2022 Careers Guide

Careers Guide 2022 the australian national university law students’ society

Sparke your career with us…

Deciding on the firm that’s right for you is a big decision. Is the culture right for me? Will I receive quality work? Will there be people genuinely interested in my growth who can point me in the right direction? Does the firm embrace technology and take innovation seriously?

Why choose Sparke Helmore?

What do we look for in our lawyers?

Sparke Helmore offers its lawyers a challenging and rewarding environment.

Our people are key to our success. We are always on the look-out for lawyers with potential to progress, who fit with our culture and align with our values, and who demonstrate, among other things, intelligence, interpersonal skills, commitment, energy and commerciality.

Working at Sparke Helmore provides all employees with a unique range of opportunities to expand their knowledge, with access to: • Market-leading expertise—we are a full service national law firm. This means you will have the opportunity to gain experience in each of our Insurance, Government, Workplace and Corporate & Commercial practice groups.

• Real legal work—from your first day, you will have the opportunity to get involved in legal work that contributes to the firm and its clients.

Sparke Helmore lawyers are: • all-rounders, who are engaged in extra-curricular pursuits as well as their studies • team players • clear and concise writers, and • confident and articulate communicators.

• Training and development—a combination of formal and on-the-job training that covers technical and soft skills.

• Mentoring and networking—we have a proud reputation for mentoring and facilitating relationship building across the firm in a way that fosters personal and career development, networking and the sharing of knowledge, experience and learning.

• Opportunities to give back—through our Pro Bono and Community Programs.

www.sparke.com.au/join-us/graduate-program/ adelaide | brisbane | canberra | darwin | melbourne | newcastle | perth | sydney | upper hunter

Acknowledgement of Country We pay our respect to the Ngunnawal-Ngambri custodians of the land on which the Australian National University Law Students’ Society operates. The Law Students’ Society acknowledges and celebrates the elders past, present, and emerging.

Acknowledgements We wish to thank all who have made the production and publication of the 2022 Australian National University Law Students’ Society Careers Guide possible.

Our sincere appreciation goes to the authors who have contributed their wealth of knowledge and experience to the Guide.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or the Australian National University Law Students’ Society.

Although best efforts have been made to ensure that all the information in the publication is correct as at March 2022, this is subject to change without notice.

This publication is distributed free of charge with the understanding that the authors, editors, and any persons related to this publication are not responsible for the results of their actions or omissions on the basis of any information provided in this publication.

This information is advisory, and as such should not be relied upon as being professional advice.

Vice President (Careers): Alana Stone Publications Director: Emily Austin Vice President (Sponsorship): Thu Vu Careers Directors: Janee Emms Matthew Foster Sara Warner

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The ANU Law Students’ Society is grateful for the ongoing support of its 2022 sponsors:

Premier Sponsors

Major Sponsors

General Sponsors

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Contents Editor’s Note

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President’s Welcome

8

Law School to Career

9

Pre-Penultimate Opportunities Applications 101 Requirements to Practice Law in Australia

11 12 19

Private Practice

24

Applying for a Clerkship

26

Clerkship Tracker

26

The Top Tips for Success from a Summer Clerk

27

The Top Five Skills a Commercial Lawyer Needs

29

A Career That Pivots and Evolves: Mixing a Commercial Practice with Pro Bono Leadership

30

International Firms Finding the Firm for You, The Breadth of International Practice, and Innovation in the Legal Field: An Interview with a Partner at an

International Firm

32

From Rockhampton to London: The Pathway of a Senior Associate at an International Firm

33

The Courts, The Bar and Advocacy Associateships: What? Why? How and When to Apply?

Finding a Career That You Love: The Pathway of a Judicial Registrar at the Federal Court

34 37 39

Opportunities for Growth in Public Prosecution: An Interview with a Prosecutor at the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecution

40

Answering a Call to the Bar: An Interview with a Barrister

41

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The Public Service and International Diplomacy

42

From Commercial Law to Foreign Policy: Advice for Graduates from a Policy Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

44

From Freetown to the Hague, to Nairobi, Vienna, and New York: The Pathway of a Legal Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme

45

Corporate Advisory

46

Help! I Don’t Know If I Want to Be a Lawyer!

48

From the Law to Consulting: The Pathway of an Associate at the Boston Consulting Group

49

Public Interest Law and Social Justice

50

Empowering and Assisting Others with your Law Degree: An Interview with a Lawyer at the Women’s Legal Centre

52

The Ideals of a Public Interest Lawyer: The Pathway of a Lawyer at Legal Aid

53

Access to Justice and Representation in the Law: An Interview with a Senior Solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service

54

Academia

55

An Interview with the Associate Dean of Research at the ANU College of Law

57

An Interview with an Associate Professor and the Director of the LRSJ program at the ANU College of Law

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Firm Materials

59

Premier

Major

Ashurst

Allens

Clayton Utz

Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Clifford Chance

Gilbert + Tobin

Herbert Smith Freehills

Hugo Law Group

Jones Day

King & Wood Mallesons

Johnson Winter & Slattery

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Editor’s Notes On behalf of the Australian National University Law Students’ Society, welcome to the 2022 Careers Guide, proudly sponsored by Sparke Helmore Lawyers!

I have always found comfort in the advice that a law degree, no matter where you seek to take it, arms you with an invaluable foundation for life.

Law students develop a unique arsenal of critical thinking skills, to assess the multiple perspectives of complex matters, and the skills to advocate on important social issues. We have an exciting future ahead of us, but entering the workforce can often be a daunting proposition.

I am a planner. I love to know exactly what I am doing next week, next month, and in the next ten years. Despite this, an important piece of advice I have taken away whilst assembling this Guide is to embrace the uncertainty. Embrace opportunities that come your way, keep your eyes peeled for new adventures, and take risks. Make the most of the versatility that a legal qualification offers.

Our goal in producing this Guide is to provide a fulsome, valuable, and diverse insight into the vast opportunities available to law graduates. In this edition of the Careers Guide, we have had the honour of featuring a collective of remarkable legal professionals, from partners at major law firms, to an in-house legal specialist at the United Nations, big four consultants, public-interest lawyers, or academics. I encourage you to take the time to read and digest each personal contribution.

I would like to extend my gratitude to a number of people for their support and efforts in producing the Careers Guide. Firstly, thank you to the LSS sponsors, whose support has made the publication of this Guide possible. Secondly, thank you to the LSS team. Emily Austin, our Publications Director, has designed this fabulous Guide, and we are incredibly grateful for her work to make this publication look so smart, sharp, and professional. Thu Vu, our Sponsorship Vice-President, has worked tirelessly to liaise with our sponsors, seeking out the best possible content for this Guide, and ensuring that LSS members have the opportunity to hear from a fantastic and vast range of employers. I would also like to thank our Careers Directors, Janee Emms, Matthew Foster, and Sara Warner, in addition to the LSS President, Henry Palmerlee, for their ongoing support and work to create the best Careers Guide possible.

To the readers, welcome! We sincerely hope that this Guide will offer you relatable advice, practical tips for the future, and open your mind to the exciting pathways out there. Sit back and dig in!

Alana Stone ANU Law Students’ Society 2022 Vice-President (Careers)

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President’s Welcome It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2022 ANU LSS Careers Guide, presented by Sparke Helmore.

The Guide will provide you with detailed and practical advice for understanding the job market and working towards achieving your career aims.

The LSS Careers team has curated a diverse range of content from across the legal world for this guide, with the aim of providing a holistic perspective on the options available to law graduates. From commercial practice to social justice to academia, from barrister to boutique firm to corporate juggernaut, we hope that the information provided will help you understand what career paths exist, and which ones catch your interest.

We are extremely grateful for the expert advice and viewpoints of our corporate sponsors, ANU academics, recent graduates, and other experienced professionals, and our thanks go to each and every contributor for giving up their time to provide their insight. This varied array of content is designed to help you understand your career options, not just what your next job will be. The Careers team has sought out contributions from professionals at all stages of their career to help demonstrate how careers evolve over the course of your working life – how to adapt, retrain, or find a new area that sparks your passion. We hope that no matter what stage you are at in your degree or what fields inspire you, this Guide will contain information that will be of use.

As ANU’s peak representative body for law students, the LSS is proud to present a busy schedule of careers-focused events throughout the year. I encourage you to become a member and follow our Facebook page to ensure you don’t miss out on Clerkship Evening, firm visits, careers workshops, and the many other exciting offerings throughout the year.

Our sponsors generously support these events, and their involvement guarantees that every event is packed with important information and employability-oriented content. Investing your time in attending these events will equip you with the knowledge necessary to pursue and achieve your career ambitions, and I look forward to seeing you there.

My thanks go first and foremost to the LSS Careers team for the immense amount of work they have put into drafting and collating the content for this Guide. Their hard work is what makes this publication possible – without their consummate dedication and professionalism the Careers Guide would simply not exist. We are also incredibly grateful to our sponsors, whose support allows the LSS to offer such a diverse and high-quality range of events for our members. In particular we thank Sparke Helmore for supporting this Guide as the naming sponsor.

Finally, I thank you for your interest in the 2022 ANU LSS Careers Guide. I hope it provides information that will serve you well as you embark on your careers journey.

All the best, and happy reading!

Henry Palmerlee ANU Law Students’ Society 2022 President

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LAW SCHOOL TO CAREER Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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A law degree provides the optimal stepping stone to a vast array of diverse career pathways.

You may choose to apply for a clerkship at a law firm, or travel and experience the diversity of an international commercial law firm.

Alternatively, you may prefer to soak up the vast opportunities available to ANU graduates in the nation’s capital, and pursue a career in the public sector, or international law and diplomacy.

If you were not deterred by the many long case readings throughout your degree, you may decide to pursue an associateship at the courts.

You may be passionate about giving back to your community, and apply for a role at a community legal centre.

Practising the law may not be the right path for you. Instead, you may apply for a role at a corporate advisory firm, or pursue a career in academia and education.

This Guide intends to provide a snapshot into each of the above potential pathways, arming you with the insight and information you need to step into your career prepared!

To kick things off, the Law School To Career section includes:

• Pre-Penultimate Opportunities: Where to find valuable early experience in the legal sector

• Applications 101: Tips and tricks to writing a captivating cover letter, assembling a stand-out CV, and acing the interview

• Requirements to Practice Law in Australia: The steps you need to take to practice law in each state in Australia

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Pre-Penultimate Opportunities Early experience working in the law is invaluable, allowing pre-penultimate students to get a taste of the different pathways open to law graduates.

Seeking out this experience can be a daunting proposition, but do not stress! There are many opportunities out there!

Paralegal Work Firms working in all areas of the law need the assistance of paralegals behind the scenes.

Paralegal roles are often publicised on the ‘Law Students @ ANU’ Facebook page, ANU CareerHub, and other online job directories.

Clerking at a Barrister’s Chambers If you are interested in a career as a barrister, there is no better experience than clerking in a chambers. Such roles are publicised on similar careers platforms as noted for paralegal positions.

Working in the Public Service Why not make the most of your time in the Bush Capital and venture into the legal domain of the public service? There are a range of paralegal, administrative, or research-based part-time roles available in government departments.

Useful Links: https://www.legalaidact.org.au/about-us/working-at-legalaid https://wlc.org.au/get-involved/ https://www.alsnswact.org.au/jobs https://www.alsnswact.org.au/volunteer

Student Editing the Federal Law Review Renowned as one of the foremost law journals in the country, there are few better editorial opportunities than student editing the Federal Law Review.

Keep an eye out on Wattle postings for application deadlines!

Important Resources: •

Prosple – the ANU Law Students’ Society’s Careers Directory: https://anulss-careers.prosple. com/

•

ANU College of Law Careers and Employability Newsletter

•

ANU Careerhub: https://careerhub.anu.edu.au

•

‘Law Students @ ANU’ on Facebook

•

‘Jobs and Internships’ on Facebook

Pre-penultimate years are the time to slowly curate your CV, as well as experience a taste of the many facets of the law. The ability to demonstrate a well-rounded character, reflecting a balance of high academic standards, distinct interests and experiences is of great assistance in the later-year application processes.

Useful Links: •

https://www.ags.gov.au/employment

•

https://www.ag.gov.au/about-us/careers/currentvacancies

•

https://www.jobs.act.gov.au/opportunities

Working or Volunteering for a Community Legal Centre Working or volunteering at a Community Legal Centre is an extremely rewarding opportunity to give back to your community, while also developing invaluable legal experience.

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Applications 101 No matter the pathway you chose to pursue, it will likely involve an application process that includes the following steps:

1. A cover letter 2. A curriculum vitae (CV) 3. A statement of claims * 4. An interview

* This is a separate document which may be

requested by the potential employer. It is similar to a selection criteria, requiring the applicant to detail how they meet the requirements of the role. The precise skills or qualifications should be stated outright.

The Applications 101 section provides helpful tips and tricks for students applying for clerkships, internships, graduate positions, part time work, or volunteer experience.

Here you will find: •

Writing A Captivating and Concise Cover Letter: Tips, structure, and an example cover letter.

•

Assembling A Stand-Out CV: Tips, formatting, structure, and an example CV.

•

Acing Your Interview: Tips, and sample interview questions

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Writing a Captivating and Concise Cover Letter Reflect and plan Start by reflecting on the experiences and achievements that have contributed to your development.

Connect with the organisation Take the time to research and consider the culture, focus, or interesting qualities of the organisation.

Describe how and why you feel you would thrive in this environment.

If you are applying to multiple organisations, avoid the copy and paste approach as much as possible. Each letter should be tailored to each organisation, clearly demonstrating a considered understanding of their unique values.

Style and syntax

If you are struggling to critically reflect on your personal qualities, seek advice from your peers or colleagues. Discuss your strengths, weaknesses, and what you bring to a team.

Keep your cover letter to a page in length. Short and to the point sentences demonstrating your ability to write effectively in a concise manner will also be important.

Plan the structure of your cover letter.

Check for punctuation, grammar, or spelling mistakes with a fine-tooth comb!

Sample structure: •

Paragraph 1: Introduction

•

Paragraph 2: The organisation that you are applying to

•

Paragraph 3: How you meet the selection criteria

•

Paragraph 4: How your personal values align with that of the organisation

•

Paragraph 5: Conclusion and thanks

Frame your cover letter as the narrative of your pathway so far Describe the experiences and achievements that have brought you to this point, and how these moments pushed you to apply for this role.

For example, if you are passionate about the environment, describe when you first developed that passion, how you volunteered at the Environmental Defender’s Office, specialised in environmental law or found a mentor working in environmental law reform. Demonstrate to the potential employer that this role is the natural progression in your pathway.

Go into greater depth on the significant achievements that may be overlooked on your CV. If you have been provided with selection criteria, carefully address each criterion.

Make clear the connection between your past experiences and the demands of the role.

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Example Cover Letter

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Assembling a Stand-out CV Your CV provides a summary of your education, employment history, skills, and professional and volunteer experience. It is an important opportunity to market yourself and highlight your strengths. The following tips are a guide to constructing a strong CV.

Step 1: Career Objective •

This is a brief paragraph to inform potential employers of your intended career trajectory and aspirations.

•

This should be 1-2 sentences long.

Step 2: Education •

Education should be chronological order.

•

You should include the institution, course, year of entry, and expected year of completion.

•

You should also include any academic achievements, honours, awards, or scholarships that you have received while studying, in addition to your current GPA.

•

presented

in

Step 4: Other Achievements and Extra Curriculars •

This section will include any notable accomplishments and extra curriculars that may be relevant to the role or to your professional development, but do not fit into the education or work experience portions of your CV.

•

For example, a leadership role you held at university, or your involvement in a youth organisation or student society.

Step 5: Interests / Professional Interests •

Discussing your interest enables you to present yourself as a well-rounded, interesting candidate. It provides the potential employer with an insight into how you may fit in at the organisation.

•

Your interests may be raised as talking points during the interview, so make sure they are genuine!

•

When applying for a role in the legal profession or other highly commercial sectors, your interests section should have a particular focus on your passions within that profession. For example, when applying for a clerkship at a commercial firm, it will be valuable to indicate the practice groups that are of interest to you and why.

reverse

Undergraduate students may include their secondary study, particularly if you have an impressive ATAR or entrance mark.

Step 3: Work Experience •

Work experience highlights the experiences, skills, and achievements that make you a strong candidate.

•

As with education, work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order.

•

You should include the job title, employer, start date and finish date, duties, and responsibilities.

•

You may like to divide this section into ‘Professional Experience’ and ‘Volunteer Experience’.

Step 6: Referees •

You should provide at least 2 referees at the bottom of your CV. These individuals will be able to attest to your character, skills, work ethic, or past work experience.

•

You should include their full name, role, organisation, and contact information.

•

It is important to ensure that you have received approval from your referees before including their contact information on your CV. Let them know to expect correspondence, and give them a brief description of the role and what your application entails.

Step 7: Formatting your CV •

It is important that your CV has a neat and professional look. Avoid bright colours or graphics that distract away from the substance of the CV.

•

Online sites like Canva have fantastic free and easy to use templates to format an impressive-looking CV.

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Example CV The following is merely an example of an effective structure. Your CV should ideally be between 2 and 3 pages in length.

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Acing the Interview ​​Congratulations! You have clearly made a positive impression with this organisation during the earlier application rounds. This potential employer has identified a number of positive qualities in you that suggest you would be a suitable addition to the organisation. The interview is your opportunity to reinforce those qualities and connect with the potential employer in person.

Tips

•

When is it better to follow rather than to lead?

•

Describe a time in which you were faced with a difficult situation. How did you overcome that situation?

•

Tell me about a risk you have taken in your life.

•

Tell me something that is not on your CV.

•

Who is a role model in your life and why?

•

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would you have it with, and what would you ask them?

•

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? 10?

•

If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

Research the firm: Which areas of practice do

they specialise in? Who are their major clients? Have they recently been involved in any matters that are of interest to you?

Sector-Specific

Relate to the firm: Articulate what you see as

•

Why do you want to work in private practice / the courts / corporate advisory / government / international law and diplomacy / public interest law and social justice?

Be personable and authentic: As a client

•

What are you hoping to gain from working at this organisation / firm?

•

Do you have a particular interest in this sector?

•

What are some of the current issues in this sector?

•

What do you see as the benefits and drawbacks of the changing legal environment?

the firm’s core values and ethos. Give a practical example of how you would demonstrate those values in practice. service-based industry, legal employers will be noting the way you present yourself and engage with others. Arrive at the interview on time, ensure your clothing is neat and professional, and maintain positive body language throughout.

Bug your friends: Run a couple of practice interviews with your friends and family to ease your nerves on interview day.

Sample Questions Personal

Organisation-Specific •

Why do you think you are a good fit for this organisation / firm?

•

Why do you want to work for this organisation / firm?

•

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing organisations / firms like this?

•

Tell me about yourself

•

What do you like to do in your free time?

•

Do you want to undertake further education?

•

What book are you reading at the moment?

•

How would your peers describe you?

Situational

•

What is your worst and your best quality?

•

•

What value matters to you most?

Describe a time where you demonstrated our organisation’s value of ___.

•

What quality do you think sets you apart from other applicants?

•

Describe a time where you found an innovative solution to a difficult challenge.

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Acing the Interview •

Describe a time where you handled negative feedback.

•

Describe a time where you demonstrated leadership.

•

Describe a time where you had to respond to a group conflict.

•

Describe how you deal with stress and highpressure situations.

•

Describe your proudest accomplishment.

•

Describe a time where you set a goal, and how you came to achieve it.

Questions for the Interviewer •

What was your pathway to this organisation?

•

What do you enjoy about working here?

•

Could you tell me about an interesting project or matter you have worked on during your time here?

•

What does an average day working here entail?

•

What would the responsibilities of this role entail?

•

What does the training process for this role entail?

•

How are the teams/practice groups structured at this organisation?

•

In this role, would there be regular interaction between the clerk / graduate / intern / associate and the senior members of the organisation?

Are there regular opportunities for feedback?

•

Does this organisation offer opportunities for pro bono work, and how often would those opportunities arise?

•

I welcome challenges and like to work hard, but how is work/life balance achieved at this organisation?

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Requirements to Practice Law in Australia Your academic qualification is only one of the steps required for admission to practice law in Australia!

You will need to undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to obtain your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP). You will also need to meet the requirements of admission enforced in the specific state you are seeking to practice in.

What is PLT? After finishing your law degree, Australian graduates seeking admission to practice law must complete Practical Legal Training to obtain their GDLP. PLT aims to provide graduates with the practical skills and knowledge required to complement a theoretical understanding of the law in legal workplaces. PLT will familiarise you with the day-today tasks of a practicing lawyer in various areas of law.

Although some states offer alternative training options which graduates can complete in lieu of a GDLP, the GDLP is accepted in every Australian state and territory as a practical legal training qualification.

What does the course look like?

Although the course varies somewhat across institutions, the general requirements of the program are substantially the same. You will be required to complete a number of compulsory coursework subjects, elective subjects as well as practical work experience / legal placement.

The compulsory and elective subjects taken throughout the course will focus on skills, practice areas and values.

If you are completing an online course, you may be required to organise your own work experience.

The duration of the PLT course differs across institutions, and you can expect a full-time course to take anywhere from 15-24 weeks with approximately 25 hours of coursework each week.

Part-time courses are also available to students who intend to study or work while completing the program, and take anywhere from 30-38 weeks with an expected 15 hours of course work per week.

Where and when should I complete PLT? The Legal Profession Admissions Board requires that graduates complete PLT within 5 years of completing their degree. If this period is exceeded, graduates may be required to take a number of additional subjects before commencing their PLT. Although ANU does not currently offer a PLT course, ANU law graduates can obtain their GDLP from any of the following institutions through an in-person or online course: •

The College of Law

•

Leo Cussen Centre for Law

•

Bond University

•

Queensland University of Technology

•

The University of Adelaide

•

University of Tasmania, Centre for Legal Studies

•

University of Technology Sydney

•

UNSW Practical Legal Training

It is important to note that, if following the completion of your degree you are accepted into a graduate program, firms will often require you to undertake PLT at a particular institution of their choosing.

Once you have completed your PLT, you may be admitted to practice law at the Supreme Court of the state or territory that you are seeking to practice in. The requirements for admission differ slightly in each state or territory.

For the practical work experience portion of the course, a placement will typically be organised by the institution which you are completing the course through.

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Admission as a lawyer in the Australian Capital Territory: •

https://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/forms/ admission-as-a-legal-practitioner/importantinformation-for-admission-applicants

•

https://www.courts.act.gov.au/__data/assets/ p d f_ f i l e /0 0 0 4 / 1 4 2 9 3 3 0/Q u i c k- G u i d e - to Admission-as-at-11-August-2020.pdf

Admission as a lawyer in New South Wales •

https://www.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/ admission-lawyer/admission-lawyer.aspx

Admission as a lawyer in Victoria •

https://www.lawadmissions.vic.gov.au/

Admission as a lawyer in Queensland •

https://www.qls.com.au/Legal-PractitionersAdmission-Board/Admission

Admission as a lawyer in Western Australia •

https://www.lpbwa.org.au/Becoming-A-Lawyer

Admission as a lawyer in Tasmania •

h t t p s : // w w w. s u p r e m e c o u r t . t a s . g o v. a u / practitioners/admission/

Admission as a lawyer in the Northern Territory •

h tt p s : //s u p re m e c o u r t . n t .g ov. a u / lawyers#Guidelines-on-Applying-forAdmission-as-a-Legal-Practitioner

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Activate your career.

‘I worked full time during my PLT, but the juggle wasn’t hard. Tasks were assigned ahead of time, so I knew what I needed to do months in advance. I also received continual feedback on my work to bring it to the highest standard. This gave me a head start at work whenever I was faced with tricky tasks.’

Kiarah Grace Kelly Collaborative Family Lawyer

Learn more at collaw.edu.au/PLT

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Practical Legal Training

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PRIVATE PRACTICE Careers Guide 2022

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A career in private practice offers lawyers the opportunity to work across an array of diverse practice areas, to participate in pro-bono matters, to undertake in-house secondments, or to travel overseas on an international transfer.

Below is a mere snippet of these practice areas: •

Commercial law

•

Intellectual property law

•

Consumer and competition law

•

International law

•

Criminal law

•

Litigation and dispute resolution (LDR)

•

Environmental law

•

Public and admin law

•

Employment law

•

Banking and finance

•

Industrial law

•

Mergers and acquisitions

•

Family law

•

Superannuation and tax law

•

Human Rights law

•

Property law

The most common pathway to private practice is a clerkship. Clerkships allow the individual to get a taste for what a career in private practice will look like, while also gaining a foot-in-the-door to future employment at that firm.

Here in the Private Practice section you will find: •

Applying for a Clerkship: •

The key dates to remember for clerkship applications;

•

The top tips for success from summer clerk, Jessica Hodgson.

•

Associate, William Stone, will share the top five skills a commercial lawyer needs to excel in private practice.

•

Partner, Frances Dreyer, will discuss the importance of ensuring your work keeps you energised and motivated, and how a commercial law career can be balanced with community-based pro bono work.

•

International Firm Partner, Jim Hunwick, will discuss how to find the firm that is right for you, the benefits and breadth of international private practice, and innovation in the legal field.

•

International Firm Senior Associate, Rachael Cage, will share her pathway from Rockhampton to London, and provide advice for students on navigating your career as a junior lawyer.

Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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Applying for a Clerkship Clerkship Tracker CLERKSHIP PROGRAMME KEY DATES Recruitment Process

Canberra and

Melbourne

Brisbane

Perth

Applications Open

6 June

4 July

18 July

27 June

Applications Close

3 July and 13 July (firm dependent)

14 August

12 August

31 July

Offers Made

14 September

19 October

12 October

16 September

Offers to be Accepted

15 September

19 October

13 October

16 September

Sydney

*Note that these dates are a guide. The deadlines may differ depending on the firm you are applying with.

Careers Guide 2022

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Clerkship Applications: Top Tips for Success from a Summer Clerk Why did you decide to pursue a clerkship?

When applying for a clerkship, I was driven by the opportunity to: •

Meet and work with incredibly smart, driven and collaborative people.

•

Learn and be challenged by diverse work, often in a fast-paced environment.

•

Play an active role in the evolving business landscape (in Australia and globally), learning more about the social, environmental, technological and legal factors that businesses consider in their strategic decision-making.

•

Have the guidance and support of a dynamic team.

If ANY of those factors resonate with you, a clerkship might be the right choice!

You have to ask yourself: ‘What do I you have to lose?’. At the bare minimum, you will gain invaluable application and interview experience and first-hand interaction with lawyers from a variety of practice areas and levels of experience. Throughout the application process you will get to know the culture and strengths of each firm and it will help shape your perspective on what you are looking for in your future career.

Key tips for success: 1.

STAYING ORGANISED: Create a ‘Master Document’ early on in the application process that you use to record key deadlines, necessary steps and documents for each firm, key values of each firm etc. A Word table is great for this. It will be your ‘best friend’ for knowing what stage you are at and what you need to do next (since it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the multiple moving parts of the different applications!).

2. CHOOSING THE FIRMS: There is no perfect number of firms to apply for, just do what feels right for your personality. Check out the firms’ websites, ask people who are already working in the industry, search on Lawyers Weekly and the AFR to learn about current matters and ultimately go with your gut in terms of which firms you want to apply for.

3. CUSTOMISE: Adapt each cover letter to each firm to really show them you WANT to work for them and that you’re willing to put in the effort to learn about what they stand for (it’s not a copy and paste job unfortunately!). Each firm will have unique ‘values’ and buzzwords that are great to add to your cover letter, written responses and/ or resume and show how your past experiences demonstrate those values.

Acing your interview 1.

BE YOURSELF: As cringey as it sounds, the interviewers want to get to know YOU and what makes you tick (not who you think they want you to be). Trust me, if you stay true to yourself it will come across as confident and genuine in the interview, and you’ll often find yourself having great conversations about things you are honestly passionate about (no one is you and that is your power!).

2. BE PREPARED: Research what the firms are specifically looking for and think about how your previous experience can demonstrate those skills and attributes. Practice answering key questions like ‘Why are you interested in commercial law?’ and ‘Why do you want to work at OUR firm?’.

3. BE HUMAN: As well as demonstrating you are a smart, competent and hard-working law student, interviewers love to know you will be able to develop rapport and strong relationships within your team and with clients. Several interviewers told me after my interviews that they ultimately ask themselves: ‘Did I enjoy speaking with that person and do I want this person on my team, working with me every day?’. Show your interviewers you are ‘human’ and have the curiosity, EQ and enthusiasm to be a great team member.

How did you know this role was right for you?

I was very fortunate to accept a clerkship with Allens in Sydney. I made that decision because a key priority for me is working at a firm that is PEOPLEORIENTATED.

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I wanted to be part of an organisation that provided connection, support and growth for its people. For example, during the application process Allens partnered us with ‘buddies’ to provide personalised support, as well as held events to get to know other applicants and lawyers at the firm.

The role is right for me because I wanted a workplace that is both caring and high-performing. Every day that I clerked at Allens I was stimulated and challenged to find solutions, and also learnt from incredible people who are at the top of their field. I can see myself pursuing a career with Allens and I’m super excited for what’s to come!

I encourage everyone who is interested in clerkships to apply, give it their all and never stop believing in themselves.

Jessica Hodgson Summer Clerk at Allens

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The Top Five Skills a Commercial Lawyer Needs I am an Associate in the Commercial Disputes team in the Melbourne office of Allens. I joined as a Law Graduate in 2019, having undertaken a clerkship in 2018. I rotated in the firm’s Mergers, Acquisitions and Capital Markets practice group, before rotating and specialising in the Disputes and Investigations practice group. It is hard to distil the skillset of a commercial lawyer into a top five, but here are the skills which have served me well and I think will hold you in good stead as you embark on your own legal career.

1.

Preparation

Be prepared to give your opinion or contribute to a group discussion. Before internal or external meetings – with other lawyers or the client – it’s important to prepare yourself. Even if you are a clerk or junior lawyer and don’t think you are going to play an active role in the meeting, read into the relevant background material.

Read over the email correspondence or memoranda.

Ask yourself: what is the problem we are trying to solve? You will get a lot more from a meeting when you can follow the discussion and participate, rather than turning your mind to it in the moment.

Where possible, I try to put aside 15 minutes or so before a meeting, to re-familiarise myself with the relevant material and think about how I might be able to work with others to progress whatever it is we will be talking about.

2.

Commercial awareness

Commercial awareness is a multi-faceted skill. One aspect of it is to be aware of current affairs and how the latest legal, political, and social developments are impacting your clients. Practically, you can achieve this by following the news (such as by listening to podcasts, reading print news, or browsing online) and perhaps setting up news alerts for particular sectors or companies.

Another aspect of commercial awareness is being attuned to your clients’ needs. What are they trying to achieve, and how can we make it as easy as possible for them? Have a think about where your legal advice fits into their broader commercial imperatives. For me, this means providing clear, business-minded legal advice. Clients do not necessarily want to receive pages upon pages of legal jargon, when a simple, short email they can pass on to the board may suffice.

3. Initiative Initiative is a sought-after commodity in junior commercial lawyers. Often you will find yourself in fast-paced and rapidly evolving situations. For example, a litigator during a trial, or an M&A lawyer during a competitive bid process. Do not be afraid to reach out to your colleagues with an idea, or take the lead with work that you know needs to be done.

If you are unsure whether something needs to be progressed, the lawyers you are working with will appreciate you actively checking in with them, rather than waiting for them to prompt you.

4. Communication Communication is key, both externally with clients and internally with your colleagues. Externally, you should read the expectations of the client. Clients I have worked with have appreciated being asked how they want to be kept in the loop. Do they want to be updated blow-by-blow, or are they happy to receive a brief recap once a fortnight? Internally, keep an open communication channel to the team you are working with. Let them know what you have on your plate and be honest when discussing your capacity and ability to meet deadlines. Communicate early if you think a particular timeframe is no longer realistic.

5. Uncompromising ethical standards Finally, high ethical standards should guide everything you do as a lawyer. A lawyer’s paramount duty is to the court and the administration of justice.

This means that your role is not solely to advocate your client’s interests at all costs – it is also to assist the court in achieving justice in a prompt and efficient manner. It is not in the interests of justice to encourage protracted legal proceedings that unnecessarily drain court resources and parties’ time. Of course, a lawyer still owes a duty to act in the best interests of their client. However, the paramount duty to the court overrides inconsistency with any other duty.

William Stone Associate at Allens

Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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A Career That Pivots and Evolves: Mixing A Commercial Practice with Pro Bono Leadership Being in a commercial law firm can be all -engrossing. The hierarchy, the promotion cycle, the social structure and of course the thrill of the cases and deals can become a dominant part of your life.

It can be easy to get so caught up in it that 20 years flicks past and you are not actually doing a job you love, or something is “missing”.

For me it has been important to take stock and ensure my role evolves to make sure it stays truly satisfying and energising. There is not “one way” to practice in a commercial firm, and one of the best elements of being a partner in a firm is the autonomy it can give you over your own working life. In part, you are a business owner and you need your business to be working for you.

I am a litigation partner, I have spent close to 20 years working on large scale litigation projects in the Supreme and Federal Courts focusing on cases relating to financial products and the health sector. I genuinely love running litigation projects and helping clients through disputes. I love working with top international experts on complex financial matters and working with leading barristers on complex legal questions. Litigation practice is dynamic, there can be long hours and stress, but there is also buzz, cut and thrust, true team work and deep intellectual engagement.

My engagement in the pro bono sector allows me to establish programs, engage with the community sector and deal with a diverse range of professionals. It allows me to work on resourcing strategic litigation, to get involved in social projects and help underprivileged individuals, with the backing of a commercial firm and while maintaining a commercial practice. It is also a national leadership and management role, which is experience not easily available to a lot of lawyers, especially early in partnership.

One of the things I love most about my role is the diversity it can bring to any given day. During one day in December, I spent the morning with Senior Counsel settling pleadings on a large investor related class action, had lunch with the owners of a medical business negotiating a large contractual dispute with the government and then went directly to the (Zoom) launch of a report on refugee health rights for a project where we have placed a rolling secondee on strategic litigation. This was followed by an evening online with the lawyers representing a group of refugees to brainstorm how our firm could assist further in a targeted way (after everyone’s children were in bed!).

Does it mean I have to do less commercial litigation?

Of course. But, I am more satisfied, motivated and energised. I am fully engaged in two parts of the legal community (which overlap at many points) and two elements of legal discourse and developments (again, which overlap more than I expected).

However, I have had a long standing desire to be involved in work for the underprivileged and to be making a social contribution. Not as a token effort, but as a central part of my role. So, in 2019, I became the pro bono partner at Johnson Winter & Slattery alongside my commercial practice (I now share the role with another partner as the practice has grown).

My professional role pivoted to include two distinct parts, my commercial litigation practice and leading the pro bono practice (which has grown to see the firm achieve pro bono hours of more than 48 hours per lawyer per year).

It is having two practices, which are balanced fluidly every day. Both are important to my professional satisfaction.

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Building and running the two practices works because the demands are shared between a team on the pro bono side. Two pro bono partners are now involved, and two co-ordinators and a number of project leaders (who also balance the role with their commercial practices) also assist. Critically, the firm recognises that the pro bono practice is a professional obligation, has real commercial benefits and most importantly is part of “who we want to be” as a firm. So, the time and energy in the practice is recognised as a critical management contribution.

I have been at Johnson Winter & Slattery for close to 20 years, but that does not mean the role stays static. I have pivoted my role over time and invested energy into building new practice areas. Other lawyers within our firm have created space in their careers for a wide variety of interest from writing novels to farming and brewing beer, or have reskilled into new areas of interest or industry sectors. Careers are long, I think it is worth periodically “checking in” to ask whether the role still keeps you energised and is what you would “choose”.

Frances Dreyer Partner at Johnson Winter & Slattery

Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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Finding the Firm for You, The Breadth of International Practice, and Innovation in the Legal Field: An Interview with a Partner at an International Firm I am a Sydney based partner of Pinsent Masons, an international firm headquarted in the UK. I finished a BA and LLB at Adelaide University in 1996 and started working full time at Johnson Winter & Slattery in Adelaide in 1997.

My connection to the law wasn’t driven by any pivotal experiences. It evolved over time. I was interested more in the arts subjects – politics, English, languages – than maths and sciences. After a year studying a BA at Adelaide it seemed logical to add on an LLB and, having done that, to see what it was like working in law firm via a summer clerkship, which went well and led to a full-time job.

A pivotal experience for me once in the law was going to Tokyo to work at Allen & Overy in 20002003. I went because of my love of Japan rather than for career reasons but it transformed my career.

A&O provided a huge amount of deal flow in a single practice area – capital markets – so my training in finance / capital markets was concentrated / turbo boosted. When I decided to come back to Australia this meant I had 3 years of very solid experience in a single area, which has remained my focus.

My role at Pinsent Masons is as a finance partner, covering all kinds of debt – not just capital markets now but also other bank debt, acting for large corporations on acquisitions, project and property finance, and general corporate debt issuances. I came to this role after a long period as a partner at JWS, because in my view the clients I work for benefit from an international platform (which JWS does not have) as most finance matters have an international element. Culture is also extremely important in a law firm – in short, having a supportive an open culture – and that is very important feature of Pinsent Masons, and its focus on projects and renewables makes sense to me as a long-term business. I also enjoy feeling connected with the rest of the world, and you get this strongly from working in an international firm.

If you are interested in working at a commercial law firm, the key things to look for are culture and workflow.

Culture is driven primarily by those at the top, so it is the behaviour and attitudes of partners and especially those who are most senior and influential that is most important for you to be comfortable with, along with the intent and purpose of the firm.

Ideally the firm will have a long-term intent and client-driven purpose as opposed to being driven by the current partners looking for short term profits.

Workflow is also important. The more quality work you can do and the more people you can meet (at all ages and career stages) along the way, the quicker your skills will develop and you will become more comfortable and confident. The first few years are often unsettling because you are continually facing tasks and people that are new, or partly new to you.

But it gets easier.

What’s exciting about changes in legal practice is the improvement in competition and service quality. This is exciting for clients (including in-house lawyers) as it means they are being well serviced and can get things done more quickly. For lawyers, it means that a lot of the high volume repetitive tasks are being streamlined and replaced with innovative technology, and lawyers are often working across different disciplines, e.g. tech / software, project management, broader consulting services. Legal services are not being provided only by law firms, but by capable in-house teams and tech and project management firms.

All of this means the tasks lawyers have to do are becoming more diverse as are the types of roles that are available for those with law degrees, with more connectivity to people in other disciplines, and so working in the law should continue to become much more interesting than being confined to ‘traditional’ legal activities.

Jim Hunwick Partner at Pinsent Masons

Careers Guide 2022

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From Rockhampton to London: The Pathway of a Senior Associate at an International Firm I am an experienced Senior Associate lawyer in Bird & Bird’s International HR Services group based in London, a (half a) world away from my childhood home in Rockhampton, Queensland. Day-to-day I advise clients on the full spectrum of employment law matters, from litigation in the Employment Tribunal and High Court, to coordinating multi-jurisdictional advice projects, conducting due diligence, and providing HR support and guidance. My pathway to this role has been somewhat unconventional.

At school, I studied legal studies and enjoyed drama.

It made sense then for me to practice mooting (mock court trials) and I was awarded a scholarship to Bond University on the Gold Coast.

At Bond, I undertook a double degree in Law and International Relations (Business), majoring in European Relations. I particularly enjoyed the International Business studies in my degree and represented Bond at the International Criminal Court Moot in the Hague, the Netherlands.

In my penultimate year of study, I officially started my legal career as a paralegal in the Project Disputes team at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, a national firm with international ties. I remained with the firm for 6 years and during that time gained a breadth of experience.

As a graduate Lawyer, I undertook a 1-year secondment to Anderson, Mori and Tomotsune in Tokyo, Japan. Upon my return to Corrs, I completed my graduate training and after 6 months in Projects Disputes, I rotated into the Employment team.

Prior to being allocated to the team, I had never considered becoming an employment lawyer.

Unexpectedly, I found the subject matter fascinating and, as an extrovert, I very much enjoy the ‘people’ element of my job. Employment law navigates the everyday but complex relationships between employers and employees. As societal views change so do employment laws and Australian elections are often won or lost on employment policies. Whether we are conscious of it or not, employment law underpins the very fabric of our society. The reality of practising in employment law also allowed me to pursue my interest in disputebased work, while balancing tough Court deadlines with work of an advisory nature.

As a junior Lawyer in the employment team, I undertook in-house client secondments. While I was based in Brisbane, I also did short stints in each of Corrs’ offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

After my international experience in Japan, I still had a thirst to travel, so in 2019 I undertook a 6-month secondment to Uria Menendez in Madrid, Spain. After my secondment ended, I spent 4 months travelling before moving to London where I have been practicing for the past 2 years.

Each of these opportunities was borne from a combination of right place/right time, and being enthusiastic, friendly, competent and ready to give anything a go. I also had to build confidence to communicate with my Partners about my aspirations.

Being a lawyer can be fun, rewarding, and open doors to new life experiences, but it is no secret that it can also be challenging. It requires a lot of time and work, and the demands ebb and flow day-today and year-to-year. Some key advice I would give my university-aged self is: 1.

Form your own view of success and remember to play the long game. For some, success is owning their own small family law practice in regional Queensland, for others it is Partnership at an international firm, acting as in-house General Counsel or becoming a Queens Counsel.

There are many different routes you can take within the Law. Follow your interests and form your own view of success. Do not compare yourself to others.

2. Be flexible with your career, say yes and seek out new experiences in your role. New experiences not only develop you as a lawyer and an individual but keep life interesting! One opportunity leads to the next.

3. Be tenacious and proactive. Opportunities won’t always drop in your lap. Back yourself and pursue your dreams.

Rachael Cage Senior Associate at Bird & Bird

Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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THE COURTS, THE BAR & ADVOCACY Careers Guide 2022

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A career in the courts as an associate, tipstaff, judicial registrar, barrister, or prosecutor offers graduates a front-row seat to the law in action.

Importantly, these pathways provide a real sense of participation in the process of achieving just outcomes to legal disputes.

In the courts…

•

Many law graduates will pursue a role as an associate or tipstaff in a state or territory court, the Federal Court, or the High Court.

Associates and tipstaff work directly with judges. Their specific duties vary depending on the jurisdiction of the court. In large part, however, they will engage in legal research, drafting, and general administrative tasks.

•

These opportunities provide immense insight into judicial reasoning, the process of dispute resolution, the inner workings of the courts, and the relationship between judges, associates, solicitors, and barristers. For graduates wishing to explore a career as a barrister in particular, the exposure, experience, and network gained by associates and tipstaff is invaluable.

As an advocate…

•

In this section we will explore the experience of public prosecutors.

A career in the Office of Public Prosecutions allows budding barristers or lawyers with a passion for advocacy to work across a diverse array of matters and areas of the law.

At the Bar… •

For many who pursue a career at the Bar, it is a vocation, and brings with it a great amount of intellectual stimulation and career satisfaction.

•

There are a number of pathways to the Bar. Some graduates will go straight to the Bar from university. Others will gain career experience working as solicitors, associates, or tipstaff beforehand.

Pre-Penultimate students should keep their eyes peeled for opportunities to work within the Courts, the ACT or Federal Office of Public Prosecutions, or a Barrister’s Chambers.

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Here in The Courts, The Bar, and Advocacy section you will find: •

Federal Court Associate (and soon to be High Court Associate), Tom Diaz, will answer the frequently asked questions about associateships: What? Why? How and when to apply?

•

Registrar at the Federal Court and Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Kim Lackenby, will discuss her experiences through the courts and ADR bodies, and the importance of finding a career that you love and sticking with it.

•

Prosecutor at the ACT Director of Public Prosecution, Bwalya Chifuntwe, discusses the daily routine of a prosecutor at the DPP, and the opportunities for growth in public prosecution.

•

Barrister, Bridie Nolan, will discuss her experience being called to the Bar, her ‘day in the life’, and advice for upcoming graduates.

Useful Resources ACT Supreme Court Associateship https://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/ about-the-courts/corporate-information/ employment-as-an-associate-in-the-actsupreme-court NSW Supreme Court Associateship https://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw. gov.au/Pages/sco2_aboutus/sco2_careers. aspx Federal Court Associateship h tt p s : //w w w. f e d c o u r t .g ov. a u /a b o u t / employment/associates High Court Associateship https://www.hcourt.gov.au/employment/ applying-for-an-associateship-with-ajustice-of-the-high-court-of-australia ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecution https://www.dpp.act.gov.au/employment/ employment_opportunities_at_act_dpp

Careers Guide 2022

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Associateships: What?

Why? How and When to Apply?

General advice and professional background There is nothing novel about the idea that each person’s career is a unique journey. However, what was less clear to me as a university student is that the journey has no destination, only stops along the way, and it is a journey invariably defined by unexpected twists and turns.

In 2018, I graduated from the University of Melbourne.

In 2019, I commenced as a Law Graduate at Allens in the Commercial Litigation practice. I did so with the typical aspirations: to learn, to excel and to ‘climb the corporate ladder’.

Unexpectedly, after a short stint at Allens, an opportunity presented itself to apply for an Associateship with the Honourable Justice Anastassiou of the Federal Court of Australia. If not for the intervention (and foresight) of a friend, who was at that time employed at the Federal Court, I would not have applied.

As it transpired, one Associateship has led to another and I am soon to commence as an Associate to the Honourable Justice Steward of the High Court of Australia before joining the Victorian Bar in September 2023.

The purpose of sharing this self-serving anecdote of my brief career so far is not to boast or gloat. Rather, I am hoping to give you a sense that your career is not defined by any one decision or outcome, especially one you make as a bright-eyed lawyer leaving university.

To the contrary, careers are shaped cumulatively by the outcome of various decisions and experiences – some bad, some good and many unexpected. If you are astute to listen and observe, humble in your approach, willing to implement feedback and have self-conviction, you will be best positioned to capitalise on opportunities as they arise.

Practical advice With that somewhat opaque introduction out of the way, I hope to contribute to the Careers Guide by sharing some more direct and practical advice about being a judge’s associate.

What is the role of a judge’s associate?

The role of a judge’s associate varies depending on the jurisdiction of the relevant court and the inner workings of each judge’s chambers.

However, in very general terms, associates typically assist their judge by performing some or all of the following tasks: •

corresponding with practitioners;

•

undertaking legal research;

•

preparing written memoranda;

•

interrogating factual or legal questions with your judge;

•

proof-reading and editing;

•

summarising dense materials;

•

preparing for hearings; and

•

assisting the judge during hearings (both inperson and in the virtual courtroom).

Associateships are usually employed for a limited duration of 12 to 24 months, depending on the court and the preference of the relevant judge.

Practical tip – Do some research about which court and judge you might be interested in working for.

For example, consider the judge’s background, their professional experience and reputation, and any extra-judicial interests that might align with yours.

That will help you find a judge that plays to your strengths and interests.

Why do an associateship?

Associates usually acquire a thorough knowledge of court rules, processes and procedures, and become familiar with court documents and court proceedings (from inception to finalisation). A judge’s associate also gains invaluable experience by observing practitioners on a day to day basis, including in their dealings with the court and with other lawyers as well as in their function as advocates.

That experience is enormously beneficial and directly relevant to your career, whether you want to practice as a solicitor or eventually become a barrister. Moreover, it is almost impossible to gain this breadth of experience at a law firm (whether in private practice or otherwise), given the demands of clients, the slow burn of most litigation and the relatively small number of disputes that reach the stage of a contested hearing.

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Practical Tip – Subscribe to the daily court list and judgments email alert for the High Court, Federal Court and any other court in the jurisdiction you anticipate practising in. Set aside five minutes every day to scan the published judgments and, when time permits, read judgments of interest in full. Similarly, if you find a matter of interest on the daily court list, email the associate asking for details about how to observe the hearing.

How and when to do an associateship?

Judge’s typically recruit recent graduates or solicitors with professional experience of 1-4 years (though there are certainly exceptions). If you are interested in an associateship, it helps to have a good academic record, demonstrated interest in law and practical appreciation of how different courts function (e.g. the original and appellate jurisdiction of the court or the national practice areas / different court lists).

The timing of applications varies from court to court. High Court and Federal Court judges usually recruit 1-2 years in advance (or even more) whereas other intermediate and appellate courts tend to recruit 6 to 12 months in advance.

Final suggestion An organised way to build a repository of people to consult with on career decisions is to write down the name and contact details of any interesting lawyers you meet or know of, whether in social contexts, at career events or through work/volunteer experiences. Make a note of something memorable about the person. That might be anything from interesting anecdotes they told you to redeeming professional attributes or personal hobbies.

Tom Diaz Associate to the Honourable Justice Paul Anastassiou of the Federal Court of Australia

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Finding a Career That You Love: The Pathway of a Judicial Registrar at the Federal Court I am a long-standing Judicial Registrar of the Federal Court of Australia as well as a Conference Registrar of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; roles in which I exercise statutory and delegated powers and conduct alternative dispute resolution processes (‘ADR”), amongst other duties.

I decided that I wanted to study law when I was around 14 years old. While there were no lawyers in my family, my innate sense of justice was triggered by the Lindy Chamberlain case. I recall a defining moment in a physical education class at school as my fellow students and I chatted about the case while taking turns on a trampoline. I was appalled and indignant when most of my peers unhesitatingly declared Lindy Chamberlain’s guilt, relying on her appearance and unfavourable press coverage. I was young and knew little about the law, but I understood the presumption of innocence principle and I was uncomfortable with the impressionistic, prejudiced and uninformed judgements that were being made. Never one to be backward in coming forward, I expressed my objections in no uncertain terms!

Partly galvanised by my nascent notions of justice, together with a strong preference for humanities subjects, I decided that an Arts Law degree was the one for me. I didn’t think much beyond that, including in my years at university. I had a vague notion that I would go to the bar and I knew I didn’t want to practice in criminal law, but that was about it. As a graduate, I worked as a solicitor at one of the large commercial law firms, mainly because that was the ‘done thing’ if you had the marks.

My first time with the Federal Court was as associate to Justice Murray Wilcox. One tip I have for law students interested in a litigation career – if you can secure any sort of position with a Court/Tribunal, barrister’s chambers or litigation firm, it has the obvious advantage of giving a taste of litigation in practice and can be invaluable in deciding whether or not such a career is for you.

For me, rather than encouraging me to go to the bar, my positive experience as an associate established my high regard for the judges and the Court as an institution. I was privileged to work for a wonderful judge, so when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Industrial Relations Court of Australia (“IRCA”), I was more than happy to accept his offer to work for the new Court after my associateship year.

My time at IRCA was fortunate in many ways. Most notably, I was asked to train as a mediator and so began my lengthy career in ADR. Alternative dispute resolution, and in particular court-annexed mediation, was still relatively new to Australian legal practice and I was probably one of its youngest practitioners, finding myself conducting mediations with highly experienced lawyers. It is helpful in such circumstances to have confidence and, if that is not possible, to fake it! In many ways, I felt I had stumbled upon my calling.

Mediation and ADR plays to my strengths and my weaknesses; it utilises communication/interpersonal/ facilitation skills while requiring that the mediator not impose their views on the parties. Lots of small decisions need to be made on the run about how to maximise the process and encourage resolution but the final decision-making power lies with the parties and there are no reserved judgments!

My work as a registrar mediator at IRCA eventually led to my current appointment as a registrar of the Federal Court and, more recently, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. And here I have stayed, for many years now. In summary, my career has been marked by very little planning, a lot of luck and considerable complacency; fortunately for me, I continue to find my work both enjoyable and rewarding.

My story is probably not the most instructive for new or soon-to-be graduates, but there it is. If I were to presume to offer guidance it would be along these lines: just because you have top grades doesn’t necessarily mean you should aim to work for one of the large commercial law firms.

The opposite is also true. Be guided by your interests and skills, not by what your friends are doing or what is considered prestigious. For the younger generations, changing careers multiple times will apparently be standard practice. Enjoy that flexibility if that is what you choose, but if you are lucky enough to find something you love, consider staying with it. Life doesn’t have to be all ‘onwards and upwards’.

Kim Lackenby Judicial Registrar at the Federal Court of Australia

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Opportunities for Growth in Public Prosecution:

An Interview with a Prosecutor at the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecution What brought you to your current role? Why the Director of Public Prosecution?

Before I was at the DPP, I worked as an Associate at the ACT Magistrates Court. As an Associate, I observed different types of matters proceed through the Court system. This included both civil and criminal matters. However, the bulk of the matters I saw were criminal matters. I got to see both defence lawyers and prosecutors appear across a range of proceedings including forensic procedure applications, sentences, hearings and mentions. At university, I really enjoyed studying criminal law and, in particular, all advocacy-based assessments. While at uni, I participated in the ACT DPP Plate mock trial. I think this was what really convinced me that I wanted to work in criminal law as it was my first time doing a mock trial in an actual Court room. Justice Mossop presided over the mock trial which added a lot of value to the overall experience. It was these experiences combined that led me to pursue a career at the DPP. After my Associateship, and prior to my admission, I started working at the DPP as a Prosecutor Associate in Crown Chambers. There, I got to instruct some of our Crown Prosecutors in Supreme Court trials. Once I was admitted to practice, I applied to be a prosecutor. As a prosecutor, I get to appear in a variety of matters which is something I really enjoy.

On days where I am not in Court, I would usually start my mornings by reviewing my practice and prepare for my next court appearance that week. If I am instructing on a trial, this would include speaking to witnesses, reviewing briefs of evidence and liaising with the Crown Prosecutor about what tasks need to be done prior to trial.

What is most rewarding about your role Overcoming new challenges. The DPP is very supportive and encourages you to do things outside of your comfort zone. What I think the DPP excels at doing is fostering your development and ensuring that you are improving as a lawyer both in Court and out.

I think what makes my role at the DPP most rewarding is knowing that there will always be hurdles to jump over. There is always an opportunity to learn something new!

A key tip for success: What advice would you offer upcoming graduates considering a career in public prosecution?

My advice would be if you’re interested in criminal law and a career in public prosecutions think about joining the Prosecutor Associates team. You gain invaluable insight into Supreme Court litigation.

Be prepared to work hard and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions! And I think most importantly, something my old Magistrate used to tell me, read the file, read the file, read the file.

A day in your life at the DPP I first start off the day by going to the gym. I find it very important to start the day fresh and energised!

An average day is otherwise determined by whether or not I am going to be in Court. On days where I am going to Court, I arrive at work and use my morning to review my files for that day. I’ll be making sure that I have all of my ducks in a row: checking that I am across the material, that I have prepared my submissions properly, making sure that I have identified all relevant issues so that they can be dealt with and of course, making sure I have enough photocopies on file. I then walk over to Court, make myself known to the Associate, speak with defence about any preliminary issues that need to be ventilated and then wait for the Magistrate to call my matter.

Bwalya Chifuntwe Prosecutor at the ACT Office of the Director of Public Prosecution

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Answering a Call to the Bar: An Interview with a Barrister Career path towards the bar I left school wanting to be an actress. Those hopes were dashed pretty quickly. I was fixed with a feint desire to work in politics. I quickly abandoned that notion when I commenced studying politics in my undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, and overseas at universities in both Sweden and France. I realised that my passion probably lay in international politics and international political economy (today called geoeconomics), which I continued to study when I returned to Australia at both Masters and PhD level.

One day, burdened and exhausted by a heavy load of teaching and my own thesis commitments, I discovered what a junior diplomat would earn. That was the day I enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws at the University of New South Wales. I had foregone choosing law as my first university degree, as my mother was a commercial solicitor. Growing up, I had observed how hard she worked. For me, there was nothing romantic about the law, it was a way to earn a living. In choosing to pursue law as a career, I knew there was only one pathway for me: the bar.

I was very strategic in the way in which I approached my journey thereafter.

Having spoken to senior barristers, I set out to gain experience across the breadth of the legal profession. I commenced working at a top tier Sydney commercial law firm. I then worked for a barrister as his researcher and assistant. Thereafter, I worked as a Judge’s associate in the Federal Court.

I chose the Federal Court because Federal Court judges sit in both appellate and trial jurisdictions. I was very privileged to have the opportunity to work for the current Chief Justice of the Federal Court, who remains one of my most beloved mentors, to this day.

Immediately, following my time working as an associate at the Federal Court, I had my first child. A fortnight after she was born, I began working at the University of Sydney teaching law. I was at last called the Bar in 2006 and I have been there ever since.

Barrister skills The most Important skills for a barrister are intellectual dexterity, a penchant for critical thinking, a commitment to hard work, an irrepressible love of the law and unwavering courage.

A day in my life I wake at about 4.30am - 5 am. I exercise until 6 am.

I then head up to the roof garden with my husband for coffee where I’ll read the paper while we tend to our garden and feed the birds. I then help my 5 daughters get ready for school and drop them off at 7:30am . I walk the dogs back home from where I usually choose to work and save on the commute, unless I must be in chambers or court in person. I work through the list that I have written for myself the night before. I attend teleconferences, online hearings, write submissions, decisions, reports and advices. I confer with clients. At about 6.30pm, I break for dinner, which we eat together as a family.

Thereafter, it is bedtime for the younger girls. I tend to spend about half an hour gossiping with my teenagers, if I can. I return to my desk at about 8pm. I often hold an online university seminar or a conference in a different time zone. I usually crawl into bed at about 11 pm.

What is rewarding about being a barrister?

The unrelenting intellectual challenge appeals to the innate academic in me. I love engaging in the breadth and complexity of law. Working for myself and being able to earn a good income to support my family is also a positive attribute of the role.

Advice for up-and-coming barristers A call to the bar is a vocation. There’s not much room for promotion or career advancement. If you have any desire to pursue a career, consider pursuing it before you answer your call to the bar.

The responsibilities of being a barrister can at times be onerous. I personally would explore as many opportunities as I could as a young law graduate before answering the call. Having a breadth and wealth of life experience can only make you a more effective advocate and resilient practitioner.

Bridie Nolan Barrister at Blackburn Chambers, Arbitrator, Mediator, Tribunal Member, Academic, and Political Economist

Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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THE PUBLIC SERVICE & INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY Careers Guide 2022

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Here at the ANU, there are an abundance of opportunities in the public service and diplomacy space on our doorstep.

ANU students are known for their keen interest in politics, foreign affairs, and social justice. Pathways through the public service and diplomacy offer the perfect opportunity to utilise those interests in tandem with the skills developed through law school.

The potential career paths through public service and international diplomacy are extremely diverse. Public servants may begin their career in a graduate program at the AttorneyGeneral’s Department, transition to the Australian Government Solicitor, and settle in the Treasury in its law division. Diplomats may begin their career at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, before travelling to work in an international embassy, a consulate, or for the United Nations. There is no single avenue, rather a number of flexible pathways with a great deal of fluidity and choice.

Here in the Public Service and International Diplomacy section you will find: •

•

Useful Resources

Attorney-General’s Department https://www.ag.gov.au/about-us/careers Australian Government Solicitor https://www.ags.gov.au/employment/currentvacancies Commonwealth Ombudsman

Policy Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Elise Gruttner, provides her two top tips for upcoming graduates on finding the right pathway for you.

https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/what-we-do/ careers/current-vacancies

United Nations Legal Specialist, Liza Gall, discusses her journey from commercial law to international criminal tribunals, duty stations across the world, to her current role in the New York office of the United Nations.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/careers/careers

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communication https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/ careers Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources https: //www.industry.gov.au/about-us/workwith-us Treasury h tt p s : //t rea s u r y.g ov. a u /t h e - d e p a r t m e n t / recruitment-and-careers The United Nations https://un.org.au/careers/ https://unjobs.org/duty_stations/australia US Embassy and Consulates https://au.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/ jobs/

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From Commercial Law to Foreign Policy: Advice for Graduates from a Policy Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

There are countless opportunities to explore with the law, both in Australia and internationally, and sometimes it acts as a stepping stone into an area you might not have considered when starting out.

Elise Gruttner Policy Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The key thing I’ve learnt, after several years of professional work and settling into a career pathway which I am loving, would be two concurrent suggestions.

The first would be to take the pressure off trying to land the perfect job or graduate program straight after graduation. The foundations of legal work, and professional work at large, will be built upon from day one, at a new employer. Be it a law firm, government department or NGO. As long as you can find a team that will invest in you to learn the basics and shake off the ‘greenness’ that most of us have starting out, you will be able to pivot your way to absolutely anywhere.

Personally, my career started out as a commercial lawyer, dealing with litigation and contracts. I then moved to becoming a government lawyer, working in international law and finally moving away from the law altogether into a foreign policy role. I found that it took time and perseverance to try different roles and disciplines before I found one that I was passionate about and satisfied. That perspective and experience came from a combination of dedication to giving a job everything and a healthy dose of trial and error.

My second, concurrent piece of advice would be to throw yourself into opportunities at law school.

Any extracurriculars that may even remotely interest you, jump on in. That way, I was able to find out what opportunities were available to me, simply by going to events and talking to people who had similar interests as me. Not only did this serve me well during my studies, but it has also left me with a great network of friends that I can draw upon and chat to anytime about upcoming jobs or new pathways that I wouldn’t have pursued on my own.

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From Freetown to the Hague, to Nairobi, Vienna, and New York: The

Pathway of a Legal Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme I am a Legal Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York. I work in the administrative law team in the Office of Legal Services. The bulk of my work involves advising management on employment disputes with staff members and disciplinary matters.

My legal career to date has two parts. After finishing my law degree and being admitted to practice law, I worked in commercial litigation for 4 years in law firms in Adelaide. Inspired by many of my peers, I moved to London to continue working in commercial litigation with a large firm.

After 4 years in private practice in London, I decided to pursue my interest in international law. Studying for a master’s degree in public international law at the University of London gave me ideas and networks for establishing my new career.

I followed the well-trodden path of internships with international criminal tribunals in The Hague (the ICTY and the ICC) and then searched for opportunities for staff positions.

My first job was with an international criminal tribunal, the Special Court for Sierra Leone. From there I then moved to New York to take up a temporary position in the United Nations. After getting my foot in the door, I moved to other positions in the United Nations and other entities, gaining experience in the areas of codification, the law of the sea and, most recently, international administrative law. These positions have taken me to diverse duty stations around the world: Freetown, The Hague, Nairobi, Vienna, and New York.

My work for international organizations is, of course, a very different experience to working in private practice. There are many shifts in working culture and life when moving from being a “fee earner” to working as an international civil servant. The most rewarding parts of my current career include the opportunity to work with people from all over the world, to live in duty stations that allow me to learn about new cultures, and to have a closeup view of multilateral diplomacy in action.

Liza Gall Legal Specialist at the United Nations Development Programme

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CORPORATE ADVISORY Careers Guide 2022

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The skills you develop during your law degree are transferable to a myriad of sectors. Not every law graduate will apply for a clerkship. Nor will every law graduate spend time in a courtroom, in a law firm, or even practice law in any capacity.

The corporate advisory sector encompasses a wide range of consultative and advisory pathways in the corporate world, including accounting, investment banking, finance, and consulting. For law graduates with strong skills to think critically, identify risks, and develop creative solutions to multidimensional issues, a career in one of these fields may be the one for you.

Here in the Corporate Advisory section you will find: •

Senior Analyst at Deloitte, Samantha Edney, explores the daunting proposition: What if I don’t want to be a lawyer?

•

Associate at the Boston Consulting Group, Andrew Lunardi, discusses his pathway from private practice to consulting, and the benefits of a corporate advisory career for someone who is uncertain about their future pathway.

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Help! I Don’t Know If I Want To Be a Lawyer!

When I started my double degree at ANU, I thought that I didn’t want to be a lawyer. I wanted to learn the problem-solving skills that a law degree teaches, however I could never imagine myself as a Barrister or a Judge. I wanted to pursue opportunities that used my accounting skills and my legal problemsolving skills. Fast forward eight years and I am not a practising lawyer, but I still use the skills I learnt through the law every single day.

Although I did not complete my PLT, I chose to pursue further study in accounting and become a Chartered Accountant. In my current job I am always reading legislation, critically evaluating information and problem solving, all skills I developed in my law degree. If you are unsure if you would like to finish your law degree, even if you don’t want to practice law, it is worth finishing the degree as you will use it in whatever field you end up in.

What if I change my mind in future and want to become a lawyer?

You will soon realise whether you miss the legal analysis, problem solving and associated challenges that come with legal practice if your role outside the law is not fulfilling those needs. You have five years to complete your PLT, so you can begin a career in another field before coming back to the law.

At the time, I didn’t realise that applying for a oneday internship would save me so much time (and stress) in the graduate job application process. Some law firms are offering similar programs, make sure you are aware of them!

As early as you can in your degree, map out your subjects to make sure you complete pre-requisites in the correct order. It is deflating when you complete (and have the HECS) for a subject that doesn’t count towards your degree. You can structure your courses to lighten your workload during the semester by completing summer, autumn, winter or spring courses to suit your circumstances.

I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up!

That is okay! Ask most university graduates and they will say they are still working that out too. Use your network. Set up a coffee date with a friend that is graduate lawyer or call your cousin’s friend’s older sister who is working in a field that interests you.

If you have multiple graduate offers, write a pros and cons list and think about where your priorities lie. For example, a job with long hours should remunerate you accordingly, but you may prefer to have a different job that allows you to pursue your side hustle or your dream to break a Guinness World Record!

Samantha Edney Senior Analyst at Deloitte

I’m early on in my degree, and wondering how to best place myself to get ahead of the crowd ahead of graduate job applications.

If you’re reading this and in your first one to three years of your law degree, I recommend you pursue opportunities (even if they are not in the law) before the clerkship stage. For example, working part time at a law firm or for a consultancy. When I was in my third year of studying I had a fantastic CBE tutor who encouraged me to apply for a 1 day introductory student program at one of the “Big 4” Accounting Firms. I was successful, and it was my first look at the corporate world. I soon discovered that the other Big 4 offered similar programs so there are opportunities available before you are a penultimate student to “get your foot in the door”.

I completed similar programs at two of the other Big 4, one of which fast tracked my application for a summer internship role and consequently a graduate job.

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From the Law to Consulting: The Pathway of an Associate at the Boston Consulting Group I was initially attracted to studying, and eventually practising, law due to an interest in problem solving. I found the concept of learning a set of legal principles/ concepts, and then applying them to a particular fact pattern to be heavily engaging. Further, I was interested in the idea of using a set of legal “building blocks” to assist a party to achieve a commercial outcome. This together with the intellectual rigor that is associated with studying and practising law was a powerful drawcard to the profession.

However, while I did have an interest in the law, my passion tended to be more aligned with finance and economics. While studying my Master of Law and Finance at the University of Oxford, I found myself selecting as many Finance electives as I could over the Law ones. I think in the back of my head I knew that I would be better suited to a more commercial role, however I was stuck in the mindset of having to “use” my law degree rather than pursuing something I was more passionate about.

I was fortunate at the time to receive a graduate offer at Allens. I took up the offer and spent just over two years at the firm doing two transactional rotations.

I had some really great experiences at the firm, both in terms of my development as well as socially.

Law firms are a great place to learn and develop quickly, as well as being able to make long lasting friendships. While many in my graduate cohort had a passion for the work, I struggled to be consistently engaged. As a transactional lawyer, I always felt that the more interesting aspects of the deal (e.g., pricing, commercial rationale) were being done by someone else.

Just before my two-year mark, I came to the conclusion that a legal career was not for me. It was a difficult position to be in, given that legal pathways tend to be pretty well defined (e.g. go in-house, become a partner or barrister etc.) but non-legal pathways not so much. It took quite a while- including speaking to a lot of people - to decide to apply for a position as a management consultant.

Consulting firms tends to take people from a range of disciples - from medicine to law - without a requirement of having a specific commercial background. They offered the opportunity to travel for work, to fund an MBA program overseas, and to work with ASX top 20 companies on challenging and engaging projects.

I spent a good one to two months studying for the infamous case interviews and was fortunate to receive an offer from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). I have now been at the firm for just over 18 months and am extremely happy I made the move. I find the work to be much more interesting and engaging, giving me the opportunity to develop a wide range of skillsets. It’s a great job for someone still trying to figure out what they are interested in, as you work on a number of cases across different industries and function areas.

My cases have ranged from building a new loan pricing tool for a ASX listed bank to running a $40m cost-cutting and procurement program at a large miner.

My recommendation to those who are considering a career outside the law is to not get trapped in the mindset that because you have done a law degree you must become a lawyer. However, if you do begin you career as a lawyer and find it is not for you, it still gives you a really strong foundation for your career- with may exit opportunities outside of the law available to you.

Andrew Lunardi Associate at the Boston Consulting Group Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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PUBLIC INTEREST LAW & SOCIAL JUSTICE Careers Guide 2022

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A career in public interest law and social justice provides law graduates the opportunity to utilise their legal qualification to spur on real change in the community and reform to the legal system.

Public interest lawyers work to improve the access, representation, and experience of marginalised groups in the legal system. This pathway is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding for legal practitioners.

For upcoming graduates inspired to pursue a career in social justice, community law centres have a number of graduate programs and internship offerings that will be advertised at the links below.

Work with a reform body, such as the Australian Law Reform Commission, is an avenue worth considering for graduates with an interest in policymaking and the ins and outs of legislation, rather than practising law in a courtroom

Here in the Public Interest Law and Social Justice section you will find: •

Lawyer at the Women’s Legal Centre, Emma Buckland, explores the skills required of a public interest lawyer, and the importance of being open to new experiences and opportunities across the legal field.

•

Lawyer at Legal Aid, Michael Sassella, discusses his pathway through academia, government law, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and Legal Aid, as well as the ideal values a public interest lawyer should have.

•

Senior Solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service, Emma Hudson-Buhagiar, explores the significance of the work of public interest lawyers, improving access to justice and representation for vulnerable communities, and her pathway post-graduation.

Useful Resources ANU Law Reform & Social Justice https://lrsj.anu.edu.au/ Australian Law Reform Commission https://www.alrc.gov.au/about/careers/ Aboriginal Legal Service ACT/NSW https://www.alsnswact.org.au/jobs Women’s Legal Centre ACT https://wlc.org.au/get-involved/work-with-us/ Legal Aid ACT https: //www.legalaidac t .org. au/about-us/ working-at-legal-aid

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Empowering and Assisting Others with your Law Degree: An Interview with a Lawyer at the Women’s Legal Centre A day in your life at the Women’s Legal Centre The Women’s Legal Centre is a community legal centre that provides free legal advice and representation to women. Our areas of practice incorporate family law, family violence, care and protection, employment law, discrimination law and immigration law, although my main area of practice is family law and family violence.

My day can vary depending on the clients that contact us. We have an advice line that runs from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and paralegals run the intake for this. As a solicitor, we can provide on-thespot advice to clients ringing the advice line. Fridays can be particularly frantic, because a client might have particular concerns about how a former partner will care for the children over the weekend, or that a former partner may not return the children.

We also have hour-long appointments with clients and our social workers attend some of these as joint appointments. Social workers can help by making sure the clients feel heard, as well as ensuring the client is being connected to the necessary support services.

During our appointments, we take instructions and advise clients of how the law will apply to their situation. We also use this appointment to assess whether we can provide longer term representation to the client.

Between our appointments, we work on client files we have taken on from appointments or the advice line.

This could mean representing clients in court, but the Centre also has a strong focus on early intervention work. Early intervention focuses on resolving matters early and ideally staying out of court. This work could involve things like negotiating a parenting plan (a written agreement about the shared care of a child), or the terms of a property settlement.

For the past year, I have also been working in the Health Justice Partnership team. This involves attending Calvary Hospital and the Gungahlin Child and Family Centre, where we engage with staff to generate referrals and meet clients before or after their appointments. The benefit of the outreach program is that we can reach more women who otherwise may not be aware they have a legal issue or who find it too difficult to access a legal service because of a controlling partner.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

I enjoy this job because I know that my role can meaningfully change someone else’s life for the better, particularly for people who may have had limited power over their lives as a result of a controlling relationship.

The change we bring can come about in different ways.

For some, it might mean they feel more empowered because they have a better understanding of the law and their entitlements in relation to splitting property or parenting. For others, it might mean we have quite an involved role in negotiating an outcome for them and with the assistance of intensive social work support.

Separate to this, my colleagues make the workplace a very welcoming place to work. We ensure we are looking out for each other and we share a great sense of humour.

What are the most important skills that a public interest lawyer should have?

Important skills to have include the ability to have an interest in improving your client’s lives, to be resilient and to work in a “trauma-informed” way. I think the interest in improving your client’s lives is probably an easier one – I know there was a strong interest in social justice work amongst the students while I was studying at ANU. Resilience is also important, though I think it is something that can be developed as you work.

We are assisted in this through individual and group development sessions. Working in a trauma-informed way is aiming to do no further harm by inadvertently retraumatising clients. Important aspects of traumainformed lawyering include ensuring that people feel physically and psychologically safe, that decisions are transparent and that clients have empowerment and choice. This can be challenging at times, particularly when operating within the confines of a rigid court system.

A key tip for success: What advice would you offer upcoming graduates considering pursuing a career in public interest law?

Be open to anything and don’t expect that your career path needs to be worked out the moment you leave university. For me, taking interesting roles as they come up means before my current role, I have had experience as an Associate at the Magistrates Court, lawyer at ACT Government Solicitor and internships at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, with a Native Title barrister and in a paralegal role at the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions. I had not worked in family law prior to my current role at the Women’s Legal Centre, but each of my previous roles has brought me a greater depth of experience which I have incorporated into my work in my current role.

Emma Buckland Lawyer at the ACT Women’s Legal Centre

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The Ideals of a Public Interest Lawyer: The Pathway of a Lawyer at Legal Aid I came to work in Legal Aid ACT after a legal career involving Australia and the UK. I worked as a university lecturer for 12 years. I then worked as a government lawyer for 25 years and as a senior member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for 5 years.

My earlier work led me to work in legal aid. I created and taught a social welfare course at Macquarie University, and worked in the Department of Social Security for 17 years in its legal division. There I advised on the legality of policy proposals and benefits administration, represented the department at tribunals and courts, and helped in the drafting of legislation. I was chief lawyer there for 10 years.

I was then made a senior member of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal where I presided over tribunal cases covering social security, veterans’ benefits, and workers compensation for 5 years. Throughout these jobs, I worked with individuals who are often vulnerable and left behind. After all that time the chance to do legal aid work emerged. I took the option up and have found directly assisting some vulnerable and profoundly grateful clients extremely rewarding.

Such a lawyer will be reflective about their work and their experiences. Their concern will be less with monetary gain than with the personal benefits that flow from being of help.

They need to be keen to learn and have new experiences. This involves us in providing what writers call an empathetic legal service for clients facing serious personal life experiences. Ideally, the public interest lawyer will be assisted by experienced colleagues who can provide ready assistance in dealing with the daily challenges.

A key tip for success: What advice would you offer upcoming graduates considering pursuing a career in public interest law?

A key tip for success for a career in public interest law is to do some volunteering at Legal Aid or a community legal centre, then look for work after graduation in places other than a traditional law firm. Work in legal aid, community law, consumer law, a government department whose work involves assisting those who need help, or a law firm known for its pro bono legal program would be an ideal way to launch a career in public interest law. These experiences will help you decide which area of legal practice is best for you. You might even prefer to use your valuable legal education working in a non-legal environment.

A day in your life at Legal Aid On an ordinary day in the office, I start by reading up on that day’s clients with appointments. I then join in a meeting with the other lawyers and paralegals to discuss what all of us think and can contribute to the help we might give each client. We then finalise who will meet and assist each client.

I will then spend the day meeting clients with paralegals, and working on follow-ups with them, such as letter-writing and file maintenance.

Paralegals assist the lawyers with research tasks using resources such as LexisNexis, calculating underpayments of young people’s wages, drafting letters, communicating with clients, and helping with community legal education through visits to schools and other venues.

What are the most important skills that a public interest lawyer should have?

The most important skills for a public interest lawyer are a genuine interest in people and a commitment to wanting to see those we meet happier when they leave our office than when they came in.

Michael Sassella Lawyer at Legal Aid ACT

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Access to Justice and Representation in the Law: An Interview with a Senior Solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service As a proud Wiradjuri woman, I have always wanted to work in criminal law as I wanted to provide culturally appropriate access to justice and representation to community and by doing so, alleviate the overrepresentation of my peoples in custody. That was my passion and still is my passion today.

Such relationships are often with police, community services departments, authorities, family, culture. All play a part in being a great advocate.

A key tip for success: What advice would you offer upcoming graduates considering pursuing a career in public interest law?

A tip for success in this career is to do as many internships, volunteer work, and paid jobs whilst at university as possible. This will let you understand the workings of the criminal justice system but also allow you to find an area of law that best reflects your personality and passions. Further, volunteering or internships also create opportunities to be mentored. In my experience, having a mentor can assist in navigating what otherwise may be a daunting experience.

Working in criminal law and helping Aboriginal people to navigate the criminal justice system can give my people a voice in Court and allow them to tell their truths. I have been working in the criminal sector for over 3 years now. I was initially at Legal Aid in the graduate program, then I moved to the ALS, and now I’m the solicitor in charge of the Walama List. This is the first year the Walama List has commenced. It is a holistic approach to sentencing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients in the District Court.

A day in your life at the Aboriginal Legal Service Currently my day consists of appearing in Court representing vulnerable clients in matters that vary from possession of prohibited drug charges to armed robberies. My work varies from analysing briefs of evidence to sentencing clients or running a hearing. When working at the ALS I have had the opportunity to appear in all jurisdictions including the Children’s Court, Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court and the Coroners Court. The ALS also covers many regions over NSW and the ACT. I have found that while working at the ALS, I have had a number of opportunities that are often not captured in other legal firms, such as being a part of the Youth Koori Court and the Walama List.

What are the most important skills that a public interest lawyer should have?

When working as a public interest lawyer you must possess a number of skills including communication skills, quick analysis of matters, and advocacy skills. Additionally, an important part of being a public interest lawyer is understanding the client’s upbringing and background, and the nuanced relationships that are present in the criminal justice system.

Emma Hudson-Buhagiar Senior Solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited

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ACADEMIA Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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Legal academia is concerned with the pursuit of legal education, research, and publication.

Academia is a challenging, yet highly fulfilling career path. Arguably, the most exciting aspect of legal academia is the role academics play in contributing to law reform, and exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the existing legal system. Academics are at the forefront of legal innovation.

The pathway to academia is extremely diverse, and it is often the academics with versatile and extensive background experiences that have the best foundation for a career in academia. Academics will often practice the law before completing a PhD. The path is not rigid, however.

Many of the legal academics at the ANU have had careers in the public service, at research think-tanks, or are continuing to practice the law as a solicitor or barrister while teaching.

Here in the Academia section you will find: •

Associate Dean of Research at the ANU College of Law, Associate Professor Will Bateman, describes his pathway practising as a solicitor, gaining postgraduate qualifications overseas, working as an associate in the Federal and High Courts, before entering legal academia.

•

Director of the Law Reform and Social Justice program at the ANU College of Law, Associate Professor Matthew Zagor, explores his circuitous pathway through human rights advocacy to academia, and the exciting innovation occurring in modern legal academia.

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An Interview with the Associate Dean of Research at the ANU College of Law What is your current role and specialisation?

I am the Associate Dean of Research at the ANU College of Law, which means I think a lot about ways to support people (my talented colleagues) trying to answer very hard questions. I’m also an Associate Professor of law and I specialise in monetary/ economic law, constitutional law and law and technology.

What are some of the challenges currently facing legal academics?

Modern academia is very entrepreneurial and more competitive than it was 15 or 20 years ago. To succeed, you need to take risks, collaborate and “put yourself out there”. This creates challenges because most academic training (ie, sitting alone reading books/ reviewing data and writing theses) is focused on an older professional model. At ANU we’re working to make sure our higher degree research students can meet these challenges.

What was your pathway towards academia?

It was a winding road. After finishing law school (at ANU) I worked as a Federal Court Associate in Sydney. I then went to Cambridge for my LLM, which I loved and I intended to start a PhD immediately after finishing, but caring responsibilities brought me back to Aus. I then worked at Herbert Smith Freehills in banking and litigation for about 2 years.

I really enjoyed the competitive aspects of legal practice and working with highly-motivated people, but I still wanted to do a PhD. So, I left practice and returned to Cambridge to start my doctorate. Just before leaving Aus for the UK, I was offered a job as a High Court Associate, which I accepted, but required me to pause my PhD halfway through and return to Canberra/Sydney for 12 months. Working on the High Court was an incredible experience and it gave me extra time to process the research I’d done in the first 18 months of my PhD. After returning to Cambridge I was flat out finishing within 3 years (when my scholarship ran out) and applied for a job at ANU about 12 months before finishing my degree.

I was teaching Com Con 48hrs after submitting my dissertation.

Why academia?

You can choose your own adventure in academia.

You can decide which projects you’re going to work on, and what matters to you. That’s an enormously rare thing in today’s job market. I also like working with people who care about ideas and care about the world. Finally, academia is a truly international profession: we’re allowed (and encouraged) to keep exploring the world throughout our careers. These are all good things.

What are the skills required to be an academic?

Read quickly. Write quickly. Think deeply. Listen carefully. Be generous. Be curious.

Associate Professor Will Bateman Australian National University

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An Interview with an Associate Professor and the Director of the LRSJ program at the ANU College of Law What is your current role and specialisation?

I’m an Associate Professor and Director of the Law Reform and Social Justice program, specialising in public, refugee and human rights law.

What was your pathway towards academia?

Circuitous and only inevitable in retrospect. My first degree was in South Asian religion and anthropology, and my first (real) job post-uni was as a human rights researcher, followed by several positions in refugee and human rights advocacy. I used to say flippantly that I took a late law degree to ‘learn the language of the enemy’, but that was only partly true: I wanted to understand the priestly language of the law and the power that came with it, not just how to use it. Ironically, I eventually left the community to work for the so-called enemy with jobs in the federal Environment and AttorneyGeneral’s Department and a stint as a member on the Migration / Refugee Review Tribunal. But by then I was already publishing articles and teaching casually at ANU, and was loving it. Perhaps the path was always there. I just didn’t see it.

Why academia?

The academic life still provides unequalled privileges and freedoms, especially for the legal academic.

Where else can you live part-time in the clouds with your ideas, and part-time at the coalface of social justice advocacy and activism? Academia gives you an unparalleled platform to merge theory and practice – and, when the work isn’t overwhelming, it provides space for authentic exploration into ‘nature of things’. Moreover, you get to do this alongside some fascinating, innovative and obsessed thinkers and doers, and work each year with a new batch of students, ready to change the world. It’s inspiring.

What are some of the challenges currently facing legal academics?

Academia traditionally attracts introverts. We are not natural self-promoters, yet academic success is increasingly linked to profile, impact, and metrics.

As expectations grow and resources shrink, it can be a highly stressful environment. This is the sobering and alienating reality of the much-critiqued neoliberal university. More specifically, students are increasingly anxious about their future and the future of the planet. This is a singular challenge, but one that also provides an opportunity for positive change – which takes me to what excites me most…

What most excites you about the future of legal academia?

The push to diversify and ‘decolonise’ the curriculum has finally reached legal academia. Critical perspectives on the nature and structure of legal thought, practice and pedagogy are moving from the periphery to the centre. It excites me to think that the next generation of lawyers and leaders will come out of law school with a more sophisticated understanding of the power dynamics underpinning the discipline, and the tools at their disposal for challenging and changing the ways we achieve social and environmental justice. Put this alongside the pressing need to recognise the important role lawyers must play in responding to climate change, and we have two exciting, even revolutionary developments for the future of the discipline.

What is your key tip for success?

I’m going to assume that by ‘success’ we mean ‘happiness’ rather than its conventional meaning of climbing a ladder. In that sense, academia is like any other job. You need to put it in perspective, make time for yourself and your loved ones, and make sure you work with people who support and respect each other. The rest is commentary.

What are the skills required to be an academic?

Curiosity, humility, patience, and passion. Leaving aside the importance of drive, ambition and ‘productivity’, academia is still a place where respect for ideas, opinions and deliberation matter, whether you’re talking to a first year student or an Emerita Professor, or reading a random text that you happen upon. If you can maintain an excitement and openness for each encounter, and incorporate it into your teaching and writing, you’ll be right at home.

Associate Professor Matthew Zagor Australian National University

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Firm Materials Australian National University Law Students’ Society

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make the difference

to your career, clients and community

Aim beyond pure legal knowledge. Beyond commercial advice.

Be known for something more: a clarity of thought and an instinct for problem solving that can influence governments and leading businesses the world over. Join us and we’ll help you enrich and expand your worldview, grow your skills and influence new ways of thinking. In other words, we’ll help you make the difference.

Begin now at ashurst.com/careers

Connect with us on

My Clerkship Experience Lily Pang, Seasonal Clerk

Studied: Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Bachelor of Arts, Australian National University Rotations: Employment, Dispute Resolution 1. WHY ASHURST

I chose Ashurst because of its reputation of being a top law firm with great culture. Ashurst ranks Band 1 in a number of practice areas, leading to work that is intellectually stimulating and rewarding. The firm is made up of friendly, down to earth and intelligent people with a genuine interest in their work and also in each other. Ashurst’s vision is to be the world’s most progressive global law firm which translates to a mind-set that is always looking for better ways to deliver to our clients, community and people.

2. YOUR WORK AS A CLERK

During my Employment rotation I had the opportunity to work on a variety of matters. I drafted file notes, wrote advices, prepared briefs to counsel and conducted legal research. While rotating through Dispute Resolution I attended a number of case conferences, drafted conference reports, researched caselaw and drafted correspondence for a Government client. Throughout both rotations, I received clear instructions when tasked and felt welcome to ask any follow up questions where needed.

As clerks we also got involved in four projects. In teams, we worked on a pro bono project, tendering project, a project on innovating the clerkship recruitment process and also a project exploring an area of Commonwealth commercial activity.

3. SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE CLERKSHIP

As a clerk cohort we all got along very well. The first time the Canberra clerks all met each other was 7 AM on a Monday when we travelled to Sydney together for the clerkship induction. Travelling with each other was an opportunity for us to get to know each other very well very quickly.

During our first rotation we were in the office so would see each other and organised regular Friday night dinners. The second rotation was virtual (due to risks of Omicron) but we still had weekly catch ups over MS teams, where we would check in on each other and provide updates n our rotations, work and general wellbeing. We have all become very close friends over the course of the clerkship. I feel very lucky knowing we will have each other as we navigate the next steps in our legal careers.

4.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AT ASHURST

The initial two day induction program in Sydney was very helpful and I felt very welcomed within the firm. Over the course of the clerkship we continued to have training on legal research, diversity, pro bono and all the skills needed to excel at a global commercial firm. For example, we received training on ‘how to research like an Ashurst lawyer’ which built on the research skills we gained at university.

We were also each allocated a buddy- a junior lawyer who provided invaluable career mentorship and guidance throughout the clerkship experience.

5. ASHURST IN THE COMMUNITY

During the clerkship, I had the opportunity to work on a pro bono project with Canberra Community Law. My project partner and I were responsible for researching legislative changes and amending the public housing chapter, a resource used to give an overview of laws and policies on Public Housing in the ACT. The Canberra Employment team also provided assistance to small business employers and employees on workplace responsibilities in light of public health orders and policy developments from COVID-19.

6. APPLICATION TIPS

My biggest tip is to research the firm assiduously. Knowing and including information that isn’t instantly ‘Googleable’, such as the current projects the firm is working on, the culture of the firm and specific tasks you will be doing will make you stand out as a candidate. An in depth understanding of the firm and how you fit in with its growth strategy is critical to a strong application. If you can, also try and speak to someone who has done the clerkship, has worked at the firm or is a current employee, as this will give you the most accurate and current insights into the firm and its operations.

7. Who Should Apply

If you are interested in working alongside the brightest minds of the legal industry who also happen to have the biggest hearts… please apply!

careers.ashurst.com

STAY TRUE.

Staying true to your direction is what defines Clayton Utz. We’ve built a culture that’s unlike any other law firm, but don’t just take our word for it. A good lawyer needs compelling evidence so meet our people and judge for yourself. claytonutz.com/graduates

Academic brilliance certainly counts, but graduates who thrive here have something extra – a natural passion for connecting with people and a strong sense of self. That’s what staying true is all about. If you have these qualities, Clayton Utz is for you.

Clayton Utz is one of Australia's most successful law firms, known for the strength of our culture, our smart, committed people, and our confident, engaging approach to client service.

Staying true to your direction is what defines Clayton Utz. We're proud to be an independent firm that's built team of down-to-earth, collaborative lawyers who know that at the heart of exceptional client service is the ability to understand the client's business and what success looks like for them. It means bringing a sharp, commercial mind to problem-solving, delivering clear advice that cuts through the complexity, and embracing being part of a team.

With 170 partners and over 1,600 employees across six offices, we our services span 14 key practice areas: Banking & Financial Services, Commercial Litigation, Competition, Corporate/M&A/Capital Markets, Environment and Planning, Forensic and Technology Services, IP and Technology, Major Projects and Construction, Public Sector / Government Services, Real Estate, Restructuring and Insolvency, Tax, Workplace Relations Employment and Safety, and Pro Bono.

CU Up Close

Are you a pre-penultimate student in your 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of a law degree? Our CU Up Close program is an exciting opportunity to gain exposure and see firsthand what it's like to work at a top commercial law firm? You will gain insights into our clerkship and graduate programs, application tips and tricks, as well as practical skills you can use at university and beyond.

Throughout the program you will interact with Clayton Utz lawyers and experience our unique culture first hand.

Applications Open March 2022.

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CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

If you’re a law student in your penultimate year, our Clerkship Programs will expose you to the fast pace of a full-service commercial law firm, where you'll experience the law in action. You’ll be working under the guidance of some of the sharpest legal minds in Australia, on challenging, complex and high-profile transactions and matters. You’ll be mentored by partners and lawyers who are leaders in their fields, in a firm where individuality is embraced and innovation actively encouraged.

Our Clerkship Programs are our future pipeline for the Graduate Program. They are designed to give you a feel for what it’s like to be a Graduate and they are a great place to start your career.

See our website for application dates.

GRADUATE PROGRAM

It's not just about wearing a suit. There's always a gap between theory and practice, and postuniversity prospects can be daunting. How do you make the leap from being a student to working in the industry?

That's where we come in. Once you've completed your studies, our national Graduate Program gives you the perfect foundation for your legal career. Our 2.5 week orientation program is designed to set you up for success. It consists of PLT+, local training and a national orientation week in Sydney. Our rotations will help you discover different practice areas and find the right fit. From day one you'll be working on complex and sophisticated legal issues, and with our innovative learning and development approach, you'll get the support to become the best future lawyer you can be. careers@claytonutz.com https://graduates.claytonutz.com/

WHERE BRIGHT MINDS MEET

SEEKING LAWYERS FOR A CHANGING WORLD Clients expect more from their lawyers than ever before. They look to us as business partners on their journey to achieve their objectives.

It’s not just about precedents and compliance, but finding new ways to build relationships and deliver the results that matter.

Think global

Collaborate

Embrace new challenges

#1

Local excellence global standards

It takes immense drive and motivation to stay ahead in a world that’s changing as fast as ours. If you’re excited and inspired by that, Clifford Chance could be the right firm for you.

To Learn More or to Submit your Application, scan the QR code below

For any enquiries please contact Maud van Houten via Grad.Australia@CliffordChance.com

GET TO KNOW US Our vision is to be the global law firm of choice for the world’s leading businesses of today and tomorrow.

Today our firm enjoys a position at the forefront of our profession. We are proud of what we achieve every day, working in collaboration and partnership with our clients and wider stakeholders to secure their long-term, sustainable success.

32 offices 22 countries

39 Chambers Tier 1 Rankings in Asia Pacific

Asian Legal Business China Employer of Choice Awards for 4 consecutive years

600 colleagues which include 77 trainees in Asia Pacific

Australian Workplace Equality Index Award Small Employer Gold for 2 consecutive years

Why are we different?

Our teams work across borders, languages and jurisdictions and share insights and expertise to achieve our clients’ commercial goals.

Secondly, we’re pioneers and work on many ‘first-of-a-kind’ deals.

Finally, it’s the nature of our people - highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak. We embrace our culture of learning and collaboration.

of lawyers, including partners, while you assist with real-time matters.

Throughout the clerkship you will hear from various practice areas which helps you develop a comprehensive understanding of life at a leading international law firm.

Who is eligible for clerkships?

Students must be at least in their penultimate year and are available to participate in the 2023 Graduate Program.

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

GRADUATE PROGRAM

What kind of work can a clerk expect to do?

Do we make graduate offers to the open market, or just through clerkships?

Our clerkship program is designed to provide you with a real insight into a legal career at Clifford Chance in Australia.

Throughout the program, you will work alongside all levels

Graduate offers are primarily made from our clerkship program.

However, we also consider applications from students who have not participated in our clerkship program.

IMPORTANT DATES Sydney

Perth

When to Apply for the Clerkship Program

7 March – 14 April 2022

4 June – 7 August 2022

Graduate Program

Start in March or September 2023

Start in March or September 2023

When to Apply for the Graduate Program

28 February – 10 April 2022

4 June – 7 August 2022

360° THINKING What's your angle?

We're looking for those who see things differently.

The kind of people who bring new ideas and create innovative opportunities for our clients.

Share your unique perspective by applying to careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/au/grads www.herbertsmithfreehills.com

360° THINKING ABOUT US With over 25 offices spanning Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Middle east, we can show you exactly what a world class commercial law firm has to offer, giving you the chance to work as part of an international team, on high-profile matters, for some of the most significant organisations in the market.

Our focus is on the future: the future needs of existing and new clients, the future of the legal profession and investing in our future lawyers.

That’s why we aim to attract the best talent from a broad range of backgrounds, ensuring we are optimising our position as a progressive, forward thinking professional services business.

At Herbert Smith Freehills, you’ll be given the opportunity to develop the skills you need to help solve our clients’ most complex challenges in thoughtful and innovative ways.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

We're looking for those who see things differently, the kind of people who bring new ideas and create innovative opportunities for our clients.

each applicant’s achievements in the context that they have been gained. We understand that not every candidate’s achievements look the same on paper – and we want to recruit the best people, from every background.

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM

We select many of our graduates through our vacation clerkships. During this immersive experience, you’ll receive hands-on practical experience, actively contributing, as you work on some of the diverse challenges facing the team you’re collaborating with.

You will gain a deeper understanding of life at the firm and what your future could look like if you join us. Some key features include the opportunity to: • Sit within a specific team, delivering real work for key clients • Before you join, submit a preference for a team to tailor your experience

Great lawyers are both curious and creative. We encourage you to challenge assumptions and open yourself up to new ideas. It’s this growth mindset that creates opportunities for you and your clients. So, what exactly are we looking for?

• Navigate the first step of your career with partner and graduate mentoring support

There’s no single path to becoming an exceptional commercial lawyer. We look beyond your academic record and your technical aptitude. We’re focussed on finding people who have the curiosity to explore all the angles and the empathy to place themselves in their client’s shoes. Building great relationships takes a certain understanding and as our global village gets ever smaller, we look for graduates who think of themselves as citizens of the world.

• Contribute to our pro bono practice

In line with our 10 Actions for Change we are proud to use the Rare Contextual Recruitment System (CRS). The CRS allows us to understand

HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM

• Attend workshops and presentations covering all our practice areas

JOINING US

We offer a range of summer and winter clerkships across our Australian offices. If you have queries about graduate or vacation clerk positions, please visit our website: careers. herbertsmithfreehills.com/au/grads/ vacation-clerkships or contact one of our graduate recruitment consultants.

KEY DATES/DEADLINES SYDNEY Positions

30 - 35

Clerkship programs

1 Summer

Applications for all 2022/23 programs open

Monday 6 June 2022

Applications for all 2022/23 programs close

Sunday 10 July 2022

Offers made

Wednesday 14 September 2022

Please note: An application should only be submitted to the office where you intend to start your career as a graduate. Multiple applications will not be considered.

• Work with cutting edge technology through our innovation projects • Networking opportunities to meet people across the firm

Contacts James Keane Graduate Recruitment Manager T +61 2 9322 4313 GraduatesSydney@hsf.com

© Herbert Smith Freehills 2022 NOF186936_A4_Advertorial_SYDNEY_v /110222

Working at Jones Day… One Firm Worldwide® Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers in 42 offices across five continents. The Firm is distinguished by: a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commit-ment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partner-ship; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs.

The Firm’s 125 years of sustained growth—in experience, reputation and successful client interaction—have been built by its dedication to a ‘One Firm Worldwide’ philosophy, which fosters the creation of interoffice and cross-practice teams, assembled to ensure that clients receive the best possible guidance and representation, without regard to barriers conventionally imposed by geography, borders, time zones or language.

Australia Jones Day’s presence in Australia has grown significantly.

The Firm has added new offices in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane over the last five years in addition to our office in Sydney, reflecting our commitment to expanding our service to the Australian market.

Our lawyers work in a dynamic and stimulating multidisciplinary environment by collaborating with colleagues from different practices and different offices worldwide.

We continue to attract many of the legal industry’s most highly regarded and sought-after lawyers while maintaining our focus on promoting internal talent through the ranks.

The New Lawyers Group Jones Day recognizes that many law students leave law school not knowing which practice they want to enter. We also believe that a more well-rounded lawyer is a better lawyer and that a wide range of experience is valuable to a new lawyer. Accordingly, many years ago Jones Day created the New Lawyers Group, which allows new associates to gain exposure to different practice areas and lawyering styles at the Firm before making a commitment to a specific-practice.

We provide extensive training through the New Lawyers program. Each year, we endeavor to bring together new associates from across the Firm at the “New Lawyers Academy” in Washington for three days of hands-on training and meetings with Firm leaders. In addition to helping them understand Jones Day’s culture, organization and operation, the Academy gives our new lawyers the opportunity to meet their peers in the Firm’s other offices.

Graduate and Clerkship Program We run clerkship programs at Jones Day across our offices in Australia that offer selected positions to talented students who are in their penultimate year of university. We give our clerks real work for real clients, to provide them an oppor-tunity to learn what the practice of law at a large firm is all about.

Providing challenging assignments also allows us to assess clerks’ potential to deliver first-rate legal services and to flourish in Jones Day’s culture. We aim for clerks to become future graduates of the Firm.

A Culture of Client Service and Collaboration Jones Day’s commitment to client service means our law-yers work together in a collaborative atmosphere where teamwork is essential, respect for and from colleagues is the norm, and credit is shared for a job well done.

In fact, every facet of the Firm is structured to promote an environment that’s client-focused, but also professionally fulfilling for lawyers at any career stage. We expect our lawyers to focus completely on a client’s needs, with the full support and encouragement of their peers. We recog-nize that partners and associates alike contribute to the Firm in a variety of ways, and we reward lawyers for their overall contributions to the Firm and for promoting the Firm’s values.

JONES DAY AUSTRALIA THE FACTS Jones Day’s Australian offices, an integral part of the worldwide Firm, are seeking highly skilled graduates and lawyers who are interested in working as part of an integrated team of lawyers on a truly global scale. Joining Jones Day means starting your career in a dynamic global law firm, in which you will find ample opportunity to acquire the full array of skills and experience necessary to meet the legal-services needs of sophisticated clients on a worldwide basis.

FIRM OVERVIEW AUSTRALIAN OFFICES

2500 4 42 17 LAWYERS WORLDWIDE

Detroit Chicago Minneapolis San Francisco Silicon Valley Los Angeles Irvine San Diego Dallas

OFFICES

COUNTRIES

Amsterdam Cleveland Pittsburgh Boston New York Washington

Brussels London Paris Madrid

Düsseldorf Frankfurt Munich Milan

Columbus Atlanta Miami

Beijing Shanghai Tokyo

Taipei

Saudi Arabia

Hong Kong

Dubai

Mexico City

Singapore

Houston

Brisbane Sydney São Paulo

Perth Melbourne

AUSTRALIA MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE Antitrust & Competition Law Banking, Finance & Securities Business Restructuring & Reorganization Capital Markets Energy Environment

Financial Markets Global Disputes Intellectual Property Labor & Employment Mergers & Acquisitions New Lawyers Group Private Equity Pro Bono

CLERK RECRUITMENT Sydney and Melbourne offices take part in the NSW Summer Clerkship Scheme and the LIV Seasonal Clerkship Program.

Sydney: Applications open on 6 June 2022, Application close at 11.59 pm on 10 July 2022 Melbourne: Applications open on 4 July 2022, Applications close at 11.59 pm on 14 August 2022 Applications must be made online.

Please visit us at www.jonesdaycareers.com/australia and follow the links to the relevant page.

Your career.

Your choice.

PRACTICE AREAS When you join us, you’ll become part of a national team and work with some of Australia’s brightest legal minds on a broad range of practices areas.

Johnson Winter & Slattery was started by three lawyers who wanted to do things differently. We’ve grown rapidly to become one of Australia’s leading independent firms and now have offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

• Competition/antitrust

Working with us will give you all the benefits that come with working for a leading law firm and much more. We will put you at the forefront of the corporate world, working with our clients on their most complex and business critical legal work – it’s what we do best.

• Intellectural property and IT

• Dispute resolution • Funds management • Projects and construction • Corporate • Employment

• Regulatory • Corporate governance • Energy and resources • Media • Restructuring and insolvency • Debt finance

It’s our people that really sets us apart. We pride ourselves on being down to earth, approachable and, quite simply, a great place to work.

• Foreign investment • Private equity • Tax

ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER Our flexible team structure means you will not be held back. Our lawyers take on the work that reflects their ability, not their job title. You’ll also benefit from your own structured and bespoke professional development program. There are no barriers to your success with us.

A BIT ABOUT YOU If you are enthusiastic, driven to succeed and want to continually develop your skills, you’ll fit right in. We’re looking for graduates who have not only excelled academically, but have great communications skills, thrive in a collaborative environment and want to deliver legal advice that will propel clients forward.

HOW DO I APPLY?

GO YOUR OWN WAY Our business model is different to other firms. We want our lawyers to focus on the quality of their legal work and client experience. That means you won’t be under pressure to meet billing targets. You will compete with your adversaries, not your peers.

Just submit your CV, covering letter and current official academic transcript via our website. You can address this to Wilma Lewis, our Senior People & Development Consultant.

LET’S CHAT Wilma Lewis, Senior People & Development Consultant on wilma.lewis@jws.com.au or phone 02 8247 9630.

To learn more about our programs, visit our website: www.jws.com.au/careers

IT’S A VIBE THING What truly sets us apart is our people. We pride ourselves on being down to earth, approachable, but always high performing. Our ethos is: “we’re in it together” and it’s what we live by.

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Be exceptional.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is Australia’s leading independent law firm. We’re known for delivering legal excellence, exceptional client service and outstanding results.

Our significant work

Diversity & Inclusion

We let our work speak for itself, and are proud to work with some of the biggest organisations in the world on their most important matters.

We strongly believe that diversity in all its forms should be embraced and celebrated. This benefits our people, our clients, our firm and the industry at large. Our culture is defined by excellence, collaboration, commitment and respect.

Our clients include more than half of the top fifty ASX‑listed companies, some of the largest privately owned companies in Australia, Federal and State Governments, and a number of Fortune five hundred companies.

Corrs’ Lawyer Development Program The Lawyer Development Program is designed for lawyers in the formative stage of their career. It aims to build the capabilities and relationships that will drive career progression and underpin future successes, as rapidly as possible. Unique features of the program include: •

Mentor partner – Each lawyer is allocated a mentor partner (in most cases their supervising partner in their first rotation) who remains in this role throughout the program and potentially beyond. This will build a personal and enduring relationship that transcends everyday transactional work. Lawyers will also be supported in each rotation by a supervising partner and SA/SC who will source meaningful and challenging work.

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12 x 6 x 6 rotation structure – We have extended the first practice group rotation from 6‑months to 12 months to ensure lawyers have time to learn on the job and build strong capabilities and relationships in their first year. In the second year, when lawyers have an increased level of experience and confidence, they will complete two 6‑month rotations in order to gain exposure and build relationships across different groups.

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Formal learning – The program incorporates comprehensive formal learning opportunities including our national Graduate Academy, local Graduate Orientation, practical legal training with the College of Law, practice group induction sessions, and the national Legal Excellence program.

@CorrsLaw

We think it’s important to contribute to the community and to facilitate access to justice. We perform around 20,000 hours of pro bono and volunteer work each year, helping those who need it most. We feel that it is our responsibility to ensure legal services are available not only to those who can afford it, but to those who cannot, to those who are disenfranchised and to those who have genuine legal issues of public interest that need to be pursued.

Wellbeing Program Our wellbeing program provides a range of initiatives to assist people in maintaining good overall health. Some of our activities include mixed netball, pilates and yoga, touch football, cricket day, Friday night drinks, family days, trivia nights, End of Financial Year party and Christmas Party.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth

@CorrsLawyers

corrs.com.au/graduates

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CorrsLawyers

Community & Pro Bono

ARE YOU READY TO BE BOLD? There’s never been a better time to be part of Gilbert + Tobin.

From day one, our flat structure allows you to take ownership of challenging work and cutting-edge projects. Work directly with partners and team leaders – nobody is too important to take time to explain things clearly, or give a helping hand.

Our open and welcoming culture underpins our continued success in Australian corporate law. Through our pro bono practice, we are actively making a difference, every single day.

If you’re comfortable being challenged, as well as challenging us on the way we think and operate – you’ll fit right in. We’re not worried about you being you. We’re counting on it.

gtlaw.com.au/careers

LEADERS IN CRIMINAL DEFENCE

WHEN IT’S TIME TO CHOOSE SIDES. CHOOSE OURS. Hugo Law Group is a market leader in Criminal Law, working exclusively in this field.

We deliver specialist criminal defence representation in NSW and the ACT, providing exceptional support to people facing serious criminal charges.

With decades of experience, we pride ourselves on delivering personalised and meticulous service to all of our clients.

With some of the most highly regarded lawyers in Sydney and Canberra, our team will provide you with an exceptional opportunity to work amongst leading criminal lawyers with decades of experience and the chance to move to other jurisdictions and gain a wealth of knowledge.

Take the next step of your journey with a team that’s in your corner, offering advice, support & encouragement for the next phase of your career.

hugolawgroup.com.au

IN YOUR CORNER

Your career begins on

Day One

From Day One you will have challenging, meaningful work, gain exposure to clients, be given a good level of responsibility, work in a supportive and collaborative team and have regular access to our partners.

The training you receive throughout your clerkship will ensure you are thoroughly prepared and ready to get involved in and contribute to client work straight away.

The program begins with a comprehensive orientation which includes training and development activities.

Join our clerkship program and become part of a firm where you’re involved from Day One.

Scan this QR code to find out what it’s like to work at Maddocks.

DISCOVER

EXCEL

ASPIRE

Your future. Your choice. Choose to make an impact.

At MinterEllison, we provide our clerks and graduates with exceptional training, development and experiences.

Learn by working on real challenges Right from the start you’ll work on real client engagements, preparing you for any challenge. Discover new areas of practice, and learn the technical knowledge and tools you need to achieve your career ambitions.

Discover industry and market insights Our industry programs span across all of our practice groups, ensuring collaboration amongst our teams that creates real impact for our clients:

Health & ageing

Financial services

Real Estate

Education

Energy & Resources

Government

Infrastructure

Bring your whole self to work We want our people to be exactly who they are at work by fostering an inclusive workplace. We want you to excel as a future lawyer. It’s all in your hands now.

Make an impact You’ll have the chance to work with our Pro Bono and Community Investment program and market-leading social enterprise practice:

Pro bono

63K+ hrs of pro bono services

RAP impact

Social impact

4,800+

over 100

pro bono hours supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations

For information and to apply visit graduates.minterellison.com

MinterEllison Virtual Internship Want to experience a true-to-life day of a MinterEllison lawyer? Our interactive virtual internship offers you an insight into the commercial work we undertake here at MinterEllison. Curious?

graduates.minterellison.com

new social enterprise and Indigenous business clients engaged and supported

Sparke Helmore’s Graduate Program: become part of our family The Sparke Helmore Graduate Program is a rewarding way to kick-start your legal career, joining a firm that make it all about you.

The first year of practising law can be daunting.

Our Graduate Program is designed to guide you through the experience, providing you with comprehensive training and mentoring as well as networking opportunities. You will benefit from specialised soft skills training, equipping you with the tools and knowledge you need to become a capable practitioner and strong all-rounder.

You will also have access to the firm’s mentoring program, which pairs you with a senior lawyer in another practice group to give you a broader understanding of the firm and its other areas of law.

8:00 am | I’ve arrived at the office a little bit earlier than usual today to help prepare for a hearing. The hearing was originally scheduled to be conducted over Microsoft Teams, but after some frantic 4:30pm emails between the parties the day before, the hearing is now in person at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Having prepared the brief a couple of days ago, I quickly compile all the documents needed for the hearing

We operate in a way that puts our clients and our people at the heard of everything we do—we’re proud to be described as down to earth, practical and easy to deal with. When you join our Program, you will interact every day with our loyal and exceptional client base and quickly become involved in matters that will engage and challenge you, giving you unparalleled opportunity to grow and experience what the law is really like.

The team—a Special Counsel, Barrister and myself—meet to discuss our strategy before heading into the hearing room. It’s eye-popping to hear the issues that had previously only existed on paper (for me anyway) being argued out by both sides right in front of me. Year 11 “Suits”obsessed Cindy would be proud!

Our culture provides the foundations of a welcoming and inclusive environment and we encourage people from all backgrounds to join us. Hear from Cindy, one of our recent graduates, about a day in her life as part of the Sparke Helmore family.

9:20 am | It’s time to head off to the Tribunal. I’m excited to physically see the action happen in real time—rather than on Microsoft Teams!”

1:30 pm | It’s time for a break and we chat through the morning’s events over lunch, before heading back into the hearing room.

3:30 pm | The hearing has adjourned for the day, and we walk back to the office. My afternoon to-do-list includes compiling tribunal documents, finalising a litigation strategy and also drafting a brief to counsel.

6:00 pm | I had made decent headway with the brief and am ready to head home.

If you want to know more, why not take a moment to visit our website and learn more about Sparke Helmore’s Graduate Program.

Cindy Huang

www.sparke.com.au/join-us/graduate-program/ adelaide | brisbane | canberra | darwin | melbourne | newcastle | perth | sydney | upper hunter