This week we are catching up with Jaanavi Kumar, who is part way through a contract role with Hollard, assisting their compliance team.
We are excited to follow her career path and this blog post is a great way to positively recognise her contributions this year!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your study background.
My name is Jaanavi, and I recently graduated from a Bachelor of Laws/Communication (Digital and Social Media) at the University of Technology Sydney in February.
Throughout my degree, I explored a variety of roles and experiences. This gave me exposure to a range of professional environments and perspectives and helped shape my approach to problem-solving and collaboration. While I always enjoyed studying law, I became increasingly interested in what happens beyond the legislation itself, namely how organisations interpret legal obligations while working towards broader commercial and operational objectives.
Where were you at with your career at the point you first connected with Yegal?
When I first connected with Yegal, I was approaching the end of my degree and was looking for an opportunity to gain exposure to a professional legal environment.
While I knew I wanted to pursue a legal career, I was keen to gain practical experience and deepen my understanding of how legal knowledge is applied in different professional contexts. I was looking for an opportunity that would allow me to apply the skills I developed throughout my degree while continuing to develop professionally.
What was the process once you applied?
The process was extremely straightforward and well supported. After applying, I was contacted by Michael to discuss my background, interests and career goals. He took the time to understand my goals and kept me informed throughout the recruitment process. Even after the contract began, we had check-ins to discuss my experience and provide any feedback.
I felt well supported at each stage of the process and appreciated how invested he was in walking me through the process, and ensuring the role aligned with my personal skills and long-term interests.
Since you got matched to a job, where have you been working and in what capacity?
I am currently working as a paralegal within the Compliance team at Hollard Insurance.
This role has provided exposure to a broad range of compliance and governance initiatives across the business. My work has included preparing guidance materials and process documentation, assisting with due diligence activities, as well as assisting with legal and regulatory research to emerging issues such as privacy and artificial intelligence.
It has been extremely rewarding to have the opportunity to contribute to such varied projects. This insight into how legal and regulatory considerations are embedded at each level of the business, as well as the ability to refine my skills has been invaluable at this early stage of my career.
How would you describe the culture at Hollard? Who have you been reporting to and how have they helped your development?
One of the things I’ve appreciated most about Hollard is how supportive and collaborative the culture is.
I’ve been fortunate to work with people who are generous with their time and encourage me to grow. From the beginning, I’ve been regularly encouraged to ask questions, take ownership of my work and get involved in a broad range of projects. This level of trust and support has helped me build the professional toolkit needed to approach new challenges with curiosity and a willingness to learn.
What are your career objectives for the next 12-24 months?
Over the next 12-24 months, I hope to continue deepening my understanding of regulatory frameworks while continuing to learn from experienced professionals across a range of legal environments. At this stage of my career, my focus is on continuing to learn and refine my skills to develop the judgment and problem-solving skills that come from practical experience. Ultimately I hope to build a career that leverages my legal knowledge to contribute to strong practical business outcomes.
What advice would you give to any students thinking of applying to Yegal Paralegal?
My advice would be to put yourself forward, even if you don’t feel like you meet every requirement or have extensive legal experience.
Programs like Yegal provide an amazing opportunity to gain practical experience and explore career pathways that you may not have previously considered. Some of the most valuable opportunities come from experiences you hadn’t originally planned for.
Stay open and curious, and make the most of every opportunity to learn. For me, Yegal was a great way to gain meaningful professional experience while exploring an area I may not have otherwise considered.