Meet Aras Mollison

”After rotating through each practice group during my graduate year, I felt a natural magnetism to workplace relations and safety. My interests in economics and politics form part of the day-to-day work because workplace relations is a highly political area where there are frequent changes to the law and changes in policy.”

According to Aras, there’s never a dull moment working within the workplace relations and safety practice. “It’s fast paced and each day and client is a new opportunity to develop my legal expertise while helping clients to solve often sensitive and highly complex workplace and safety matters.”

“[It is satisfying] knowing your work has impact and productively contributes to the functioning of the client’s operations”.

Complex and varied work

Completing the full spectrum of legal work ranging from transactional matters involving the preparation of documents, advice or due diligence to large litigious matters across a range of subject matter, Aras enjoys the satisfaction of “knowing your work has impact and productively contributes to the functioning of the client’s operations”.

In fact, Aras has seen the impact first-hand by taking part in numerous secondments with clients in which he works on-site alongside client teams. “It’s an immersive experience where you live and breathe the work,” describes Aras.

To date, among the greatest highlights for Aras is his involvement in one of Australia’s first employment law class actions in which he was able to work alongside colleagues in Lander & Rogers’ General Insurance practice in what he describes as a significant matter for the client and the firm.

Exploring personal passions

With clients spanning many industries, sports enthusiast and competitive soccer player Aras particularly enjoys opportunities to work with Lander & Rogers’ sport industry clients, as well as getting involved in the firm’s sporting events like the Winneke Cup against other firms, which the team won in 2019.

With a passion for helping people, in 2019 Aras seized the opportunity to support Lander & Rogers’ Pro Bono practice as a Pro Bono Coordinator, alongside his other client work. “I engaged in a range of work including in the area of migration, which has helped me to nurture empathy, develop skills and expose me to new ways of thinking by working with people of diverse backgrounds.”

Completing his tenure in the role in early 2022, Aras reflects on his experience positively. “It’s an incredibly rewarding experience to work with vulnerable and at-risk clients and community members to ensure fair access to justice,” says Aras.

People-focused culture

Aras believes the best thing about Lander & Rogers is the people he gets to work with — “they are incredibly talented but simultaneously kind, fun and passionate about the work they do to support our clients and our people”.

Aras attributes this to Lander & Rogers’ people-focused culture and values, which he says the firm demonstrates in response to its people’s needs. “Connection is a key focus area for the firm in nurturing relationships that help to broaden our thinking and expose us to complex and interesting learning experiences that help us deliver our best work while driving our careers,” says Aras.

A growth mindset

Aras positively recounts the firm’s commitment and support of him to participate in an advocacy course run by the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria. “It taught me how to approach appearance work and assisted me in developing these skills over the years.” In 2022, Aras proudly appeared at his first two hearings, cross-examining witnesses and making submissions, admitting he had “come a long way since completing that course as a first-year lawyer”.

Complementing Aras’ natural penchant to grow and learn, in 2020 he was the recipient of Lander & Rogers’ Harry Curtis Scholarship, which provides funding for further study. “At the start of 2022, I commenced a Master of Business Administration and have already completed the first four subjects, which means I now hold a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration in addition to my Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees,” Aras proudly proclaims.

Aras says that, although returning to study while working full-time has been challenging, it’s proved to be rewarding. “The study has improved my business acumen and rounded out my education — something I think will be important as I develop as a manager and leader.”

Alongside his personal and professional growth, Aras has a growing interest in guiding and mentoring junior lawyers as they start out in their legal careers. “I regularly make time to provide precedents and explanations about how and why we undertake particular tasks — whether I’m working on the matter or not, I see this as an intrinsic part of my role as a lawyer in giving back.” In recent years, Aras’ passion has evolved to include formal supervision roles for seasonal clerks and graduates.