Fomer Saint Mary’s Star of the Sea student Meg Connell, 23, is motivated to help her community and people in other parts of the world as much as she can.
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RMB Lawyer’s youngest lawyer has volunteered for 26 local, national and international charities in the last eight years and has a particular passion for helping people with a disability.
The University of Wollongong law graduate was employed as a law clerk in 2016 and has found herself working at a business that actively supports both her philanthropic and legal passions.
In February Ms Connell went on her first philanthropic mission overseas. She spent a month Ghana, West Africa to volunteer in a special needs school as a classroom teacher.
She helped educate people aged between four to 58 living with intellectual and physical disabilities and was particularly impressed by the passion of the teachers in Ghana and the relationship they had with students. What they lacked in resources they made up for with the way they ran the school.
“They spent so much time developing resources for the kids,” she said.
Ms Connell is passionate about many charities and one close to her heart is Motor Nuerone Disease because a member of her family had MND.
She thinks growing up in a family where personal qualities such as kindness and selflessness were valued and celebrated has really shaped the way she feels about helping others.
“My dad worked in disability services as I was growing up, so people who live with a disability have always been part of my community,” she said.
“Whilst people who have disabilities are some of the kindest and most accepting people I know. They are not always warmly welcomed into many aspects of society, which isn’t fair. I strive to give back to people who have given so much to the community, and to me personally.”
Ms Connell is grateful for RMB’s support and flexibility with her charity work and enjoyed the opportunity to volunteer overseas so much she is likely to do it again.
“On my recent trip to Ghana, not only did RMB afford me the time off work to volunteer abroad when I had not yet accrued any formal leave, but a number of colleagues donated towards resources for the school where I volunteered,” she said.
RMB Lawyers managing partner Craig Osborne said the Wollongong law firm believed that all of its employees have important roles to play in supporting their communities outside of their positions lawyers or legal assistants.
He said that was why it strongly supports the charitable and community-related endeavours of all of its employees through both monetary contributions and a flexible work environment that facilitates volunteer work.
Mr Osborne said employing and supporting people such as Ms Connell was how the Wollongong law firm plans to continue to build on its tradition of community support.
“People like Ms Connell act as a beacon of optimism and hope for people in our communities,” he said.
“RMB Lawyers make it a priority to support the benevolent activities and services of all our employees. For example, army reservists receive additional paid leave to fulfil their training obligations; we extend additional annual leave to employees who run events such as the Kiama Rugby Sevens; and we provide financial support to not-for-profit groups that our employees engage with including the Bulli Surf Cub, Wollongong Wolves and many more.”
Ms Connell said working in law and her legal training has helped her find more ways to help out with her charity work.
But she said you don’t have to be lawyer.
The people she has seen do the most and make the biggest impact as volunteers also have a heart full of love.
“That is one of the greatest assets that a person can have,” she said.
“Just being a kind hearted person does not cost anything. It is something everyone can do.”
Ms Connell said in the field of law one of her long term goals would be to work in the area of law reform.
“I studied psychology as well so I have an interest in looking at society, how we function and how we can better tailor laws to society,” she said.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
