents and relatives who were once new arrivals to Australia themselves, I feel a personal connection to the barriers, obstacles, and challenges they face in seeking employment and becoming involved in their new communities.”

She also says that “Supporting SisterWorks to continue to provide migrant, refugee, and asylum seeker women the tools to empower their own lives is an important community initiative that shouldn’t be the sole responsibility of charities and not-for-profits. I love knowing that I’m working for a ‘for profit’ company here at Legal People, that supports causes which hold a special meaning to its’ team members.”

Berry Street

By donating to Berry Street, you are helping us to care for children and young people who have experienced abuse and neglect, including providing safe homes and access to specialist counselling. You too can help this important work by donating here.

Legal People Partner, Colleen Tankard says, “Every child deserves to be loved, cared for, and feel safe. My sister and I were very lucky to have had the parents we had. I do not think you realise how lucky you are or appreciate that until you are an adult and hear about some of the lives and experiences of others. I knew I was loved unconditionally, would never go hungry or feel cold, and above all felt safe. I knew that whatever happened, I could always rely on my family. Family means everything to me, we are so very close. If our Legal People donation to Berry St, can in some small way provide a small fraction of that feeling to a child in need, then it is a better day."

As the financial year draws to a close, Legal People would like to thank our client partners and candidates for the faith and trust they have had in our services throughout the year. We wish you a prosperous (and hopefully less eventful) 2022/23. Should you need help recruiting talented legal professionals for your business, get in touch at [email protected].