Legal Mentor


Dr Sonja Heppner, LLM (Dubl.)

Solicitor | International Arbitration & Litigation
Admitted in England & Wales (practising) and Ireland (non-practising)

Disputes Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright (Australia)

✓ International legal career pathways
✓ Re-qualification (England & Wales and Australia)
✓ Academic careers & PhD guidance
✓ Applications & professional development

Request Support

Support requests are reviewed by Law Room before confirmation.

Message from Sonja

“Try to find joy in whatever your path might be. I have always enjoyed studying which is probably how I ended up with a couple of degrees and two admissions as a Solicitor, one in Ireland, and one in England & Wales (and hopefully a third one in Australia soon – fingers crossed).  

I did not set out studying law with this grand plan. In fact, I had a wise professor once tell me that those who don’t know where they’re going, will go the furthest. I took that as solace. To me, it means that I don’t have to have a career goal set in stone. In that spirit, I’d encourage and support anyone to explore career options and opportunities that are out of the ordinary, unique to you. 

I cannot tell you what to want, but I am happy to support you on your journey.”

• Re-qualification pathways for solicitors (England & Wales and Australia)

Guidance on navigating re-qualification processes across jurisdictions, including strategic planning, exam pathways, and transitioning legal careers internationally.

• Legal career development and international pathways

Support for lawyers and graduates exploring career progression across jurisdictions, with a focus on positioning, applications, and long-term professional strategy.

• Fellowships, scholarships and academic applications

Advice on preparing competitive applications for international fellowships, scholarships, and academic opportunities, including personal statements and research proposals.

• Academic careers and university teaching

Guidance for those pursuing careers in academia, including teaching roles, research positioning, and building a strong academic profile.

• Legal publishing and journal development

Support with writing for publication, structuring academic work, and navigating the process of contributing to or establishing legal journals.

• Conference participation and academic engagement

Advice on preparing for and presenting at academic and professional conferences, including developing presentations and building confidence in public speaking.

• PhD applications and research pathways

Guidance on pursuing doctoral study, including selecting programmes, refining research proposals, and navigating academic career pathways.

• 1:1 Support Sessions (Online)

• Short Advice Calls

• Written Follow-Up / Email Guidance

• In-Person Sessions in Australia
(where available)

• Ongoing Mentoring Support


Sonja also offers support and mentorship through German upon request. 


•  Private 1:1 Session
(Online – 1h)

€70

•  Private Session Bundle
(5 Sessions)

€350

•  Written Response

€25

•  Quick Advice Call
(15 minutes)

€25

•  Ongoing Mentoring

Available on request

Pricing may sometimes vary depending on the scope of the request, current workload, and urgency.

Professional Background

Sonja has a German undergraduate law degree with a minor in Irish law. She studied law at the University of Passau, and spent her third undergraduate year at Trinity College Dublin, where she became an Editor of the Trinity College Law Review. Having loved the experience, she returned to the University of Passau, where she co-founded the student law journal “Der Jurist”, before completing her undergraduate law degree at the University of Hamburg.

With her first law degree in her pocket, Sonja returned to Trinity College Dublin to complete an LLM and a PhD. While completing her FE-1s and her traineeship with William Fry LLP, Sonja taught International Dispute Resolution at TCD Law School for three academic years. Upon completion of her traineeship in Ireland, she set sail for Australia, where she now practices as a Disputes Associate.

Sonja is an award-winning published author, having won the Rory Brady Prize for Excellence in International Conflict Management for her essays on dispute resolution a record four times. The Rory Brady Prize is given annually to the Trinity College Dublin student who is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to the study of dispute resolution. Sonja continues to publish legal articles, in particular on recent legal developments in Ireland and Australia.

As a Disputes Associate in Australia, Sonja has experience advising law students and legal professionals on the qualification and admission processes in Ireland, England & Wales, and Australia.

As a former Adjunct Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin Law School, Sonja also offers guidance on fellowship and scholarship applications, teaching at third-level institutions, publishing in law journals, speaking at conferences, and navigating academic pathways including the PhD journey.

Being German-born, Sonja understands how daunting it can be to pursue a career in law through English as a non-native speaker. She also offers support and mentorship in German upon request.

Profesional Experience

• Disputes Associate — Norton Rose Fulbright (Australia) (current)
• Adjunct Assistant Professor — Trinity College Dublin School of Law
• Junior Visiting Fellow — Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Switzerland)
• Graduate Fellow — Trinity Long Room Hub
• Graduate Research Assistant — Clifford Chance, Litigation and Dispute Resolution (Germany)
• Student Research Assistant — University of Hamburg (Germany)
• Intern — German Embassy Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
• Intern — Clifford Chance, Litigation and Dispute Resolution (Germany)
• Intern — Melville House Publishing (USA)
• Legal Mentor — Law Room

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD in Law — Trinity College Dublin
  • LL.M — Trinity College Dublin
  • Dipl.-Jur. — University of Hamburg