Victor Pan

My gains during the ADC internship

Express yourself in confidence

I gained confidence from my internship. In the beginning, I was afraid of expressing myself in English as it is not my mother tongue. During my internship at the ADC, I was encouraged to express myself faithfully and actively. My idea was heard and valued. There were no silly minds or thoughts, but if you never express yourself, they will never know. The encouragement gave me the confidence to deliver my thoughts and ideas to my supervisor and colleagues.

Practice makes perfect

As I mentioned before, the roleplay coach told me that ‘practice makes perfect’. As a college student, it is important to learn from books and lecture knowledge, but it is equally important to put that knowledge to the test through practice. Through repeated practice, we are able to draw general theories, lessons learnt, and reflections from shortcomings.

Communication is the key

Communication is the key to a successful collaboration and harmonious relationship. Effective communication avoids redundancy and increases productivity. After this internship, I have become more courageous in expressing my views and thus better able to communicate effectively.

Carey Lin

Kia ora koutou, my name is Carey. I’ve recently completed my fifth year of a Law and Property degree at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. I’ve recently had the wonderful opportunity to intern for the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC), beginning in December 2024.
From day one, my intern experience has exposed me to the broad range of work that ADC conducts within the international ADR space. From providing direct opportunities to engage with and understand the work of ADR professionals, to learning about how indigenous peoples and international stakeholders have settled conflicts in international land disputes, interning with ADC has allowed me to thoroughly engage with the exciting work happening in this field of law.
Alternative dispute resolution is an exciting field, and ADC is truly at its forefront. To any aspiring interns, you’ll learn and grow so much – you won’t regret it!

Qianqian Feng

During my studies in the Master of Laws program at UNSW, I have focused on international dispute resolution and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). My internship at the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC) allowed me to gain hands-on experience in mediation, public interest law, and research. Acting as an observer in a mediation course, I developed a deeper understanding of effective communication and negotiation strategies. Additionally, my tasks involved preparing research materials and supporting the promotion of ADR initiatives, which honed my legal research, analytical, and teamwork skills.

This internship has been instrumental in shaping my professional growth, equipping me with practical skills and insights into the role of ADR in resolving complex disputes. The experience has strengthened my passion for pursuing a career in dispute resolution, providing a strong foundation for contributing to innovative solutions in the field of law.

Siya Deshmukh

I am a third-year law student at Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai with a keen interest in Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). My internship with the ADC was a valuable learning opportunity for me to explore this field in depth.

During the internship, I conducted comprehensive research on expert mediation and gained an insight into how various tribunals and specialized courts in Australia effectively incorporate ADR mechanisms into their judicial processes. This gave me a clearer understanding of different aspects of ADR and why it is an efficient way to resolve disputes according to the particular aspects of the situation.

In addition to research, I got hands-on experience with administrative tasks like drafting emails and marking assignments, which helped me understand the nuances and strategies of mediation. This experience has honed my research, analytical, organizational and drafting skills and has reinforced my interest in the evolving field of ADR.

Arabella Tavares

I am currently a student at the University of New South Wales, pursuing a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) and Laws. Over the past month and a half, I have had the rewarding opportunity to intern at the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC), gaining hands-on experience in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). So far, as part of the opportunity, I have observed mediation workshops, drafted articles on ADR professionals, and engaged with leaders in the ADR field. This experience has deepened my understanding of ADR processes and its application across various sectors, which will assist in my future roles and competitions. Additionally, my internship has significantly enhanced my professional skills, including research, communication, and writing, while allowing me to contribute meaningfully to the ADC’s work in promoting ADR.

Thomas Wu

The ADC taught me more about mediation and alternative dispute resolution than expected. The opportunity to participate and observe mediation accreditation courses and engage with the material gives a good crash course on the skills needed to be a good mediator. Through the internship, I’ve gained great insight into an area that is definitely becoming more popular in the past few years. Despite being someone who is planning to work in litigation, seeing the other perspective is always valuable.