A solicitor at JG Thompson Lawyers, Abbas Asarai has been nominated for the Connecting Communities Award at the 7NEWS Victorian Young Achiever Awards.
Mr Alsarai said he was surprised to hear about his nomination.
“It feels very rewarding, knowing that your passion and hard work that you put in doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said.
The award celebrates young individuals or groups that create initiatives that demonstrate genuine engagement and add long-term value to local communities.
“I got nominated for my work as a solicitor here in Shepparton, for assisting various community members ... with their legal needs,” Mr Alsarai said.
“I’m trying to make the law more accessible for people who come from different areas of the world who need assistance, who English isn’t their first language and just being able to assist and answer the questions and (helping) them understand the law, how it all works and how it applies to them.”
Mr Alsarai started at JG Thompson Lawyers 2019 as a law student doing administration and reception work, and has progressed through the company.
“I graduated in 2021, got admitted 2022, so I’ve been doing this sort of work as a full-time solicitor for two or three years now,” he said.
“My favourite part of the job is helping people.
“I do personal injury, so a lot of the time, clients that come to see me at a difficult time of their lives when they need assistance to make things right.
“They’ve been involved in motor vehicle accidents or a workplace injury, so I assist them to obtain some compensation to make things right for them.”
Mr Alsarai works with clients from various backgrounds and the way he creates strong connections with compassion and understanding is one of the reasons he was nominated.
“We get a lot of clients from different parts of the world,” he said.
“I speak Arabic, so I’m able to communicate in Arabic with clients from many parts of the world.
“I’ve been able to assist by translating, giving them advice in their native language that they feel more comfortable, and most of the time they find that reassuring that they’re able to speak to someone in their own language to get legal advice.”
Judging for the awards will be on Wednesday, March 12, with the awards gala presentation on Friday, May 9.
“You do the work, not expecting awards or whatnot,” Mr Alsarai said.
“It’s not about the award or the recognition, it’s about putting the effort in and helping people at a difficult time in their lives.”
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