Tuls 2015 Careers Guide by TULS

Disclaimer The viewpoints and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily shared by the Editor or by the Tasmania University Law Society (‘TULS’). Content in students and graduate profiles was reflects the views of those individuals alone. All information presented in this document is, to the best knowledge of the Editor and the society, correct at the time of publication and is subject to change without notice. This information is provided freely and without obligation. To the greatest extent permitted by law, the editor and/or TULS accept no responsibility, either joint or several, for any of the information presented in this document, or any loss or damage, whether financial or otherwise, incurred in reliance upon, use of or other reference to, this guide and/or the information contained within it. The information presented is merely advisory and should not be relied upon without independent verification. This work is an edited and expanded compilation of information based on a large number of sources. This guide draws heavily on a variety of sources, including (but not limited to) information provided by the following sources, all of whom are attributed to the greatest extent possible throughout this guide: -‐ -‐ -‐ -‐

The websites of various law firms; Previous clerks, students and graduates; Brochures and publications issued by firms and Practical Legal Training providers; Previous Careers Guides and similar publications, from both UTAS and other universities; -‐ Other, independent, online resources; Any infringement on the intellectual property of any third party is only in good faith and purely accidental. Amendments can and will be made to this guide to remove any such intellectual property infringement immediately following contact with the editor of this guide. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the editor, the TULS Career Director on the below details: Tom Marshall 2015 Careers Director careers@tuls.com.au

Table Of Contents

2 3 5 7 8

Disclaimer Table Of Contents Dean’s Welcome Editorial Practicing Law In The Private Sector

Introduction Admission & Legal Practice Admission In Tasmania

8 9 9

Tasmanian Legal Practice Course

Other Programs (ANU, Bond, College of Law, Leo Cussens)

Interstate Admissions Requirements & Programs

Corporate Clerkships & Graduate Positions What do corporate firms do?

26 26

What is a clerkship? What’s a graduate position?

How do I apply for Clerkships? What is the selection process?

What is cvMail? How do I use it?

Firm Profiles

International Opportunities Student Profile: Gerard Quek

59 61

In-‐House Legal Teams HP Summer Legal Internship

63 63

Graduate Profile – Cameron Ritchie

64 66

Public Law Careers

Introduction Community Legal Centres (CLCs) & Legal Aid Community Legal Centres Legal Aid

66 67 67 68

Court Work & Associateships Becoming An Associate

70 70

Other Court Work

Criminal Law Work – Public Prosecutions Graduate Profile – James Walker

72 73

Administrative Law Opportunities – Tribunals and the Ombudsman The Office Of The Ombudsman

74 74

Tribunals

Parliamentary Work Tasmania

76 76

Commonwealth

76 77

Non-‐Legal Options

Introduction The Public Sector & Public Service The Commonwealth APS

77 78 78

State Public Services

Graduate Profile: Dave Port

Economics & Finance Postgraduate Study & Academia Legal Editing & Publishing

82 83 85 86 86 87 88

Extra-‐Curricular Opportunities

Introduction University Exchange & Travel Student Profile: Rohan Nanthakumar (+ Rebecca Byrnes & Anika Bratzel!) University Competitions Tasmania University Law Society (TULS) University of Tasmania Law Review Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship

91 92 94 94 95 95 96 98

Important Skills

Introduction Résumés/Curriculum Vitae (CV) Résumé Contents Cover Letters Selection Criteria Specific Tips For Applying For Public Service Jobs

101 103 103

Interview Tips Preparing For The Interview

104 104

In The Interview Room

104

After The Interview

105

Phone Interviews

105

Interview Practice Questions

105

Finding Other Opportunities Networking

107 107

Legal Opportunity Databases

108

Dean’s Welcome As Dean of the UTAS Law Faculty, I would like to take this opportunity to commend to you this TULS Careers Guide, which provides advice to students transitioning from study to future careers. In many respects, the UTAS Law Faculty is well-‐placed nationally. In the most recent ERA exercise (Excellence in Research for Australia) in 2012, the UTAS Law Faculty was confirmed to be above world class, in the top tier of the 30+ Law Schools in Australia, and a recent international ranking (QS World Rankings, 2014) placed us in the top 200 Law Schools in the world. As a world class Law Faculty, we hold out high expectations for our graduates and their careers. The UTAS Law Faculty has a lot to offer our students: good quality teaching, an active research environment which includes a strong postgraduate student body, and a welcoming and collegiate atmosphere. In particular, we believe that there is strength in our smaller size compared to some of the larger universities where students’ experiences are more impersonal. Here there is a clear sense of Faculty identity and community which students can share. We offer pastoral care of students and foster meaningful relationships between staff and students. An excellent facilitator in this regard is your TULS organisation and the Faculty enjoys a good working relationship with TULS. An important TULS’ initiative has been the development of this Careers Guide. I want to recommend this guide to you as a useful resource which brings together a wealth of information. It is very practically oriented with up-‐to-‐date information about pathways to admission to practice. This includes information about the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice offered by the University of Tasmania which has a very good reputation for being very hands on with substantial practical experience, including advocacy training with magistrates and members of the judiciary. The Careers Guides also canvasses a range of work options from the corporate to the public sector with good practical advice on preparation of applications. In dealing with public sector roles, this guide cross-‐references the TULS Student Opportunities Guide and compliments that valuable resource. A Law degree is a very versatile qualification: entering the legal profession is one obvious pathway after graduation, but there are many others, as this Career Guide reinforces. There is no doubt that a Law degree is a well-‐respected qualification that can lead into many other roles, particularly when combined with another degree allowing you to play to specific strengths. It is therefore important for your long term career and personal fulfilment that you use your Law degree effectively, whether directly, or indirectly. To this end, I encourage you all to make it your business to explore options so that you can make informed decisions, ensuring that you find the right career to match your skills, aspirations, and allow you to fulfil your full potential.

I am confident that our students will find this Careers Guide useful as they seek to position themselves to maximise their opportunities whilst at UTAS and for future careers. As this guide acknowledges, the employment market is very competitive and employers are increasingly seeking out graduates who have had a diversified work experience. We are observing growing interest and expectations from employers in examining what extra-‐ curricular activities applicants have undertaken; to this end, having some voluntary work experience on your CV can be very beneficial. There are a range of opportunities, including those offered through TULS and Faculty involving mentored training opportunities (e.g. the Student Legal Service, the Prisoner Advisory Service and the Refugee Legal Service). There are, of course, also a whole range of opportunities for voluntary work in the community as documented in the TULS Student Opportunities Guide which can usefully enhance your CV, particularly at a time when opportunities for relevant paid work pre-‐graduation may be scarce. The Law Faculty is proud of the quality of the graduates that it produces. It has a reputation for producing able, well-‐rounded graduates, and we have many leading lights amongst our alumni both in Australia and overseas. There are many pathways to success and the Faculty is keen to work with you for constructive teaching and learning. In conjunction with TULS, and working with the profession, the Faculty also seeks to promote to our students information about job opportunities which I receive from local and national organisations. Professor Margaret Otlowski Law Faculty Dean

Editorial Legal Eagles, Welcome to the 2015 TULS Careers Guide! The past few years have been a difficult and anxious time for many law students. The profession is in a state of flux and undergoing rapid change in some areas. The changes and efficiencies introduced during the global financial crisis are unlikely to go away. In an economic climate like this it is more important than ever to have sound advice to guide us as we embark on the great adventure that I hope will be our career. I am indebted to the 2014 careers director Aaron Moss. He rewrote this guide during his tenure and did such a good job that the 2015 edition features only very minor updates. Thankyou also to all of the sponsors whose generous support made this guide possible and to the past students whose wise advice is contained within it. The law is an incredibly diverse field. This guide focuses largely on corporate law careers because found there are large employers with the most formalised recruitment structures where advice in a form like this can be useful. If you want to specialise in a different area of law you may need to do more independent research, but the rewards can be great. The same goes for smaller law firms. Career opportunities here are likely to emerge through prudent networking and making personal connections. I’d urge you consider this guide alongside the TULS Student Opportunities Guide, which contains volunteering and internship opportunities, focusing on other opportunities for those less corporate minded – many of which can be undertaken now. If I can give you one piece of advice as you embark on the start of your career (or careers) it is to be adventurous. Great change in the legal profession brings with it great opportunities for those young professionals who are willing to seize them. Be an innovator who is willing to try new things and break down barriers. Refuse to be limited by academic field, geography or blind adherence to convention. Good luck! Tom Marshall Careers Director Tasmania University Law Society M: 0447 600 865 E: careers@tuls.com.au

Practicing Law In The Private Sector Introduction The first part of the Careers Guide will focus on giving you your own Elle Woods, Harvey Spector or Denny Crane moment in legal practice. Designed to walk you from Graduation to the day your surname is listed on the company letterhead, this section includes information on: • • • • •

Admissions & Legal Practice Courses Corporate Clerkships Graduate Positions International Positions In-‐House Legal Work

Admission & Legal Practice Admission In Tasmania Admission and legal practice in Tasmania is regulated by the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Tas). This Act outlines the requirements for legal practice in Tasmania, and the procedures for getting yourself to the point where you can call yourself a real life lawyer. A detailed analysis of the provisions and conditions of this Act are outside the scope of this guide, however, section 25 of that Act requires you to have completed both an ‘approved academic qualification’ – a law degree – and an ‘approved practical legal training requirement’. The latter program, commonly known as ‘Legal Prac’, is a short, practically-‐oriented skills training program designed to give you the required skills and knowledge to put your law degree into practice. There are a range of Practical Legal Training courses available for UTAS Graduates, and one is sure to fit in with your post-‐graduation plans! Detailed information on admittance is further on in the guide, but long story short, any of the courses featured here will allow you to be admitted, and once you are admitted you can usually practice in any state in Australia. Tasmanian Legal Practice Course Introduction: Introduction: The Tasmanian Legal Practice Course (TLPC) is a post graduate professional legal training program whose graduates are eligible to apply for admission as legal practitioners. In addition, graduates are awarded a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Tasmania. The Course is conducted by the Centre for Legal Studies at the UTAS Hunter Street campus. Upon admission, you are eligible for admission in other states or territories, either directly or under the Mutual Recognition Scheme. Why complete a Professional Legal Training Program? The TLPC is a practical and challenging course that provides you with an invaluable skill set whether or not you intend to practice law. In each year trainees complete the TLPC for different reasons: because they intend to practice law; to help decide if they want to practice law; to keep their career options open should they choose to practice law in the 9

future; to expand their qualifications and opportunities in the job market; or to gain practical skills, such as advocacy and letter writing to use in other professional roles. Why complete the TLPC? The Course is recognised nationally as providing excellent and comprehensive quality training. It offers a unique practical experience unlike any other professional legal training program and will be different to any other course that you will have studied at University. Highlights of the TLPC include: • A strong advocacy component with trainees appearing in the Supreme Court or Magistrates' Court before Judges and Magistrates on a weekly basis; • A client interviewing program conducted with real clients; • Emphasis and teaching of practical drafting skills; • Three weeks work experience in a firm or government agency (arranged for you); • Workshop style teaching with an emphasis on learning through simulated transactional files; • Direct instruction and support from Tasmania's Judges, Magistrates and legal practitioners; • Face-‐to-‐face teaching and mentoring with minimum online learning; • A social and collegial environment. • An additional bonus is that historically a number of employers seeking a graduate legal practitioner advertise their positions directly to trainees attending the TLPC. Course Information: The Course consists of six months of practical legal work in a legal office environment. There are seven compulsory units: • Civil Litigation Practice – Supreme Court Practice and Advocacy (incl. Tribunal Practice) • Criminal Law Practice – Magistrates’ Court Practice and Advocacy • Trust and Office Accounting • Property Law Practice (incl. Wills & Estate Practice) • Commercial and Corporate Practice • Family Law Practice and Advocacy • Skills, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Work is assessed on a pass-‐fail basis and is made up of a range of different forms of ‘practical’ assessment, including court advocacy and legal drafting. Costs & Dates In 2016 the TLPC will commence on Friday 29 January and conclude on Thursday 29 July. The workload is full-‐time, but most core training occurs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to allow trainees flexibility to study around family and work commitments. In 10

2015, the TLPC cost $9,238 for Domestic students, and this is supported by HECS. Applications will open for the 2016 intake in August 2015 and close on 31 October 2015. Details about the TLPC and application process can be found: On the TLPC website at http://www.utas.edu.au/legalstudies On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TasmanianLegalPracticeCourse Or by contacting the TLPC at tas.legalpractice@utas.edu.au or (03) 6226 4394. A 2013 Tasmanian Legal Practice Graduate shares his impressions of the Course Christiaan Roberts Associate, Judd Commercial Lawyers, Sydney, NSW I completed the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course in 2013 and now work in a boutique commercial and corporate transaction and litigation firm in New South Wales. Completing the Course provided me with the practical knowledge to ‘hit the ground running’ when I commenced legal practice. The Course reflects the practical nature of legal practice. There is a strong focus on legal writing and drafting. The documents that students draft are reviewed by senior practitioners and members of the Judiciary. The practitioners and Judiciary provide excellent feedback as the content and style of a student’s legal writing and drafting. I still refer in practice when drafting particular documents to the advice and feedback that was provided to me by senior practitioners and members of the Judiciary during my time at the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course. The Course, particularly with the instruction and guidance that it provides, places students in the position whereby they are able to gather and present relevant evidence, draft applications and pleadings and then appear before the Court to advocate for their client. Having such ability is valued in the legal professional. I have used the skills and feedback that I gained at the Course regularly since commencing practice in New South Wales. From my observations working in an interstate private practice it is evident that graduates of the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course are able to address the Court in a far more substantive way, contribute more effectively and productively to the preparation of evidence and to the drafting of court documents. The quality and guidance of the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course was most beneficial and instructive. I have no doubt that I would not have had the confidence or the requisite abilities to undertake the necessary tasks when I commenced work had I not completed the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course.

Other Programs (ANU, Bond, College of Law, Leo Cussens) ANU Legal Workshop ANU Legal Workshop at The Australian National University (ANU) is the largest and oldest university-‐based professional legal training program. In 2015, we are excited to introduce our new Master of Legal Practice (MLP) featuring the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP). The Program at a Glance We start with our BAP course, then how you put your PLT jigsaw together is up to you as long as you have the following pieces of the puzzle: 1. The PPC (compulsory subjects); and 2. The Electives (choose between two to five, depending on the number of work placement days you choose); and 3. Work experience placement. We accept 20, 40, 60 or 80 day placements because we know you have other commitments and need flexibility to juggle your course work and work experience. We provide financial assistance to students who take up a placement in one of Australia’s community legal centres through our Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Placement Program because we believe in assisting students who wish to gain experience in bringing access to justice to Australians most in need. The ANU Edge Once you complete the GDLP component of the MLP course, you are eligible for admission… and here’s the best part, in addition to getting admitted, you can graduate with a GDLP (for those not wanting to study any more); or continue with your course work and graduate with a Masters (for those who miss the good old Law Library days); or if you’re not sure, you have two years to think about it. Whatever option you choose, you will attain a qualification from one of Australia’s leading law schools.

What, When and How Practical Legal Training (PLT) by way of a Master of Legal Practice (MLP) featuring the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) from one of Australia’s leading law schools, with direct admission to practice in NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, WA, TAS and NT and reciprocal admission in SA. 5-‐day face-‐to-‐face intensive Becoming a Practitioner (BAP) course àANU Legal Workshop PLT is delivered in Adelaide, Armidale, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville and Wollongong. The Professional Practice Core (PPC), an 18-‐week online course that takes place in an online, simulated, transactional, team work learning environment with January and July start dates. The Electives are available as online courses with between two and four start dates in 2015 and 5 day face to face intensive courses with various start dates throughout 2015 in various locations all around Australia. The Team behind the lawyers of tomorrow Our team of practitioner teachers are the foundation of our program. Drawing on the experience from former judicial officers to partners in law firms to principal legal officers in government departments, we know that it takes a dynamic, passionate and diverse legal community to teach the lawyers of tomorrow. Your professional journey starts here So why not take the plunge and take the first step of your legal professional journey with us! More Information: http://law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/mlp Phone: 02 6125 4463 Email: lwsa.law@anu.edu.au Facebook.com/ANULegalWorkshop

A 2014 ANU Legal Workshop Graduate shares their perspective: Gillian Groom (completed ANU's GDLP in 2014). "I found ANU's GDLP, while inevitably following a prescribed structure, to be extremely flexible in terms of choices in areas of interest. In addition the model involving working in 'firms' within a virtual office provided additional stimulation and accountability to others. Team work was absolutely critical at all time. This seemed to provide an excellent basis for future legal work… Another outstanding aspect of The GDLP was the requirement to practice effective communication skills at all times. This was an essential feature of working in a team within a virtual office space. The regular team meetings were a great tool for building trust in colleagues and learning to delegate when necessary... I particularly enjoyed the ANU based blocks, namely the BAP course and, in my case, the Criminal Procedure elective. This experience in Canberra provided a practical opportunity to identify with ANU and the staff involved in the GDLP. Without exception, the courses were well organised and interesting, if somewhat challenging in the timeframe allowed. All staff were friendly, approachable and offered appropriate advice when required."

NT Darwin

QLD

ANU

Placement MLP Masters

ANU

Program

Practitioner

MLP

Mentoring Legal Practice

Well being Flexible MentoringOnline deliveryEthical Legal Practice MLP Masters Townsville Online delivery ANU Graduate

GDLP MLP Well

Placement

being

Mentoring Practitioner

ANU Brisbane

Online delivery

International

Flexible

Professional Online delivery Placement Legal Practice MLP Legal Workshop ANU Gold Coast Legal Practice InternationalANU Armidale MLP National Mentoring Professional Sydney MLP ANU Flexible Online delivery Flexible Placement Wollongong National Ethical Practitioner Legal Practice NSW Adelaide Perth Graduate SA MastersCanberra WA International National Melbourne Mentoring

Online delivery

MLP

International

Masters

National

GDLP Well being

VIC ANU

Hobart TAS

ANU Legal Workshop Master of Legal Practice featuring the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice The ANU Legal Workshop is Australia’s largest university-based legal practice program provider. The Master of Legal Practice (MLP) is our exciting new program that features the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP). Providing you with more choice, the Master of Legal Practice gives you the option of completing only the Admission to Practice courses (GDLP component) of the program – and gaining admission to legal practice – or continuing your study to graduate with an MLP. We also offer: > flexible online delivery > your choice of 20, 40, 60 or 80 day legal placement > direct or reciprocal admission to legal practice nationally > staff who are practising lawyers and skilled legal practice teachers. Whatever choice you make, you’ll get the benefits of flexible online study – allowing you to balance study with work or personal commitments – and a qualification from one of the world’s leading law schools. Information W law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/mlp T 02 6125 4463 E lwsa.law@anu.edu.au facebook.com/ANULegalWorkshop CRICOS# 00120C | March 2015

Bond University Professional Legal Training At the Bond Law Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (PLT Program), our focus is you! We work with you and support you in successfully navigating the transition from law student to legal practitioner. Here are just some of the things we offer: ü Three intakes each year in January, May and September for on campus (full-‐ time) or online (part-‐time and full-‐time) students. ü Our Program comprises three inter-‐connected, highly practical components: 15 weeks (full-‐time) or 30 weeks (part-‐time) of practical training (including three weeks of intensives) followed by 75 days work placement and 75 hours of additional mentoring and guided reflection. ü Credit towards your 75 days work placement may be available for work experience undertaken as a law student in law office or law related work environment. ü Our classes are small. Instructors know your name, you know your colleagues, and we respond to your questions in real time. ü All practical instruction is led or co-‐taught by experienced practitioners. ü Our dedicated full-‐time work placement specialist works with you to find the work placement that matches your needs and expectations. ü You will develop skills in: Advocacy, Negotiation, Professionalism, Ethics, Research, Analytical Skills, Problem Solving, Cultural Competency, Oral and Written Communication, Teamwork, Project Management, Understanding Trust Accounts, Practice Management, Presentation Skills. ü And you will work on files in: Commercial and Corporate Law & Practice, Civil Litigation, Property Law and Practice as well as your choice of any two from Wills and Estates Practice, Banking and Finance, Criminal Law or Family Law. ü Our PLT Program is accredited for Commonwealth Government Fee Help. For More Information:

Email us (plt@bond.edu.au), call us ((07) 55952284) or visit our website (https://bond.edu.au/program/graduate-‐diploma-‐legal-‐practice)

College Of Law Australia's Largest Provider of Practical Legal Training The College of Law sets the standard for Practical Legal Training (PLT) in Australia. The College is Australia’s largest provider of PLT, with campuses in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. We also conduct programs in Adelaide, Canberra and regional Queensland, as well as onsite sessions in London. While we have a national approach that reflects an increasingly national profession, our course materials and lecturers are state-‐based to ensure that local variations in practice are incorporated into our programs. You get the best of both worlds. The College of Law Advantage The College’s PLT program combines structured training with on-‐the-‐job experience and is designed to ensure that you are equipped to make a contribution quickly to your chosen workplace. We offer the choice of full-‐time online, part-‐time online, and part-‐time online evening courses. For The College’s online courses, more than 85% of the coursework component is delivered online, it will allow you the flexibility to manage other commitments and have 24 hour access to resources. Students are on campus for 10 days of face-‐to-‐face onsites where you will participate in skills workshops, role plays (eg. advocacy), simulations (eg. conducting a conveyancing settlement), and feedback sessions under the guidance of our lecturers. In addition to the structured activities, our lecturers are available to you for assistance when required in person or by phone and email. All assessments are individually-‐based – there are no group assessments.

Start Dates Scheduled Throughout the Year Only The College offers more than six starting dates throughout the year, not just twice a year as most university PLT providers do. Work Experience Options Choose from two work experience options to suit your circumstances: • Option A – 25 days + the Clinical Experience Module which can be placed on FEE-‐HELP • Option B – 75 days of work experience. More Information For course dates or more information about our PLT program visit The College of Law www.collaw.edu.au/plt, or contact the Student Services Team on 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au. Make the right choice for your future career and enrol in Practical Legal Training with The College of Law.

Leo Cussen Centre For Law Practical Training Course (Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice) Leo Cussen has been operating since 1972 and provides high quality practical legal training and professional development programs for entry-level lawyers through to senior legal practitioners. The Leo Cussen experience enables law graduates to learn how to practise law in a professional, yet friendly and engaging environment. Our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice is comprehensive and well respected by legal employers. Employers may sponsor their graduate employee to do the course. Practical Legal Training at Leo Cussen is practical, comprehensive, designed to meet the National Competency Standards for Entry Level Lawyers and delivered in a supportive training environment. Successful completion of the Practical Training Course (PTC) entitles you to apply for admission to the legal profession as an Australian Lawyer which, in turn, entitles you to practise as an Australian Legal Practitioner in any Australian jurisdiction.

Practical Training Course Onsite or Online – Your Choice Online delivery offers flexibility to those who have work or family commitments and who enjoy the discipline of learning within a small online community. The Onsite course suits those looking for a training experience with face to face teaching and learning. It also suits those on overseas student visas. In the Onsite course, you attend each business day from 9am to 5pm. In the Online course, trainees attend Leo Cussen onsite for 16 days spread throughout the course for intensive teaching, mentor consultations, assessment tasks and making applications. In the full time Online course, you will need to commit at least 25 hours a week to your PTC work. We also offer a part time Online PTC. Features of the Practical Training Course (Online and Onsite): • • • • •

Building of practical legal skills in a broad range of practice areas. Mentoring by in-house legal training staff who guide your professional development. Visiting legal practitioners as instructors. Current Matter file program – run simulated client files within your own PTC ‘law firm’. Extensive advocacy training.

• Collegial environment with the opportunity to build friendships and professional networks that can last your entire career. • Career advice and guidance. • Assistance to all trainees with professional placement. In our onsite course, we find the placement for our trainees. • Employment Register for graduates. • FEE-HELP available.

The Learning Experience The Practical Training Course (PTC) is founded on the principle of ‘learning by doing’ and is designed to lead you to reach the required Competencies in an active and practical training environment.

Current Matter Program Set up your own ‘law firm’ and run up to 10 simulated files covering a wide range of practice areas and presenting a range of legal and practical problems reflecting those you encounter in real-world legal practice. We operate an in-house registry and banking facility to assist the simulation of real practice.

Course Reference Materials A detailed set of reference materials is provided for each practice topic, this is a great resource during the Course and a handy reference in your first year of legal practice.

Mentors You work in a small group with the guidance of one of our staff. All our training staff are experienced lawyers. Their job is to help you develop your practical legal skills, professional values and confidence to work as an entry level lawyer.

Collegiality You form friendships during the course and begin to build the personal and professional networks that support you during your entire career. PTC trainees organise a variety of social activities during the course to make sure the fun doesn’t disappear in the midst of all the hard work.

Course Details and Application 24 weeks including three weeks Professional Placement Two intakes a year (Online and Onsite) commencing January and July. 2015/2016 July intake: January 2016 intake:

Apply by 15 May 2015 Apply by 20 November 2015 20

Later applications are accepted and considered in order of receipt. Forms are available at: www.leocussen.edu.au/apply FEE-HELP is available for eligible applicants. For further information please contact Aimee Vogler, Administrator, Practical Training Course Phone: 03 9602 3111 Email: ptcadmin@leocussen.vic.edu.au A Leo Cussen graduate shares their story Molly McCaffrey Senior Investigating Officer, Ombudsman Western Australia

I felt that there would have been little value in obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice that didn't involve lots of real practice! Leo Cussen was unique in providing instruction and assessment via practical tasks reflecting real world scenarios. I was also attracted by the staff I met at Information Evenings who were passionate about passing on their experience to budding lawyers, not just focussed on making us tick boxes for admission. Knowing I was selecting the course with the most thorough preparation for a legal career was the main appeal. I most enjoyed the skill development process with fellow trainees under the guidance of experienced barristers, solicitors and academics. I developed skills in advocacy, negotiation and even working with interpreters which has been helpful in my professional life. The best part of the training was that it was varied, challenging and in-‐depth. The course definitely made me feel more confident to enter the legal workforce. It was the perfect transition from university life of solo research and in depth analysis to the fast paced, and collaborative professional world. Once I entered the workplace, the key to the transition was to draw on a wide range of skills. I obtained my first full time role after law school with the State Ombudsman in Western Australia. I work on the front line dealing with enquiries from members of the public and investigating any one of the 300 WA Government departments and authorities in jurisdiction. I would recommend the Leo Cussen PTC to others, because the course provides all the grounding you need to explore where your actual professional legal interests lie. Afterwards, I was best placed to make a prudent career choice, whether that be in the legal or non-‐legal sectors.

Interstate Admissions Requirements & Programs This section is a brief, and non-‐comprehensive, overview of the admissions requirements and programs in other Australian jurisdictions. Victoria Victoria offers two different pathways to legal practice: Supervised Traineeship The Victorian Articled Clerkship system has been replaced by the Traineeship. The traineeship allows for 'On the job' legal training with a law firm, but differs from a clerkship because all trainees will be taught a minimum standard of competency in various areas of the law. Traineeships last 12 months. Applications for Traineeships are made to the Human Resource Personnel of each firm, and open in July. Applications are made by students in their final year of study for commencement in the following year. For more information on the Traineeship system visit http://www.liv.asn.au/LIV-‐Young-‐ Lawyers/Law-‐Students/LIV-‐Traineeship-‐Seasonal-‐Clerkship-‐Guidelines Approved Practical Legal Training Course Similar to the Practical Legal Training courses outlined above, which can be completed in under six months and consist mainly of course work (either online or on-‐site at the education facility), with a combination of practical work experience completed in a legal environment. Approved providers include: • • • •

The College of Law Victoria (see above – www.collaw.edu.au) The Leo Cussen Institute (see above – www.leocussen.vic.edu.au) The ANU GDLP Program (see above -‐ http://law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/gdlp) Monash University Faculty of Law – Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Skills and Ethics (http://www.law.monash.edu.au/)

New South Wales Most graduates in New South Wales gain admission to the legal profession by completion of a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice through the College of Law. Other Practical Legal Training programs are offered through the University of Technology, Sydney (http://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-‐law) and the University of Wollongong (http://lha.uow.edu.au/law/index.html) Queensland Queensland offers three options for admission: College Of Law’s Practical Legal Training Program Information about this program was outlined in the previous section.

Supervised Workplace Traineeship Graduates who are employed as trainee solicitors, and are undertaking their articles, may complete an additional 90 hours of training, offered by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Their Trainee Solicitor Program is undertaken entirely online at any time over the year in a six-‐month window, with a one-‐day attendance component for Criminal Law. Core modules include Litigation, Property and Commercial practice, and electives are the same as those for the College of Law and Leo Cussens courses. More information is available here: http://www.qut.edu.au/study/short-‐courses-‐and-‐ professional-‐development/short-‐courses/trainee-‐solicitor-‐program-‐tsp-‐and-‐supplementary-‐ training QUT Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice The Queensland University of Technology also offers a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, including both full-‐time, as well as fully or partly online options. The course runs for 24 weeks full time, and between 34 and 38 part-‐time, commencing in January, March or June. Credit in this program can also be gained through pre-‐existing work in an approved law office, and completion of this program can be, in some circumstances, credited toward a QUT Master of Laws. This course starts in June, and is supportable by FEE-‐HELP. More details are available by contacting law_enquiries@qut.edu.au or (07) 3138 2839. More information about this program is available here: http://www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/graduate-‐diploma-‐in-‐legal-‐practice South Australia South Australian Graduates generally undertake their Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice through the University of Adelaide. The program is administered in conjunction with the Law Society of South Australia, and as a result, students are able to attend Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events free of charge, as well as receiving complimentary Associate Membership of the Law Society of South Australia. This course may also be commenced whilst remaining an undergraduate student. The GDLP program runs twice a year, commencing in January and July, and continues for six months, though graduates can study for a period of up to three years at their own pace. Courses and assessments are largely similar to all other Practical Legal Training programs offered elsewhere, and is divided into four modules: • Core Units (Foundations, Professional Obligations, Civil Litigation, Commercial & Corporate and Property Law)

• Electives (Criminal, Family, Employment & Industrial Relations, Planning & Environmental Law, Wills and Estates) • Continuing Professional Development for a minimum of 10 hours • 30 Days (225 hours) in a Legal Practical Placement. The GDLP is supported by FEE-‐HELP. Further information regarding this program is available from the UniAdelaide website at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/publications/pdfs/gdlp.pdf, or by calling (08) 8410 5865. Western Australia Western Australia offers two methods of admission to the legal profession: Practical Legal Training Course A standard practical legal training course, as outlined above. This is generally undertaken through the College of Law. Articled Clerkship Western Australia continues to offer an Articled Clerkship system, a 12-‐month program during which clerks complete the four-‐week Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training for Articled Clerks. Training as an Articled Clerk is delivered through the Perth CBD, and is assessed on an ongoing basis by the WA Lawyers who organise the program. There are two intakes each year – in April and August, with one week of electives following the two fortnight-‐long blocks of compulsory topics. More information on the Articled Clerkship program is available here: http://www.leocussen.vic.edu.au/cb_pages/traineeship_articles_wa.php Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Most graduates in the ACT gain admission to the legal profession through the ANU’s GDLP program, as outlined in the previous section. Northern Territory Graduates in the Northern Territory generally undertake their Practical Legal Training through the College of Law or the ANU Legal Workshop program. The Rural, Regional, Remote Practical Legal Training program permits students to undertake the ‘placement’ module of their PLT course in public interest legal support services for those who are disadvantaged. Offices who are willing to take such trainees In the NT include the Alice Springs Central Australia Aboriginal Family Legal Unit, the Katherine Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, and the Darwin Top End Women’s Legal Service. More information about this program is available here: https://placements.naclc.org.au/

Corporate Clerkships & Graduate Positions What do corporate firms do? Corporate and Commercial Law firms practice in a large and diverse number of areas of law. No two firms will practice in exactly the same area, and each firm has its own unique specialties. However, some of the more common areas of practice include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Advertising and Promotion Law Banking and Financial Services Regulation Climate Change, Environment and Planning Competition and Consumer Law Contract Law Funds Management Industrial and Workplace Relations Law Insolvency and Restructuring Insurance and Re-‐insurance International Business Obligations Mergers and Acquisition Real Estate & Native Title Patents, Trademarks and Intellectual Property Personal Property Securities Privacy and Data Protection Private Equity Project Finance Regulatory Controls Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Superannuation Taxation

What is a clerkship? What’s a graduate position? Clerkships are work experience programs for students, usually in their penultimate year of their law degree (4th year for combined degree students), offered by law firms which allow you to get a feel for how it feels to be an ‘actual lawyer’. Many firms only recruit ‘graduate lawyers’ from their pool of clerks, hence the graduate position, to be completed while you complete your Practical Legal Training. Most clerkships are paid (at least nominally) full-‐time positions. Clerks are usually selected from across Australia, and as a result, are generally highly desirable, but also competitive. Firms which offer clerkships are generally top or mid-‐tier commercial law firms, but some government departments, and other bodies may offer similar positions – for more information on those, please see the Student Opportunities Guide.

How do I apply for Clerkships? What is the selection process? Clerkship schemes are regulated in NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA with uniform application processes and dates, however, these schemes only apply to firms who have agreed to comply with these guidelines, and differ between jurisdictions, so you should take time to research your firm on your own. Important Dates Most firms have agreed to comply with jurisdiction-‐wide application procedures, the main dates of which are below. However, these are just general guides, be sure to check with your desired firm before applying. • ACT/NSW: Applications from late June-‐late July each year, with 8-‐12 week clerkships over the summer holidays • QLD: Applications from late Feb-‐late March, with 4-‐week clerkships in the winter and summer breaks. • SA: Applications in July, with clerkship times and dates varying between firms. • VIC: Applications from mid July-‐mid August each year, recruiting for the summer break and the following winter break (so apply in 2015 for a Winter 2016 clerkship) • WA: Applications in late July-‐late August, with 2-‐3 week clerkships in Winter and Summer breaks. • TAS/NT: No set guidelines exist in either of these jurisdictions, so contact your chosen firm directly. Research Your Firm The first step in preparing your clerkship application should be researching and selecting your firm. Many organisations offer clerkship programs, each with different strengths, weaknesses, cultures and opportunities, and it’s important for a successful application (and experience, if you land the job!) to pick the firm that’s right for you. Researching your firm doesn’t have to take a long time, and can be as easy as looking up their website. Thankfully, to make a little more ‘in-‐depth’ research a tad easier, a range of services offer firm profiles. These services include: • The guide you’re currently holding! • CVMail -‐ http://www.cvmail.com.au/user/firmcontent/firms.cfm?rcd=189371 • Survive Law -‐ http://survivelaw.com/index.php/clerkships/clerkships-‐2 It’s also a fantastic idea to speak to other students who have clerked for that firm beforehand, to get a frank, ‘on-‐the-‐ground’ perspective on the work you’ll be doing. That’s why we’ve attempted to get as many clerk profiles in here from recent UTAS Graduates as we could, to help you out with your decision.

Prepare Your Documentation Applying for clerkships isn’t an easy process, and it requires a lot of paperwork. That’s why it’s important to have the following documents updated, and easily accessible for when you’ll need them in your application process: • Your résumé/CV – A sparkling CV that’s pretty, easy to read and packed full of the things that make you awesome is the key to a good clerkship application. Later in this guide you will find a range of tips to help you get your CV ready. • Your academic record/an academic transcript – Firms do care about your results. Have them handy. It may be a good idea to order an official transcript before you get started – do this through eStudentCentre • Your calendar – whether it’s Google Calendar, or a diary, you’ll check dates for clerkships and interviews more than you realise. Make sure it’s close at hand. Write Your Application With your CV and Academic Record prepared (and loaded into CVMail – see the next section), the only thing left to write is a series of answers to the interview questions which each firm requests, and your cover letter – the way for you to dazzle your way into the interview room! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR APPLICATION TO THE LAST MINUTE. These can take time, anything can happen and many people might be trying to submit their application at the same time. You don’t want to leave your future to Murphy’s Law. Pro tip: Draft your answers in Microsoft Word or another word processor before copying into the application field. It’s both less scary and easier to edit. As most text in these forms (especially in CVMail) is ‘plain text’, the following tips should be kept in mind: -‐ Emphasise major headings with an equals sign (=), and minor headings and bullet points with hyphens (-‐) -‐ Don’t forget to use extra spacing to keep your text readable Please note: Firms in NSW and ACT utilising the standard application form for these jurisdictions do not allow you to attach your CV to your application form. Submit Your Application Cross your fingers! If using CVMail, don’t forget to save a copy to your computer for future reference. Interviews If you’re lucky enough to score an interview with a firm, CONGRATULATIONS! Later in the guide you will find some awesome interview tips.

What is cvMail? How do I use it? What Is cvMail? cvMail is a law student portal run by Thomson Reuters, which provides information about the legal industry, law firms, applying for jobs. It also enables law students to apply and schedule interviews online. Most major firms in all states (as well as some overseas firms) now prefer applications online via http://www.cvmail.com.au. cvMail contains a list of firms that use cvMail here: http://www.cvmail.com.au/user/firmcontent/firms.cfm?rcd=10765. Not all firms use cvMail. Make sure you check a firm’s website in order to determine how they would like you to apply. If in doubt, telephone their Human Resource department. Tasmanian firms prefer to run their own application process. Students will receive information about Tasmanian firm application processes directly or via TULS. Using cvMail: Step 1: Create An Account Go to http://www.cvmail.com.au and register as a ‘First Time User.’ Insert your name, email address and a password to create an account. Ensure this e-‐mail address is one you check frequently, as alerts and notifications (including interview requests from firms!) will be sent to that address. Once you have created an account you can log on as a registered user. Step 2: Personal Profile Enter your personal details including name, address, email, and language ability. This information is automatically forwarded to the firm as you apply. All personal and academic profiles can be edited as many times as required prior to applying to the firm. Step 3: Academic Profile Create an education record for each of your relevant academic qualifications, and enter the individual marks. Double-‐degree students must undertake this process twice. Step 4: Submit Your Application Click on the Seasonal Tab for clerkships or the Graduate Tab, and select the state to which you are applying which will display a list of the firms using CVMail. Candidates can practice submitting an application to a practice firm prior to submitting a real application. 29

When the application is ready to submit, simply click onto the ‘Apply here’ button, located next to the relevant firm. Although each firm will have different application requirements, generally candidates can answer application questions, attach their résumé and cover letter, and preview the application before submission. The level of specificity regarding the application questions varies from one firm to another, and it is important to note that answering these questions can take a significant amount of time. Questions in this category will generally regard: • • • • •

Education Achievements Employment history Other interests Referees.

Examples of questions a firm may ask could include: • Please outline any achievements, award, or prizes you have obtained including academic, sporting, community, and charities. • What interests do you hold outside your studies? • Where do you see yourself in the next five years? When completing an application you have up to 90 minutes to complete the application before your session automatically times out. To ensure you have adequate warning before your session times out, you will receive a popup message approximately 3 minutes prior. This gives you enough time to save your data and send the form, or, if you need more time, save and exit so you can continue at a later stage. For long questions, it’s a good idea draft your responses in a word document, then copy-‐paste them into the form; this way you can both spell-‐check and fully consider your answers, in addition to having a backup working copy on your computer. Step 5: Finish and finalise your Application After sending your application, you will see a confirmation screen that confirms your application has been successfully sent to the firm, and provides you with a unique receipt number. After submitting your application the firm will receive it instantly. Different firms may acknowledge your application at different times. Also, particular firms may not contact you until they have fully considered your application.

Firm Profiles These profiles are not comprehensive, and provide a quick run-‐down on some of the major firms who offer clerkship processes. They are provided for your information only, and only for illustrative purposes – to encourage you to investigate the range of firms available who may be able to suit your needs and interests. Page Seager (TAS) http://www.pageseager.com.au Page Seager is one of Tasmania’s leading law firms, and is the state’s largest law practice, with 13 partners and approximately 50 practitioners. The firm specialises in Corporate & Commercial, Workplace Relations, Commercial Litigation, Environment & Town Planning, Insurance Litigation, Workplace Health & Safety and Estate Planning work. Their clients range from small to medium size Tasmanian firms, with some larger corporate clients as well as Tasmanian Government enterprises and state-‐owned corporations. Page Seager runs both a summer clerkship program, and a graduate program. Résumés and covering letters should be submitted to djb@pageseager.com.au (or as set out in clerkships information distributed by the firm. Applications are generally in July each year, for two intakes of clerkships – in December and Late January of the following year. Follow the Page Seager Website, and the TULS Careers information sources for more information regarding Tasmanian firm clerkship dates. Graduate Profile – Rhiannon Fletcher Name: Rhiannon Fletcher Graduation Year: Graduated 2013 Job Title – Firm: Summer Clerk What was your position? With which firm did you undertake this role? I was a summer clerk at Page Seager as part of their 2012/2013 clerkship program. What were your responsibilities and tasks? Page Seager has quite an established clerkship program, with each of the three clerks rotating around five practice areas over the fortnight we were there. Because of this there was lots of

variety in the tasks we were assigned, for example mine ranged from reading over wills, to assisting on contract drafting, participating in negotiation and mediation sessions, and preparing files for court. We also spent a day with the ‘front of house’, and got to go to places like the Land Titles Office which was really interesting given we had just finished studying property. What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about the organisation’s environment and culture? Because the program is so well established there was a lot of support for the summer clerks, particularly from our buddies, who were junior lawyers assigned to us. The rest of the firm was generally really friendly and helpful too, and all of the lawyers I worked with were keen to give us as much client contact as possible, from inviting us to sit in on meetings, to acting as witnesses for wills, and documenting telephone calls with parties. The hours of work were pretty standard for a law firm, I think we worked from around 8:30-‐5, but with lunch in the middle and as many coffee breaks as we needed the time went really quickly! What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity? I think gaining some practical experience within a firm while you’re still studying is fundamental, and I feel like I learnt nearly as much in two weeks as I did in some whole semesters (sorry lecturers…). Whether you are set on becoming the next Harvey Specter, or not actually sure why you are doing a law degree because you don’t think you want to practice, being in a real firm and dealing with real clients and their issues will quickly show you what you can do with your knowledge, and despite being very much the baby in the firm, this is quite an inspiring experience. What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone else who would like a similar role? Don’t hesitate to apply for clerkships in Tasmanian firms. I think there is a big focus on scoring a top tier, mainland clerkship, however the experience which you will gain in comparatively smaller firms is first class, and we have a fantastic local legal profession which is generally willing to teach and accommodate students. Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes? Start buying your corporate wardrobe now, get someone to show you how to use the coffee machine on your first day, and don’t go too OTT at the Friday night drinks!

M+K Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (TAS) http://www.doma.com.au/ Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (DMA) is a commercial and litigation law company based in Hobart, who, in 2010, joined the national M+K Lawyers Group. DMA has a number of areas of expertise, including litigation, health law, family law, commercial practice, residential property, migration law, intellectual property, estate planning & administration, finance & banking, debt recovery, employment and industrial relations and health law. Although DMA doesn’t offer a ‘fully-‐fledged’ clerkship program, DMA has a range of programs for undergrads and graduate lawyers to gain experience in a similar manner. DMA generally has positions for at least one graduate lawyer each year, and call for applications from final year and legal practice students in May of each year, interviewing applicants shortly following that, and are employed pending their completion of legal practice, however they are offered an opportunity to clerk with the company over the summer vacation. Unsuccessful applicants may be offered other work experience opportunities in semester breaks and other vacations.

Simmons Wolfhagen (TAS) http://simwolf.com.au/ Simmons Wolfhagen (SW) run a ‘multi-‐disciplinary’ practice across a range of legal areas, based in the Hobart CBD. SW heavily emphasise their corporate and social responsibility program, encouraging employees and the company to support and volunteer with a range of community organisations. They also run a comprehensive blog which is a useful source for recent developments in Australian law: http://simwolf.com.au/blog. SW specialise in a range of practice areas, including partnerships, company and commercial law, conveyancing and property development, family and relationship law, wills and estate administration, commercial litigation, local government, bankruptcy and insolvency, employment and industrial relations, insurance and personal injury law. Simmons Wolfhagen run a small clerkship program, usually for two students each year, information for which is often provided on their website. Graduate Profile – Theo Kapodistrias Name: Graduation Year: Job Title – Firm:

Theo Kapodistrias 2013 Clerk at Rae and and Simmons Wolfhagen

Partners

What was your position? In January of 2013 for 2 weeks, I completed a clerkship at Rae and Partners in Launceston and in February for 1 week, I completed a clerkship at Simmons Wolfhagen What were your responsibilities and tasks? At both firms, I was given research tasks from a variety of practice areas such as family law, property law, wills and estates, and local government, and environment and planning law. I had the opportunity to write letters and emails to clients. At both firms, I was given the opportunity to meet with lawyers from many practice areas and ask them questions about what they do and tips for improving my work. At Rae and Partners, I had the opportunity to work in the criminal law department and sit in on many client interviews, and then seeing the case heard at the Magistrates Court. At Simmons Wolfhagen, I got to accompany a solicitor to the Planning Appeals Tribunal and then write to the client explaining what occurred.

What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about the organisation’s environment and culture? At Rae and Partners, the hours were 9 – 5. This firm was designed in an open plan environment on one level, and an open door policy with all the directors. If I ever needed to talk to someone, it was very easy! Although all the lawyers were hard workers, they were generally quite relaxed. I enjoyed the ‘no tie unless appearing in court’ policy! Regular tea breaks were encouraged and welcomed. I had quite a lot of client contact at Rae and Partners. I was involved in many client interviews, witnessing wills, and gathering instructions from clients in person and over the phone, with a solicitor present. At Simmons Wolfhagen, the hours were 8:45 – 5:15. This firm allowed all lawyers to have more personal space. I had constant support from all staff, and enjoyed having regular meetings with the lawyers to discuss my research work, and their practice area. Everyone was really focused and seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. I was given training at both firms regarding how to use the digital filing systems, some research databases and how to do add in time and calculate billable hours. What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity? I learnt more about how important legal research is and doing work efficiently. Getting to the information you need quickly, is really important! I really enjoyed learning about how to write letters to clients, which is a vital skill for a graduate lawyer. What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone else who would like a similar role? Listening to Deb’s library lectures is one of the most important things you can do in law school! Know how to use the databases, know how to read a case, know how to interpret legislation! To get a clerkship, just apply and try your luck! If you don’t get one, its not the end of the world. If you do get one, enjoy the opportunity to meet new people, gain new skills, and experience what its like to be a lawyer! Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes? I enjoyed the differences and similarities at both firms and really appreciated the opportunity working at both firms over the summer!

BORN GLOBAL

At Baker & McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. Like no other law firm, we were born global. Founded in 1949, Baker & McKenzie is one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest law firms by markets, revenue and headcount. We offer our clients and lawyers an uncompromising commitment to excellence and a distinctive way of thinking, working and behaving â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as a passionately global and genuinely collaborative firm. We understand the challenges of the global economy because we have been a global law firm from the start. Baker & McKenzie has been thinking globally in Australia for over 50 years. In 2014, we opened our Brisbane office making our Australian practice the fourth largest in our network of 77 offices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with more than 85 Partners and 190 lawyers across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In Australia, we act for leading multinational and domestic companies on market leading local and global transactions. Our Clerkship Program Right from the start, our clerks get involved in real work. You will be exposed to our Australian and international clients through client meetings, shadowing, research and other everyday activities within your assigned practice group. Our summer clerks work closely with other lawyers, are guided by a supervising partner and enjoy the extra support of an experienced associate â&#x20AC;&#x153;buddyâ&#x20AC;?. You will develop practical and legal skills through our national learning program and by attending workshops specifically designed for clerks, as well as Firm-wide sessions. In Melbourne, the Summer Clerkship Program runs from late November to December each year. Clerks who accept a graduate role with Baker & McKenzie are eligible to apply for an International Clerkship, with the opportunity to work in one of our overseas offices in the year following their clerkship.

Our Graduate Program Our Melbourne office participates in the priority offer system where, to be eligible for a priority offer, candidates must have completed a seasonal clerkship or 30 days paralegal work with the Firm during the past two years. Over the course of the Graduate Program, graduates gain experience in different areas of law, before they join a particular practice group as an associate. You are assigned a supervising partner and an associate â&#x20AC;&#x153;buddyâ&#x20AC;? in each rotation to oversee your on-the-job and formal learning.

Develop globally At Baker & McKenzie, we have a deep commitment to development. We work with each graduate to create a tailored development plan and career goals. To help you reach your goals, we provide targeted learning

opportunities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from seminars on core legal topics to practical skills development in areas such as communication, drafting and presenting. We work hard to facilitate on-the-job learning and theÂ many ways it happens â&#x20AC;&#x201D; through informal mentoring relationships, client secondments, involving graduates in global teams working on international deals or supporting them to run their own files for our award-winning Pro Bono Program. We also bring graduates from our Sydney and Melbourne offices together to help our people foster networks across the Firm, and support professional development by covering the costs of Practical Legal Training. Our regional practice group structure means many of our lawyers attend regional training in our Asia Pacific offices and, once graduates complete their Graduate Program, they will travel overseas to attend a regional orientation program with other mid-level associates from the region. In addition, the Firm offers opportunities for lawyers at varying stages of their career to work directly for clients or with our other offices globally.

What does the Firm look for? We look for people who enjoy a challenge and seek new opportunities; who share our global perspective; who have sound academics and are practical in their approach; who like taking responsibility and getting things done; who express themselves confidently while staying open to new ideas; and who seek a friendly and inclusive culture that strives to make a difference to our local and global communities.

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Quality and excellence along with team work, integrity and responsiveness are central in delivering outstanding service to our clients, as you would expect in a top tier law firm. The values that make us a unique and great place to work are deeply embedded and you will notice our difference in all of your interactions with us, in Australia and across the globe. Ă¤ :H DUH SDVVLRQDWHO\ JOREDO DQG OHYHUDJH RXU JOREDO expertise for our Australian and global clients at every opportunity, recognising our strength is in our diversity. Ă¤ :H VWULYH WR VWD\ DKHDG RI WKH FXUYH DQG HQFRXUDJH entrepreneurship. Ă¤ :H KDYH D VWURQJ FXOWXUH RI IULHQGVKLS DQG inclusion, and an egalitarian and collaborative working style. Ă¤ :H DUH FRPPHUFLDO SUDJPDWLVWV ZKR PDNH complex issues simple for our clients and we focus on our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; business needs. Ă¤ :H DFWLYHO\ HQFRXUDJH DQG VXSSRUW FRQWULEXWLRQ to the community, through our pro bono and community service programs. Our award-winning diversity strategy, initiatives and programs are focussed in four areas, in which all of our people can participate: Ă¤ %DNHU:RPHQ - Gender equality and supporting the progression of women Ă¤ %DNHU'1$ - Ethnic, indigenous and cultural diversity Ă¤ %DNHU%DODQFH - Supporting carers and parents, employee wellbeing and workplace flexibility Ă¤ %DNHU/*%7, - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex diversity

How to apply Applications for clerkships can be submitted online at www.cvmail.com.au.

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Baker & McKenzie, an Australian Partnership, is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein with member law firms around the world. In accordance with the common terminology used in professional service organizations, reference to a â&#x20AC;&#x153;partnerâ&#x20AC;? means a person who is a partner, or equivalent, in such a law firm. Similarly, reference to an â&#x20AC;&#x153;officeâ&#x20AC;? means an office of any such law firm. Baker & McKenzie handles information in accordance with our privacy policy. A copy can be found on our website.

Applications should include a cover letter, as well as details of your work experience, your extra-curricular activities and interests, and your academic results. Applications for clerkships open at 9:00am on 13 July 2015 and close at 11:59pm on 16 August 2015.

Natalie Mascarenhas Talent Management Consultant â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Melbourne Tel: +61 3 9617 4349 natalie.mascarenhas@bakermckenzie.com www.bakermckenzie.com/careers/australia/melbourne/ Find us at @BakersAUS

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INTERNATIONAL CLERKSHIP IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY Emma Burns Graduate -‐ Baker & McKenzie After completing a clerkship with Baker & McKenzie in 2013, and subsequently being offered a graduate position with the firm, I was fortunate to be selected to participate in the International Clerkship program in February 2015. With some trepidation at the prospect of experiencing a European winter, I travelled to Frankfurt, Germany, where I spent four weeks working in the Employment practice group. I was excited about working in Frankfurt because of its status as a significant financial and legal centre in Europe and the sound reputation of the Frankfurt office, particularly the reputation of its Employment team. Although Germany is not generally renowned for its hospitality, I was warmly welcomed by the Employment team in Frankfurt and settled easily into my role. My few self-‐taught words in German were quickly rendered unnecessary by the fluency with which all members of the office spoke English. Thanks to the benefits of Germany efficiency, my apartment was a 5-‐ minute metro ride from the office, and within a half hour’s walk of the main shopping, financial and cultural areas of Frankfurt. My clerkship in Frankfurt clearly reinforced the ‘truly global’ nature of Baker & McKenzie. During my first week, I was fortunate to be able to attend one of the monthly “Passionately Global” breakfasts, where a lawyer who has worked for a period of time in one of the firm's other offices shares some insights into that country’s culture and their way of doing business. We heard from a partner in the Employment group who spent a year in the Chicago office -‐ and enjoyed a themed breakfast that included bagels! The team also regularly invited me along to firm meetings and development sessions, practice group meetings, and social lunches. The Frankfurt office actually has its own company “bistro” in the building where many people eat lunch and get their morning coffee!

In terms of work, I was able to learn about, review and amend bilingual employment agreements, and conducted research on the employment aspects of corporate asset deals on 28 different EU countries. I was pleased to be able to use some foreign language skills to conduct research about a secondment involving three different jurisdictions too. I also helped the team prepare and coordinate an advice for a multinational client requiring employment documents to be prepared and reviewed by various Baker & McKenzie offices throughout Europe. In addition, I was regularly invited to accompany associates to court, which gave me a valuable insight into the Labor Court system in Germany. Interestingly, you can become a judge in Germany soon after finishing university and, in fact, cannot apply to begin a judgeship if you are over 35 years old! While Frankfurt is often overlooked by tourists, it has the headquarters of the Deutsche Bank, Trade Fair halls, museums, fantastic food markets and a huge international airport -‐ making it a wonderful place to live and work. I thoroughly enjoyed spending my free time exploring the city on foot, getting to know some of the local interns, and savouring the local food and drink such as "applewine". I was also lucky to be in Germany during the time of “carnival”, an important and very enjoyable celebration that involves lots of floats, costumes, confetti and Berliners (jam donuts!). Frankfurt is also so well connected by rail that I had the chance to visit various small typical German towns in Hessen state, and take a weekend trip to Paris on the fast train and be back in time for work on Monday! My international clerkship in Germany has greatly enriched my understanding of the way Baker & McKenzie operates seamlessly and maintains its culture across borders. The practice group I worked with are experts in various parts of German employment law, and have used that expertise and their international connections to build a robust, interesting cross-‐border practice. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and I look forward to implementing my insights as a graduate in 2015.

Your journey begins with a world-class summer clerkship Real client work. Invaluable coaching. A tailored development program. A genuine insight into working with our Firm – while building great friendships. Plus, we offer the unique opportunity to build your global knowledge and network – through an International Clerkship. Become a world-class lawyer. Join the firm that was born global.

Ready to explore our world? Natalie Mascarenhas +61 3 9617 4349

Find us at @BakersAUS

www.bakermckenzie.com/careers/australia/melbourne/

DLA Piper Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Worldwide http://www.dlapiper.com/australia/ http://www.dlapipergraduates.com.au/ DLA Piper has over 4,200 lawyers in more than 30 countries across the world, with offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, employing approximately 600 staff. DLA Piper places heavy emphasis on pro-‐bono work and community engagement, with approximately 30,000 hours of pro-‐bono work, and $230,000 of donations in recent years, assisting in advising charities, enhancing access to justice, assisting in UN Treaty monitoring, participating in law reform and development and implementing a Reconciliation Action Plan. DLA Piper also runs a strong alumni program, connecting former and current employees. DLA Piper works closely with government, appointed on all four categories of the Commonwealth’s Legal Services Multi-‐Use list. Additionally, the firm offers a range of opportunities for overseas employment, through secondments, project assignments and placements. Australian practice areas include: Administrative Law, Energy & Utilities, Human Rights law, Superannuation and Pensions, Financial Services Regulation, Climate Change Adaptation, International Trade, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Taxation and Real Estate. DLA Piper runs both a seasonal clerkship and graduate recruitment program. Summer clerkships are offered in all of the firm’s offices, with winter clerkships in selected locations,. Applications are only accepted from penultimate year students, with approximately 95 clerks accepted across Australia. Applications are made on the firm’s Microsite: http://www.dlapipergraduates.com.au/apply/application-‐form.html

Graduates beginning with DLA Piper undertake a Graduate Development Program, with formal training in negotiation, advocacy, networking and presentation, plain language drafting, financial analysis, time management and business development. Graduates, commencing in February, then undertake three structured rotations across the next 13-‐16 weeks, whilst simultaneously completing a Practical Legal Training course. Approximately 40 graduate positions across Australia are offered each year.

Graduate Profile – Alexander Moores Name: Alexander Moores Graduation Year: Graduate 2013 – BA LLB (Hons) Job Title – Firm: Seasonal Clerk at DLA Piper (Melbourne) What was your position? I was chosen as one of Seasonal Clerks at DLA Piper in Melbourne. I was one of 11 with everyone else taken from Melbourne universities. DLA Piper has undergone several big mergers over the past few years but most recently Phillips Fox became DLA Phillips Fox in 2006 and became fully integrated as DLA Piper Australia in 2011. What were your responsibilities and tasks? DLA were excellent at allowing clerks to deal directly with clients and do real legal work. I was placed in the Corporate area, which at DLA is primarily large-‐scale M&A, advice on corporate structuring and restructuring, and all the elements of superannuation and tax that go with a particular option. My daily tasks included preparing and filing documents with ASIC, writing briefs for Partners and Senior Associates on emerging areas or changes to corporations law, attending client phone conferences and meetings to flag any areas of concern while the senior lawyer led the meeting, drafting case notes, specific research, and due diligence. What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about the organisation’s environment and culture? I arrived at 8AM to get an early start on the day but important meetings started at 9AM. The hours were very reasonable for clerks – I was gone by 8PM every day and sometimes earlier – but I did hear one Lawyer book a conference room until 1AM. The training and support was excellent, but with clerkships this often depends on the quality of buddies and supervisors, both of mine were new to the roles so were always available and went beyond expectations to become friends as well as colleagues. The environment could be off-‐putting at times because it is very intense for much of the working day. This is offset to a large degree by social events and the ever-‐disarming kindness of the PAs. If I had one piece of advice for anyone doing clerkships it’s to show nothing but respect for the PAs, they’ll save your life many times, are very smart, and know where the hot chocolate machine can be found. What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity? I did several clerkships and elected to work in corporate advisory, intellectual property and projects because they are my preferred areas. DLA allowed me to develop skills in M&A and large projects, which was not possible at firms where the corporate team primarily handles

regulatory advice or smaller matters. I was thrown in at the deep end with several exciting opportunities such as being given full instruction from the Senior Associate before leaving the office for a client meeting to settle a matter myself, or scrutinizing documents that were the subject of a closure on a hundred million dollar deal. These opportunities helped me learn to work under pressure in new environments and hone my attention to detail. You realise at the start of a clerkship how you’ve only brushed the surface of knowledge on so many issues during university. What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone else who would like a similar role? My background in workplaces is that tasks must be done instantly and advice given straight-‐ away. Despite how I thought this would be important in commercial law, and it is, it’s as important to take it slowly to get it right. Lawyers would prefer one answer with no additional information to getting half the picture then have you fill in the blanks as you do more research. This is especially important when the work is basically going straight to the client as happened a few times during my clerkship. My top three pieces of advice are: (1) triple check all your work, as a mistake is worse than taking a little longer; (2) balance expectations, don’t promise what you can’t deliver and keep everyone up to date on your progress; and (3) be yourself, nobody likes the clerk who is treating the whole thing like a job interview or a competition and they are easy to spot. Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes? The hours I mentioned and the intensity of the workplace are products of how exciting it is to work at a global firm like DLA. Balancing time differences and jurisdictional requirements is challenging and rewarding. One night at about 6PM, the senior corporate Partner jumped out of his office and said “I need someone who can speak Mandarin in my office in 3 minutes”. Unless you get stuck working on due diligence for months, it’s a different experience every day, so enjoy it. I personally, could not rate DLA high enough, both the entity and their treatment of clerks and the clerkship program.

Allens Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Singapore, Port Moresby, Ulaanbaatar http://www.allens.com.au/ Allens (formerly Allens Arthur Robinson) has offices throughout Australia and Asia, operating in an alliance with Linklaters – a London ‘Magic Circle’ firm. Allens advises 75 of Australia’s top 100 companies, and over 55 of the world’s top 100 companies. Allens also has a strong community presence, coordinated by their Charity and Pro-‐Bono Committees. They involve graduates in pro-‐bono work from the very beginning. Just a small taste of the areas Allens practice in include: Competition Law, Banking & Finance, Energy, Environment & Planning, Insolvency & Restructuring, Insurance, Intellectual Property, International Business, Mergers and Acquisitions Patents & Trademarks, Privacy & Data Protection, Resources, Superannuation, Tax, Water and Workplace Relations. Allens runs both strong clerkship and graduate programs. Clerkships are offered to students in their penultimate year, who generally spend between three weeks to ten weeks in one (or two) practice areas, subject to the specialisations of each office. Allens also runs indigenous internships in each office. Allens recruit most of their graduates through their clerkship program, which gives first-‐hand exposure to life as a lawyer at the firm. Graduates and Clerks are involved in work as soon as they set foot in the firm. It is a chance to work alongside lawyers and partners, learn from their experience and enjoy their support. Allens also offer a range of secondment opportunities across Australia and Asia. For information on how to apply please consult the Allens website– information is available here: www.allens.com.au/careers For more information contact Lisa Millar, Graduate Resourcing Consultant. Student.Careers@allens.com.au

Possibility in everything Life as an Allens Graduate

In a firm like Allens, no two graduate experiences will be the same. That said, there are common themes: you will have the opportunity to work with experienced, respected practitioners on some of the largest, most complex matters in any given field. Allens has an extremely broad practice (covering all areas of commercial law) and offices throughout Australia and Asia (in Jakarta, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore and Ulaanbataar). Through the firm's relationship with Linklaters, it also offers graduates international secondment opportunities. I have been extremely fortunate in my first year at the firm, spending a great deal of time working on matters of varying sizes, as well as part of teams and under the direct supervision of a partner. Much of my time was taken up by two particular matters, both very large commercial disputes involving teams drawn from multiple offices. Graduates can expect to be rewarded with greater levels of responsibility, as the year develops and they become more confident in their abilities. As well as the more substantial disputes, I have been involved in smaller transactional and litigious matters working for a senior associate, and in a number of matters, directly with a partner. The firm also has a substantial, demonstrated commitment to pro bono work and community engagement. From the get go, graduates are involved in pro bono practice, assisting some of the most disadvantaged members of our community, whether they be homeless, suffering from a mental illness or an asylum seeker at risk of deportation. Opportunities are also available to work as part of the firm's charity committees, or in support of our reconciliation action plan. As well as the kind of work on offer, be it billable or pro bono, a firm's culture and professional development structures are just as important to a positive graduate experience. Commercial law firms, and top tier firms in particular, have a reputation for consistently long hours and a lack of work-life balance. Whilst it's true that you will be expected to work hard, the firm is committed to creating a fun and supportive environment where you're always learning and developing. And, when you do need to work late, they soften the blow by feeding you and paying for a ride home! At Allens, you'll also have the benefit of working with lawyers who are at the top of their game, and who take a genuine interest in your development and welfare. At the outset, I acknowledged that no two experiences are the same. The best way to learn more about what Allens (or indeed any other firm) is like, and maximise your chances of securing a position, is to engage with the profession. Attend networking events organised by your student law society, engage with friends starting out in their careers and university alumni, and have an open mind as to what sort of area you might like to practice in. Jules Moxon, Lawyer (2014 Graduate)

page 1 Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP.

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Possibility in everything ABOUT ALLENS

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

Allens is a leading international law firm, with partners, lawyers and corporate services employees across Asia and Australia. We work with many of the world’s leading organisations, including 55 of the world’s top 100 companies and more than 75 of Australia’s top 100 companies.

We recruit most of our graduates through our clerkship program, which gives first-hand exposure to life as a lawyer at Allens. Get involved in work as soon as you set foot in the firm. Work alongside lawyers and partners. Learn from their experience and enjoy their support.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

It begins with our people

Initiative

It’s our people who make us great. It is our priority to ensure they are constantly challenged, recognised, rewarded and empowered throughout their careers.

A curious mind is vital, as is plenty of initiative. The more adaptable you’re prepared to be and the more energy you bring, the more you’ll get out of your career at Allens. You’ll be able to steer a path that turns possibilities into realities.

Our unique way of working We adopt a flexible approach to the way we work, which builds strong and diverse teams, and is one of the reasons our lawyers tell us a career at Allens is so rewarding. You won’t be limited to working with a particular partner or group. Instead, you will have the opportunity to drive your career by working with a range of lawyers and partners across the firm.

We make the complex simple Allens is known for the quality of its legal minds. That’s why we attract some of the most complex legal work, and why our firm and our lawyers are recognised as the best in the profession.

Our strategic alliance

Excellence Excellence is essential; it’s a guarantee we give our clients. Intellectually rigorous, driven and eager to learn, you’ll set the highest standards for yourself and strive to be the best you can be.

Commerciality Successful lawyers understand that law is more than an academic pursuit. It’s about understanding the client – their objectives and the challenges they face – as well as the wider commercial environment in which we operate.

Resilience

Our integrated alliance with Linklaters means we are able to share resources and offer our clients a seamless service through a global network of offices across 2 countries. When you join our firm, you are joining a global network, with opportunities across Australia, Asia, Europe and the US.

Positive people thrive in our environment. We look for people who can build sustainable careers with us; people who successfully juggle a busy life and varying commitments while maintaining their wellbeing. Like us, you’ll believe that leading a full, active life outside the law can make you a better person to work with.

Life-long learning

Well-rounded

The learning never stops at Allens. It’s woven into our culture, and makes our people better leaders as well as better legal practitioners. Along with formal technical training and development, we offer a mentor program, a buddy program, and support to pursue further education outside the firm.

Our clients often tell us we have ‘great people’. And it’s true. We look for diversity – people who bring a fresh perspective and energy to everything they do, with the ability to create strong relationships with each other and with clients.

HOW TO APPLY www.allens.com.au/careers CONTACT -JTB .JMMBS, Graduate Resourcing Consultant EMAIL Student.Careers@allens.com.au

Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP.

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UTAS Graduate Profile – Madeleine Figg Name: Graduation Year: Job Title – Firm:

Madeleine Figg Graduated 2013 Summer Clerk – Allens Linklaters

What was your position? With which firm did you undertake this role? In the summer at the end of fourth year, I went to Brisbane to clerk at Allens Linklaters (formerly Allens Arthur Robinson). What were your responsibilities and tasks? The clerkship program at Allens was very well organised. I was placed in the property group and was paired with a ‘buddy’ lawyer, who I could ask questions of, as well as a partner who was technically in charge of me. During the 3 weeks I was there I completed work from a range of people. Tasks ranged from the dull (organising documents) to the exciting (attending client meetings and helping with advice) to the stressful (speed-‐reading and summarising 20+ migration law cases in one evening. Not cool). What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about the organisation’s environment and culture? From my experience clerking at ‘top tier’ firms, the hours you work as a clerk probably aren’t indicative of the hours expected of a graduate lawyer. As a clerk, a typical day would see me working from around 8am -‐ 5:30 – very reasonable! However, one unfortunate Friday night I did have to stay back until 10pm, which I felt provided me with a truer picture of the work hours sometimes expected in a large commercial practice. The level of support was very high. The clerkship program had a lot of networking and training workshops built into it. Because the clerkship program at Allens is so integral to their recruitment process, I was never made to feel like I was a nuisance or was in the way (which I’ve found can be liable to happen when you’re doing work experience in certain contexts). However, the flip side of this is that it really is a 3 week job interview, so be prepared for that. Perhaps needless to say, seasonal clerks and graduate lawyers don’t typically get a huge amount of (or any) client contact time. That being said, I was lucky enough to sit in on a couple of meetings with clients. Broadly speaking, I would say the culture was typical of a large commercial firm, and your experience can differ a lot depending which practice group you’re placed in. Luckily for me, my group was full of friendly, enthusiastic people who were more than willing to help me out and make me feel welcome. More generally, the firm was full of highly experienced and intelligent legal practitioners making for a pretty exciting, albeit slightly frenetic environment. One senior associate described the culture to me as ‘we work hard, and we party hard’ – which is a pretty fair 47

summary. Some top tier firms can be slightly ‘Wolf of Wall Street’-‐esque, though, so be prepared to fully embrace the commerciality while you’re there. What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity? I learned a lot about what life is like working at a large commercial practice. I strongly believe that you never know what type of career path you’ll enjoy until you try it, even if its just to come to the realisation that a particular area of practice isn’t your thing. I also learned practical skills including how to write memos, organise a file, organise a brief, do title searches and interact with partners whose time is worth thousands of dollars. I also finally learned how to use the databases and research services properly – I sincerely wish I had paid more attention to Deb’s library lectures earlier in my degree. What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone else who would like a similar role? Always carry writing paper and a pen, and practice writing fast! Don’t be afraid to ask questions, you probably can’t wing it. A cliché I know, but try to be yourself, even when writing applications. Everyone who is interviewed has good marks, so it really comes down to whether you can connect with the people interviewing you. I’m convinced the reason I got my clerkship at Allens was the partner who interviewed me was entertained by my out-‐and-‐proud feminism. Of course, this could have backfired dreadfully, but I always say if you can’t be yourself at a potential new workplace, chances are that workplace isn’t for you. Also, try not to be intimidated by anyone – they’re all just people. Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes? If you’re looking for a clerkship in one of the top tier firms, definitely consider trekking up to Brisbane. It’s an up and coming city with a lot of opportunities for law graduates, and it’s my belief that it's a bit less competitive than Melbourne in terms of securing a clerkship. Being Tasmanian, you’re also a bit of a novelty. However, be aware that applications for Brisbane clerkships close much earlier than those for Melbourne and Sydney (I think around March) so you’ve got to be organised! All in all, it was a brilliant experience to have had. Even if you’re not sure commercial law is for you, I highly recommend pursuing a clerkship at Allens.

Ashurst Australia Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Worldwide http://www.ashurst.com/ http://www.ashurst.com/graduates/

Ashurst resulted from the merger between Ashurst Australia and Blake Dawson, and has over 190 partners and 800 lawyers in Australia, advising over 73% of the ASX Top 100 Companies. Ashurst has 28 offices in 16 countries, with over 1,800 lawyers in total. The company’s areas of specialty include: Banking and Finance, Climate Change, Competition, Commonwealth & State Government, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Environment, Intellectual Property, Native Title, Real Estate, Superannuation, Tax, Restructuring and Insolvency. Ashurst also strongly promotes its Pro-‐bono program, charity and volunteering committees, and their Annual ‘Make A Difference Month’. Ashurst is also the only law firm to have been recognised as an Employer of Choice by the Equal Opportunity for Women Agency since 2001, every year since the award was created. Ashurst also offers employees the opportunity to be seconded to large clients and the public and community sectors to enrich their work, alongside gym memberships, social events, sporting teams, study leave and flexible work arrangements. Clerkships are offered for 12 weeks in Sydney and Canberra, and 4 weeks in the remaining offices for students in the penultimate year of their degrees. Seasonal clerks complete two rotations in different practice areas, with the exception of the Melbourne and Adelaide programs where clerks engage with only one practice area. Graduates with Ashurst undertake a twelve-‐month development program with three months in different practice areas, beginning in February (though Sydney has an extra intake in October). Graduates are also offered a tailored in-‐house Practical Legal Training (PLT) program, and a specific rotation plan designed to provide exposure to a combination of litigious, transactional and advisory work. Applications are undertaken online, through the Ashurst mini-‐site. Clerkship dates are flexible on a case-‐by-‐case basis. More information is available at the firm’s mini-‐site at: http://www.ashurst.com/graduates/

Clayton Utz Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, Hong Kong http://www.claytonutz.com.au/ Clayton Utz is a top-‐tier, Australian law firm with offices in Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as in Hong Kong. Clayton Utz works for a number of leading companies, as well as over 250 government departments, agencies and organisations, receiving the 2013 Who’s Who Legal 100 Award for Australian Firm of The Year. The firm’s practice areas include: Banking and Finance, Competition Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Native Title, Real Estate, Governance and Compliance, Insurance, Taxation, Intellectual Property, International Trade, Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety. Clayton Utz is the only top-‐tier firm to be a founding member of the Australian Legal Sector Alliance, a sustainability initiative designed to develop guidelines for firms to reduce their environmental impact. The firm also has a formal Reconciliation Action Plan to develop the firm’s relationship with Indigneous communities. A majority of employees at Clayton Utz are women, and as a result, a range of programs have been implemented to assist women, including flexible work arrangements, working from home opportunities, and ‘Momentum’, a national female lawyer’s network. Clayton Utz also runs the Community Connect Program, and the Clayton Utz Foundation. Clerkships are offered to penultimate year students, in most offices around Australia. Clayton Utz also offers a strong graduate program, however, these positions are primarily offered to those who complete seasonal clerkships with the firm. Applications are conducted online

Herbert Smith Freehills Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Worldwide http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) are a global commercial law firm, formed from the merger between Herbert Smith’s international practice, and Freehills’ Australian practice, with Australian offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. HSF was the top-‐ranked firm in the NISUS Consulting Performance and Value Index, assessing client service, strong relationships and high-‐quality performance, and were awarded the Best Financial Law Firm in 2013. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers and 190 partners in Australia, working in fields including Competition law, corporate law, dispute resolution, employment, finance, insurance, intellectual property, mining, private equity and tax. HSF also donated approximately 50,000 hours of pro-‐bono legal work in 2012, particularly through community centres and homeless person shelters, as well as working with non-‐ governmental organisations attempting to realise the Millennium Development Goals. The firm also emphasises its internal diversity and inclusion policies, through a range of ‘Networks’, including those for Women, Multicultural individuals, Family and LGBT lawyers. HSF offer both summer and winter clerkships in each of their Australian offices, and these clerkships constitute the primary means for recruitment to their graduate program. In 2013-‐ 14, HSF also offered up to four clerks the opportunity to work in the Singapore, London or Hong Kong offices following their domestic Clerkship. The HSF Graduate program consists of three rotations across different practice areas, supported by formal development opportunities and on-‐the-‐job feedback. Applications are made through the firm’s online job portal at https://fsr.cvmail.com.au/hsf/

BE AN EXCEPTIONAL LAWYER Our clients need exceptional people to help them thrive in a world defined by change and complexity. They need people who are intellectually curious; who are able to advise with clarity and originality; people who believe that the business of law is based on human relationships. Bring those qualities, your energy and your ambition and we’ll offer you the international opportunities, challenges and responsibilities only a leading global firm can provide. We offer an environment built on support and collaboration, where high performance is recognised and rewarded, and where you’ll be inspired and mentored by leaders in their fields. We see a fascinating and exciting future for the business of global law. Do you? HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM/CAREERS

#1 24 #1

GRADUATE EMPLOYER FOR LAW IN AUSTRALIA

OFFICES ACROSS ASIA, AUSTRALIA, EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST, THE UK AND THE US

LAW FIRM IN AUSTRALIA FOR LGBTI INCLUSION – PRIDE IN DIVERSITY

King & Wood Mallesons Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong http://www.mallesons.com/ King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is a global law firm – the first ever headquartered in Asia -‐ with over 2,700 lawyers in 30 international offices, strategically positioned so as to engage with the world’s growth markets. This firm resulted from the 2012 merger between Chinese firm King & Wood, and Mallesons Stephen Jacques, and has Australian offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra. KWM specialises in a diverse range of practice areas, including Competition and Antitrust, Corporate, Government and Public Law, Human Rights, Intellectual Property, Investment Management, Real Estate, Construction and Environment, and Taxation, Superannuation and Pensions. KWM heavily emphasises their unique engagement with both China and the greater Asian region, with 11 local offices in Greater China and strong relationships with local firms across the region. The firm also maintains a strong Alumni network, and 25% of the global firm is owned and run by women. Additionally, 79% of legal staff provide pro-‐bono assistance, and the firm’s ‘Workplace Giving’ program raised over $600,000 in 2010. KWM are the only Australian law firm with a dedicated Human Rights Law group and were also one of the first firms to become a certified Fairtrade Workplace. KWM runs an ‘Insight’ program for students in third-‐year or equivalent who are not yet able to apply for a Summer Clerkship, offering an in-‐depth look at the firm’s work, skills sessions and the opportunity to shadow a lawyer. Summer clerkships are offered to students in their penultimate year of study, and consist of two rotations over eleven weeks (Sydney, Canberra), in a three-‐and-‐a-‐half week program in December, January or July (Melbourne and similar in other offices). Clerkships are also offered in the Hong Kong Office. KWM’s international graduate program enables graduates to complete three six-‐month rotations, with four rotations offered in Hong Kong and two in Canberra. KWM grads also undertake PLT alongside their work, with specific arrangements made for Hong Kong grads to complete Hong Kong’s required Postgraduate Certificate of Laws (PCCL) qualification. The vast majority of graduates from KWM are selected from successful summer Clerks. Applications for all of these programs generally open in July and close in August, and are made through KWM’s own online system.

Minter Ellison Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Overseas http://www.minterellison.com Minter Ellison are one of the largest Australian-‐based, multinational law firms, with offices in many Australian cities (including the Gold Coast), and overseas. They serve a range of clients, including blue-‐chip public and private companies, alongside multinational firms, government organisations and other state-‐owned entities. Minter Ellison’s practice areas include Competition & Market Regulation (incl. International Trade), Corporate Law, Employment, Environment & Planning, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Litigation & Dispute Resolution (incl. Administrative and Consumer Protection Law) and Real Estate. Minter Ellison also run MatchME, a ‘matched charity donation’ program, supporting fourteen charities in the firm’s pro-‐bono focus areas of disadvantaged youth, homelessness, poverty alleviation and access to justice. They also work closely with the Public Interest Clearinghouse, indigenous causes and domestic violence victims to improve access to justice. Minter Ellison run both vacation clerkships and a graduate program. Advertising their selection process as ‘fun, informative and interactive’, Minter Ellison clerks attend clerkship information evenings prior to the commencement of formal interviews. Minter Ellison also offer two-‐week placements in their Hong Kong office for four clerks. Applications are made through the firm’s website. Clerkships are the primary way in which the firm fills its ‘Graduate Development Program’ -‐ a program including Practical Legal Training, and 6 month-‐long rotations.

K&L Gates Australia Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Worldwide http://www.klgates.com/ K&L Gates are a US-‐based multinational firm, with Australian offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. The firm has over 48 offices spread across five continents, employing over 2,000 lawyers. K&L Gates merged with Middletons in July 2013, and serve clients including leading corporations, growth and middle-‐market companies, capital market participants and entrepreneurs, as well as public sector entities, philanthropic organisations and individuals. The firm was dubbed the ‘Global 100’s fastest growing firm’ by the UK’s Legal Business. The firm operates seven ‘firm-‐wide’ practice areas: Corporate and Transactional, Energy, Infrastructure and Resources, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Regulatory and Policy. The firm also runs a global Professional Development department for its employees, focused on continual development, implementation and improvement of training initiatives, in both substantive and skills-‐based curricula, across the entire firm. The firm is strongly committed to diversity, appointing the profession’s first Chief Diversity Officer. K&L Gates also has a range of diversity committees, promoting and supporting the inclusion of women, LGBT lawyers, ‘lawyers of colour’, and lawyers with disabilities. The firm also handles hundreds of pro-‐bono cases per year. K&L Gates run both a clerkship and a graduate program. Clerkships are offered to penultimate year students, and are supported by daily feedback sessions, in the Melbourne, Perth and Sydney offices. Graduates are recruited for a period of twelve-‐months, and in that period, three rotations are completed. The firm’s graduate program combines Practical Legal Training with other professional development sessions. Applications for these positions are made through cvMail.

TressCox Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra http://www.tresscox.com.au TressCox are an Australian commercial law firm, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, with particular emphasis in corporate and commercial law, litigation and dispute resolution. The firm also is part of the ALFA International Alliance, with over 140 members across the world. The firm also undertakes a number of pro-‐bono opportunities, including work for disadvantaged or marginalised individuals, not-‐for-‐profit organisations who assist such individuals, or matters in support of the ‘public good’, with particular focus on health and disability. TressCox also has a heavily developed sustainability program, creating a National Green Team, also joining the Australian Legal Sector Alliance. The firm also offers a ‘Wellness Program’, including in-‐house yoga, pilates, personal training, health sessions and financial planning for its employees. TressCox’s seasonal clerkships are offered to students in their penultimate year of study, and are offered in the Firm’s Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne offices, with three rotations across the firm’s practice divisions. Applications are received through the cvMail system. The firm’s Graduate Program involves two six-‐month rotations in both the Sydney and Brisbane Offices, with a specialised Traineeship program offered in the firm’s Melbourne office.

Gilbert + Tobin Sydney, Melbourne, Perth http://www.gtlaw.com.au/ http://me.gtlaw.com.au/ Gilbert + Tobin is a corporate law firm based in Australia, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and operations across the Asia-‐Pacific region. The firm operates across a large number of practice areas, including banking and finance, corporate advisory work, communications and technology, competition and regulation, intellectual property, media, litigation and dispute resolution, real estate and projects. The firm also has a dedicated Pro-‐ Bono legal group. The firm has over 500 partners, and has the highest proportion of female partners of any major Australian firm. Gilbert + Tobin also sponsor the UNSW Centre for Public Law, a leading think-‐tank in the area of public (especially constitutional) law. Gilbert + Tobin offer a range of flexible work arrangements for women, and extend a large amount of support for disadvantaged women in the community through their pro-‐bono and corporate social responsibility programs. Additionally, the OUT @ G+T program offers a support for LGBT-‐ identifying lawyers. Clerkships are offered in Summer (Perth, Sydney, Melbourne) and Winter (Perth, Melbourne) for various periods, with a placement in a dedicated practice group aligning with your interests, with two five-‐week rotations in the Sydney program. Applications are received through cvMail. Graduates enter an 18-‐month program (12 months in Perth) which includes the firm’s Practical Legal Training and Professional Development program, and offers are generally made to successful clerks. The firm offers financial support for younger lawyers to complete Postgraduate study, and offer interstate and international secondments, as well as offering one graduate a 12-‐month placement with Japanese firm Anderson Mori and Tomotsune.

International Opportunities There is no reason why you can’t let your degree take you anywhere in the world, and UTAS Graduates are lucky enough to have a large range of exciting opportunities available to take them abroad. This section is not, and should not be considered, a comprehensive summary of these opportunities, and is instead a small ‘overview’, a tasting plate, if you will, of the possible options available to you. Clerkships & Graduate Programs with International Opportunities Many clerkship or graduate programs with large, multinational firms offer international secondment opportunities, or the ability for successful graduates to travel to overseas offices. Check your individual firm’s website for information regarding these opportunities, however, of the firms outlined in the previous section, the following firms advertise international practice opportunities. Most of these opportunities are offered throughout Asia, especially in Hong Kong. • • • • •

Baker & McKenzie Allens Herbert Smith Freehills King & Wood Mallesons Gilbert + Tobin

Overseas Clerkships Alternatively, students may wish to pursue a clerkship entirely based overseas. There are an exceptionally diverse number of firms, across all continents, offering students clerkship opportunities. There are two major ways to secure such an opportunity: Apply directly to a multinational firm’s overseas office Many firms with offices across the world take clerks in each of their individual offices. Instead of applying, for example, to one of the firms outlined in the previous section and hoping to secure an international secondment, students may wish to apply directly to an overseas office to enquire about clerkships, graduate programs and other opportunities. Apply with a foreign firm Foreign firms often offer opportunities for clerks, graduates or interns in their local offices across the world. These are a largely untapped resource and may prove highly rewarding – information for these will rarely be provided outside the local market, so head directly to your firm’s website, or find the website of a local university’s student law society for possible opportunities.

Language skills, and a familiarity with the legal framework in the relevant jurisdiction are likely to been seen as valuable attributes by a potential employer, as these clerkships are likely to be highly competitive. The individual websites of each firm are likely to be your best resource and a good starting point for future reference regarding these opportunities, application dates and other similar information. Similarly, foreign courts may offer UTAS Graduates the opportunity to undertake Associateships or other similar work in those jurisdictions. International Legal Practice Courses A range of graduate study options are offered by mainland universities which often include international, or overseas, legal practice opportunities or experience, as an element of the course. University of Sydney – Masters of Global Law http://sydney.edu.au/law/fstudent/coursework/global-‐law.shtml Sydney University offer a unique ‘Global Law’ program including a range of subjects across international law, overseas domestic law, Australian domestic law and comparative law, designed to enable graduates to undertake positions in the fields of business and law. This course encourages students to specialise in particular areas, some of which include: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Administrative & Government Law Asian & Islamic Law Banking & Finance Law Climate Change Law Commercial Law Corporate Law Dispute Resolution Energy & Resources Law Intellectual Property Law International Trade Law & International Commercial Arbitration Labour Law Law & International Development Taxation Law

Applications are currently open for the 2015 program, however, some units have a restricted class size and other core units may run early in the semester. Census date for this course is March 28, and applications are made online.

Student Profile: Gerard Quek Name: Gerard Quek Graduation Year: 2014 Job Title – Firm: Paralegal, Stephenson Harwood LLP What was your position? I was hired as a paralegal at the London office of Stephenson Harwood LLP. What were your responsibilities and tasks? I worked on two different cases, both contractual disputes. One of these cases originated from Africa and was heard by the London Court of International Arbitration. The other originated from South America and was heard in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, and each case involved claims valued around 40 million dollars. My role with the South American case related to reducing the scope of discovery of approximately 150 000 electronic documents for trial. I was required to work very closely with forensic experts to devise strategies and methods to achieve this, and worked closely with my supervising partner. My main task in the African case was to read every document and highlight relevant and contentious information for our upcoming trial which was less than a month away, and explore strategies that could help with the trial. What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about the organisation’s environment and culture? I worked approximately 14 hours a day, split evenly across both cases. I was well trained and supported across all the firm’s different platforms and systems to manage documents and cases, and my supervising partners were always ready to discuss any issues I had. The firm’s culture and environment was something I really appreciated, as everyone was very willing to help one another despite their busy schedule. What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity? Aside from acquiring legal knowledge surrounding enforcement procedures and the importance of jurisdiction clauses, I was fortunate to learn about legal thinking from my supervising partners. One of my supervising partners would always emphasise that trainees should think ahead and look at what they are trying to achieve, and allow this to guide their actions. Furthermore, he mentioned that when looking at what you are trying to achieve, one has to consider whether your advice is helpful or worthy to be presented to the clients and what ramifications this may have for them, as all clients want value for money.

He mentioned that as a commercial lawyer, one has to be very tactical. One of the most significant things he said to me was that litigation should be seen as a tool and not an option. Furthermore, he taught me the importance of building and maintaining client relation, a very tricky task as every client feels that they are your only client. What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone else who would like a similar role? A piece of advice I thought I could use was that you take an action or asks a question, you should always take a step back and think of the ramifications and consequences before doing that action. If your question can be found on the internet, or your advice is redundant, or your correspondence will invoke an unnecessary response, therefore as easy as it sounds, one should really reconsider their intended communication and take another tact. Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes? I strongly believe that working hard and displaying initiative are important to show your superior that you have the right attitude to build trust and reliance.

In-‐House Legal Teams Many large companies employ law graduates as ‘in-‐house counsel’, a lawyer employed to provide advice directly to one particular company. This has been a huge growth area for lawyers over the past few years as companies are increasingly recognising the benefits (both in terms of cost efficiencies and deeply tailored and commercially sensitive advice) that can come from having a strong in-‐house team as opposed to spending money on external lawyers. In-‐house legal work comes in all shapes and sizes. Medium-‐sized companies may have a sole general counsel, or a handful of lawyers. Larger firms (especially in legally complex businesses) will have larger teams that may compare in size to a medium sized private firm. Increasingly general counsel are seen as a key part of a corporate leadership team The size and standard of the work performed in-‐house has increased over time to the point that in-‐house teams compete for legal talent with top tier commercial firms. The advantages of in-‐house work include a (usually) better work-‐life balance and the chance to contribute long-‐term and in-‐depth to a business. Unfortunately for law students, today most Australian (and international) in-‐house teams still recruit laterally at the 2-‐5 year post admissions mark rather than hiring graduates directly. This is beginning to change (especially amongst large multinational corporations based in the US) but the best way into in-‐house work today is probably still to start in a commercial firm. That being said, some smart networking and passion may see you able find an entry level job in-‐house. To explore this area more, please visit the website of the Australian Corporate Lawyers’ Association at http://www.acla.com.au/ (They also have free student memberships). HP Summer Legal Internship HP are at the moment unique amongst companies operating in Australia in offering a formal, structured legal internship of a similar kind to that offered by private commercial law firms. HP is one of the world’s largest technology companies with hundreds of lawyers worldwide. Part of a global initiative, interns work as part of the Office of the General Counsel for four weeks over the summer in HP’s offices in Sydney. A combination of formal teaching sessions and real legal work make this a brilliant opportunity if you are interested in getting a taste of life as an in-‐house counsel. Students from the University of Tasmania have been selected in the program for the past two years. Opportunities are advertised directly by HP to universities each year, usually around July. Keep an eye out for advertising materials around campus and form TULS.

Graduate Profile – Cameron Ritchie Name: Cameron Ritchie Graduation Year: 2013 Job Title – Firm: In-‐House Intern Hewlett Packard Australia (HP) In November 2013 I applied for an in-‐house internship with Hewlett-‐Packard Australia, and was lucky to be selected as one of four interns. The internship was like no other legal internship I had seen offered in Australia, and the four weeks over summer during which I interned at HP addressed a tremendously broad range of skills -‐ both legal and commercial. The internship was based in Rhodes, an inner-‐western suburb of Sydney, roughly 15 kilometres west of the CBD. The brand new building, on a bustling corporate park with gyms, cafes, a shopping centre nearby and a busy train station a short walk away, was a fantastic location to be introduced to Sydney and to in-‐house work. HP's in-‐house teams mirror their core internal businesses, which cover far more than just printers and computers. I was placed in the Enterprise Services team, which provides legal support and deal-‐making as part of the sale of IT outsourcing packages to companies and governments, large and small. Our task, in a nutshell, was to assist in internal projects and current business deals. The role of an HP lawyer, especially in the Enterprise Services team, is very specific. It involves liaising with potential customers, responding to tenders, drafting large contracts, sitting through long and difficult negotiations to finalise the contracts, and managing contractual issues post-‐execution. There is little to no likelihood of going to Court, and there was little need to refer to substantive law in the drafting of contractual clauses. While IT outsourcing is a specific part of a very technical industry, contracting and negotiation skills are more of an asset than an in-‐depth knowledge of the most important legal issues in IT law. I believe the internship was unique amongst others mostly for the reason that it was structured very differently to others I have heard of, and we were actively taught the ins and outs of contracting by HP staff. The first two weeks felt a lot like a summer intensive unit, but it was the HP staff that took time out of their busy day to teach us.

We were taught everything we needed to know about the business, its strategies, clients and projects, the IT industry, and most importantly, the key elements of large contracts and how to issue-‐spot, mark-‐up, and negotiate amendments to major contracts. Not only that, but we were taught by a whole range of HP staff, not just the lawyers; salespeople, client relations managers, contract implementation managers, project managers, and even technology site managers, when we were taken to visit a high-‐tech data centre. For the second two weeks, we had a chance to put our knowledge to the test when we were put straight to work on a major IT outsourcing contract. We were given a large project room with a fantastic panoramic view as a collaborative space to work on various parts of the contract. Throughout, we were invited to many coffees and lunch with the HP staff, and they were very accommodating and friendly. There were significant benefits of being taught by such a wide range of people and in such an intensive way. I think I am finally beginning to understand the elusive quality known as 'commerciality'! We learned advanced drafting techniques, how to assess contractual risk, and how to spot the exact issues a large company looks for in a large contract. I also developed a much greater underlying understanding of the financial, operational, and strategic reasons for pursuing certain positions in a commercial contract negotiation -‐ essentially, learning the needs of a commercial client from the inside, and not from a private practice perspective. The internship also taught me that one of the most important day-‐to-‐day objectives of a lawyer, even in private practice, is to assess and manage risk. Overall, HP treated me to a fantastic insight into in-‐house practice in an exciting industry, and if you enjoyed contracts and negotiation, or have an interest in the IT industry, I would highly recommend the programme to you.

Public Law Careers Introduction Commercial law not your thing?

That’s okay. There’s still a large number of options available to you. Commercial law firms are far from the only options available for graduates and law students wishing to gain legal experience. Your law degree can take you on a range of different paths, and this next section aims to introduce you to a range of possible career options within the public law field –including fields as diverse as Administrative, Constitutional and Criminal law. The opportunities available for students and graduates within this sector are exceptionally varied and diverse, and as a result, neither this list (nor any!) can possibly be exhaustive. Within this section are some of the most notable, common or familiar opportunities to pique your interest and to illustrate the diversity of opportunities available. Furthermore, this section especially intersects with the TULS Student Opportunities Guide, which outlines a large number of internship and volunteer opportunities with many of these organisations. This guide draws heavily on the below resources: • Social Justice Opportunities -‐ http://www.sjopps.net.au/sjopps/home.asp • BeyondLaw -‐ http://www.beyondlaw.com.au/job-‐hub • Public Interest Law Careers Guide – http://www.law.monash.edu.au/castancentre/careers-‐guide/index.html

Community Legal Centres (CLCs) & Legal Aid Community Legal Centres Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations who provide accessible legal services to the community, primarily to those who are disadvantaged or otherwise marginalised by factors including socio-‐economic status, disability, geography, culture or gender. There are over 160 Community Legal Centres of this type in Australia. Information on Tasmania’s CLCs contained below is drawn from http://www.clctas.org.au/. Tasmanian CLCs include: • Hobart, Launceston and North-‐West Community Legal Centres http://www.hobartlegal.org.au/ http://www.lclc.net.au/ http://www.nwclc.org.au/ These community organisations aim to increase public awareness regarding the law, to increase access to and equitable implementation of the law, and to provide free legal advice, information and referral services to members of the public. • Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) http://www.edotas.org.au/ The Environmental Defenders Office is a public-‐interest CLC, designed to assist with legal advice, education and research on issues including urban planning and subdivisions, pollution, endangered species protection, wilderness preservation, forestry and marine farming. • Tenants’ Union of Tasmania http://tutas.org.au/ The Tenants’ Union of Tasmania is a not-‐for-‐profit community organisation offering free advice for public and private residential tenants in relation to issues arising from their tenancy. • Women’s Legal Service http://www.womenslegaltas.org.au/index.php Women’s Legal Service is a free legal advice and referral service, assisting women with issues including family law, separation and divorce, property settlements, family violence, child support, discrimination and sexual harassment, civil and criminal law, estates and property law.

• Animal Welfare Community Legal Service animalwelfareclc@gmail.com The Animal Welfare Community Legal Service aims to provide animal protection groups and other individuals interested in animal cruelty issues with free legal advice, focusing on issues including live animal export, animal farming, and killing of wildlife and ‘feral’ animals. This service is based on Flinders Island. • Worker Assist http://www.workerassist.org.au/ Worker Assist Tasmania is a free service for injured workers in Tasmania, providing information, service and assistance regarding workers compensation, return to work and rehabilitation, and the Asbestos Related Diseases Compensation Fund. This is a service operated by Unions Tasmania. Most Community Legal Centres take volunteers and offer other opportunities for students to gain experience – see the Student Opportunities Guide for these details. Other Jurisdictions For more information regarding Community Legal Centres in other states and territories, please visit the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) website at http://www.naclc.org.au/. NACLC also maintain a register of CLC job vacancies across the country at http://www.clc.net.au/JobAds/. Legal Aid There are also eight independent Legal Aid commissions (one for each jurisdiction), who provide economically and socially disadvantaged individuals with free legal advice and support. These programs are small, and the positions are highly competitive. Legal Aid Commission Of Tasmania http://www.legalaid.tas.gov.au/index.html

The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania operates a range of services, including the Telephone Advice Service, mental health lawyers, the Legal eGuide and a range of other law reform related publications. The commission is an independent Statutory body, created under the Legal Aid Commission Act 1990 (Tas). Job vacancies for the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania are published in the Tasmanian Government Job Guide. To access them: • • • •

Open www.jobs.tas.gov.au Select ‘Browse Notices’. Select ‘Justice’. Scroll through the notices to find those relating to the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania.

Other Jurisdictions National Legal Aid is a peak body, representing the directors of each of the Eight State and Territory legal aid commissions in Australia. Their website, containing contact details and other information regarding each of the jurisdictions in Australia, is available here: http://www.nationallegalaid.org/ A range of national legal aid programs also operate – especially in the fields of indigenous justice, native title and human rights law reform, with services such as the Aurora Project (http://www.auroraproject.com.au/) frequently seeking graduates:, however recent funding cuts to the sector have affected the number of vacancies available. Other programs include the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD), with a large number of vacancies available: http://www.atsils.org.au/default.asp. For further information on vacancies and graduate programs, visit: • Legal Aid ACT: http://www.legalaidact.org.au/aboutus/workingatlegalaid/currentpositions.php • Legal Aid NSW – Career Development Program: http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/about-‐us/working-‐at-‐legal-‐aid/Career-‐ development-‐solicitors • Legal Aid QLD: http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/careers/Pages/Positions-‐vacant.aspx • Legal Aid Western Australia – Graduate Programs: http://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/LegalAidServices/employment/Pages/GraduateProgr am.aspx • Legal Services Commission of South Australia: http://www.vacancies.sa.gov.au/NOVPUblic/asp/public/Home.aspx • Northern Territory Legal Aid http://www.ntlac.nt.gov.au/ • Victorian Legal Aid – New Lawyers’ Program: http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-‐us/careers/new-‐lawyers-‐program

Court Work & Associateships Becoming An Associate An Associateship represents an exciting alternative to a graduate program for law-‐minded students who may not wish to pursue corporate law work. Associateships are particularly useful for those thinking of eventually ending up at the bar as a barrister. These positions are highly prestigious and competitive, and are available across Australia, in State and Federal Courts (including both the Federal and High Court). Associates provide secretarial, academic and other personal assistance to a specific Judge to enable them to undertake their job effectively, and are employed for a fixed period, usually 12 months. Associates undertake slightly different duties in each jurisdiction around Australia, however, common duties include: The best advice for pursuing an associateship can be found in the comprehensive guide produced by ALSA. It can be found here http://www.alsa.net.au/publications/judge-‐s-‐ associates-‐guide and contains extensive details of the applications process for every state and territory. Other Court Work Australian Government Solicitors (AGS) The Australian Government Solicitors are the providers of legal advice and representation to the Australian government, with offices in every capital city. The Government Solicitors work three major practice groups – the Office of General Counsel (Administrative law, Constitutional law, Statutory Interpretation, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Law, Employment and Workplace Law and Security Law), Public International Law, Dispute Resolution and Commercial Law. The AGS also produces ‘Express Law’, summaries of recent, important decisions in these fields, as well as legal briefings, litigation notes, and other podcasts and fact sheets. The AGS offers a national, 12-‐month training and development program, which is expected to culminate with employment with the AGS. The program includes orientation, a rotation schedule across the three internal practice groups of the AGS, a client placement in a Government Department or Agency, Pro-‐Bono opportunities, sponsorship toward completion of an external PLT program, prescribed in-‐house training and peer support and mentoring. Important dates for the AGS’ 2016 program are: For more information on positions with the AGS – visit http://www.ags.gov.au/index.html Legal Research Officers & Other Court Staff Most Courts offer a range of other legal work, including legal research officers, positions in the Court registry, duty lawyers, court Librarians and similar positions. These vacancies are usually advertised either through the Court’s own website, or through the government jobs portal for the relevant jurisdiction.

Court Research Officers provide another form of Court work for those interested individuals, undertaking discrete tasks at the direction of the Judges. Legal Research Officer positions are advertised in the following jurisdictions: • High Court of Australia – The High Court of Australia appoints Research Officers each year for a 12-‐month period. Applications should be made directly to Ms Petal Kinder, Court Librarian -‐ by email to pkinder@hcourt.gov.au • Supreme Court of Victoria -‐ Research Associates are appointed in both the Court’s Trial Division and the Court of Appeal, and are advertised on the Supreme Court’s website when vacancies occur: http://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au • Supreme Court of NSW – The Office of the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of NSW accepts applications on an ongoing basis for a Judicial Clerk/Research Director position. Applications are made in a similar manner to those of Associateships, outlined above: http://www.supremecourt.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/supremecourt/sco2_careers.html • Supreme Court of ACT – The Supreme Court of the ACT appoints a Research Associate to the Chief Justice, from a list of applications received in the past 12 months. For more information, visit: http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/Supreme/Circular_for_Research_As sistant_July_2011.pdf Paralegal Work Paralegals are individuals specifically trained to assist lawyers in delivering legal services to clients, working alongside and assisting attorneys. They often engage in tasks of a clerical and administrative nature, frequently involving legal research. Paralegals are often employed by in-‐house legal departments, in private firms and in government departments. Requirements and procedures for appointing paralegals differ between jurisdictions in Australia, and positions are commonly advertised through ‘traditional’ job search mechanisms, such as Seek.com.au – please see http://www.seek.com.au/jobs-‐in-‐legal/law-‐ clerks-‐paralegals for more information.

Criminal Law Work – Public Prosecutions The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the office charged with the prosecution of criminal offences, may prove an exciting (if highly competitive) career path for those interested in criminal law. Throughout the country, various ODPPs offer a diverse number of graduate opportunities. Additionally, some offices may be able to ‘create’ positions or internship opportunities for you, if you contact the office directly. Tasmania The Tasmanian ODPP does not run a dedicated graduate program. Any job vacancies in the office will be advertised in the Tasmanian Government Gazette, at http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au. This guide, under the heading ‘Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania’, provides instructions on how to find these specific job vacancies. Victoria The Victorian ODPP usually offers 12-‐month legal traineeships to law graduates each year. Such a traineeship constitutes a method of admission to the legal Profession in Victoria and resultantly, can take the place of a Practical Legal Training program. For more information, please visit: http://www.opp.vic.gov.au/Careers-‐at-‐the-‐OPP New South Wales The NSW ODPP employs recent graduates as part of their Legal Development Programme, available on a full-‐time, 35 hours/week basis. This program continues for a period of twelve months. For more information, please visit: http://www.odpp.nsw.gov.au/careers/legal-‐development-‐program Australian Capital Territory The ACT DPP offers placements to students who wish to complete the work experience component of their Practical Legal Training/admission process. For more information on how to obtain these positions, please visit: www.jobs.act.gov.au.

Graduate Profile – James Walker Name: Graduation Year: Job Title – Firm:

James Walker Graduate 2012 – BA LLB (Hons) Clerk -‐ Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ACT)

In January 2013, I spent three weeks completing a clerkship at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in the ACT. Much like the Tasmanian DPP, in the ACT the DPP is responsible for instituting, conducting and supervising prosecutions and related proceedings, including appeals. In the ACT, this includes summary proceedings (i.e. those conducted in the Magistrates Court), whereas in Tasmania these are dealt with by Police Prosecution Services. The Director also has the power to, for example, provide advice to police and other investigative agencies. My clerkship was split between spending time in court and in the office. I spent time observing DPP lawyers in both the Magistrates and Supreme Courts. The time in the office was divided between assisting with administrative, policy and research tasks under the supervision of one or more senior lawyers. I was able to assist with preparing two cases for trial, generally by researching specific points of law or cataloguing the voluminous amounts of evidence that the DPP was preparing to have admitted. In my last week I was also asked to try my hand at a few other tasks, such as drafting a template indictment and recommending whether certain simple summary matters should proceed to prosecution. The first case was an armed robbery where the Australian Federal Police (AFP, who function as the Territory police force) had put suspects under surveillance, which led me to being asked to research the extent of the AFP's surveillance powers. The second case was a murder where the DPP would allege the accused had stabbed his partner to death in her home. The case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence. I spent some time researching, e.g. convictions in the ACT based on circumstantial evidence, and much more time reviewing binders of forensic, medical, police and other evidence that would be used at trial. The other interesting task I was asked to assist with was the reform of several procedural laws relating to the ACT courts' case management system. One of the DPP's other roles is to bring law reform proposals to government. I was asked to draft two letters presenting research comparing aspects of case management systems from around Australia and proposing amendments to modernise relevant Territory legislation, such as to the Supreme Court Act 1930 (ACT). This was done in accordance with the Director's instructions and under his supervision.

A number of UTAS law graduates have previously worked at the ODPP. The Director, Jon White, told me one of the reasons I was offered a clerkship was because he rates the UTAS law graduates he has worked with so highly. Mr White also suggested that other UTAS law students should consider applying for clerkships with his office. After my experience, where I was supported and encouraged by senior lawyers (I would especially like to thank Mr White and Assistant Director Margaret Jones) and I was always being given something interesting to work on, I hope there will be some applications from UTAS in the future. The ODPP website has information for students looking for a Legal Practice work placement, but none on clerkships for undergraduates. Don't be deterred by this: apply in writing to the Director. My experience also confirmed for me that getting a clerkship at a commercial firm, as valuable as one may be, is not the only, or even necessarily the best, option. I strongly encourage everyone to apply for clerkships (I only applied in my fifth year, and that wasn't a problem anywhere I applied) and to consider applying in both the public and private sectors. At the end of the day, with so few legal jobs for graduates in Tasmania, I also strongly encourage everyone to apply everywhere else in Australia.

Administrative Law Opportunities – Tribunals and the Ombudsman The Office Of The Ombudsman Opportunities exist for employment or work experience with the Ombudsman, in both Tasmania and other jurisdictions. The functions of the Tasmanian Ombudsman include: • Receiving and investigating complaints regarding administrative action undertaken by Government, government departments and other public authorities, to ensure their actions are ‘lawful, reasonable and fair’ • Acting as the Health Complaints Commissioner and Energy Ombudsman • Overseeing the implementation of the Right to Information Act 2009 (Tas), Public Interest Disclosures Act 2002 (Tas) and the Official Visitor schemes for the State’s prisons and mental health institutions. The Office of the Ombudsman in Tasmania runs an internship program each year, information for which is usually released directly to students in November. For more information on these internships, and opportunities with the Ombudsman in other jurisdictions, please see the Student Opportunities Guide. The Tasmanian Ombudsman’s website also provides further information, and is available at www.ombudsman.tas.gov.au.

Tribunals Although not ‘courts’ in the strictest sense of the word, administrative tribunals also employ, in some cases substantial, staff to assist in their operations. Potential opportunities for employment exist in, for example: • The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) http://www.aat.gov.au/WorkingAtTheAAT.htm The AAT provides independent review of a wide range of administrative decisions made by the Australian Government. Although members of the tribunal are statutory officers appointed by the Governor-‐General, the Tribunal also appoints individuals with specific professional skills or expertise in a diverse range of fields – including aviation, actuarial studies, social work, medicine and other sciences. The AAT also employs staff, in all states and territories, to perform a range of duties, including managing the Tribunal’s registries, conducting conferences, legal research and supporting clients. The AAT also appoints Legal Administrative Assistants directly through universities, either during or immediately following their final year of study – similar to a judicial Associateship. Vacancies are advertised on the AAT’s website (http://www.aat.gov.au/WorkingAtTheAAT/CurrentVacancies.htm), or on the Australian Public Service’s Jobs Gazette (https://www.apsjobs.gov.au/) • The Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal (RMPAT) http://www.rmpat.tas.gov.au/ The Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal is an administrative body which hears appeals regarding the sustainable development and use of public resources in Tasmania. Positions with RMPAT are advertised through the Tasmanian Government’s jobs portal, at http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/. • The Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) http://www.vcat.vic.gov.au/ VCAT is one of the oldest civil and administrative tribunals in Australia, an amalgamation of 15 boards and tribunals, and is deemed ‘Australia’s Busiest’ tribunal. The Tribunal’s work is split across three major areas of work – the Civil Division (consumer matters, domestic building, tenancy disputes, real property et cetera), Administrative Division (land valuation and planning permits, taxation, business licenses and registration, Freedom of Information) and Human Rights Division (guardianship and administration, discrimination, vilification, health and information privacy, Mental Health Reviews). Positions in the VCAT Registry, and other administrative positions within VCAT, are advertised with approximately 5-‐6 positions per month becoming available. Applications are advertised through the Victorian Government’s Careers Portal: http://careers.vic.gov.au/.

These opportunities represent some of the largest/most well-‐known tribunals in Tasmania, and other jurisdictions. A plethora of similar opportunities exist in other tribunals, and we strongly encourage you to investigate your preferred tribunal, or jurisdiction, to consider other opportunities which might exist.

Parliamentary Work For those of you especially interested in public law work, Parliaments of each of the States & Territories employ a large number of individuals from legal backgrounds in a range of roles. Although a detailed analysis of each of the positions available in the 9 Australian jurisdictions is outside the scope of this guide, some common positions include work as a Parliamentary Clerk, or particular (for Law students) work in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel – the office which drafts the precise wording of legislation. Tasmania In Tasmania, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel is a division of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and is contactable at OPC.Enquiries@dpac.tas.gov.au or 03 6233 3422. Positions within the Tasmanian Parliament, or with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, are offered on the Tasmanian Public Service Jobs Portal, in the Tasmanian Government Gazette: http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/. Commonwealth The Commonwealth Parliament operates four ‘departments’ to assist in the administration of its work – the Departments of the Senate, the House of Representatives, Parliamentary Services and the Parliamentary Budget Office. All of these departments, excepting that of Parliamentary Services, offer graduate programs, with placements for three to six months in each of these departments. However, graduate positions are only available to those already participating in existing graduate programs with other Australian Government departments or agencies, who endorse the placement. Information about employment within these departments of the Commonwealth Parliament, and the Commonwealth Parliament Graduate Program, is available here: http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Employment. The Commonwealth Office of Parliamentary Counsel advertises their vacancies on their own website, at http://www.opc.gov.au/employment/index.htm. The Commonwealth Office of Parliamentary Counsel also maintains a register of legal drafting positions advertised across the country by the Commonwealth Association of Legislative available at http://www.opc.gov.au/calc/calc_employment.htm.

Non-‐Legal Options Introduction Neither of the above particularly tickle your fancy? Don’t want to practice law? That’s okay, around 50% of law graduates are just like you. However, the reason a law degree is just so valuable is that the skills – in-‐depth analysis, highly developed written and oral communication skills, well developed interpersonal skills, the ability to construct and follow highly complex chains of reasoning, and to research enough information to support them – make you attractive and useful in a range of fields beyond the bounds of the Courtroom. The following section of the guide provides information regarding a small number of these alternative career paths. Of course, this list is incomplete, and the sheer number of possible opportunities means that much of this information will not be as comprehensive, even as other sections of this guide, however and as a result, you should, as always, undertake your own research about possible career options. Much of this section also intersects with the TULS Student Opportunities Guide, which we can’t recommend highly enough.

The Public Sector & Public Service Law graduates frequently apply for graduate or entry-‐level positions with the Commonwealth or State Public Service. The Australian Public Service (APS) recruits a large number of graduates with a diverse range of skills and attributes, across all range of disciplines, for their graduate programs. APS Graduate Programs are structured, on-‐the-‐job programs designed to introduce you to the APS, typically lasting between 1-‐2 years and including a number of rotations through each area of each department. This section is merely designed to provide a cursory overview of the options available within the APS – for more information regarding the APS, and the clerk and internship opportunities they might offer, please see the Student Opportunities Guide. The Commonwealth APS Australian Government agencies usually advertise graduate employment opportunities between February and June each year – information on these, and the graduate programs offered, is available here: http://australia.gov.au/topics/employment-‐and-‐workplace/australian-‐government-‐ jobs/graduate-‐programs

Possible departments of particular relevance to law graduates include: Attorney-‐General’s Department http://www.ag.gov.au/About/Careers/Graduateprogram/Pages/default.aspx The Attorney-‐General’s Department advises Government on the maintenance, development and improvement of Australia’s legal frameworks in a large number of areas. Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet http://careers.pmc.gov.au/graduate_careers/index.cfm The Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet provides policy advice on a range of areas including economics, social policy, national security, foreign affairs, domestic governance, legal and freedom of information and cultural issues. Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade http://www.dfat.gov.au/jobs/ The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to advance Australia’s diplomatic, political and economic interests internationally, and is responsible for providing advice regarding international organisations, foreign policy and trade to the Government. Department of Social Services https://www.dss.gov.au/ DSS actually recruit graduate lawyers too, but they also take on generalist graduates.

There are many other public bodies, government departments and not-‐for-‐profit organisations which have roles that are not necessarily ‘law specific’ yet often seek applicants with legal backgrounds to fill those roles. Examples include: the Australian Federal Police, Australian National Audit Office, Department of Defence, Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Finance, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Department of the Environment, Department of Communications, Fair Work Ombudsman, and the Australian Human Rights Commission. State Public Services Each state & territory government also employs a substantial public service, and as a result, opportunities abound for new graduates across the Country. Tasmania The Tasmanian public service does not run a large graduate program, but law graduates would may be qualified for many lower level positions anyway. Check the jobs boards. However, in 2012, graduate programs were offered by the Departments of Premier and Cabinet, and of Health & Human Services. Graduate positions in the Tasmanian public service are offered on the Tasmanian Government’s employment portal at http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/.

Please read the TULS Student Opportunities Guide for further information on opportunities in these organisations and other related opportunities through all levels of government.

Graduate Profile: Dave Port Like many law students, I was anxious in in my final two years of Uni. I realised that pretty soon I’d walk out of Uni / Legal Prac for the last time as a student, and I still wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted to be a lawyer. Fortunately, I had a close friend tell me about public service graduate programs. Government graduate programs offer an alternative career path for students from any background. A graduate program runs from anywhere between 10 months and 2 years, during which time graduates complete work rotations around different areas of the department. It’s all about gaining the skills and knowledge to succeed not only in the public service, but in your career in general. While there are many Australian Government departments that offer employment programs to recent graduates (see first link below), I can only speak to my experience in the Attorney-‐General’s Department. Having finished the graduate program in January 2013, I can confidently say that it has been the most rewarding experience I could have hoped for. During my three rotations, I worked in corporate governance, anti-‐corruption policy, and national security capability development. This diversity of work is typical in an Australian Government graduate program, and the work undertaken by the Attorney-‐General’s Department is diverse enough to appeal to any law graduate. In 2012, graduates were placed in areas ranging from Copyright Policy to Countering Violent Extremism to Indigenous Justice Policy. This diversity of work is just one selling point for Australian Government graduate programs. If you ask any graduate in Canberra what the best part of their job is, they might tell you one of several things: • • • • • •

Financial assistance for further study ‘Flex time’ (Google it) and the work/life balance Mentor and buddy program Above-‐average starting salary Potential for advancement, or The friendly and passionate people they work with.

The move to Canberra was daunting, but a graduate program really helped me adjust. I started my program with 32 other graduates, and we quickly bonded over having to move to Canberra and an eagerness to get started. Throughout the year, we took several trips to the NSW coast and ski fields, with countless BBQs and other social events in between. Since completing my graduate year, I’ve had a variety of exciting roles, including as a Legal Officer in the International Crime Cooperation Division and as an Adviser to the Secretary. My current role is in the National Security Law and Policy Division, where my focus is Australia’s domestic response to the conflict in Syria.

The term ‘dream job’ gets thrown around a lot, but I believe that I’m about as close to having my dream job as someone could get. If you have any questions or would like any more information or tips on your application, please feel free to contact me at the email address listed below. Applications for most Australian Government agencies open around March and close in April. Links http://australia.gov.au/topics/employment-‐and-‐workplace/australian-‐government-‐ jobs/graduate-‐programs http://livelearnlead.ag.gov.au/ http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications07/crackingthecode.htm Contact david.port@ag.gov.au

Economics & Finance Economics and the law have a close relationship, and law graduates may find a range of rewarding career opportunities within this sector in a range of areas, including corporate advisory work or work with economic and financial regulators. A snapshot of some possible employers might include: ASIC – Australian Securities & Investments Commission http://www.graduates.asic.gov.au ASIC is Australia's corporate, market and financial services regulator. It has several roles including monitoring corporate behaviour, regulating and measuring consumer behaviour, supervising market competition, and implementing and enforcing legislative and administrative requirements regarding corporate governance, registration and licensing. APRA – Australian Prudential Regulation Authority http://www.apra.gov.au/aboutapra/workingatapra/pages/graduate-‐program.aspx APRA is the ‘prudential regulator’ of the financial services industry. It supervises banks, credit unions, building societies, insurance companies, and the superannuation industry. ATO – Australian Taxation Office http://www.ato.gov.au/About-‐ATO/Careers/ The ATO is the government's revenue collection agency. It manages, administers and enforces Australia’s tax, excise and superannuation systems. ACCC – Australian Competition & Consumer Commission http://www.accc.gov.au/about-‐us/careers/graduate-‐opportunities The ‘Holy Grail’ of Consumer Protection Law, the ACCC promotes competition and fair trade in the market place. The ACCC’s main role is ensuring compliance with relevant competition, fair trading and consumer protection legislation. ASX – Australian Stock Exchange http://www.asx.com.au/about/careers-‐at-‐asx.htm The Australian Stock Exchange is the body responsible for overseeing Australia’s share (and related products) market. As part of the broader ASX Group, a range of positions are available to economically-‐minded law graduates. Other Corporate Advisory Work Corporate advisors/analysts/consultants offer commercial companies advice on a wide variety of business transactions occurring within the company. Corporate advisors are largely found in the fields of investment banking, management, consultancy, insolvency recovery, accounting and taxation, and are often employed specifically by large corporate firms.

Postgraduate Study & Academia Jumping straight into a job isn’t necessarily the path that everybody wants to take, and an increasing number of employers are desiring those who have developed a high level of expertise in their field, evidenced through a post-‐graduate qualification. Postgraduate qualifications in law come in all types and are offered by almost all law schools around Australia, and as a result, opportunities abound to find your specialisation and the right university for you to pursue it. The UTAS Faculty of Law offers two research-‐based programs for postgraduate study in law: • Masters of Law (LLM) – usually one-‐two years in length, with a 40-‐60,000 word thesis • Doctor of Philosophxy (PhD) – usually two-‐four years, with a 80-‐120,000 word thesis Students undertaking these programs may be offered employment within the faculty as academic staff, especially as tutors. Postgraduates are also sometimes recruited as research assistants on staff research projects. Specific areas of expertise within the UTAS Faculty of Law include, but are not limited to: • • • • • • • • •

Biotechnology & The Law Constitutional Law Contract Law Criminology & Criminal Justice Equity & Trusts Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Human Genetics Intellectual Property Law Law & Ethics of Health Care/Medical Law Media Law

Admission to Postgraduate study in Law is based upon your undergraduate academic performance, your specific topic area chosen and the availability of suitable supervision and resources within the faculty. Prospective applicants should submit a preliminary expression of interest to the Associate Dean (Research) – Prof Jan McDonald (Jan.McDonald@utas.edu.au) – including a copy of your academic record to date and a two-‐ page preliminary topic proposal. All domestic students accepted into the Law Faculty’s postgraduate programs are normally eligible for a place in the ‘Research Training Scheme’, and thus exempted from HECS or other tuition charges. A range of scholarships are also available, including those offered directly by the UTAS Faculty of Law itself.

The UTAS Law School has an active research program, with an excellent national reputation for the quality of our research. This is supported by the presence of two leading centres of legal scholarship within the Faculty: • The Centre for Law and Genetics http://www.utas.edu.au/research/graduate-‐research/elite/law/law-‐and-‐genetics The Centre for Law and Genetics’ main aim is to investigate bio-‐ethical matters and legal implications arising from the use of new technologies. The Centre is at the forefront of research into issues such as legal standards in the commercialisation of human-‐genetic technology. The Centre was formed by Professors Dianne Nicol and Don Chalmers and the current Dean of the Law School, Professor Margaret Otlowski. • Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI) http://www.utas.edu.au/law-‐reform/ The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute was established in July 2001 with a mission to undertake law reform work and research on topics proposed by the State Government, the community, the University and the Institute itself. Recent activity has included projects looking at a Charter of Rights for Tasmania, protection of the anonymity of victims of sexual crimes, sexual offences against young people, non-‐ therapeutic male circumcision, Arrest laws, racial vilification, easements, drug courts, physical punishment of children and same-‐sex adoption laws. Current members of the UTAS Faculty of Law on the TLRI board include Professor Kate Warner (Director of the Institute), Professor Margaret Otlowski and Ms Terese Henning. For further information on Postgraduate opportunities with the UTAS Faculty of Law, please visit http://www.utas.edu.au/law/postgraduate-‐study or contact the Associate Dean (Research) – Prof Jan McDonald (Jan.McDonald@utas.edu.au).

Legal Editing & Publishing Did you combine English, Linguistics or Media and Communication with your Law degree? Perhaps a career in legal editing or publishing is for you. These positions usually require a post-‐graduate degree in Publishing and Editing, however, positions are frequently available within many companies, including the following:

• LexisNexis Australia https://www.lexisnexis.com.au/en-‐au/home.page LexisNexis Australia is a large corporation specialising in computer-‐assisted legal research services (and you’re likely familiar with their databases), as well as legal publishing. They also maintain a large number of overseas databases, with offices across the world. LexisNexis also offers a range of diverse opportunities for their employees, including volunteer leave, gym memberships, and over 2500 online training programs from a range of diverse, leading institutions. The LexisNexis Careers Portal is available here: https://www.lexisnexis.com.au/en-‐au/about-‐us/careers-‐professional-‐candidates.page.

• Thomson Reuters http://www.thomsonreuters.com.au/ http://careers.thomsonreuters.com/ Thomson Reuters publish a comprehensive range of texts and information across the legal, tax and accounting fields, as well as operating in the healthcare, science and media fields. They are also responsible for maintenance of a number of (invaluable) services, including the Westlaw AU database and FirstPoint. Thomson Reuters employ over 550 people in offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth, with over 55,000 employees across the world. Information for Thomson Reuters careers, including their Graduate Career Programs, is available on their comprehensive careers mini-‐site at http://careers.thomsonreuters.com/.

Extra-‐Curricular Opportunities Introduction We’ve decided to place a small section on extra-‐curricular opportunities in this guide for a number of reasons. We’re so keen on extra-‐curricular opportunities because: • Employers often look for students who are able to demonstrate that they have a ‘balanced’ life, and are able to develop time-‐management skills such that they can manage a range of commitments alongside their study. • Upon graduating, you become one of a large number of law graduates in the country looking for a job, extra-‐curricular opportunities allow you to both develop a range of skills and abilities above and beyond those taught to you in the lecture theatre, and to demonstrate that you have passions and interests which make you a real person. • Such activities can help you realise what you enjoy, and what you might want to do with your future career. • Extra-‐curricular opportunities are also great networking opportunities. • Extra-‐curricular opportunities are often extremely rewarding, and can help you have fun and to keep your motivation up when law school becomes hard – seeing tangible results from your study, and ‘real-‐life’ applications of your work is highly rewarding, and well worth your time. These extra-‐curricular opportunities are some of the most rewarding, and most relevant options available to law students, and for more information, specific contacts have been provided. They are, however, only a tiny taster of the myriad of options available for interested students, and students should keep their eyes peeled for opportunities from TULS and around the law school for other opportunities as they arise. More information, and more opportunities in this area are included in the TULS Student Opportunities Guide.

University Exchange & Travel Law students have a range of opportunities to attend overseas universities on exchange. Exchange is available: • In Fourth Year, Semester 2 for students undertaking combined degrees • In Third Year, Semester 2 for students undertaking straight law degrees UTAS has over 90 partner institutes across 30 countries, and students are able to gain credit to their course from foreign universities, whilst also remaining UTAS-‐enrolled students. Employers also often value students who have spent time abroad, as it demonstrates a range of attributes, including a willingness to try new things, a sense of adventure, flexibility, empathy and communication skills. Students from the Faculty of Law have previously attended the following universities, all of which offer courses in English: • • • • • • • • •

The University of Ottawa, Canada The University of Copenhagen, Denmark Uppsala University, Sweden University of Lucerne, Switzerland Tromso University, Norway Masaryk University, Czech Republic University of Bologna, Italy City University Hong Kong, Hong Kong University Ljubilana, Slovenia

More information on exchange generally is available here: http://www.utas.edu.au/students/exchange-‐for-‐utas-‐students A number of International Travel Scholarships are available to support students who wish to study overseas. These include: • Federation Scholarship In Law http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=297

• UTAS Foundation Overseas Exchange Scholarship http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2415

• Tasmania Overseas Travel Scholarship http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=280

• Estelle Marguerite Taylor Overseas Exchange Scholarship http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2244

• Barney Rodgers Overseas Exchange Scholarship http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2407

For more details – please contact the Faculty Executive Officer, Kira White on 6226 7510 or at kira.white@utas.edu.au.

Student Profile: Rohan Nanthakumar (+ Rebecca Byrnes & Anika Bratzel!) Name: Rohan Nanthakumar Year Of Study: Fourth Year University: University of Lucerne Where did you go on exchange? What subjects did you study? Anika Bratzel, Rebecca Byrnes and I went to Switzerland to study at the University of Lucerne from September 2013 – January 2014. We all studied different combinations of the following subjects: Terrorism and the Law; African Law; Diversity Management; Comparative Constitutional Law; International Environmental Law; International Trade Law; Introduction to Swiss Law and International Political Economy (as an economics elective). Aside from the academics (though feel free to mention anything particularly unique you learned), what skills or abilities did you pick up from studying on exchange? Comparative law skills: As law students, the most valuable thing exchange offered us was exposure to different legal systems and studying the law from a comparative approach. Cultural understanding: Living and travelling with other students from all around the world also gave us the opportunity to have a cultural exchange on a personal level, enhancing our appreciation and understanding of many different cultures and traditions. Foreign languages: UNILU offers a free week-‐long language course at the beginning of semester to help exchange students get familiar with the basics of the German language and with Swiss culture. You can’t learn much in a week, so we all continued learning languages throughout semester. Anika already had proficiency in German and continued to practice. Rebecca continued learning German through an independent language school. I was the random person who decided to learn French (whilst living in the German-‐speaking part of the country). In my defence, I weaselled myself free lessons. Gotta save on costs when you can! A general appreciation of wine and cheese: This was very important. What was the exchange experience like? Did you get many opportunities to explore your exchange city and culture? Exchange was a life changing experience. Unilu offered some great opportunities to see the country and engage with Swiss culture. The language course at the beginning of semester is a great introduction to the country. The Introduction to Swiss Law course had many excursions to significant places in Switzerland. The law school also held a number of events to welcome and farewell us which usually involved free food and wine, and gave us the opportunity to

sample some traditionally Swiss food like raclette and fondue. Also, the Diversity Management course involved our epic professor taking the class to a hotel in Lungern for a “conference-‐ style” intensive course. The program for the course was essentially: class in the morning, sightseeing in the afternoon and drinks and partying at night. I really recommend this course because it gave you a chance to see Switzerland and hangout with fellow students and academics in an informal way. What happens in Lungern…stays in Lungern. We all managed to do a lot of travelling beyond Lucerne. We only had classes from Monday to Wednesday – so the rest of the week was free for wild journeys. Collectively, we managed to travel to many other European countries. The trap of Europe is that you neglect the place you live as it is so easy to go abroad. Our biggest regret was not spending enough time exploring Switzerland. Were there other exchange students or local students you were able to connect with? There were about 50 exchange students altogether. Living in student accommodation was great for making new connections. Our accommodation was very multicultural so we had an excuse to celebrate every holiday we possibly could – including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Halloween, Diwali, Christmas and New Years. Unilu also offered a lot of cheap or heavily subsidised sporting opportunities which helped in getting to know other locals. The nightlife in Lucerne was great (the clubbing vibe was way better than here, just sayin’) – many nights were spent at Roadhouse and the Black Sheep. How much support did you receive before and during your exchange? UNILU gave us plenty of general support. This was important because there are a ridiculous amount of administrative hurdles they make you jump through to get residence in Switzerland. How do you think exchange helped you? Do you think it’ll improve your job prospects? If so, why? Absolutely! Exchange helped me: Boost my academic record – While the courses at Unilu were still demanding at times (writing 25 page papers is not always fun), it is not as challenging as what we’re used to here at UTAS. So…if you put a bit of work in when you have to, you’ll be happy with your results. Stand out in interviews – Exchange widens your perceptions about the world. You get skills in dealing with people from various different backgrounds and a wider understanding of the world. These “soft skills” and international exposure are highly regarded attributes which many prospective employers seek in a graduate. Also – it’s such a great talking point! Gain contacts for the future – The networking opportunity is phenomenal. We have friends all around the world now and many of them are going to be working in our field. You can’t trade that with anything.

What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone else who would like a similar experience? Start your visa application EARLY. The trains may never be late in Switzerland, but your visa might be! I had to take a day out of my travels through Spain to go to the Australian embassy to pick it up. Explore Switzerland. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I should have done more of it when I had the chance. Exams are in December – January, so don’t leave too much travelling to the last month of exchange, you will be inundated with papers. There is plenty of time before semester starts and during semester for travelling. Make the most of the time when you have it! Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes? UTAS only allows for exchange in the second semester of your penultimate year. This is pretty bad timing with clerkships and other internship, volunteering or summer work opportunities. Stay on the ball, try and slot experiences before and after your time abroad. Some of these opportunity providers will be flexible to accommodate something as life-‐changing as an exchange semester – sometimes, you just need to ask. What happens in Lungern…stays in Lungern. If you have any further questions, feel free to buy me a coffee and we can have a chat – Rohan.Nanthakumar@utas.edu.au. GO ON EXCHANGE!

University Competitions Every year, TULS and Faculty runs and supports a range of competitions in mooting, negotiations, client interviewing and witness examination, for students of all year groups, in both semester one and two. These competitions, alongside being a lot of fun and a great opportunity to enrich your law school experience, allow you to develop your advocacy, communication and research skills. Competitions can also boost your CV, develop fantastic skills which will come in useful throughout your professional career, prepare you for your assessments (including your final year Faculty Moot), and even give you an opportunity to join UTAS Delegations to the many national competitions – including the National Australian Law Student Association (ALSA) Competitions. The major competitions that UTAS supports include: Mooting A moot is traditionally a simulated appeal in a superior Court, based on a factual scenario and judgment from a lower court. Given the appeal focuses on points of law, there are no witnesses, and instead individuals use their allocated time period to present (and be questioned on) their legal arguments before a judge. You will often be required to present written submissions before your moot, and will be marked on a range of skills – including your legal knowledge and research, your oral presentation skills and your ability to comply with relevant court etiquette and procedure. Moots that UTAS generally competes in include: • • • • • • •

ALSA Mooting (Try outs for students in 3rd year+ in Semester 1) ALSA International Humanitarian Law (ALSA Selections in Semester 1) Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Mooting Competition (Semester 1) The TULS Law Mooting Competition (all years – semester 2) The Hon. Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot Competition (semester 2) Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Mooting Competition (Semester 2) Phillip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Summer Semester)

Negotiation Negotiations involve two teams of two solicitors, meeting to discuss a dispute between their clients on a particular matter. Each team is provided with a description of the factual scenario, with some facts common to both teams, but each with a few secrets up their sleeve. Each team also has instructions from their client detailing exactly what outcome they should seek and what should be avoided at all costs. You’ll be judged on your ability to secure an agreement beneficial to both parties which protects your clients interests as best you can. Negotiation competitions are offered to senior years in the ALSA try-‐outs in Semester 1, and to all years in the TULS Law Competitions in Semester 2. Client Interviewing

Client Interviewing requires a team of two individuals to interview a hypothetical ‘client’, suggest possible courses of action, and to do a quick self-‐analysis of the interview following this. Interviewers must cover all the formalities of an interview, find out all the details of the client’s problem, handle any other issues which they might have had, and reflect upon their experiences afterwards. You’re judged on your ability to provide useful advice to your client, how you deal with your client and whether you’re able to uncover all the information regarding your client’s problem. Client interviewing is generally offered to senior years in the ALSA try-‐outs in Semester 1, and to all years in the TULS Law Competitions in Semester 2. Witness Examination Witness Examination is a simulated civil or criminal trial. The trial is run over a period of approximately 20 minutes, from the opening statements, through to the examination of witnesses, and finally to the closing addresses by solicitors. Generally, witness examination is only undertaken by higher years, as a basic knowledge of the law of evidence is required. You’re judged on a range of things, including the quality of your oral advocacy, your ability to lead evidence effectively, your ability to undermine/discredit opposing witnesses, and your ability to effectively apply Evidence law and follow court procedure.

Tasmania University Law Society (TULS) Volunteer positions abound with the Tasmania University Law Society (TULS) itself, permitting law students to engage in a range of activities that are highly regarded by employers and the broader student body. TULS is one of the largest student societies at UTAS, and is supported by, and affiliated with, the UTAS Faculty of Law, the Tasmania University Union (TUU) and the Australian Law Student Association (ALSA). Administered by student volunteers from all years, elected in Semester 2 of each year, TULS provides a diverse, and unparalleled, range of services to the law student body. This work includes:

• Careers support and guidance, through the creation of this guide, organisation of Careers skills sessions and forums with successful graduates, facilitation of networking through events including the Careers Fair and ‘Wine & Cheese Nights’, and the dissemination of other employment opportunities throughout the year • Education support, through the organisation of SWOTVAC tutorials across all subjects, and close liaison with the Faculty to ensure that the Faculty’s curriculum is high-‐ quality, interesting, relevant and meets the needs of students and the profession. • Organising social activities for law students and the broader student body, including the annual Orientation Law Camp, inter-‐faculty sporting activities, Law Ball, Law Cocktail and frequent barrels. • Organising and supporting participation in law competitions by UTAS Students, including conducting ALSA pre-‐selections, undertaking the annual TULS Competitions and supporting other inter-‐state competition teams selected by UTAS. • Facilitating a range of social justice and student welfare opportunities, including the creation of the Student Opportunities Guide, sharing volunteering and other internship opportunities, as well as ensuring students are happy, healthy and supported, including through Health Week and other related initiatives. • Supporting and advocating for the needs of each law student, through our series of ‘year representatives’, promoting the unique needs of each law cohort, ensuring each year group is cohesive through a range of social activities, and publicising the work of TULS more generally • Assisting in the orientation and ongoing support of International Students, through ongoing networking, support, and assistance in administering the Faculty’s ‘International Student Support Program’. • Production of the Annual Law Yearbook – Advocatus – and the periodic Pettifogger newsletter • Assisting in overseeing, implementing and publicising TULS’ work by managing the Committee, sourcing funding and support from a range of sources to facilitate our initiatives, and utilising treasury, secretarial and IT skills to improve our work and publicise it to the broader student body. These services also provide unmatched experiences and skill-‐building opportunities for the volunteers themselves, and as a result, students are encouraged to get involved. In 2015, TULS is committed to expanding access to these opportunities through the creation of a number of sub-‐committees to support the work of individual office-‐bearers. The entire TULS Committee strongly encourages all students to make heavy use of TULS’ activities, as a committee members donate much time and energy. We also strongly encourage all students to consider running for TULS throughout their degree.

University of Tasmania Law Review The University of Tasmania Law Review (UTLR) is a bi-‐annual law journal published by the Law Faculty. The journal is entirely run by students and is supervised by the faculty supervisor, Peter Lawrence. The Law Review Board is made up of 2 Editors and 8 Board Members from third, fourth and fifth year. The 2 Editors may have their work on the Law Review counted as an elective – LAW625. Being a Board Member of the UTLR will help you improve your writing and administrative skills, as well as providing an invaluable opportunity to have your work published in a recognised law journal whilst still an undergraduate. It is also a great way to meet people from other year groups who share your interests and to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the publication and editing process – involving yourself in researching peer reviewers, and copy-‐editing of articles. Applications for the UTLR Board of Editors are advertised in Semester 2 of each year.

Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship Tim Hawkins was an outstanding young Tasmanian. He was an international oarsman who had graduated with Honours in Commerce/Law from UTAS and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Tim’s tragic death in Bali in October 2002 was the result of a terrorist act that criminally violated all principles of humanity. Family, friends and associates of Mr Hawkins and members of the wider Tasmanian community have endowed this Scholarship at the University as a fitting memorial to this fine Tasmanian. The recipient will receive an allowance of $13,000 and a return economy airfare to The Hague. The scholarship will allow the recipient to take up a position as a six-‐month Research Associate in the Prosecutor’s Office of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. They must be available to take up the position in The Hague in mid-‐year for a period of six months. Applicants are required to: • Demonstrate an interest in humanitarian law or terrorism studies (current students must have completed an international law elective unit); • Indicate a capacity to work at the highest level in the international law arena; • Show how this opportunity will support their current career goals • Include a piece of their own written work which demonstrates both your knowledge of international humanitarian law and your skills in written expression; • Confirm their availability to take up this five-‐month position from mid-‐year. More information on this scholarship is available here: http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=105

Important Skills Introduction Now that you have a great idea of the range of opportunities available to you as a law graduate, and maybe have even settled on that ‘perfect’ job destined to be yours, you need to know how to get it, right? Applying for jobs, especially your first ‘law job’ can scary, and even if you’ve had a job for years, we hope that this final section of the Careers Guide will be somewhat useful, even just as a refresher. The art of making a good impression and landing yourself a job is exactly that – an art. This section aims to give you some useful tips to help you on your way. Your application is absolutely vital in this process, and these tips aim to help you craft an awesome application to land you an interview, and then help you out while you’re in there. There are an astronomical number of tips like these available from many sources, and we highly recommend you read as widely as possible to get an idea of what will work for you, your job and your aspiring employer. Information from this section draws heavily on the resources included in the UTAS CareersHub (http://careerhub.utas.edu.au) and application tips available from the following firms: • Allens http://www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates/apply/tips.htm http://www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates/apply/help.htm • Herbert Smith Freehills http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers/australia/graduates/applications/pre paring-‐your-‐application

Résumés/Curriculum Vitae (CV) A résumé is designed to be a concise and presentable overview of your career to date. It is designed to not only present factual information about your employment and academic history, but should also project to a potential employer why you are the best candidate for a particular position. Résumés are also a marketing tool, and are designed to satisfy an employer’s every (seemingly selfish) need – so keep the following three questions in mind throughout your application process and you’ll be well on the way to success: • What have I got to offer the firm? • What can I do for the firm? • What do I want out of the position with the firm and how can I get that? In Australia, there is no practical difference between a résumé and a CV. Traditional differences between the two terms (that a CV was both longer, and included information regarding any relevant experience, awards, affiliations and other details, hence the latin translation ‘course of life’) have slowly eroded. The differences are largely geographic, with Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia preferring the term CV, and the United States and Canada the main proponents of the term résumé. In Australia, these terms are largely used interchangeably, and a ‘CV’ is generally what an employer desires, regardless of what name they use. A good résumé must be: • • • • •

Well structured Well edited (meaning free from inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or typos) Informative Succinct Clear

Remember that employers often spend no longer than 30 seconds looking at each résumé, so you need to make it pithy, relevant and skimmable to get to that next interview stage. This doesn’t mean that you should make your résumé novel, as there are far better (and more morally acceptable) ways to stand out from other applicants than printing your résumé in A3 and attaching coffee and sweets. Or printing it on pink, scented paper (though, admittedly, it worked for Elle Woods). Some basic points about formatting your résumé: • Target your résumé for each particular job. You don’t have to re-‐write your résumé from scratch each time, but each job will require a different skill set and range of abilities. To maximise your chances of success, ensure your résumé reflects these specific requirements.

• Ensure your résumé remains accurate and current An out-‐of-‐date résumé indicates at best, laziness, or at worse, a ‘gap’ in your career development – neither of which are going to impress a future employer. Although the job is a pain, make some time to update your résumé, at least before each job application. • Keep to the most relevant, pertinent points An employer probably doesn’t care about a ‘Conscientious Effort’ certificate you received in high school. A résumé shouldn’t be a mere catalogue of your achievements, but instead should be curated and relevant to each potential job you’re applying for. See point one for more information. • It should be a maximum of 3-‐4 pages If your employer gets bored reading about you, you’re not off to a great start. • Short, easy-‐to-‐read sentences have a greater impact than continuous lines Bullet point lists especially assist with this. A résumé isn’t a story, so ensure it doesn’t become one. This may also help you reduce repetition and keep your page count down. • Be consistent with the fonts and sizes. Make your headings clear and obvious Not only does this demonstrate that you know how to use technology, it’s more professional and ensures you’ve put some thought into your document. This is super easy now with Microsoft Office’s ‘Styles’ feature. This also ensures your résumé is ‘skimmable’ (a good quality when an employer receives 20 or so for each position), and not overwhelming. • Nail your spelling and grammar Nothing is more frustrating or off-‐putting for a potential employer than an individual who appears not to understand basic English. Print a copy of your résumé and go through it with a red pen, and then give it to a friend to do the same. Common mistakes include inconsistent tenses, clunky phrasing, stray apostrophes and other grammatical and typographic errors. • Unless you can back them up with in-‐depth examples, avoid ‘resume fluff’. Simply listing phrases which you believe employers are looking for often comes off looking desperate at worst, or at best, a waste of precious resume space. You need to anchor any characteristics or claims you make in your résumé in real-‐world experience. Avoid terms like ‘innovative’, ‘world-‐class’, ‘results-‐oriented’, ‘motivated’, ‘creative’, ‘dynamic’, ‘passionate’. • Your résumé must be truthful We know you’re all desperate for a job, but your résumé must be as accurate and as truthful as possible. Many employers expect a degree of ‘artistic license’ – self-‐promotion in an attempt to emphasise specific traits (e.g. stating that you enjoy playing tennis socially when in reality you play twice a year), however, this should be kept to an absolute minimum.

Furthermore, you must be conscious that your résumé does not veer into the territory of ‘lying’, where you portray yourself as someone that you are not. Not only do you not know when you’ll be required to verify information that you’ve given, and may well become unstuck (see, for example, most comedy films involving jobs), you may find yourself facing formal sanctions by a legal or professional board, or have your name placed on black-‐lists – employers tend to talk to each other about things like this! • Avoid including information in your CV that may cause a question to be raised about your ability to perform the job Generally this relates to personal information – such as age, sex, weight, gender, or sexual identification, religious identification et cetera. In these cases, it is illegal for an employer to ask for this information and by providing it, you are creating an ethical dilemma for the company. Be sensitive to including any political experience, for similar reasons. Regarding other information, determining when an ‘omission’ becomes ‘dishonest’ is often difficult. However, it is important to consider the interpretation that may be given to your information by a potential employer. If in doubt, raise it in an interview or after you are offered a position. Résumé Contents The contents of your résumé should be overwhelmingly dictated by the requirements of the individual employer with whom you are applying, promoting your most desirable traits. However, the most common requirements that all résumés should include generally are: • Personal details o Name o Address – Give a separate postal address if you cannot, or do not, reliably check mail at your residential address o Phone (home, mobile, fax) – consider indicating your preferred contact o Email – Ensure this is professional, ‘Miss.KiTTeee.XXX@hotmail.com’ probably isn’t going to get you a job anytime soon. • Education o You should mention the date, institution and name of your course – also include your expected completion date o Details of secondary studies can be included, listing the most recent first o It is debatable whether individual results need to be included. If you are particularly proud of some achievements, and they are relevant, mention them. Most applications, however, request a separate academic transcript.

• Achievements o These include Academic, sporting, musical or community awards o Remember that an employer will be interested in your current skills and experiences, not what you were doing 10 years ago. Try and keep these to those achieved at University, as a good rule-‐of-‐thumb. • Extracurricular Activities o This can include a broad number of things including: § Leadership roles in volunteer or community organisations § Academic programs outside of formal University education (such as the Vice-‐Chancellor’s Leadership Award) § Achievements in areas other than the academic realm § Volunteer work § Membership in social clubs § Sports § Other interests o When an interviewer must choose between two candidates, a well-‐rounded person will clearly be the more attractive. o When stating your interests, it is best to be as honest as possible as your interests are a key indicator of the best working environment for you. Honesty can only be of benefit to all persons concerned, especially you. Though, it is probably worth refraining from mentioning ‘lying on the couch eating whilst on Tumblr’ as an interest. • Employment or Work Experience o Given you are a recent graduate, nearing graduation, or in your early years of your degree, you may have no legal employment history. Interviewers will be aware of this, and may even expect it, and therefore, it is necessary to include in your details of any casual or part-‐time positions you have undertaken whist studying. You may not think that working in a cafe etc was particularly exciting, but it will show, for example, that you had the ability to juggle work and study which is both admirable and shows a degree of financial independence. o Details should include: § The employer's name § The period of employment, approximate number of hours per week § Your role and responsibilities o Clearly identify any related legal experience which you may have as this is a highly-‐desirable trait o Keep in mind that you may also need to provide a short description of an old employer where their name may be unfamiliar to a potential employer

• Personal Skills: o Even if you do not have an employment history, it is important to include your personal skills and attributes: § Leadership skills § Time management § Communication skills § Interpersonal skills § Willingness to learn new tasks or information § Ability to work in a team and on your own § Ability to juggle a number of commitments § Ability to assist others o The most important thing is to list these things with reference to your life experiences. Don't just make a blanket statement of your skills, but instead show how you have attained these skills by reference to your other information. o Try and focus also on your ‘adaptive skills’ – those skills such as familiarity with technology, ability to work independently and with others, and self-‐motivation – that help you acquire, succeed and transition amongst jobs and tasks with ease, especially important as a recent graduate. • Referees: o List your referees with their job title, email address and phone number. Ideally, you should be able to provide 2-‐3 professional or work-‐related referees. Generally one referee should be your most recent supervisor o If you have received a written reference from a previous employer or other source, indicate this in your cover letter and supply a copy with your résumé o Don’t merely state that referees are available on request. This is implied. You should format your résumé in reverse chronological order, starting from the present and working backwards. Ensure that there are no ‘gaps’ in your employment, education or other history, and if there are – provide an explanation for them. A NOTE ON RESUME LINK The UTAS CareersHub (more information available in the final section of this guide) offers a ‘résumé link’ service. If you are applying for an advertised job vacancy, send through details of the job, and include the closing date in the Subject Header, and the UTAS Careers team will review your resume and provide suggested improvements. To use it, all you need to do is send your updated resume to resume.link@utas.edu.au, with an email explaining the job or industry you are targeting. There is a 5 day turnaround on resume link, so do not leave the application to the last minute!

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Cover Letters In a highly competitive employment market, a convincing cover letter accompanying your application will go a long way towards capturing an employer’s attention. If deployed well, it can show off your writing skills, while illustrating your strengths and attributes. Cover letters serve to provide a ‘snapshot’ of your résumé, and should encourage a potential employer to consider your application and give you an interview. As a result, writing from the perspective of ‘why should we interview you?’ can be a good way to start. The covering letter MUST be in a business format: • Include the date and address details at the top – yours on the top right, above the left-‐ aligned date, which is above your recipients details. • Open and close with the correct salutations – ‘Dear x’ and ‘Yours Sincerely/Faithfully’ are generally appropriate. • Include a heading which states the purpose of the letter • Make sure you address your cover letter to the correct person • Always type your cover letter –don’t subject your employer to your messy handwriting • Include the correct title of the person to whom you are addressing the letter. There is a lot of variation among firms as to relevant titles. • Employers usually like concise, well-‐written cover letters -‐ a page is often sufficient. • Ensure you use formal, and traditional, English grammar and expression – accurate spelling, no abbreviations, clear, readable prose and precise expression are important. • It’s important to be assertive about your achievements, but not overconfident. It’s a fine line and modesty is important. • Keep a copy of the letter after it is complete as a record that it’s been sent, and to use to develop your future cover letters. Tips to secure a successful cover letter: • Include information on the position in the letter, ideally in the first sentence. Although many applications are now received online, recruiters often are hiring for multiple positions at the same time, and information included in e-‐mails can easily get ‘chopped’ from your application when it is printed or saved. • Explain clearly why you want the job, how it fits into your career plans, and how you will contribute to the organisation. • Keep the font size readable, clear and evenly spaced. Look for traditional fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri for clarity. • Avoid including anything negative in your application – this includes complaints about previous employers, upbringing, wages, life situation or work that you’re sick of doing. • Inject your personality, but don’t go overboard. Make your cover letter stand out from the rest by writing an upbeat, interesting and compelling resume. However, be aware that many attempts at humour often fail, and you don’t want to seem unprofessional.

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• Try and avoid starting with ‘My name is x and I am applying for y’, if you can clearly indicate the job you’re applying for in your cover letter without introducing yourself first, do it. Employers have already worked out your name. • Do not just download an example cover letter off the internet and make minor alterations. Interviewers easily recognise overused phrases which indicates laziness and a lack of respect for their application. • Use positive, confident language throughout, a cover letter is a marketing tool and you must market yourself. Cover letters should communicate: • • • •

Your interest in the position (if advertised) or potential opportunities which may exist Your understanding of and interest in the organisation The key skills, qualifications and abilities you have to offer Your personal voice, aspirations and other information about you

Thus, a suggested format may follow: • Paragraph One: State the position you are applying for, what interests you about the job and how that links to what you know about the organisation needs. • Paragraph Two: A brief overview of what you have done in your life and your qualifications (a snapshot of your résumé). This can include examples of your academic, employment and voluntary experiences, as well as extracurricular interests. • Paragraph Three: What can you contribute to the organisation? Give an example of each contribution in a brief way (Bullet points work well for this). Ensure here that your key skills/strengths link to the position. Examine the firm’s web site as these often state the qualities that they are seeking in a candidate. • Paragraph Four: You should include information about why you are applying to the specific firm; what attracted you to their clerkship program over other firms. The firm’s website will include reference to other interesting little facts and figures. If you can appropriately include these in your application, it can look very impressive. Ensure you have proof read your letter carefully – grammatical or spelling errors will create a negative impression with a potential employer, especially if you include the name of the wrong law firm in your letter. After drafting, wait a day, read your letter over and review it meticulously. One way to do this is to read your letter out aloud. Are you tripping over words or repeating yourself? If so, change it. Ask someone you know to read it for you to ensure the text flows and has a conversational tone.

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Selection Criteria For applications in the public service or public sector, you will often be required to write to a range of selection criteria – a range of competencies and requirements that you must demonstrate that you possess or satisfy. Selection criteria should be approached in a similar mindset to cover letters, and they serve a similar purpose – giving you an uninterrupted opportunity to explain to your potential employer why you are qualified for the job and why they should interview you. Selection criteria statements need not scary, and a suggested technique for tackling them includes: Step 1: Analyse The Criteria Like breaking down an essay question, start analysing the selection criteria by identifying each part of the criteria listed. For instance, a criterion requiring “strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to work well in a team as well as high level negotiation and liaison skills”, would require you to demonstrate: • • • •

Strong written and oral communication skills The ability to work well in a team High level negotiation skills High level liaison skills

Step 2: Make A STAR For each requirement identified in the previous section, brainstorm as many examples of how you have demonstrated this skill in the past. Then, using each selection criteria as a heading, underneath it, repeat the ‘STAR’ approach: • • • •

Situation – Describe the context where you used the skill or quality Task – What was your role? Actions – What did you do and how did you do it? Results – What did you achieve? How does it relate to the job you’re applying for?

Be clear and to the point. If a word or page limit is set, make sure you stick to it, and edit your responses for grammar, spelling and punctuation. Specific Tips For Applying For Public Service Jobs Applications for positions with the Australian Public Service can be very different to the process in private sectors, often with a much greater emphasis on selection criteria. The APS are statutorily required to recruit staff solely based on merit. To do this they compare the skills, experience and abilities of each candidate using a combination of written applications, interviews and/or work-‐sample tests. Of these, selection criteria are the most important. The Australian Public Service Commission has published a series of 11 fact sheets available on applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service at http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-‐ and-‐media/current-‐publications/cracking-‐the-‐code.

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Interview Tips So, you have landed yourself an interview! Congratulations! Now you have to get into the nitty-‐gritty of impressing the interviewer in person, and securing your hold on the position. This is your opportunity to market yourself, because the interviewer will be assessing whether you have the qualities and qualifications that they seek for the position. The interview is also a fact finding mission for you too, as you will be assessing whether you really do want the job and whether it is right for you in terms of career opportunities, areas of law, lifestyle, values, culture and so on. Interviews are often the scariest, and most nerve-‐wracking part of an application process, however, and thankfully, tips abound to help you make the most of this unique opportunity. Preparing For The Interview Although it seems far more appealing to waltz into the interview room, and work it all out on the fly, a little preparation can not only set your mind at ease – assisting in calming your nerves on the day – but can also arm you with useful information to improve your performance Some tips which might be helpful include: • Talk to people you know in the industry/who have done clerkships/worked at the firm, to get an idea of the firm’s culture, likely questions and things to be aware of. • Explore the firm’s website, especially the Careers pages, to familiarise yourself with the firm and its work, especially its main clients. • Read newspapers and legal blogs, noting the firm’s current projects • Take some time to self-‐assess – it’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses, achievements, interests and values. You also should have a clear career objective. • Think about the questions you might be asked, especially any potential points of interest or weakness, and prepare answers you can drop in such an instance. Try not to be ‘staged’ – you’re not rehearsing lines for a play – but just think about some strategies to overcome potential moments. • Interviewers will want to get to know you, so they will often ask about your application, and your CV. Know them well. • Interviewers love it if you use the unique opportunity to open up a dialogue with the firm, so think about the questions you might like to ask the interviewers. • Practice interviewing with someone who will give you honest, frank feedback. In The Interview Room • Give yourself plenty of time to get to your interview – double check the date, time and address, and arrive 10-‐15 minutes early to calm yourself. Any earlier and you’ll make awkwardly friends with the receptionist. • Turn off your mobile phone. Not even on silent. • Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions, and ask if you require clarification. • Consider your answers – a short silence is better than a bumbling wrong answer

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• Try to make eye contact with the interviewers, and avoid fidgeting. • Take a deep breath before you answer a question. • Always answer questions honestly and upfront – if you don’t know the answer, say so. If you don’t, you’ll look like you have something to hide, or that you’re covering. • Always answer questions honestly. • Avoid speaking in superlatives, or getting negative. Even tough questions are an opportunity to advertise your strength, commitment and tenacity. • Consider your body language – changing things including your posture, your expression and your body position can greatly affect your mood, and can – crucially – overcome any nerves you might have. After The Interview • Don’t beat yourself up if it went badly. You can’t change the past; treat it instead as a learning experience for future applications. • Write down any key points, especially if you have applied to multiple firms, as this might help you make a decision if you’re lucky enough to receive an offer. • Treat yourself to something to take your mind off it – you’ve done well to get this far and interviews are nerve-‐wracking experiences. • Write down any further questions you might have – it might be worth calling your interviewers to follow-‐up, or to ask later on, if you are offered a position. Phone Interviews Phone and online interviews are a unique beast, and are becoming increasingly used by firms either as a precursor to, or in place of, an in person interview. However, phone interviews are often unsettling for graduates. In addition to the above, extra tips include: • Treat the phone interview just like you would a real, in person interview. The same level of preparation is needed (if not more, as you cannot rely upon your non-‐verbal communication and personality to the same extent). • Suiting up as if you were attending a real interview can help place you in the right mind-‐set, and helps ensure you make a professional impression. • Try and take the call on a land-‐line if at all possible, they tend to be more reliable. If you can’t, make sure you’re in an area with good reception. Regardless, ensure you’re in a quiet environment, and there are no technical problems. Interview Practice Questions These questions might assist your preparation: • • • • •

Tell me about yourself? What do you have to offer the firm? Why did you choose law? Why have you applied for this job? What are your interests?

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

What challenges you? What motivates you? Are you competitive? How do you define personal success? How have you responded to a confronting customer/client etc at work? Where have you had to exercise responsibility? How do you perform in a team environment? How do you perform under pressure? What do you see as your long term goals? What practice groups do you wish to work for? Are you flexible or tied to particular things? Where do you see the legal profession heading? Why should we employ you? Why do you want to come to our firm? What attracts you to a big/small size firm? What are the pros and cons of a legal career? Can you comment on your academic record? Can you explain your disappointing result in X subject at Uni? What is your greatest achievement and why? Did you enjoy University and why? What do you seek to gain from a Clerkship? What have you learnt most from your legal work experience? How would your friends describe you? What are your expectations from this position? What does team work mean to you? Can you explain to me your job as if I were an 8-‐year-‐old child? What is something you should start doing, do more of and do less of? What is one thing you’ll never be as good at as others? What are the two best pieces of advice you’ve been given, and why? What do you want to be remembered as? What is your definition of a leader? How do you meet that? How do you make big decisions? What is one thing I’d never guess about you from reading your application?

(The last 8 questions are drawn from the “10 Unpredictable Questions Harvard Business School Asks” available at http://poetsandquants.com/2013/07/24/10-‐unpredictable-‐ questions-‐harvard-‐asks/, reproduced on the UTAS CareerHub News on 30 July 2013)

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Finding Other Opportunities By virtue of the nature of publication, and the limited space and information available in this guide, as well as the constantly changing job market, this guide is only a tiny snapshot of the many possible things you can do with your law degree. As a result, to ensure you find the perfect job for you, it is important that you stay on top emerging opportunities. This can be done in a whole host of ways, but some of the most important include the following options. Networking A large number of positions are filled without any public advertisement, and so often through personal connections developed through one-‐on-‐one interactions with firms and employees. As a result, mastering the skill of networking is critical to make sure that you can tap into every possible job opportunity which might be available to you. Although it’s scary, the following tips may help ease the fear of networking which so often attacks students: • You should approach networking from the perspective of developing professional ‘friends’, understanding them as people with needs, and trying to help them and to strengthen that relationship. Reciprocal benefits flow from strong connections. • People respond much better to meaningful connections, and receiving value, rather than a straight-‐out “Can you give me a job?”. Try and find a shared interest, or at least provide some worth (e.g. advice or mentorship) before asking for employment. • Try and take on new opportunities, in new places with new people – yes it’s scary, but you never know what (or who) you might find. Don’t dismiss anybody as irrelevant. • Watch your body language – you want to project confidence and an image of ‘professional togetherness’. Ensure you’re aware of your space, your belongings, your posture and expression. Learn to nail a strong professional handshake too. • When done right, remember that networking doesn’t annoy others and is in fact often quite flattering. You’re not a burden. • Know yourself, your strengths, goals and aims – people rarely come looking for you and if you’re networking, you need to be able to provide value to your partner. • Be personal, authentic and relatable – you’re a real person, act like it. • If you have a chance, prepare for your meeting – research important guests, find some photos so you can recognise them, and learn a few points of their back story. • Ask questions, and be inquisitive. You never know what a person might be able to offer you, and the more you know, the more you’re able to make that assessment. • Don’t take a rejection personally – everybody is busy and it might simply have been a bad time for your potential contact. • Get, fill out and use a LinkedIn profile. Yes it’s hard to figure out and it’s a lot of work, but it’s a unique opportunity to advertise yourself – think of it as the ‘Work Facebook’.

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There is a wealth of information available about LinkedIn across the internet, and Google is your friend. This post from SurviveLaw is great motivation: http://survivelaw.com/index.php/blogs/careers/1322-‐linkedin-‐for-‐law-‐students Take advantage of casual and relaxed networking opportunities when they’re presented– the TULS Careers Week events, Wine & Cheese Activities and the UTAS Careers Fair are golden chances for students looking to network without pressure. Keep some fresh conversation starters on hand – anything relating to food, genuine compliments, sports, or other general conversation topics (e.g. recent news, weather, and the like) are generally safe. Try and target ‘loners’, as it’ll make you both feel less awkward. Have an exit strategy in place also, in case things get awkward. If you are totally lost for opportunities, join a queue. Not only do they give you a personal anchor and a conversation starter, they limit the number of people you can engage with (one in front and one behind), give you a purpose, and have a natural exit strategy. Make an opportunity to follow-‐up – keep a business card and actually get in contact the next day. This is what sets you apart from the rest. Don’t drink too much, and mind your manners. This should go without saying. Remember that networking intimidates all but the most seasoned of professionals.

Legal Opportunity Databases Thankfully, despite the fact that it appears extremely scary, a range of websites exist which catalogue and promote job opportunities both within and beyond the legal sector. Have a look at these any time you’re looking for a position, or even after some inspiration, and they’ll hopefully give you something which’ll pique your interest: • • • • • •

UTAS CareerHub -‐ http://careerhub.utas.edu.au/ SurviveLaw -‐ http://survivelaw.com/index.php/jobs ALSA CareerHub -‐ http://alsa.net.au/careers/careerhub Social Justice Opportunities -‐ http://www.sjopps.net.au/sjopps/home.asp BeyondLaw -‐ http://www.beyondlaw.com.au/job-‐hub Public Interest Law Careers Guide – http://www.law.monash.edu.au/castancentre/careers-‐guide/index.html

Additionally, keep your eyes peeled on your UTAS E-‐mail address, the TULS Facebook page,

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Pettifogger, and other positions throughout the law faculty, as the TULS Careers Officer and 0the TULS team will be making a huge effort to publish as many exciting opportunities as we can throughout the year. We’ll also be running a number of networking and careers events throughout the year.

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