2014 Careers Guide

2014 e d i u g s r e e r ca

notre dame sydney law society

careers guide 2014

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2014 Careers Guide Editor & NDSLS Careers Director Dominic Rohde

2014 NDSLS Committee Executive Kathryn Whybourne, President

NDSLS Careers Sub-committee

Scott Rogers, Vice President

Maria-Rose Muli

Alexander Carlos, Treasurer Aleysha Azzopardi, Secretary

Design Alexander Carlos

Directors Dominic Rohde, Careers Director

Contributors

Julia Lavers, Competitions Director

Lauren Absalom

Caroline Michel, Education Director

Daniel Ang

Peter Gray, IT Director

Daniel Austin

Julia Allcock, Marketing Director

Natalie Baladi

Imogen Leighton, Publications Director

Rachel Bennett

Lauren Absalom, Social Events Director

Alexander Carlos

Rachel Bennett, Social Justice Director

Francisco Esparraga

Shelby van Ooran, Sponsorship Director

Caitlin Gallagher Antonela Josipovic

Sub-committees

Caroline Michel

Luca Morangiu, Careers Assistant

Scott Rogers

Maria-Rose Muli, Careers Assistant

Professor Gerard Ryan

Nicki Ayers, Competitions Assistant

Dr Keith Thompson

Christian Santos, Competitions Assistant

Kathryn Whybourne Aidan Williams

Year Representatives

Bonnie Wynne

Claire Longley, First Year Representative Sabrina Mobbs, Second Year Representative Elyse Di Stefano, Third Year Representative Caitlin Gallagher, Fourth/Final Year Representative Daniella Brown, Mature Age Representative

Copyright and Disclaimer Š 2014 Notre Dame Sydney Law Society This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may be reproduced or stored by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the express permission of the Notre Dame Sydney Law Society.

The articles and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Notre Dame Sydney Law Society, the University of Notre Dame Australia, its affiliates or its employees. Although the editor and authors have taken every care in preparing and writing the guide, they expressly disclaim and accept no liability for any errors, omissions, misuse or misunderstandings on the part of any person who uses or relies upon it. The editor, authors and Notre Dame Sydney Law Society accept no responsibility for any damage, injury or loss occasioned to any person or entity, whether law student or otherwise, as a result of a person relying, wholly or in part, on any material included, omitted or implied in this publication.

The 2014 Careers Guide is proudly sponsored by:

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Contents 6 7 9

Foreword From the Dean From the President

11 12 12 14 15 16 18

The Various Application Processes Clerkship/Graduate Application Process The Application Process The Interview Process Using cvMail Professional Cover Letters The Perfect Resume

20

From Our Sponsor: King & Wood Mallesons

24 26 27

Interview Skills Individual Interviews, Group Interviews, and Cocktail Nights Interview Questions

28

From Our Sponsor: Clayton Utz

29 30

Qualifying for Domestic Practice Using Your Connections: Some Advice

31 33

From Our Sponsor: The College of Law Looking to get an edge? Develop your skills ...

36 38 40 42

Admission to the Bar Using Contract Law in Legal Practice International Postgraduate Study and Practising Overseas The current state of law graduate employment in australia

43 43

Career Options: Law Firms Employment Profile: Caitlin Gallagher, Whitehead Cooper Williams Solicitors

44

From Our Sponsor: Minter Ellison

46 47

Employment Profile: Scott Rogers, Watson and Watson Solicitors Employment Profile: Lauren Absalom, Maurice Blackburn / Formerly of McDermott & Associates, Solicitors

48

From Our Sponsor: Herbert Smith Freehills

50

Employment Profile: Antonela Josipovic, Jack Shand Chambers

51

From Our Sponsor: Allens

56

Employment Profile: Bonnie Wynne, Maurice Blackburn

57

From Our Sponsor: DLA Piper

59 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 70

Career Options: Non-Law Specific Careers The Public Sector Government Sector Opportunities for Law Graduates The Court Corporate Advisory and Professional Services Government Relations/Lobbying Investment Banking Insolvency and Corporate Restructuring Accounting and Taxation Clerkship Profile: Kathryn Whybourne, Cancer Council Graduate Profile: Daniel Ang, PricewaterhouseCoopers Social Justice

71 72

Graduate Employment and Summer Clerkship Programs Participating Law Firms 2014

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Foreword dominic rohde

careers director, notre dame sydney law society

The 2014 Careers Guide should be thoroughly read by

of the harsh statistics. Instead, use them to inform

all Notre Dame law students so that they may get a

yourself so that you may position yourself in the right

feel for what is to come if they are a first year student

ways to maximise your employment prospects.

or, if they are a penultimate or final year student, what their next steps might look like.

In writing this years Careers Guide I believe it is important to be honest about student life and

An informative document such as this cannot be put

attitudes. A question I know students ask themselves

together without the efforts of many people. I would

but rarely talk about, is: “but what if I don’t have

like to extend my gratitude to Kathryn Whybourne,

high ambitions to work at a top-tier law firm?”. It is

the Society’s President, for her support and guidance;

encouraging to know that some students are really

to Maria-Rose Muli who assisted me in research

determined to work at a top-tier law firm however,

and drafting; to all those who so graciously agreed

for those who do not, that is absolutely fine. Do not

to testimonials; and, to the rest of the Notre Dame

feel like you have to want to work at a big law firm or

Student Law Society for their support and tireless

that you have to want to be a barrister if you are to be

efforts within their respective portfolios. Thanks

a valued practitioner or even a legal academic.

must also go to the Notre Dame Law School and its staff, and the Dean, Professor Michael Quinlan,

That is why this Guide is here to assist you in

for directing a successful Law Programme at the

understanding the vast spectrum of law-related

University.

careers you can choose to pursue. Make some time to sit down and read this Guide and at some stage

In all that you do, preparation is key. For when

during your academic career you will reach a natural

preparedness meets opportunity, great things can

decision as to which way you go. It is your choice.

happen. That is the philosophy behind the Careers Guide - to assist in your preparation. However, it is not

Best wishes to all of you and God Bless,

all smooth sailing. The realities of the modern legal

Dominic Rohde

industry, in the knowledge that your determination and hard work will eventually persevere, must be respected.

I have put together a section entitled ‘the current state of law graduate employment in Australia’.

Please do not be daunted or disheartened by some

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From the Dean professor michael quinlan

dean, school of law, university of notre dame australia

I was very pleased to be invited to write a short message for the 2014 Careers Guide. One of the

As you all know, before taking my appointment as

things that I learned very early on in my time as Dean

Dean, I had the great privilege of working for over

of the University of Notre Dame Australia School of

23 years at the leading Australian commercial law

Law, Sydney (UNDA Law) is that UNDA Law has a very

firm Allens, where I was a partner for more than 14

pro-active, enthusiastic and engaged student society:

years. Like me, Associate Dean, Dr Keith Thompson,

the Notre Dame Sydney Law Society (NDSLS). The

Professor Gerard Ryan and Nicholas Augustinos

NDSLS exemplifies the drive for excellence exhibited

have all been partners of law firms and Professor

at UNDA Law through its many functions. The

Bernard Ryan, Anna Walsh and Jackie O’Brien (who

Society focuses on enriching the student experience,

will be teaching with us in the Winter Term) are all

operates an impressive website, runs competitions

currently partners of law firms. Like me, Nicholas

in mooting, client interview and negotiation and

Augustinos, Svetlana German, Richard Perrignon,

publishes a Student Guide, The Obiter newsletter

Michael Zammit and Jackie O’Brien have worked at

and this Careers Guide.

the firm now known as Allens and Assistant Dean, Prasan Ulluwishewa also has “big firm” experience

There are many examples of the work that the NDSLS

from his time at the firm now known as King & Wood

does for the students of UNDA Law but none is clearer

Mallesons.

than the work done in putting together Careers Week each year and assembling this very impressive Careers

In fact, everyone who teaches at UNDA Law has

Guide (which is now into its fifth year of production).

experience working, in Australia, overseas or both,

This weighty volume was produced entirely through

as a solicitor, barrister, judge or as a lawyer in

the hard work of the NDSLS so I cannot vouch for the

government, corporates or religious organisations. It

accuracy of everything that it contains but I can see

really is a place where you can “learn the Law from

that it must have involved a huge amount of work to

Lawyers”. This is key to our providing “an excellent

produce. I encourage you to read the material in this

standard of training for the profession” and that

brochure and to support the NDSLS. UNDA, UNDA

includes speaking with students about our own

Law and its students are very fortunate to have such

experiences in the profession, including at many of

a committed Law Society.

the firms that feature in the 2014 Careers Guide. All you need to do is ask.

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This Guide will assist you in understanding what a

might form the wrong impression about our entire

number of firms have to offer but it is only a start.

School. In contrast, if before you put in a Summer

Applying for a Summer Clerkship involves careful

Clerkship application, you spend time researching

research and planning. If you do decide to make an

the firm, you consider whether you really want to

application can I very strongly suggest to you that

work there and why and you put in a clear, well-

you speak with Darren Fitzpatrick, UNDA’s Manager

expressed application and you perform well in an

Internship Program (Telephone: +61 2 8204 4136;

interview, you are sending a really positive message

Email:

about the whole of UNDA Law.

darren.fitzpatrick@nd.edu.au).

Darren

can provide invaluable guidance in preparing CVs and cover letters. I would also encourage anyone

So keep that in mind as you consider whether or not to

interested in seeking a Summer Clerkship to

apply for Summer Clerkships and as you prepare for

participate in the mentoring programmes that UNDA

your interviews. You can really make a big difference.

Law offers.

Please help me to make our UNDA Law the best that it can be. Good luck.

Finally, I wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that every student of UNDA Law is at least as

Professor Michael Quinlan

important as I am to the continued growth, success

Dean of Law

and reputation of UNDA Law. Because we are a

University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney

young Law School everything that anyone associated with the Law School does has great significance.

This means that if you do put in an application for a Summer Clerkship or other employment with a law firm and your application is rushed and contains grammatical and spelling errors, partners in law firms

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From the President kathryn whybourne

president, notre dame sydney law society

The journey to finding the right career path for a law student is not always an easy one.

To the competitiveness of law school, I say, don’t

Already, whilst at law school we face an environment

mind anyone else but yourself. Listen to yourself and

often described as a highly competitive one. The

do not get caught up comparing yourself to what

degree alone is rigorous enough to make us at times,

your friends are doing or how well they are going. The

want to give up and pursue what we perceive are

race to your career is with yourself and nobody else.

easier career avenues. Additionally, research has

I truly believe that if you follow YOUR own instincts

shown that lawyers and law students exhibit higher

and values, then you will end up in the right place for

levels of psychological distress and depression than

you.

other people in the community of the same age and sex (a commonly discussed point in legal discourse

In light of clerkship applications approaching for

today).

penultimate year students, I would say to you that applying for a clerkship is a fantastic way to start a

Now I’m not a psychologist, but to me that all sounds

path to your career. Regardless of whether you are

like a pretty depressing backdrop on which to be

successful in attaining a clerkship or not this year,

pursuing a career.

the process will teach you A LOT about applying for jobs, interview skills, self-improvement and how the

Nevertheless, I would like to paint you a more

world works - these skills do not come easy, so you

hopeful picture. I believe that this path is more

might as well start now. If you attain a clerkship, you

positive than it is made out to be. This is because

are looking at a door that will open up one hundred

despite those statistics and despite some of the off-

more for you!

putting legal discourse, I have met and heard about so many lawyers and people in the legal profession

Choose a group of firms to apply to that you are

who absolutely love and are passionate about what

genuinely interested in (research them and try to

they do. This to me says that they must have done

talk to people who work there to find out more about

something right along the way!

the firm). Remember, do not be shy, the NDSLS are always here to help you at any step. Some of us have

Each one of them that I have met, made it clear that

gone through this already, so just ask if you need help.

you may not always find what you are passionate

Oh and one last word to clerkship applicants: avoid

about at the first instance, but that you have to

Whirlpool Forums during clerkship applications at all

always keep looking and be aware of the doors that

costs. You will see what I mean if you get too curious.

open around you.

Nevertheless, they are neither factual nor helpful.

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Some thanks should go to the people responsible for the work put into this Guide.

Lastly, in the spirit of the theme of Careers I would

To the Deans, Professor Michael Quinlan, Dr Keith

like to leave you all with a quote from Alexander

Thompson and Mr Prasan Ulluwishewa for your

Graham Bell,

ongoing support this semester. The NDSLS is privileged to be able to work with you this year to improve our law school. To Dominic Rohde, thank

“When one door closes, another

you for sweeping in on your white horse and tackling

door opens; but we so often look so

the position of Careers Director on such late notice.

long and regretfully upon the closed

To you Dominic and to our Careers Assistant MariaRose Muli for putting together this guide to educate our students about the variety of careers options

door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.�

available to them this year.

Good luck in trying to unlock the doors ahead of you, and remember that the NDSLS is here with you every step of the way!

Kathryn Whybourne

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The Various Application Processes Assembling and submitting your application for any

deadlines that close well in advance of your

career is important as it is the first impression you will

commencement date, often up to two years in

be giving to your potential employer. Therefore, it is

advance. The application process may be more

important to ensure the highest degree of attention

streamlined than that of domestic recruitment

is paid to your cover letter, resume, and any other

processes due to the geographical location of

documents you are submitting.

the firm and their Human Resources team. At a minimum, expect to submit a written application and be interviewed.

As a student-at-law, there are a number of paths you may choose to take for your career, each with a different application process:

•

Government

Departments

-

government

departments mainly recruit through graduate •

Domestic Law Firms - for penultimate students,

programs alone, with the application process

most domestic law firms offer seasonal clerkships

involving individual and group interviews,

which allow you to gain an insight into the

aptitude testing, and psychometric analysis.

practice areas, culture and daily operation of that firm. Seasonal clerkships are typically run from

•

Community and Social Outreach Organisations

December to February, with graduate positions

- such organisations often do not follow a formal

being offered based on the performance of each

intern or clerk program. Most welcome volunteer

seasonal clerk. Seasonal clerkships are offered

workers who are in their penultimate or final year

following a recruitment process which may

of study. Graduate opportunities are offered,

involve first and second round interviews, group

with such positions being advertised through

interviews or discussions, and social “mixers”

each organisation’s individual website.

or cocktail evenings. The clerkship process is competitive by nature, with thousands of law

•

Corporate Advisory and Consulting, Accounting

students across Australia vying for a select

and Taxation - most corporate firms run their

number of positions. For graduate students,

recruitment process from their own website.

many firms recruit graduate employees through

The application process may involve individual

their seasonal clerkship program, however this

and group interviews, broad spectrum testing,

is not the case across the board. It is best to see

psychometric

individual firm profiles and websites to gain

scenarios. Accountancy firms and investment

more information.

banks will often run both a seasonal clerkship

analysis

and

problem-based

program and offer graduate positions, whereas •

International Law Firms - international firms, or

management consultancy firms tend only to

domestic firms that have an international office,

offer graduate positions.

also offer seasonal clerkships and graduate opportunities. Such opportunities often have careers guide 2014

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Clerkship/Graduate Application Process The Application Process Most middle-top tier firms will open their applications

3. Aspire but be realistic – A lot of people choose to

towards mid-June and will close from mid-July to

hedge their bets and make applications to every

early-August. However, it would be wise to research

firm in the country. This may work for some but for

firms you are interested in as the above dates are not

others it will be their downfall. Be realistic about

always the norm and some firms, particularly smaller

the time you have to work on your applications.

suburban firms, will have alternate dates.

It is better to write two stand-out applications than several mediocre ones. Consider the time

It is very important to start your applications as soon

you need to put into researching each firm and

as you can because each individual application takes

whether you can actually see yourself working at

a considerable amount of time to complete. You do

the firm you’re applying to.

not want to miss out on a job you were after because you ran out of time the night before deadlines closed.

4. Cover letter – One of the first impressions a firm will have of you is when they read your

1. Obtain a list of all firms offering seasonal

cover letter. Keep it succinct, clear and include

clerkships – the official clerkship list (page 70)

something unique about yourself. You should

will give you an indication of your options. The

have a separate cover letter for each firm you

list will also be a starting point for your clerkship

apply to. Be sure to include some research you

research.

have on the respective firm you are applying to. For example, ‘I am quite interested in your

2. Research thoroughly – research you do on

firm’s pro bono work, because I have worked as

firms will make an immediate impact during the

a volunteer in XYZ legal service for the past year.’

interview stage. Firms look for applicants who can

Firms make money from paying clients and do

confidently articulate why it is they would like to

pro bono work as a service to the community.

work for them - the first question the firm will ask

They are in business to make money so you may

is: “Why us?”. Know what areas of specialties the

want to emphasis your experience and skills

firm has that best suit your interests, be versed

which will help them do that before you mention

in their individual clerkship procedures, and be

an interest in pro bono.

able to discuss issues such as the firm’s pro bono work and recent cases.

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5. Resume – you can generally keep the same resume for every application you make though it is important to remember that your resume is an impression of yourself and can help you get your foot in the door so spend time perfecting it. The resume section on page 18 may be of help to you.

6. Academic transcript – you will need a copy of your official university transcript. Notre Dame generally has a quick turn around on requests for transcripts (2-3 days average). Be diligent and get in early, as there may be delays if a large group of students request transcripts at the same time. Transcripts can be ordered at a cost of $12 from Student Administration.

7. Applications – be informed and research how each firm requires your application to be prepared. Some will ask that you use cvMail (page 15), others will stipulate that you should apply through their website and others, particularly suburban firms, will ask that you apply via post or email.

Useful tip: Take note of what you say in each individual application so you can review it before each interview.

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The Interview Process

questions, examples of which include “tell us

After waiting in limbo for weeks you will begin

about a time you had to meet a deadline, how did

to discover whether you have been successful in

you cope with that?” or “tell us about a time you

obtaining an interview. If you do not obtain an

dealt with a conflict?”. Firms ask these questions

interview do not despair. Firms have particular

so they can figure out how you behaved in the

attributes and skills they are looking for and you are

past, as they believe this will give them some

competing against a huge number of applicants. If

insight as to how you would behave in a future

you do not get an interview with one firm thats not

working environment. Make sure you review your

say that another firm won’t be interested in you.

original application before going to the interview as some interviewers like to re-ask the same

If you do obtain an interview there are a number of

questions to see if your response has changed.

steps that may be involved: 3. Second Round Interview: You will probably 1. Cocktail Evening: some firms will have a cocktail

have to wait one or two weeks after your first

evening before your first interview, some may

round interview before finding out whether you

have it after the second interview, and some may

secured a second round interview. Whereas the

not hold one at all. If you are invited to a cocktail

focus of a first round interview is to find out

night there are a few things you should know.

about your personality, the focus of the second

Firstly, it is a business event so business attire

round interviews is usually to find out how suited

is compulsory. If you do not read the Financial

you are to the firm. Expect questions about what

Review, Lawyers Weekly, the Economist, or the

areas of law you are interested in, why you picked

newspaper business pages, it is a good idea to

certain electives (especially if these electives do

start right away.

not reflect the type of law they do) and questions about what rotations you would want to do if you

Secondly, this is not an interview. The purpose

were successful in obtaining the clerkship.

of a cocktail night is not for firms to evaluate you, but more for you to gain an insight into the

The Big Day

culture of the firm. Talk to as many people as

Finally, after months since your original application,

you can, do not drink too much and (if you have

the day will come when you find out whether you were

a cocktail evening before your interview) try and

accepted into a clerkship. You will generally have five

gather some information which you can use in

days to either accept or decline your clerkship, so if

your interview, especially in preparation for the

you are fortunate enough to be offered more than

question “so why do you want to work with us?”

one, there is time to contemplate which one you will accept.

2. First Round Interview: First round interviews are usually all about the firm getting to know your

If you are not offered a clerkship, do not despair. Law

personality. You should expect behavioural type

opens doors to a lot of varied opportunities.

14 | notre dame sydney law society

Using cvMail natalie baladi

unda law graduate, 2013

cvMail is an online job application system specifically

If you want to leave the application process, cvMail

designed for linking law firms with those applying for

allows you to save the step that you are up to.

seasonal and graduate positions in Australia and the UK.

cvMail is also a useful tool in facilitating emails between firms and applicants, and scheduling

The first step in using cvMail is to register. All you need

interviews. cvMail saves your previous applications

to create your personal file is to enter your personal

and has a useful resources section that can be

details. The next step is to fill out your academic

referred to.

details. This is basically your education history – where you attended university, what qualifications you have and the subjects you have completed.

Now you are ready to begin applying.

Using the application manager, you need to enter which State you wish to practice in and the system will bring up a list of firms that are offering positions.

After choosing the firm you wish to apply to, you need to upload your CV and application form. Please be aware that some firms also have a list of questions that you need to complete in addition to uploading your CV and application form. It is very important to research the firm you are applying for – this could just be knowing a handful of cases that some of their teams are working on. cvMail has a page of useful links to assist with this research. The research will help during the application process and also if you proceed through to the interview rounds.

careers guide 2014

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Professional Cover Letters aidan williams

unda law graduate, 2013

A cover letter should summarise, in a page, your CV

3. Tailor the cover letter to the particular firm. This

in a way that makes you stand out, in order to secure

can be done in a single paragraph, perhaps near

you an interview. Here are some practical tips for

the top of your letter so it stands out (remember,

putting together highly professional cover letters.

recruiters only skim read your letters), as well as a passing reference at the end of the letter. In that

1. Do your own research. There is no substitute

early paragraph mention a few reasons why you

for synthesising from a multitude of informed

are applying to that firm. They want applicants

sources and opinions. There is a plethora of

who are interested in them; having to hire

information available. For example:

another graduate because the previous graduate wasn’t actually passionate about the firm is an

•

Maurice Blackburn’s Top 10 Tips - www.

expensive exercise, so firms want to see that you

mauriceblackburnnsw.com.au/media/1339248/

are in it for the long haul.

application-interview-top-10-tips.pdf • •

Allens’

Tips

-

This process is vitally important in testing

www.allens.com.au/careers/

graduates/apply/tips.htm

whether you really want the job, or whether you

My Career’s database of articles - content.

are simply applying because of peer pressure. If

mycareer.com.au/advice-research.aspx

you don’t know why you are applying (meaning you don’t want the job) then you have two other considerations to make:

It is expected that you adhere to formalities of letter writing, including your personal contact details, date, the recipient’s title and address,

•

“I need to think of where else I should actually apply, where I will enjoy working”; or

subject heading and sign off.

•

“Damn, I need to get motivated!”

2. Similarly, ask for feedback on your drafts from people whose opinions you respect. You might

There are common themes and reasons for

also ask successful peers and friends who’ve

applying to a firm, such as their:

gone before you for copies of their cover letters.

•

quality of client base;

Other people are generally effective proof

•

nature, quality and size of their work;

readers because they have more of an objective

•

legal expertise, particularly in areas of law you are interested in;

perspective. It is also a good idea to print your cover letters for proof reading, since it is much

•

not worked to death);

easier to miss spelling, syntax and grammatical errors on a computer screen!

16 | notre dame sydney law society

friendly and down-to-earth culture (read: you are

•

culture of innovation; and

•

commitment to pro bono.

Firms themselves try really hard to be unique, so

rich insights into dispute resolution principles

project back the language they use. For example,

and practice, and will enable me to fit in quickly

DLA Piper’s:

as a summer clerk. My diverse responsibilities have included drafting letters and contracts,

•

“culture of flexibility and individuality”; and

legal research, client interview, negotiation and

•

“serving clients wherever in the world they do

advocacy in court, amongst other tasks which

business - quickly, efficiently and with genuine

have all been invaluable to improving my passion

knowledge of both local and international

for the law”.

considerations”.

Maybe have a paragraph on: This is particularly important because big firms

•

work experience;

often receive 600 or more applications for the

•

extracurricular activities (including community service); and

same 10 positions. Some firms screen cover letters electronically, looking for key words!

•

academic achievements.

Finally, demonstrate how you did your research

Here is an important point to note. As aspiring

(through research, conversations with people

lawyers - servants of justice and with specific

from the firm, careers events), further proving

regulated ethical obligations - lying in an

your interest in them.

application letter or CV is a serious breach of ethics. It is not just a ‘white lie of no consequence’

4. Highlight some of your achievements and make

– it is contributing to professional misconduct

explicit how these would help you in the job you

and may mean someone more deserving than

are applying for. Drawing conclusions about

you misses out on the job.

particular achievements for the reader (who is skim reading 600 or more other letters) will assist

5. Include a bit of colour, and perhaps a border and

your chances of standing out. Compare the two

an interesting font, to stand out. This is advisable

paragraphs on work experience:

only if it adds flair and style to your cover letter but it should not detract from the substance of

•

“I have vast experience from mid-tier law

your cover letter.

firm X and the general practice Y Lawyers. My responsibilities have included drafting letters

6. Putting together applications is like an additional

and contracts, legal research, client interview,

university subject. It is a lot of work so writing

negotiation and advocacy in court”; and

applications the night before deadlines close is definitely not a good idea.

•

“I believe my experience at mid-tier law firm X and the general practice Y Lawyers has provided

Best of luck! careers guide 2014

| 17

The Perfect Resume aidan williams

unda law graduate, 2013

A resume (aka curriculum vitae, CV) is a document, usually two pages, detailing your background in work

5. Core Competencies (aka key strengths or skills

and activities to date, so far as they qualify you for

profile) can be a good next heading. Think

the job. There is no consensus as to layout or what is

hard about what your strengths are, bearing in

included, but here are a few suggestions:

mind that you may be asked to back it up with examples in the interview. Choose three or four.

1. Research and ask for feedback - see points 1 and

Try and tailor these to the particular firm/role

2 in the article on writing cover letters. The more

you’re applying to. As per point 3 in the article on

feedback, the better.

cover letters, each firm tries to be unique. Use the language they use to describe themselves/who

2. Whatever style you use, ensure the formatting is

they want to hire.

uniform and allows for easy reading. Some colour (in borders, headings and subheadings) and a

6. Career Objectives is another possible section.

unique font is attractive. Small writing size might

Obviously, align these with the job/firm. You can

be necessary. Symmetry is desirable. Having to

be honest and talk of seeking a clerkship “with

leave some empty spaces is better than having

a view to a long-term career” with a firm, even

to squeeze in long sentences and less relevant

though you aren’t 100% sure you would stay for

information.

the long haul. Be short and to-the-point.

3. Whilst there is no consensus as to heading

7. Employment History may be listed according to

format, carefully consider carefully how to word

most relevant (as opposed to any chronological

headings in order to emphasise your strengths.

order).

For example, you might have community service

description, relevant skills learnt and any major

experiecne, so you might show it off as under

achievements. Spend more time on the more

a heading: “Leadership Experience”. Or, if you

relevant. Consider breaking into two sections:

have some impressive academic achievements,

“Legal Work Experience” and “Other Part Time

include this in a heading of it’s own - “Academic

Work”.

Achievements” - instead of including these under the general description of “Education”.

4. It might be a good idea to emphasise your FULL NAME in capitals at the top of the letter, then include other contact details, for ease of reference.

18 | notre dame sydney law society

Each

job

may

include

a

short

8. For other miscellaneous awards and honours

10. Under “Referees”, you might only have room to

from extracurricular activities, consider including

say “Available on request”, which is fine. This

a heading “Other Awards and Honours”. This

section is great for dropping names.

might include involvement with university societies and competitions (eg, Semi-finalist

Note, firms may require full contact details be

in Clayton Utz Negotiation Competition, 2012),

provided at some point in the application. You

sports teams (eg, Champions, Hornsby Premier

might use (after asking permission):

League), community groups (eg, NSW Fire Brigade) or, personal initiatives (eg, Organiser of

•

related to you;

Lan Party for 300 people). The sky’s the limit.

Since law firms so often ask about it in their application process, it would be a good idea

impressive people who know you, but are not

•

lecturers;

•

previous employers, managers (even who may have left your current job) or work colleagues.

to include a “Societies and Contributions at 11. Try and include your name on each page in the

University” heading.

header or footer, in case the pages get separated.

It can actually be quite hard to think of all your

This shows attention to details.

achievements over the years. So, get started on your draft asap, and you will think of things to

Good luck!

add over time.

9. A sentence in “Other Interests” will demonstrate you

are

a

well-rounded

student,

with

interpersonal appeal. They may also provide talking points during the interview, especially if you have hit upon one of the interests of your interviewer!

careers guide 2014

| 19

King & Wood Mallesons from our sponsor

King & Wood Mallesons is helping clients across the

We offer clerkships so that you get a clear picture of

globe to make smart choices to shape their future

what it’s like to be a lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons.

success. As a global law firm, over 2,700 lawyers

You’ll get to know our people, the way we like to work,

in 30 international offices are cutting through the

our culture, practice areas, clients and more. For

challenges facing business and providing commercial

many, the clerkship is the first stage of continuous

solutions that are transforming the way legal services

development at King & Wood Mallesons.

are delivered.

Our ability to connect emerging

opportunities with market leading capability is pushing the frontiers of what can be achieved connecting Asia to the world, and the world to Asia.

And, we want you to be part of this story.

Details of the Seasonal Clerkship Program We’ve designed a program to help you make the most of your time with us. During your clerkship, you’ll learn: •

instructions, meeting with clients, drafting

Here is a snapshot of what we offer:

memos and documents, managing your practice

Vision: to create a global law firm, headquartered in Asia

and professional relationships.

•

they’re structured, the clients they work for, and

Reputation: over 100 international and Asia-focused

of course, your role within them.

•

inbound and outbound China investments

international offices and the only global law firm network to be headquartered in Asia Clients: from global financial and corporate powerhouses to blue-chips, pioneers and decision makers across the globe (some for over 180 years)

Our programs Summer clerkship program Applications open: 18 June 2014 How to apply: Via our online application system at kwm.com/careers

20 | notre dame sydney law society

Our culture – working within your team, you’ll be exposed to (and encouraged) to get actively involved in the many activities and events that

Locations: strategically positioned in the world’s growth markets and financial capitals with 30

The core practice teams at King & Wood Mallesons – who they are, what they do, how

Colleagues: over 550 partners and 2,700 lawyers

awards and 50 top-tier rankings, the go-to firm for

The day-to-day skills to get you started – taking

help create our unique culture.

•

Our people – you’ll find that people from every part of the business will help you along, sharing their knowledge, and ensuring you have everything you need to fit in, and do well.

Your role Clerks usually work in one or two different practice groups, depending on the length of the clerkship.

You’ll be allocated a supervisor in each of your practice

The program also promotes and supports the

groups and you’ll work closely with the partners,

mobility of our staff across our offices by giving you

senior associates and solicitors in that team. It’s a

the opportunity to apply to go on exchange in one

hands-on role, so you’ll not just be watching from

of our interstate or overseas offices. Through this,

the sidelines. During your time in the team, you’ll

you are able to access a greater choice and variety of

be involved in telephone conversations, meetings,

destinations and on-the-job experience.

client visits and the deals the team is working on.

Every clerk receives feedback. Informal feedback is also provided on the job from partners, senior associates or solicitors talking you through the work you do.

Our people have the opportunity to get involved in the many social and sporting activities that go on in the firm as well as the broader community in which we live.

What do we look for?

If you relish the prospect of working in a dynamic team, learning from experts at the top of their game and being involved in cutting edge legal work, you’re just the sort of person we’d like as a King & Wood Mallesons clerk or graduate.

You’ll be able to demonstrate a real interest in, and perspective of, commercial law. And we’d hope you would be excited by the opportunity to step outside

Graduate Program

your comfort zone, develop new skills and working

Our graduates participate in a targeted development

closely with leaders in their field.

program, we have a framework that cultivates valuable skills and that sets them up for success now and in the future.

What you’ll learn The program provides a practical business foundation for junior lawyers. You’ll receive: • •

drive for what you do. We’re interested in your life experiences, interests outside of work, and the things you are passionate about.

practice areas

firm, so we’re looking for likeminded people who are

Client contact and an in-depth understanding of

a strong fit with the firm’s culture and our brand.

The opportunity to work with a range of partners, senior associates and solicitors in different practice groups

•

to events shaping the future, and having a genuine

We’re a friendly, approachable, and down to earth

environment

•

law. It involves work-life balance, being switched on

Meaningful work covering a wide range of

how they operate in a commercial and regulatory •

Being a great lawyer is more than simply knowing the

A practical understanding of areas of our legal

The qualities we value are commitment, passion, teamwork, and the motivation to think differently.

Clients are looking not only for superior technical knowledge, but also people who are great to work with and unafraid to push the envelope.

practice

You’ll work in an environment that will challenge

A comprehensive knowledge of the firm, our

your mind and technical capabilities, supported with

technology, our resources, our processes and, of

a strong team culture to help you succeed.

course, the people you’ll work with.

If this sounds like you, arrange to talk to one of our

As part of the Graduate Program, we also offer a

graduate resourcing consultants or find out more by

Practical Legal Training (PLT) course with the College

visiting our website, www.kwm.com.

of Law to our Australian Law Graduates, ensuring that you meet the requirements for admission to legal practice.

careers guide 2014

| 21

Think Law When you think of a law firm, what springs to mind? Grey and boring, heads stuck in legal books, and lots of ‘same same’ with no different.

Think Again.

Growing the future lawyer. We see your personal excellence – whether it be technical brilliance, client impact or leadership – and empower you to be your best self.

You’d be right in thinking this is an inspired choice to build a career with a global firm that’s going places.

Think Law. Think Again.

www.kwm.com Asia Pacific | Europe | North America | Middle East Visit our Facebook page facebook.com/KingWoodMallesons

22 | notre dame sydney law society

Think Again If you believe the road ahead is already mapped out, a new direction awaits.

With a role that gets you in the thick of it, shaping the future for business, and making a real difference.

Think Law. Whether it’s the path to partnership, or a partnership with clients that excites you, there’s plenty here to grab your attention. Being a lawyer is about more than just knowing the law - it’s about having more than one perspective, a hunger for innovation, and an ability to simply enjoy the moment.

You’d be right in thinking this is an inspired career choice with a global firm that’s going places.

Think Law. Think Again.

www.kwm.com Asia Pacific | Europe | North America | Middle East Visit our Facebook page facebook.com/KingWoodMallesons

careers guide 2014

| 23

Interview Skills maria-rose muli

careers assistant, notre dame sydney law society

Attending an interview can illicit a variety of emotions;

Whilst your cover letter, CV and transcript are

you will probably be nervous at the prospect of trying

important aspects of the selection process, they

to sell yourself without looking foolish, and you

do not always provide an accurate representation

will be relieved that you have been selected out of

of your skills. There are other matters that cannot

hundreds and sometimes thousands of applications.

be dealt with on your resume or CV. For instance, a leave of absence from your studies, significant time

An interview is your biggest opportunity to secure

gaps between jobs or perhaps even lower marks in

a job. Although cover letters, aptitude tests and

particular semesters; these matters can be addressed

other various forms of assessments provide some

at your interview. Even if the interviewer does not

information about your potential, an interview

address these issues, it is very unlikely that they

provides a potential employer with the most

have not noticed them. Being forthright will provide

information about what kind of employee you would

the interviewer with all the information necessary to

be.

make the best assessment of your capabilities as a potential employee.

Preparing for the interview Getting an interview means that based on your cover

Some employers conduct a phone interview first

letter, resume and academic record you have been

before inviting the applicant into their offices to meet

assessed as suitable to take on the advertised role.

with either a partner, senior associate or human

Start by giving yourself a pat on the back!

resources representative. Although every employer conducts interviews in their own unique way, they

Be prepared

to address and answer questions

usually begin with introductory or general questions.

regarding the following:

You may be asked behavioural or hypothetical

•

Cover letter

questions that uncover how you deal with different

•

Transcript results

situations in the workplace.

•

Experience

•

Extra-curricular activities and other transferable skills

•

Any other information provided on your CV or application

24 | notre dame sydney law society

useful tips

Employers want to know that you are a wellrounded person with the necessary skills to

•

Research the firm or establishment that

handle the role. When you are asked about

you are being interviewed by; make sure

your employment experience, your role in

you know their areas of expertise, overall

community service work, and other activities

structure and significant case histories.

mentioned on your CV, be sure to relate the

Interviewers are particularly impressed

skills you acquired to the job you are being

with meticulous research.

interviewed for. For instance, if you participated in a range of extracurricular activities whilst

•

transcripts just in case your interviewer

studying, point out that you can effectively

requests them.

manage your time and also work well with others.

It is important to think about all the activities you have participated in both within and outside your academic life. Put together a list

•

Dress in business attire.

•

Arrive for your interview at least 15 minutes early.

•

initiative to self-start projects. There is an endless list of what you have to offer – the

•

Be confident but not boastful.

•

Communicate well by maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, asking for

key is to look back at all your experiences and

clarification where necessary and speaking

carefully extract all the transferable skills you

clearly.

have added to your repertoire.

• It is very natural to get nervous before your

Clearly introduce yourself with a smile and a firm handshake.

of skills that you have acquired. For example: problem solving, customer service or even

Pack your CV, application and academic

Pause and think about your responses before you give them.

interview. The best thing to do is be well prepared so that you can present yourself in the best light possible without letting your nerves take over. As daunting as it may seem, be yourself as interviewers can usually tell when a candidate is not being forthright.

careers guide 2014

| 25

Individual Interviews, Group Interviews, and Cocktail Nights Individual Interviews

group setting. Group interviewers observe candidates

Individual interviews are the most common type of

in an effort to identify their particular personality

interview. They are usually conducted by a senior

type. Personality types include:

figure of the firm, such as a partner or director, as

•

The Leader – this person tends to take control of the situation. Whilst every group needs a leader,

well as a human resources representative.

it is important to take note of the other members Interviewers aim to determine:

of the group and ensure their voices are also

•

heard.

Whether you have a high level of communication skills;

• •

•

The Mouse – this person will shy away from

Whether you are an appropriate fit for the

discussion and go along with whatever has

organisation; and

already been said.

Whether you are confident in your skills.

•

The Diversion – this person will often divert conversation by complaining about the difficulty of the situation at hand.

In determining the above, you will be asked a number of questions. Behavioural-type questions

•

The Mediator – this person takes the middle

give the interviewer an indication of how you are

ground between the leader and the mouse.

likely to behave in real-life situations. It is important

In a group interview, it is best to become the

to be prepared for these types of questions, as being

mediator.

able to answer them quickly will demonstrate your confidence. You may also be asked questions about

Cocktail Evenings

the firm, and what particularly interests you about

A cocktail evening is an informal interview, it is

the work they perform.

important to maintain professional behaviour at all times. This means dressing in business attire, keeping

Group Interviews

alcohol consumption to a minimum and talking to as

Group interviews involve a small group of people

many people as possible. Though this is an informal

tasked with working together to solve a problem. Such

setting, it is still important to have researched the

interviews are popular in management, consulting

organisation/event you have been invited to. Be

and professional services application processes.

prepared to tell potential employers why you would

However, they can also be used in clerkship and

want to work for them. It is also crucial that you are

graduate recruitment.

aware of current legal affairs; people are more likely to want to engage with you if you have something

It is obvious that the overarching purpose of a group interview is to see how you behave and work in a

26 | notre dame sydney law society

interesting or relevant to talk about.

Interview Questions It is important to be aware of the different types of questions you may be asked. Thinking about

Career-Oriented Questions

potential interview questions beforehand will ensure

•

What areas of law are you interested in?

you are more readily equipped to answer them

•

Where do you see yourself in five years?

during the interview. Here are a few questions to get you started.

Behavioural-Based Questions •

Tell us about a time you had to deal with conflict

University-Based Questions

in the workplace. How did you deal with that

•

Why did you choose to study at Notre Dame?

conflict?

•

Why did you choose to study law?

•

Why did you choose to study (insert elective) as your elective?

•

Why did you fail (insert subject)?

•

Why were your marks significantly lower in (insert semester)?

•

•

Tell us about a time you had to meet a deadline.

How did you meet it?

•

Tell us about an assessment that required you to conduct research. What processes did you use?

•

Give an example of when you have demonstrated leadership skills.

What was your least favourite thing about studying at university?

Firm/Organisation-Based Questions •

Why do you want to work at (place you have applied)?

•

What do you know about (place you have applied)?

•

Do you have any questions for us?

Personality-Based Questions •

Do you have any interests outside of work and university?

•

Tell us three things we wouldn’t guess about you from reading your application?

•

How would your current boss describe you?

•

What do you think sets you apart from other applicants?

•

What do you regard to be your strengths and weaknesses?

careers guide 2014

| 27

Want the inside scoop on landing a role at Clayton Utz? Find it on Facebook!

28 | notre dame sydney law society

www.facebook.com/ClaytonUtzCareers

Qualifying for Domestic Practice Academic Requirements The initial step to becoming a solicitor in Australia

When your practical legal training is complete, you

starts with the study of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at

will be issued with a certificate.

an approved institution, or through completing the academic course provided by the Legal Profession

Admission to Practice

Administration Board (LPAB). A Bachelor of Laws

You will be eligible to practice as a solicitor in New

will involve study of core legal topics (known as the

South Wales upon making a successful application

‘Priestley Eleven’) alongside elective law units.

to the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board. This process involves obtaining character references,

Practical Legal Training

as well as demonstrating successful completion

Following attainment of the LLB, one must complete

of academic and practical requirements. Once

a program of practical legal training (PLT). PLT

admitted, you will receive a practicing certificate.

programs are available from specialist providers,

A further two years of supervised practice must be

such as The College of Law, or through some

undertaken before you may practice on your own

universities. The PLT program will ordinarily involve

accord.

the following components: Continued Admission •

Coursework - this component aims to develop the

Each year, a number of hours must be undertaken

skills essential to being a solicitor. These include

towards professional development. These hours

letter writing, client interviewing, drafting of

may be accumulated through attending seminars,

key documents, file management, and office

undertaking research, writing journal articles or

accounting.

presenting lectures. Again, if you work in a law firm, you will often be sent targeted material offering

•

Legal Work Experience - this component requires

you the opportunity to engage in this professional

a set number of days of work experience to be

development.

completed.

•

Continuing Education - this component requires you to engage in continuing education which is required for your continued admission to practice. There are a number of providers of these programs, and often, when you work in a firm, you will receive targeted material covering this component.

careers guide 2014

| 29

Using Your Connections: Some Advice dr keith thompson

associate dean, school of law, university of notre dame australia

While there is no substitute for good grades when it comes to looking for a law job post graduation, if you

One more thing - while grades are important and can

do not win the University Medal, all is not lost. While

make the difference between win and lose when it

I have no figures to back up what I am about to say, it

comes to the interview merry-go-round with the big

is my sense that 4/5 jobs are not advertised. They are

firms, I observe that once you have two or three years

allocated according to the ‘who you know’ principle

actual law firm experience, it is no longer about your

rather than the ‘what you know’ principle. I have

grades when you apply for your next job. It is about

had five jobs in my legal career and I only applied for

what you can do; what you have learned to do. Then

one of those. The others all resulted from a personal

the new employer doesn’t have to spend money

contact or a referral.

training you. They get a ready-made fee producing lawyer. You therefore should not be too proud or too

That is why the mentoring program at Notre Dame is

daunted if you get some knockbacks.

so important. If your mentor likes you, they become committed to your success and a job placement

It is true that when one door closes, another opens.

is the ultimate proof that a mentor has succeeded.

Maybe you will have to work in a small suburban

Now of course they also help you work out exactly

or even a country firm to add that first two to three

what it is you want to do in the law, but they can also

years working experience to your CV, but if you

help you work out where and when and who. So as

then present your CV to a new firm or even to a

you ponder your options, you need to work out what

headhunter, you will find that there is a sea-change

contacts you already have. Don’t be afraid to exploit

in your employability.

them courteously but shamelessly.

30 | notre dame sydney law society

The College of Law from our sponsor

The College of Law – Your Legal Career Starts Here

Why do more graduates choose The College of Law over any other PLT provider?

What is practical legal training?

The College of Law is the school of professional You’ve probably heard of Practical Legal Training

practice for lawyers in Australia and New Zealand. We

(PLT) but may not fully understand what it actually is

are not a university.

and when you need to do it.

PLT is undertaken at the completion of your university studies. It is one of the essential steps to becoming admitted as a lawyer in Australia.* The program

So our practical legal training program is not the end of your university legal studies; it’s the start of your legal career.

is intended to equip you with the skills, practical knowledge and understanding of values needed to practise as an entry level lawyer so that you can quickly make a contribution to your workplace.

Practical skills learnt include advocacy, drafting, client

interviewing,

negotiation

and

file

management. Completion of a PLT program ensures you have achieved the required competencies, which were developed by the Australasian Practical Legal Education Council (APLEC) and the Law Admissions Consultative Committee. The subjects and electives undertaken as part of a PLT program are stipulated by these bodies and are not chosen by the PLT provider.

Completion of a Practical Legal Training program means you are eligible to receive your Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice and seek admission as a legal practitioner.

We don’t treat your preparation for practice as a ‘tick the box’ exercise, and neither should you.

Students who make the most of their practical legal training are serious about their career in law. Getting admitted to practice is not the end game; preparing for your career in law is.

Our graduates speak highly of our PLT program because it is different in the following ways:

careers guide 2014

| 31

•

•

•

Our program is fully accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board: you can be

Upcoming Course Dates

confident of direct admission in NSW.

The College offers seven starting dates for full-time,

We offer the choice of full-time, part-time,

part-time and part-time evening courses throughout

part-time evening and full-time on campus

2014. Upcoming dates are:

courses with more than 7 start dates scheduled

•

5 May – full-time on campus

throughout the year.

•

19 May – online full-time and online part-time

Each program is tailored to the legislation and

•

7 July – online full-time, online part-time and

practice of NSW: employers know you have

•

part-time evening

been trained in the law and practice of your local

•

25 August - full-time on campus

jurisdiction.

•

15 September – online full-time and online part-

We offer you two separate weeks of intensive skills

training

covering

advocacy,

work

and business management skills and ethics

time •

1 December – online full-time and online parttime.

and professional responsibility. These are

•

transferable skills you can use in any career. The

More Information

remainder of the course is delivered online so

Read more about Practical Legal Training with The

that you can schedule study along with work and

College of Law www.collaw.edu.au/plt

family commitments.

You can also speak with our Student Services team

We make sure you meet your lecturer on Day

on 1300 856 111 or email enrolments@collaw.edu.au

1 and he or she will support you through the

*An alternative pathway to admission exists in Victoria.

program. The program is clearly structured and

•

•

you will know what you have to do, when and

Contact Information

how.

Address:

Assessments are practical and spaced through

Level 6, 159 Little Collins Street,

the program; no 3000 word essays, group

Melbourne 3000

assessments or formal written exams that

Phone: 1300 856 111

you might find in other university styled PLT

Email: enrolments@collaw.edu.au

programs.

Web: www.collaw.edu.au/plt

You automatically qualify for 2 subjects into our LLM (Applied Law) programs. When you are ready, this gives you a head start towards a more specialised qualification.

32 | notre dame sydney law society

Looking to get an edge? Develop your skills ... madeleine dupuche

lecturer, the college of law

Law school is mostly about information When you are at Law School you are pretty much

What skills do lawyers need?

focussed on substantive law. You are ‘learning the

The Competency Standards for Entry Level Lawyers

law’ in the sense of the case law and legislation in

were established by the Australasian Professional

relation to each of your subjects and you’ll leave Uni

Legal Education Council in 2000. They describe what

with a head full of legal information. But then what?

an applicant for admission to practice must be able to demonstrate at the point of admission. It is worth

Out in the real world you’ll need to work out what to

having a look at these to see what you’ll need to be

do with all that information. This is where Practical

able to do as a new lawyer. You’ll notice that these

Legal Training comes in. The key word in PLT is

standards are all about what you can do and they use

practical. It’s all about the practical application of all

descriptors such as:

that legal information.

•

Assessing the merits of a client’s case

For example, in Civil Procedure you learn that rule 4.02

•

Initiating legal claims

of the Supreme Court Rules permits a party to a legal

•

Representing a client

proceeding to make an interlocutory application. In

•

Negotiating a settlement

PLT you learn how to actually make that application,

•

Advising and communicating effectively

what documents you need to prepare and file, how

•

Writing and drafting

to draft an affidavit and how to prepare and present

•

Generating solutions and strategies

your submissions to the court.

•

Time and file management

•

Acting ethically.

Are skills relevant before I graduate?

Lawyers employ many skills in their day to day work,

These skills all have elements which you can start

so the sooner you can start to develop your skills the

developing now.

better. Your CV should ideally convey to a prospective employer that you are conscious of the skills you’ll need in practice and demonstrate that you are already developing those skills through work and other activities. Being able to talk about skills will also help you perform better in interviews.

careers guide 2014

| 33

Any legal experience is good experience

advocacy are examples of skills you can learn

Any experience you can get working in the law when

and you can improve via reading;

you’re at Uni is invaluable. Obviously the seasonal clerkships in the top and mid-tier firms offer excellent

•

Society of New South Wales as a student member

work experience, but working in a small firm or

and read their publications and attend the Young

volunteering at a Community Legal Centre will also

Lawyers events;

give you great experience, a taste of legal practice and start to develop your practical skills.

Keep up to date with the law - join the Law

•

Join the local lawyers association in your area, eg. Wollongong and District Law Society etc and attend their seminar evenings; and

What if I can’t get any undergraduate legal experience?

Lots of law students find it difficult to get legal

•

Follow our Tip of the Week for New Lawyers on the College of Law Facebook page.

experience. This doesn’t mean that you can’t develop your skills in other ways. Here are a few ideas:

What if I don’t get a graduate position?

A graduate position is just one entry point to a

•

•

Talk to any lawyers you know (relatives, lecturers,

career in the law. Don’t worry if you don’t get one.

family friends) about what they think makes a

Do a PLT course independently. We’ll teach you the

good lawyer;

skills you’ll need as a new lawyer. You’ll have fun and

Get a job that involves people management, organisation and problem solving (that’s most jobs these days) and really work on your skills in these areas;

•

Get involved in mooting, even if you are terrified of public speaking. You don’t necessarily have to get on your feet, you can do a lot of the background work, strategizing about how best to present your client’s case and writing submissions. This is what solicitors do, leaving barristers to actually present to the court;

•

Read skills books – drafting, negotiation and

34 | notre dame sydney law society

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careers guide 2014

| 35

Admission to the Bar daniel austin

fifth year law student, university of notre dame australia

If accredited as a NSW solicitor, having completed

examination periods.

a law degree with an approved institution and an accredited program of practical legal training, you

“Reader’s” Practicing Certificate

may seek admission to the Bar. Admission is a two-

Successful completion of the Bar Exam will avail

stage process entailing the writing of a Bar Exam

you a Practicing Certificate, subject to conditions,

which

qualifies you for a conditional Practicing

in your capacity as a “reader”. In this capacity you

Certificate of a Reader and thereafter, a year-long

will receive the benefit of professional training and

Reading Program that consists of a Bar Practice

tutelage under a practicing Barrister in a year-long

Course with the NSW Bar Association and exposure

“reading program”.

to practice under the supervision of a Tutor.

Under this certificate, your right to appear as a The Bar Exam

Barrister is restricted to those times when you

The Bar Exam consists of three assessments, titled

are led by a barrister with a current, unrestricted

“Ethics for Barristers”, “Aspects of Evidence” and

practicing certificate. You also may not accept a brief

“Practice and Procedure for Evidence”. You must

from anyone who is not a solicitor unless a tutor has

pass all exams within a 10-month period in order to

provided written approval for you to accept a specific

receive a practicing certificate and admission to the

brief directly from a client.

Bar Practice Course.

The term of the certificate will often lapse within the The pass mark for each examination is 75%.

one-year reading period, and thus will need to be renewed by applying to the Bar Association.

Registration as an examination candidate may be made to the NSW Bar Association. Registration

Finding a Tutor

details and study materials are available online, at:

As a prospective reader, you will have to arrange your

http://www.nswbar.asn.au/

own tutors by approaching either a set of chambers in your preferred area of practice or a practitioner

Each exam is offered twice a year. Registration for

whom you know through briefing or by reputation.

exams in June this year closes on 23 May 2014.

All tutors may be found on the Bar Association’s A registration fee of $250.00 is payable. It is not

Statutory List of Tutors. This list consists of full-time

possible to transfer your registration to the next

practicing NSW barristers who have held a practicing

examination period once registered, nor is the fee

certificate for a continuous period of no less than

refundable; it is advised you plan your time well and

seven years, without being subject to conditions,

ensure you sit all three exams over no more than two

reprimand, caution or adverse finding.

36 | notre dame sydney law society

Prospective readers should select a few names from the list, contact the chosen barrister’s clerk, provide

The course fee is $3800.00. A BPC fee of $3,800 is

a current CV and arrange for an interview with

refundable (with a $100 administration fee being

the barrister. A list of tutors may be found online,

charged) if withdrawal from the course is more than

with contact details, names of prior readers and

30 days before the course commences. Applicants

their area(s) of practice, at: www.nswbar.asn.au/

providing less than 30 days notice of withdrawal will

findabarrister/index.php

be charged a $500 administration fee. Less than 10 working days notice of withdrawal receives no refund.

You may also benefit from contacting previous

You have no right of practice while undertaking the

readers. Their contact details are usually available

course.

in the barrister’s directory on the Bar Association web site or on application from the Bar Association’s

Reading with a Tutor

Reception.

Over the remainder of your 12-month reading program, you may appear if led by a barrister with

It is advised you seek two tutors rather than one

a current, unrestricted practicing certificate or

and that you begin this process six months prior to

with your tutors’ approval in respect of a particular

your qualification for a practicing certificate and

matter. Mandated reading with your tutor includes a

commencement of the reading year. This means

minimum of 10 days Criminal Reading and 10 days

you need to begin planning your reading year as you

Civil Reading in the first six months of your reading

prepare for your Bar Exam.

program.

Reading Program

On the conclusion of your 12-month reading program,

The 12-month reading program consists of a Bar

with the satisfaction of your tutor, you may apply to

Practice Course with the Bar Association and a period

receive an unconditional Practicing Certificate as a

of reading with a tutor.

NSW barrister-at-law.

The Bar Practice Course (BPC) is run through the Bar Association and is offered in August. The course focuses on advocacy, mediation and variations in practice across different jurisdictions. These aspects of practice are taught through lectures, workshops, court practice and discussions, which are subject to assessment and mandatory attendance requirements.

careers guide 2014

| 37

Using Contract Law in Legal Practice professor gerard ryan

professor of law, school of law, university of notre dame australia

As most students know, contract law is concerned

After gaining several years experience in a variety of

with the enforcement of promises between persons

areas of the law, I spent more than a decade doing

(whether natural persons or corporate entities).

legal work for clients in the electricity industry. Some

We look to the principles we learn in contract law to determine questions such as: •

Is there a contract and who is it between?

•

What are the rights and obligations between the parties (i.e. what are the terms of the contract and what do they mean)?

•

Have the parties complied with their obligations or have they otherwise been discharged (i.e. released)?

•

What are the remedies for breach of contract?

Contract law is relevant to most aspects of our personal lives – be it shopping, buying food in a

of my work involved what we called “regulatory advice” – that is, advising on the particular rules for engaging in certain behaviour in the electricity market.

However, much of my work involved documenting business transactions in the industry – i.e. drafting and negotiating the contracts. Most of my clients were electricity generators, retailers and network operators. Some were government and regulatory bodies.

The types of contracts I drafted and

negotiated included: •

electricity derivative transactions (also known as swap contracts, hedging transactions and many

restaurant, catching a train or bus, renting or buying

other names) – these contracts involved each

a house or a unit, booking a holiday or taking out

party periodically paying an amount of money to

health insurance.

the other party (calculated according to various

Contract law is also relevant to most aspects of

mathematical formulae). The purpose of these

business as:

transactions was to allow each party to hedge

•

virtually every business transaction involves

against financial risks that they faced by having

entering into a contract – most business deals

to buy or sell electricity in a wholesale market

involve negotiating contracts to specify what

which had fluctuating prices;

each party will do; and •

•

most business disputes are contractual disputes – that is, whether or not the parties complied

power stations and wind farms; •

with their contractual obligations.

Contract law can be described as providing the basic rules governing all commercial transactions. As a result, most lawyers require a good knowledge of contract law.

38 | notre dame sydney law society

construction contracts for electricity networks, joint venture agreements and shareholder agreements;

•

contracts to buy or sell electricity or to connect to an electricity network for the purpose of transporting electricity over that network; and

•

contracts to buy or sell various environmental

a bank and giving a mortgage or charge over

NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificates

property as security for repayment of the loan;

Common tasks for most of these contracts included:

• •

sponsorship agreements (e.g. for major sporting stars or sporting organisations);

•

building contracts – either residential (e.g. a new

commercial issues relevant to the client;

kitchen or bathroom or new or renovated home)

the need to set out clearly the rights and

or commercial (e.g. a new office tower, factory,

obligations of each party – using language that

freeway, tunnel or rail network);

was so clear that there would be little chance of a

•

dispute between the parties as to their respective rights and obligations; and •

employment contracts (whether for factory workers, office workers or major sporting stars);

the need to understand the industry and the nature of the goods or services involved and the

•

contracts which involve borrowing money from

credits (including Renewable Energy Certificates, and Green Power Rights).

•

•

a business; •

anticipating the things that could go wrong during the lifetime of the contract and allocating

contracts which involve the sale and purchase of contracts between the shareholders of a company which runs a business;

•

restructuring businesses by transferring assets

the associated risks between the parties. This

between various companies within a corporate

included determining the consequences of a

group;

party breaching its obligations (i.e. giving the

•

licensing intellectual property rights; and

other party a right to terminate the contract or

•

entering into an agreement to settle a dispute

just a right to claim damages). But it also included things like determining which party would bear the risks associated with changes in costs and changes in the regulatory environment.

(often called a deed of release).

If you are committed to being careful and thorough, having an eye for detail, learning the law, improving your drafting, getting to know your client’s business

These generic skills can be applied to many different

(including what issues are important to your client)

types of contracts.

then the possibilities for interesting work are endless.

The types of contracts you might need to draft, negotiate or advise on in legal practice include: •

You have every reason to embrace the future with enthusiasm and confidence and have a long and rewarding career.

contracts which involve the sale and purchase of real estate (either the family home or commercial premises);

•

contracts which involve leasing or licensing real estate (either the family home or commercial premises);

•

contracts which involve the sale and purchase of goods (either between businesses or between businesses and consumers);

•

contracts which involve the provision of services (either between businesses or between businesses and consumers); careers guide 2014

| 39

International Postgraduate Study and Practising Overseas caroline michel and maria-rose muli

education director and careers assistant, notre dame sydney law society

International Postgraduate Study

authorities in other countries will require additional

Applications for international postgraduate study

study or examination. International postgraduate

will require some research.

study in law is usually a 2-3 year degree (Juris Doctor)

To get started, you will need to know:

or a 1 year Masters of Law (LLM). Some countries may

•

The degrees offered to international students;

also require you to complete a practical training or

•

The application process for each university;

pass a separate examination.

•

The price of international study;

•

Loan services available to students (if applicable),

General requirements

and;

England and Wales: Completion of an undergraduate

Admission requirements to practice law.

LLB or a postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD), as well

•

as practical experience; Australian degrees are Gathering this general information will assist

recognised. If you are already qualified and

you in identifying which institutions are the most

practicing, the first step is to register with the Law

appropriate to apply to given your particular

Society of England and Wales as a Registered Foreign

circumstances.

Lawyer. To be admitted and practice as a solicitor and barrister in this jurisdiction, you must go through

Practising Overseas

the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS). The

Thinking about starting or continuing your law

Law Society will determine which examinations you

career overseas? The prospect of working as a lawyer

are required to pass depending on your professional

in a foreign jurisdiction can be both daunting and

qualifications and experience. If you have completed

exciting. There are many opportunities for Australian

your studies but are not qualified for practice, you

lawyers overseas. Many Australian top-tier firms now

can enter the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). After

have foreign offices and partners in the Asia-Pacific

completing this, you can either undertake the Legal

region, the United States, the UK, Europe and the

Practice Course (LPC) if you want to work a solicitor,

Middle East. Knowledge about the requirements

or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) if you

of working in foreign jurisdiction is becoming

want to work as a barrister.

increasingly important.

Scotland: Completion of an undergraduate law In order to work as a lawyer overseas, it is often

degree, a Diploma in Legal Practice (one year),

necessary to have formal recognition from an

and a two-year apprenticeship together with the

educational institution of that country. Whilst your

Professional Competence Course (which lasts seven

Australian degree will be recognised, admitting

days).

40 | notre dame sydney law society

Canada: A Juris Doctor is the preferred educational

a person registered to practice an occupation

qualification to enter practice in Canada. In addition

in Australia is entitled to practice an equivalent

to this, you are also required to article and complete

occupation in New Zealand, and vice versa, without

the bar admission course. Articling involves

further testing or examination.

completion of a practical legal training program and work experience for a specified period of time

Hong Kong: To practice, you must complete a law

(generally ranging from nine to twelve months).

degree and the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws

Depending on your experience, you may qualify for

(PCLL). This course is taught at Hong Kong University,

a partial reduction or exemption from the practical

the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the City

legal training program. The ability to practice law is

University of Hong Kong. International graduates

regulated at the provincial level; requirements differ

may be able to demonstrate competence in the

between provinces. International applicants must

PCLL by passing relevant subjects in the ‘Hong Kong

apply to the National Committee on Accreditation

Conversion Examination for PCLL Admission’.

(NCA) for an evaluation of their legal credentials.

Depending on your education and experience, you

United Arab Emirates: Australian degrees are

may be required to pass examinations in specified

currently recognized in the UAE. Graduates wishing

areas of Canadian law, or complete courses at a

to practice must complete additional units on sharia

Canadian law school. Once this is satisfied, you will

law required of all practising barristers in private

be issued with a Certificate of Qualification. You must

practice in the UAE.

then determine the province in which you wish to practice and apply to the relevant law society – some

Within Europe: Admission to practice law in Europe

provinces may have additional requirements.

differs from country to country. However, among European Union (EU) members, the Diplomas

USA: Professional admission in the USA requires

Directive states that those who have obtained a

successful completion of state bar examinations

license or diploma in one state can pursue the

(eligibility varies from State to State). States in which

profession in another state. Therefore, it is not

Australian graduates can sit bar examinations are

difficult for a law degree in one jurisdiction to be

Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon

used in another jurisdiction within the EU.

and Tennessee. In other states, such as California, graduates are required to undertake additional study

Whilst we have offered a brief description of the

at an American institution.

requirements for admission in foreign jurisdictions, it is essential to undertake further research as

New Zealand: To practice, you must hold an

requirements are always subject to change.

undergraduate

the

Contacting foreign universities can be a helpful start

Professional Legal Studies Course (5 months). Under

as they are equipped with first hand knowledge to

the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement

better guide you as an international applicant.

degree

and

complete

of

careers guide 2014

| 41

The current state of law graduate employment in Australia dominic rohde

careers director, notre dame sydney law society

Following are links to two articles from the Australian Financial Review that neatly outline the trends and

‘Oversupply leaves law students

statistics currently being observed within the law

without jobs’

graduate employment market in Australia.

Edmund Tadros, Australian Financial Review - 21 February 2014

It is very important to not let the dramatic headlines

Direct Link

depress your hopes. Whilst the articles do reflect realities, employment prospects for law students have never been stronger in the long term. Law firms, like any other firm or company, operate in ‘a market’ which is in a constant state of flux and contraction, generally according to the performance of the wider economy.

Therefore, by educating yourself about these realities, it will become much easier to be able to position yourself within the legal industry to give yourself the best employment prospects possible. There is no stronger indication that Notre Dame Law Students are highly employable than in the second part of the second article - “Graduate employment lowest since records began” - which outlines the three most desirable qualities that employers seek in graduates.

All three are front and centre of the Notre Dame ethos!

42 | notre dame sydney law society

‘Graduate recruitment lowest since records began’ Tim

Dodd,

Australian

Review - 19 March 2014 Direct Link

Financial

Employment Profile: caitlin gallagher

whitehead cooper williams solicitors

What’s your name?

Caitlin Gallagher.

How do you manage to balance work and university?

I try to use every little bit of time I have here and there

Where do you work?

to complete my university work. For example, I often

Whitehead Cooper Williams Solicitors.

do readings on the train to and from work. I am lucky to have a supportive partner, family and friends who

What are your day-to-day roles?

always encourage me to succeed.

I complete a range of tasks on any given day. It ranges from stamping the mail to preparing court documents

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

to exchanging contracts on behalf of clients. I often

I hope to have graduated and been admitted as a

prepare letters to clients, other solicitors and third

solicitor in NSW. I would like to either be practising

parties and I also do conveyancing work, such as

in a mid-tier or top-tier firm or using my commerce

property searches and eNOSes, regularly.

degree in a large organisation.

How did you get the job?

What advice would you give to current law students?

I asked a woman I had met on the NDSLS if her firm

Always be looking for opportunities to challenge

had any positions available and sure enough, they

yourself, gain experience and learn from others in

did!

the industry. Always be networking - you never know who might have an exciting opportunity for you.

What is the best part of your job?

Seeing what you learn at university really come to life and being able to secure positive outcomes for clients.

What is the worst part of the job?

Seeing the stress clients suffer, and becoming so vividly aware of how brutal some people can be to others who are vulnerable.

careers guide 2014

| 43

ADELAIDE AUCKLAND BEIJING BRISBANE CANBERRA DARWIN GOLD COAST HONG KONG LONDON MELBOURNE PERTH SHANGHAI SYDNEY ULAANBAATAR WELLINGTON

Minter E llison’s clerkshi p progra m W hat att ributes will I n ee d to su c c e e d We look ? for ind iv i d u a ls who a Our law re passi y e rs d i splay pl onate a bout for it’s not enty of initiativ gi n g a c a bout w h a r e er i a e a nd a t u niversit tech nic n co m m e passion y you w e al achie r ci a l l a for doin nt to or ve m ent w. g t h ei r a nd co m y o u r b est. Fo backgro m it m ent W hat lea r us, u nd, but to b ein r nin g a rather y g part n d d ev e of our c ou r su p lop m ent erior olla bora trainin We’ll eq tive tea g will I r uip you m. e c t e o iv a e? chieve y includ i o u r b es ng sessi t t h rou ons desi gh a c o a n u nd e g ned to m prehen rsta nd i develop sive ori ng of et tech nic entation hical a al a bili progra m nd profe ties, re O u r se n , ssional s e a rc h ior law y r e skills a s p e rs a r e onsi bili nd ex perie passiona ty req u nc e – a ire m ent te a b o u nd they s. t shari work alo are lead n g t h ei ngside s e rs i n t r k nowle o m e of t heir fiel d ge a nd he b est d – m ea n i ng yo legal m By joini u get to i nd s i n ng Minte the busi r E llison’s ness. the pat clerkshi h to a h p progra ighly su m, you’l ccessful l put yo c a r e er Is t he d urself o in co m m uration n e r ci a l l a n d e aw. x t o d e ci p o s u r e de whet provide h er c o m d by t h m ercial e clerks hip enou law is f Our vac or m e? gh ation cl erkships work at c an be a Minter E 2 to 12 llison, w e ek p e orientat h a n d li n riod - g ion prog g t he t iving yo r asks our a m a nd o u a tast acu m en. n the jo law yers e of wha So ther b t ra i n u n d er t a k e t it’s l e is no i n g w ill ev er y d a ike to b etter w b u y. Plus i l a d y to dec y Find out o u a r co m preh l e ide whet gal skil what a d ensive h er c o m ls a nd c ay in th really l m e r ci a l o m m e r ci e life o ike http: l a a l w f i a s Minter E right fo //clerks r you! llison c hips.m in lerk is terellis W hat ov on.co m/ erseas o pportu n ities wi ll I hav With offi e? ces acro s s A u stralia, ra nge of in Asia c a r e er a nd i n opportu t he U K nities o – there’s ur clerk Each yea s a n d la no li m it r we off w y e rs c to the er a nu a n ex pl to enjoy m b er of o re. a two-we high-per ek place for m ing to work m ent in Australi in a for o u r Ho n g a n clerk eig n jur s t he o Kong offi isd ictio pportu n ce. This n whilst Our inte ity is a gre e m braci rnationa at oppor n g l t j h u e local tu nity nior law law yers culture. y er s e c t he c h a ond m ent nce to e progra m Hong Kon njoy a s a g office l i s x o m onth s gives ou – one of tint liv r you n g t he c o m i ng a nd er m e r ci a l Don’t ju working c st take apitals i n ou r our word of the w orld! for it v isit our M E A bro ad blog at http: //overse as.m inte rellison. co m

www.minterellison.com 44 | notre dame sydney law society

Every day, every person at Minter Ellison plays a vital role in helping clients to close deals, find solutions, resolve disputes, grasp opportunities and create value.

You’ll work with and be mentored by some of the best legal minds in the business. We’ll offer you real work experience and help you to develop the legal and commercial skills you need to achieve excellence.

AbOut Minter ellisOn

Our services

We’re an Australian-based international law firm offering a full range of legal services to an impressive list of clients across Australia, in Asia and globally.

Recognised for our clear thinking, our strong technical skills and ability to deliver practical solutions have led to our involvement in the Asia Pacific’s most innovative and high-profile transactions.

Global divisions Construction Corporate Dispute resolution Finance Human resources & Industrial relations Real estate Taxation Global industry sectors Energy & resources Financial services & Insurance Government Health & ageing Infrastructure Telecoms, Media & Technology

Real people achieving excellence For more information on vacation clerkships or the Minter Ellison graduate program please go to www.minterellison.com/careers

careers guide 2014

| 45

Employment Profile: scott rogers

watson and watson solicitors

What’s your name?

Scott Rogers.

What advice would you give to current law students?

Make as many connections as possible and use those

Where do you work?

connections. Don’t be afraid to walk into a law firm

Watson and Watson Solicitors.

with your resume and actually hand it to them. It shows initiative and helps them put a face to the

What are your day-to-day roles?

name. They also want you to have good marks so

Everything from general office duties, preparing

study hard!

briefs for counsel, research, appearing in court for mentions and filing in court.

How did you get the job?

Through a connection I made at uni.

What is the best part of your job?

Being able to put everything I’ve learnt into practice, and learning how to problem solve on my feet rather than having two weeks like you do for an assignment.

What is the worst part of the job?

Long nights on occasion but other than that there aren’t too many bad things about it.

How do you manage to balance work and university?

With great difficulty. I make the most of my weekends and only limit myself to one night of going out on weekends.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

As a solicitor working towards becoming a barrister.

46 | notre dame sydney law society

Employment Profile: lauren absalom

maurice blackburn / formerly of mcdermott & associates, solicitors

What’s your name?

What was the worst part of the job?

Lauren Absalom.

There isn’t one. Working is great, and really cemented that I had picked the right profession. The early

Where do/did you work?

part of your career is a time to realise every task is

Part time Paralegal at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers as

important, even if you don’t understand at the time.

well as a casual Law Clerk at McDermott & Associates,

Trust your mentor and you will find hindsight shows

Solicitors.

you just how important it is.

What were your day-to-day roles?

How do you manage to balance work and university?

Maurice Blackburn - Working on a particular medical

I keep a detailed diary and prioritise tasks early. I keep

negligence case that I have been given, going through

reminders well before deadlines. I try and stay on top

expert reports, looking at liability, causation and

of everything from week 1 and don’t overcommit my

particularising damages, drafting court documents

time (where I can avoid it).

and correspondence with other people.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

McDermott & Associates - Drafting and/or dictating

Working towards a specialisation and hopefully I will

correspondence

have settled into a good team in a firm that facilitates

and

court

documents,

court

mentions, and general administrative tasks.

a continual development of my skills. My current part time work is fantastic on this front and I believe

How did you get the job?

I have started my career in a great place. I’d also like

I offered to to do work experience at McDermott &

to have done my Masters of Law with a view to also

Associates for quite a while then they offered me

completing a PhD.

casual paid work when it became available. I applied for the position with Maurice Blackburn. I was

What advice would you give to current law students?

interviewed by an Associate and the Principal.

Listen. Listen to everything and keep in mind that you are at the very beginning of your career and the

What was the best part of the job?

people around you have a wealth of experience. Ask

Experience. The ability to associate actual work tasks

questions, your mentor will always be happy to help

with what we had been taught at uni has allowed me

you.

to see how to run a case, as well as understand the impact you can have on an actual client.

careers guide 2014

| 47

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL LAWYER? We understand becoming an exceptional lawyer goes beyond technical ability and that at its heart, the business of law is based on human relationships. For us this means a culture built on creating exceptional working relationships with clients and colleagues. From the start of your career you will get to know our clients, understand their perspectives, and develop your ability to deliver insightful and commercially astute advice.

Wherever you go in the firm, we’re confident you’ll be working with people who share the values we have worked together to define: a commitment to excellence, a collaborative approach, a desire to lead, and a focus on creating strong connections with colleagues and clients. Visit our website to meet some of our people and see what we mean herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers/ our-careers-film.

YOUR DEVELOPMENT Our success depends on the expertise, knowledge and unique perspectives of all our people. That’s why we have always placed such a high value on diversity. It’s also why we encourage you to explore different areas of law and decide how to shape your career.

We will invest heavily in your development; through formal training, pro bono opportunities and the chance to work with inspiring people who are leaders in their fields. We will help you grow personally and professionally, in an environment where you can be your best.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR We are interested in who you are and the strengths you bring. We recruit employees from a wide variety of backgrounds who want to pursue a career in commercial law and who demonstrate qualities such as: intellectual curiosity, confidence, clarity of thought, a commercial awareness, a sense of the bigger picture, ambition to grow personally and professionally, and the capacity to develop exceptional working relationships with clients and colleagues. We have prepared some more detailed information on our website: herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers/ australia/graduates/applications

I chose Herbert Smith Freehills because of the people. I wanted to work with intelligent, motivated leaders in their field – people who were enthusiastic about what they did, but remained down-to-earth about their incredible successes.

But at the end of the day, I wanted a firm that shared my values.

Thankfully, Herbert Smith Freehills was exactly that.

CONTACT US

SIMON DICKSON VACATION CLERK 2013–14

We offer a range of summer and winter clerkships in each of our Australian offices. If you have queries about graduate or vacation clerk positions, please visit our website: herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers/ australia/graduates or contact one of our graduate recruitment team.

SYDNEY Leigh Dunlop

Graduate Recruitment Consultant Direct +61 2 9322 4792 graduates.sydney@hsf.com

BEATON RESEARCH + CONSULTING/BRW CLIENT CHOICE AWARDS 2014 Best Financial Law Firm (>A$200m) Best Professional Services Firm (>A$200m) STONEWALL Top 100 Employers 2014 (consecutively since 2009) ALB AUSTRALASIAN LAW AWARDS Corporate Citizen Firm of the Year 2013 Employee Health & Wellbeing Firm of the Year 2013

HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM

48 | notre dame sydney law society

24

GLOBAL REACH

24 offices, including associated offices across Asia-Pacific, EMEA and North America

© Herbert Smith Freehills 2014 NAV145871_ANU_advertorial 030414

BE PART OF A GLOBAL TEAM

SEE

THE BIGGER PICTURE

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL LAWYER? Our clients need exceptional people to help them thrive in a world defined by change and complexity. They need people who are intellectually curious; who are able to advise with clarity and originality; people who believe that the business of law is based on human relationships.

Bring those qualities, your energy and your ambition and we'll offer you international opportunities, challenges and responsibilities only a leading global firm can provide.

We offer an environment built on support and collaboration, where high performance is recognised and rewarded, and where you'll be inspired and mentored by leaders in their fields.

We see a fascinating and exciting future for the business of global law. Do you?

HERBERTSMITHFREEHILLS.COM/CAREERS

careers guide 2014

| 49

Employment Profile: antonela josipovic jack shand chambers

What’s your name?

gaps (and there always are), I will dedicate that time

Antonela Josipovic.

to work. As a result, I will often spend half of my days

Where do you work?

I work at Jack Shand Chambers for Dennis Wheelahan QC.

at work and the other half at uni. This ensures that I am not wasting any time. Ideally, I like to be able to fit uni and work within the timetable period (i.e. within however many days I need to be at uni). That way,

What are your day-to-day roles?

I can maximise my free time. Currently, by fitting in

Conducting research, writing research papers,

work and uni from Monday to Wednesday, I have the

opinion papers and summaries of expert reports and

remaining four days off to focus on assignments.

organising briefs.

Another way I balance work and university is by

How did you get the job?

scheduling all of the time I will spend on uni work. So

I was offered the job whilst attending another

for example, this semester I have dedicated each four

Barrister’s birthday party.

day break (Thursday-Sunday) to one assignment.

What is the best part of the job?

The best part of my job is being able to apply my legal knowledge to real-life scenarios. The industry experience is invaluable as I am constantly utilising my writing and legal skills to solve problems. I am also

This creates deadlines which need to be met if I am to comfortably start on the next assignment. It might seem as though I compartmentalise my life a little too much, but as law students, I feel like it really helps to keep organised.

very fortunate to observe and learn from Barristers

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

who have tremendous skill and mental acuity.

Working as a plaintiff lawyer for a personal injury

Also, my job is very fulfilling as the work I produce

firm.

is used in court submissions and international

What advice would you give to current law students?

conferences. It feels great knowing that the skills I’ve

Make it your mission to get a job in the legal industry.

learnt at Notre Dame have equipped me with the

I can’t stress enough how invaluable the experience

tools I need to produce work which is used in such

will be. University is fantastic for teaching you the

a way.

skills you need once you go out into the profession.

What is the worst part of the job?

The tasks I undertake demand a high level of writing and analytical skills. The worst part of my job would be the pressure I feel to produce documents that meet these demands.

How do you manage to balance work and university?

At the beginning of each semester, I look at the free time slots I have in my timetable. If there are sufficient

However,

knowing

how

the

industry

works

beforehand will give you that edge you need when competing with other law students. Also, working in the industry teaches you skills that cannot be taught at university. For example, confidence, charisma and people skills are in my opinion, as important as an impressive transcript. So be proactive in pursuing a job and practicing these skills! It will no doubt improve your learning experience.

Possibility in everything Allens is a leading international law firm, with partners, lawyers and corporate services employees across Asia and Australia. We work with many of the world’s leading organisations, including 55 of the world’s top 100 companies and more than 75 of Australia’s top 100 companies. Our integrated alliance with Linklaters means we are able to share resources and offer our clients a seamless service through a global network of 40 offices across 29 countries.

A new way of working We’re building a law firm of the future. To maintain the leading position in the legal profession and the markets we serve, we’ve spent 190 years constantly evolving to meet the needs of our clients and our lawyers. That’s why we are leading the profession with a new career model that offers greater flexibility around the law that you practice, the people that you collaborate with, and the path you can take as you progress through our firm.

You set the pace

Our clerkship program

At Allens, we offer individual career plans that will allow you to explore your interests, find your niche and advance at your own speed. If you have the ambition, talent and desire to rise through our ranks, you can – as soon as you’re ready.

At Allens, we recruit most of our graduates through our clerkship program. Our clerkships are tailored to give you firsthand exposure to life as an Allens lawyer. Whether it is through our comprehensive training program, extracurricular events, meetings with clients or working on market-leading transactions, you’ll be given the opportunity to get practical experience alongside some of the brightest legal minds in Australia.

It’s a two-way deal. Here’s what we expect from our people, and what they expect from us.

What we offer

What we expect Fast track promotion through great performance and demonstrated capability

Individual career plans and coaches so you can drive your own growth

Five career stages with clearly defined capabilities and indicators for progression

Development opportunities to meet new expectations

THE ALLENS CAREER FRAMEWORK

Remuneration and recognition linked to performance not seniority

Graduate program focused on developing core legal, commercial and leadership skills

Initiative and accountability for driving your career

Innovation, creativity and a fresh perspective

Resilience and the ability to meet challenges

Proactive engagement and relationship building with clients and colleagues

Demonstrated capability at every career milestone

Technical |excellence in all that you do

Pragmatic and commercial outlook

When you join our firm, you will learn from partners and lawyers who can help you take your career all the way.

At Allens, anything is possible. Australian Law Firm of the Year – Chambers Asia Pacific 2014 www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates to find out more.

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

careers guide © 2013 Allens, Australia 2014 17945 |

51

52 | notre dame sydney law society

Dive in

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

careers guide 2014

| 53

What a student can expect from an Allens clerkship Dana Rechtman, 2014 Law Graduate, Allens Before completing my clerkship at Allens, clerkships were a mystery to me. I had heard whispers around law school about cocktail nights, the dreaded interviews and students giving up part of their precious (three-month long!) university holidays. However, I had not heard all that much about all the benefits that come with completing a seasonal clerkship.

Having now completed a clerkship at Allens, I would like to provide an overview of why completing a clerkship is an invaluable experience, and why you should apply for clerkships as you head towards the end of your law degree. A seasonal clerkship really is a great way to find out what working in a commercial law firm is all about.

One of the best things about the clerkship was how welcoming people were and how willing they were to give open and honest opinions about their day-to-day lives at Allens. This was evidenced in the organised event ‘Confessions of a Law Grad’, in which a panel of graduates answered our many and varied questions on their experiences entering into the workforce. They were also more than willing to take us out for coffees to talk more about their personal experiences and to chat about the transition from university to full-time work. It was really great that people were so friendly, that I could relate to so many people who had been in my position and that they really understood why the questions that we were asking were so important to us.

This welcoming attitude was also evident throughout other areas of the firm. Working on matters for different lawyers not only exposed me to the type of work that I would be doing at Allens but also demonstrated the approachable nature of people within the firm. Importantly, I genuinely felt that people had time for me. The lawyers I worked with made a real effort to ensure that the work that they gave me was interesting and they were always willing to give me feedback. They also allowed me to sit in on client meetings and attend court so that I could be exposed to the real experience of life in a law firm.

Another great thing about the clerkship was the exposure that we had to different practice groups and different areas within the firm. Even better, this was achieved through wine and cheese nights, where we effectively went speed dating with members of the different practice groups with wine and cheese provided! These evenings were great – they were very informative and really gave us insight into the different areas within the firm. We also had interesting and eye-opening seminars on the really amazing work that Allens does in the community sphere, including in the areas of pro bono and reconciliation, and we were also invited to attend the special interest group meetings.

If I could leave you with one message, it would be to take up all the opportunities offered to you during the clerkship. Be it putting your hand up to help out on a pro bono matter, attending ice cream runs organised by the grads (that really happened!) or going to a lunchtime talk put on by the Women at Allens committee, the more you get involved and the more people you meet and speak with really enables you to see what your experience later down the track could be at Allens and whether this is the path that you want to take to begin your career. For me, the clerkship awakened me to all the wonderful things that were on offer at a firm like Allens and the insights that I gained made it clear that Allens was a place that I wanted to be.

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

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My year in M&A at Allens Lauren McInnes, Lawyer, Allens My first rotation at Allens was in the M&A team, and I found the experience in such a broad area of law a great way to start my legal career. To have a year-long rotation gave me fantastic exposure to a wide range of matters that I was able to work on from beginning to end, including takeovers, schemes of arrangement, corporate governance and occasionally, even giving strategic commercial advice on obscure areas of the Corporations Act. Over the year, being part of the M&A team at Allens has given me the opportunity to work on challenging and high profile matters, for both Australian and international clients. One of the benefits of having a longer rotation was being able to play a key role in major matters, like schemes of arrangement and takeovers, and being able to be involved from the first engagement letter to the celebrating when the client signs off on the deal. I have had the opportunity to assist with drafting company constitutions, providing advice on corporate governance issues, conducting due diligence as preparation for companies listing on the ASX, compiling profiles of companies who were potential takeover targets, refinancing of large Australian assets, preparing client presentations on various areas of corporate law, analysing information from the AGM season of ASX-listed companies, share buy-backs, and sales of business. Working in a relatively general area of law meant that the constant engagement with more specialised practice groups, the variety of work, clients and subject matter always kept things interesting.

The M&A team at Allens is part of our Corporate practice group, which also encompasses our Funds Management and Technology, Media & Telecommunications teams. During my graduate year, I also had the opportunity to assist on matters with both of these practice groups, which was particularly helpful in broadening my exposure to different clients and types of work. It also allowed me use the generalist skills I had developed in M&A (sometimes without realising!) in more specialised areas.

Whilst I found my Commerce background was useful, it was certainly not a necessity in helping me grasp some of the concepts. An enjoyment of Corporations Law or any related subjects also tends to hold you in good stead, as you find yourself putting the legislative framework into practice on most days. Perhaps most important is a simple awareness of what was on the front page or in the Street Talk section of the Australian Financial Review. This can prove to be a source of some of your most exciting moments in your legal career, like when you see a matter that you've worked on splashed on the front page (and the frustration you feel when you realise your confidentiality obligations mean you can't tell your friends!).

Allens has a strong emphasis on each lawyer’s learning and development. As a junior lawyer in the M&A team, we have weekly training sessions with a Special Counsel to get us up to speed on various areas of the law, including on takeovers, fundraising and schemes of arrangement, obligations imposed by ASIC and continuous disclosure obligations. Beyond this specialised training, the national training course undertaken by all Allens law graduates involves detailed workshops, where you have to negotiate mock sales of shares and assets – this always seems to end up with at least some members of the grad group getting rather fired up.

I've also had the opportunity to apply the skills I've developed in my graduate year in M&A doing work for pro bono clients. This has involved drafting constitutions, notices of meeting and minutes of director and general meetings for several non-for-profit organisations, assisting incorporated associations with their adaption to recent changes in legislation, liaising on their behalf with ASIC and the new Australian Charities and Not-forprofits Commission and just generally assisting pro bono clients understand their legal obligations. Such work has proven really rewarding, and helped develop my drafting, allowing me to have more direct client contact and to take on greater responsibility.

Having just finished up my rotation in M&A, and moving to a more specialised practice group, I'm only just now beginning to appreciate the value of having had a solid stint in a general area of law. M&A matters can involve intellectual property, environment, competition, native title and banking and finance at any one time, and to understand how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together is an invaluable skill. The hours can vary more than the average practice group, but that's just part of working in any transactional team. Other than the interesting work and the great people, an M&A experience is a great foundation for any career in commercial law.

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

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careers guide 2014

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Employment Profile: bonnie wynne

maurice blackburn

What’s your name?

Bonnie Wynne.

What was the worst part of the job?

The unexpected maths! I thought I would never have

Where do/did you work?

to deal with mathematics again, but calculating

I am currently a Paralegal in the Medical Negligence

damages with multipliers and deferral rates means

Department at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.

I’ve had to pick up a calculator again. It’s exciting learning new things, but be prepared for accounting

What were your day-to-day roles?

and formulae!

I’ve been assigned to three cases, where I have been drafting subpoenas, letters, Statements of

What advice would you give to current law students?

Particulars and schedules of out of pocket expenses,

Never underestimate the power of talking to

travel expenses and gap repayments to third parties.

people! I would definitely suggest entering the

Essentially, dealing with documents and issues that

Mentoring Program, where you’ll be able to chat

arise from calculating damages.

with professionals who want to provide advice and opportunities for you to find your passion.

How did you get the job?

I never thought that I would love medical negligence

I was asked to participate in the St Thomas More

as much as I have, so keep an open mind when it

Society’s Mentoring Program. There I met Anna

comes to specialising, you may be surprised!

Walsh, the Principal of Medical Negligence at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, as my mentor. Anna and I spoke about goals, interests and extra-curricular activities on the night and exchanged contact information.

Anna and I caught up for coffee in her office where she offered me a position to gain some practical legal experience in Medical Negligence.

What was the greatest benefit?

Being part of a team that is working towards helping people receive justice. I feel like I’m using my degree for good and not evil, helping those who have been wronged to have an advocate stand up for them.

It’s a bit like being Superwoman, but with a lot more paperwork!

56 | notre dame sydney law society

DLA PIPER

TRULY LOCAL, TRULY GLOBAL Joining DLA Piper means not only joining an experienced local team, but also being part of a global network of 4,200 lawyers in nearly 80 offices across more than 30 countries around the world.

In Asia Pacific we have offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

We're committed to conducting our business in a way that is consistent with our values, which are aligned to Our Clients, Our People and Our Communities.

Our lawyers provide clients with trusted local knowledge as well as seamless multi-jurisdictional legal capabilities across a full range of critical services and sectors.

In Australia, we advise approximately a third of ASX 100 companies or their subsidiaries and all levels of government as well as international clients looking to enter the Australian market.

Areas of Practice Commercial contracts; Construction; Corporate; Finance; Intellectual property; International trade; Litigation; Projects and infrastructure; Real estate; Regulatory and government affairs; Restructuring; Tax; Technology and media; Workplace relations, employment and safety.

Global Opportunities DLA Piper is a firm with worldwide opportunities. A career with us means being an integral part of an exciting global team. We support our people's desire to experience working life in other parts of the world through the global DLA Piper network - giving them opportunities to work on multi-jurisdictional, international matters with quality clients and colleagues around the world. In recent years we have placed lawyers in DLA Piper offices in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Washington, Chicago and Dubai. We have also seconded Australian graduates to undertake their final rotation in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore. In return, we host international trainees from the UK and Asia.

Our Commitment to the Community Our 'everything matters' approach applies not only to how we support our clients but also to the communities in which we operate. Our community investment program achieves meaningful community engagement via a broad array of initiatives, focussed on disadvantaged children, poverty, and people living with disabilities.

Last year our lawyers undertook more than 220,000 hours of pro bono legal work globally, making us one of the largest providers of pro bono legal services in the world.

What We Look For At DLA Piper Australia we are seeking people from a diverse range of backgrounds who are as engaged and dedicated as they are inventive, balanced and friendly. We value intellectual ability, curiosity, commitment, ambition, commercial and client awareness, smart thinking, team skills and leadership potential, communication skills and experiences outside of academic life.

careers guide 2014

| 57

TAKE

FLIGHT Join a law firm that is truly going places With 4,200 lawyers in 78 offices and 32 countries around the world, working at DLA Piper means opportunities to work with world class companies on major projects both here and overseas. You’ll also benefit from cutting-edge learning and development programs, and will get to work alongside some of the best legal minds around.

Take the first step to a global career and visit www.dlapipergraduates.com.au to learn more.

DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.

58 | notre dame law society Forsydney further information, please refer to www.dlapiper.com

Copyright Š 2012 DLA Piper. All rights reserved. LAT03| DLA1320 | 1213

The Public Sector The public sector at both federal and state level is made up of many departments which are eager to

in New South Wales, free from corruption and

take on law graduates. This field of work often aims

interference into the Criminal Justice System.

for measurable outcomes in the wider community

Careers opportunities are advertised through the

and as such may be a desirable career for many law

Office of the DPP’s website.

students.

The following links will be useful for researching public sector Jobs: www.apsjobs.gov.au, www.jobs.nsw.gov.au, www.counciljobs.com.au

The New South Wales Crown Solicitor’s Office The NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office is a provider of legal services to the NSW State Government, its agencies and statutory authorities. They operate within the Department of Attorney General and Justice. The

Below are several examples of the key public sector

Office offers a two year graduate program, with

jobs which may appeal to law students.

applications opening in January.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

The New South Wales Law Reform Commission

The ACCC is an independent statutory authority

The NSW Law Reform Commission is an independent

that promotes competition and fair trade within the

statutory body that provides law reform advice to

Australian market, to benefit consumers, business

the Government through the Attorney General, on

and the community. The ACCC has a formal graduate

matters referred to the commission by the Attorney

program whereby graduates take part in three,

General. The Commission acts as a legal policy group

fourteen week rotations. Applications open in

that provides expert advice to the Government, as

February and close in early May.

requested. A summer intern program is offered,

Department of Attorney General and Justice The Department of Attorney General and Justice assist the Government, Judiciary, Parliament and wider community to uphold social standards through

whereby interns contribute directly to the work of the Commission. A formal graduate program is not run, however the Commission will employ graduates as they see fit.

the reduction of crime and advocacy of human rights.

The Public Defenders Office

The Department’s key role is to administer the courts,

The Public Defenders Office is committed to

tribunals, laws and justice programs of the State,

providing legal representation to those people

thus ensuring the administration and development

charged with serious criminal offences. Currently,

of a just and equitable legal system.

the Public Defenders Office only offers graduate

The Department currently offers a clerkship program,

opportunities under their Aboriginal Law Graduate

which is usually advertised in June/July by the Law

program. This program assists Indigenous law

Society of New South Wales. There are no graduate

graduates in completing their PLT requirements prior

programs currently offered.

to admission, and is subject to annual funding. Intern

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) The Office of the DPP is an independent prosecuting service established to prosecute alleged offences. The DPP ensures that prosecution remains independent

and volunteer opportunities are available on a needs basis. To be employed as a Public Defender, you must have extensive criminal law advocacy experience in both trial and appellant circumstances.

careers guide 2014

| 59

Government Sector Opportunities for Law Graduates francisco esparraga

senior lecturer, school of law, university of notre dame australia

Since its formation in 1900, the Federal Government sector, has been a major employer of law graduates.

•

Tribunal; Specialist Tribunals

Even earlier, the State Government sectors have been employing law graduates.

•

Public Service to make you realise the size of this employer. Today, there are over 160,000 public servants employed by the Federal Government alone.

Law Reform – Australian Law Reform Commission; Administrative Review Council;

You only have to think about the number of Government entities which make up the Australian

Decision-making – Administrative Appeals

Privacy Commissioner •

Law Making – Parliaments

•

Policy Making – Government Departments and agencies.

There are over 34,000 employees in Government

A law graduate’s analytical skills, in particular, are

Business Enterprises. Amongst these are hundreds

in demand. Their writing and oral skills too are

of public servants with legal qualifications, providing

sought after. Almost every Government Department

advice to Government or representing Government.

or agency has graduate programs which target

Government lawyers ensure that Government undertakes its mandated tasks, including:

law graduates. In many instances, law graduates who have careers in Government comment on the satisfaction they have in their work and the variety of

•

Service delivery of Government policy

•

Management of Government finances

•

Monitoring and enforcing laws and regulations

Personally, I have had many opportunities over

•

Law making, rule making and law policy

the years, having specialised in Administrative

developments.

Law. I have worked for organisations as varied as

Such Government lawyers have careers in multiple areas, for example: •

Representing Government – Australian Government Solicitor

•

Prosecuting for Government – Director of Public Prosecutions; Independent Commission Against Corruption

•

opportunities which arise.

the Attorney-General’s Department; Territories & Local Government; Veterans’ Affairs; Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Consumer Trader Tenancy Tribunal. The tasks have involved everything from complaints-handling; prosecuting; investigating; researching and advising senior public servants and Ministers.

Complaints handling for Government – Health

I would be pleased to discuss career opportunities

Care Complaints Commission; Information

with any student who may be interested in a

Commissioner; Ombudsman’s Office

Government career path.

60 | notre dame sydney law society

The Court Within the Australian Court system, there exists two main roles a graduate-at-law may apply to - Judge’s Associate or a Tipstaff.

High Court Judges have two associates, one based in Canberra, and the other based in their home city.

Federal Court judges have at least one associate. The role of an associate is dependant largely on whether the court is in a sitting week, or non-sitting week. In sitting weeks, associates will provide support to their Judge in Court by passing up authorities as barristers refer to them. Associates will also be responsible for preparing any files that need to be conveyed from the Judge’s chambers to Court. In non-sitting weeks, associates will do various tasks, such as reading judgments, research, preparing for upcoming cases, writing memoranda and general administration.

Tipstaff have two main functions; administration and legal research. Administration tasks are focussed on ensuring your Judge is in the right Court at the right time, with the right file in front of them. Legal research involves investigating case authorities, reading commentaries and keeping up to date with development of the law.

Applications for these positions vary. For associate positions, you will need to know that the Judge in question is looking for associates, as these position are not advertised. The easiest way to do this is to get in contact with each Judge’s Personal Assistant, or the current associate, to find out when positions become available, and what they may involve. For tipstaff positions, it is best to look at the Court’s website, via LawLink. careers guide 2014

| 61

Corporate Advisory and Professional Services Law graduates are not limited to pursuing a career

Bain & Company

in the legal profession. The skills that you learn as a

Bain & Company is Australia’s premier management

student-at-law are highly transferable and valuable

consulting organisation, driven by the achievement

across many corporate advisory and professional

of results for their clients. Priding themselves on

services organisations. ‘Corporate advisory and

offering clear and concise strategy to their clients,

professional services’ is a blanket term used to

Bain & Company aren’t afraid to say what internal

encompass those careers in the fields of investment

management teams won’t.

banking,

Bain & Company only recruit via their annual

consulting

corporate and

restructuring,

strategic

managerial

development.

The

graduate program, and look for those graduates who

knowledge acquired through your Law degree will

are willing to learn fast, take on challenges, and build

greatly assist you in these occupations, particularly

networks both within the industry, and with clients.

as you will be required to apply areas of contract

Bain & Company offers world-class training, which

and competition law. Further, skills of analysis and

takes the form of a formal training program as well as

critical thinking will also place you in a favourable

on-the-job training. www.bain.com

position for these career avenues.

The Boston Consulting Group If you fancy yourself investigating one of these

BCG prides itself on addressing client concerns with

careers, it is necessary to consider if you will require

a tailored approach that combines an insight into

further study in the areas of commerce, economics

companies and markets with close collaboration

or finance. Often, this is not a prerequisite, however

with all levels of the client’s organisation. Recognised

further on into your career, it may be appropriate

on a number of occasions as the ‘BRW Client Choice

to consider obtaining a postgraduate certification,

Award for The Best Consulting Firm’, BCG focuses

such as a Masters of Business Administration

upon providing a platform for their clients to build a

(MBA), Chartered Accountant qualifications (CA) or

sustainable competitive advantage and secure long

Chartered Financial Analyst qualifications (CFA).

term growth and success.

BCG take a select number of graduates each year,

If this sounds interesting to you, have a look at the

and do not have any internship or undergraduate

following organisation overviews, and investigate

programs. Graduates interested in working with BCG

further the opportunities you may have at hand.

should be aware that applications open in March, and the application process will involve lengthy interviews and case studies. www.bostonconsulting.com.au

62 | notre dame sydney law society

Government Relations/Lobbying Barton Deakin Government Relations

Hawker Britton

Barton Deakin works closely with its clients as part

Hawker Britton provides high level government

of their core strategic team. Barton Deakin doesn’t

relations advice and government lobbying to

just open doors – it helps you understand what’s

companies and organisations. We offer an unrivalled

going on behind them, how to work most effectively

level of expertise in Federal government lobbying

with the Coalition in government or opposition and,

and Territory and State government lobbying, as

most importantly, how to achieve your government

well as advising companies on issues, policies, and

corporate strategy goals.

commercial matters related to Australian State, Territory and Federal governments.

Barton Deakin aims to empower you to manage your own exposure to government decision making by:

Hawker Britton’s directors and consultants include former ministerial advisers and parliamentarians.

•

•

•

•

Helping you develop comprehensive government

Our government lobbyists and government relations

relations strategies informed by insights into the

advisers have an in-depth understanding of the

inner workings of government

bureaucracies, policy development and procedures

Working with you to build a case and develop

of Australia’s governments.Hawker Britton’s services

messaging that reflects the different priorities

include research and analysis, strategic advice,

and personalities of each decision maker and

government lobbying and preparing submissions.

those influencing decisions

We advise clients from a range of industries,

Giving you insight into the inner workings of

including telecommunications, aviation, mining,

government to understand how decisions are

manufacturing, construction, professional services

made and who makes them – so you can build

and peak bodies.

your case most effectively

http://www.hawkerbritton.com

Assisting you make the most of your meetings with decision makers with detailed preparation, briefings and follow up – so you can ensure no hard-earned meeting becomes a simple meetand-greet

•

Ensuring you make the most of meetings by organising follow-up for all contacts with government

http://www.bartondeakin.com.au

careers guide 2014

| 63

Investment Banking Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs is one of the pre-eminent providers

motivation and enthusiasm, high achievement, a

of financial services in the world, combining their

hunger to succeed, ability to work well in teams and

extensive global knowledge of investment banking

an aspiration to be the best.

with Australasian perspectives. As an employee of

www.jpmorgan.com

Goldman Sachs, you will have access to a global network of like-minded professionals, allowing you

The Macquarie Group

to provide the best advice for your clients.

The Macquarie Group is a global provider of banking, financial services, advisory, investment and fund

Extensive on-the-job training is provided, along with

management services. With headquarters based in

the opportunity to travel interstate or overseas as

Sydney, Macquarie also operate extensively in the

part of the formal training program.

Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Macquarie is an attractive alternative for

Students in their penultimate year are encouraged to

law graduates as Macquarie provides a diverse range

apply for the Goldman Sachs vacation internship via

of services. The application of your law degree in this

the Goldman Sachs website. Depending on business

non-traditional field of law ensures that your legal

requirements and the success of the internship

and commercial skills are continually developed.

program, a graduate program may also be offered.

The application process will involve assessment

Seasonal internships and graduate programs are

centres, interviews and ability testing.

offered to penultimate and graduate students who

www.gs.com.au

demonstrate high levels of motivation, above average analytical skills, excellent communication skills, an

J.P Morgan

entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and innovation.

J.P. Morgan is the global leader in investment

www.macquarie.com.au

banking, private equity, wealth management, financial transaction processing and small business and commercial banking. J.P. Morgan is one of the few fully integrated financial institutions with leadership positions across mergers and acquisitions, debt capital markets, derivatives, equities, equity capital markets, and treasury and securities services.

Summer internships and graduate spots are available and advertised on their website. J.P. Morgan look for

64 | notre dame sydney law society

Insolvency and Corporate Restructuring The broad areas of insolvency and corporate

McGrathNicol

restructuring are focussed upon assisting a client

McGrathNicol work with domestic and international

in rebuilding their organisation following the

banks, investors, financiers, law firms and large

declaration of the company’s insolvency (inability to

corporate entities on some of their most complex

pay debts). Law students, and the skills they possess,

matters. McGrathNicol prides itself on their work,

are extremely valuable in this area of professional

which is completed to the highest standard, as

services,

reflected by the high profile of their clients.

as

both

insolvency

and

corporate

restructuring present an array of issues that need solving, a skill many law students are quite adept at.

McGrathNicol attributes its continued success to sourcing some of the most talented graduates and

KordaMentha KordaMentha

vacationers. McGrathNicol conducts a vocational is

a

market

leading

boutique

internship program, where they seek students who

professional services firm that specialises in

are highly motivated and well rounded, with strong

corporate recovery and insolvency, turnaround

communication skills and the ability to work both

and restructuring, forensic services and real estate

independently or collaboratively.

recovery. KordaMentha prides itself on their proven ability to provide innovative approaches to maximise

The application process will involve the submission

outcomes for all stakeholders.

of your initial application, as well as two rounds of interviewing, which will include partner contact, staff

KordaMentha conducts both vacation internship

presentations and social mix-and-mingle sessions.

and graduate programs. Recruiting students who

www.mcgrathnicol.com

are

completing

their

Commerce,

Commerce/

Law, Economics, Business or Finance degree, KordaMentha seeks recruits who are motivated, thrive on challenges, and share the vision and focus of the organisation. The recruitment process involves two round of interviews. www.kordamentha.com

careers guide 2014

| 65

Accounting and Taxation Most suitable to those students who have a second

KPMG Australia

degree in Commerce - Accounting, the area of

KPMG Australia specialises in corporate fields such

accounting and taxation is one that is certain to

as Audit, Tax and Advisory. Through local experience

always be around. With laws on the taxation of

and

personal and company income updated on a regular

industrial knowledge, KPMG aims to bring a deeper

basis, firms that specialise in accounting and taxation

understanding to its client’s businesses. KPMG offers

advice appreciate law students who are capable of

their employees excellent professional and personal

interpreting legislation and apply this knowledge to

development opportunities, and encourages you to

factual scenarios at hand.

explore new ideas, build a career at your own pace

with

globally

networked

technical

and

and work with their outstanding professionals.

Deloitte Deloitte is Australia’s largest, fully integrated business

KPMG offers graduate, vacation, cadetship and co-

consulting, accounting, taxation and advisory

operative recruitment programs to students and

service. Deloitte services ninety of Australia’s largest

graduates. KPMG looks for bright minds, who are

hundred publicly-owned companies, as well as

team players and innovative thinkers. Also, people

family/private businesses and government. Deloitte

who relish the challenge of problem solving and have

has a number of offices in over one hundred and fifty

great communication skills should consider KMPG.

countries across the world, each which act as its own legal entity when providing business consulting and

The application process involves abilities assessment,

corporate advisory services. It is safe to say that when

information sessions, personality questionnaires,

you join Deloitte, you are joining a vast network of

written exercises and interviews.

some of the world’s brightest minds.

www.kpmg.com

Deloitte offers over one hundred internships in NSW to students who are in their penultimate year.

Key degrees of interest to Deloitte are accounting, economics and law. Deloitte considers academic results, work experience, evidence of leadership and team experiences and levels of your involvement in university, social and community life when considering your application. www.deloitte.com

66 | notre dame sydney law society

Clerkship Profile: kathryn whybourne cancer council

What’s your name?

learned A LOT about legislation in all jurisdictions

Kathryn Whybourne

surrounding superannuation, wills and estates, powers of attorney and powers of enduring guardian and workplace relations (discrimination).

Where do/did you work?

I worked at the Cancer Council in Woolloomooloo, in their legal and financial planning referral service as a

What was the worst part of the job?

volunteer to their Cancer Council Summer Clerkship

The worst part of the job I would probably have to

Pro-bono Program. It was a 3-month program where

say was making calls to the people who didn’t qualify

you work 3 days a week over the summer. You may

for the pro-bono service. Those people on the other

choose to continue to work there at the completion

end of those calls didn’t always take this news very

of the program.

well. But most people were quite understanding so this wasn’t so bad. Similarly, having difficult

What were your day-to-day roles?

conversations over the phone where you could

Mostly calling clients affected by cancer to receive

hear how distressed people were was sometimes

instructions

emotionally quite burdening – even this was still an

about

their

legal

and

financial

problems. I had to identify how the Cancer Council

amazing learning opportunity.

pro-bono program might be able to assist them.

The calls involved going through a means test with

What would your advice be to current law students?

the clients and then working with my managers to

Try and get as much experience as you can whilst

decide whether the client would qualify given their

you’re at University! It doesn’t matter where you find

financial circumstances. I also had to learn what

experience, so long as you are learning and finding

my boundaries were when speaking with clients. I

out what you are interested in. If you miss out on a

occasionally had to close files and update databases.

clerkship in a large firm, don’t be disheartened. Look at the other opportunities available to you. There are

How did you get the job?

plenty of volunteer positions and some firms if you

I saw an advertisement on www.survivelaw.com and

ask them early enough will be more than happy to

applied for the position shortly after I had applied for

have you over a summer! Just put yourself out there

other summer clerkship positions.

and ask.

What was the best part of the job?

The greatest benefit of the job was improving communication skills. Sometimes, you had to have really difficult conversations with people, particularly as peoples’ circumstances were so hard. I also careers guide 2014

| 67

Graduate Profile: daniel ang

pricewaterhousecoopers (pwc)

Where are you now?

is that my responsibilities and role on engagements

I work as a consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers

vary based on the team I work with, the engagement

(PWC), a leading professional services firm in

requirements, the clients’ industry and the individual

Australia and the world.

client needs.

How are you coping? Was it a good career choice?

The most basic common responsibilities I have had

I really enjoy it here! It’s a huge firm (3000 in Sydney),

are about being across the detail of the engagement.

but the teams are really good, and there is always

Which means having a deep and thorough

lots of interesting work around. The people here are

understanding of the clients’ subject matter,

generally quite friendly and willing to teach you, and

communicating with clients about their needs and

there is a structured career path.

what we need, as a team, to complete our work.

How has your degree prepared you for your current

Do you have spare time?

position / Was it an advantage in the interview

Yes. Although if you ask other trainees / graduates

process?

I started with (in PwC Assurance in 2011 there was

Studying law was not an essential part of joining

80 odd of us), they might say no. So to my mind it

Assurance at PwC. But studying law and commerce

is all about being smart about your workload and

(Accounting) was a big advantage, and regarded

balancing competing interests. Being honest with

highly by interviewers who look for a point of

your seniors, and understanding and managing their

difference amongst candidates.

expectations are key, but to give you a definitive answer about ‘exactly’ what you should expect would

That said, I have predominantly worked in a team

be a straight out lie.

that provides assurance on / consulting services for operational and regulatory risk. That has meant that

What role does/did networking play in your

while not directly applying my studies, like the law

employment?

of torts, I have had the opportunity to use the same

Networking was a big part of joining PwC.

type of thinking or experience with studying the law

Networking helped me in completing applications,

to offer my own interpretation on the countless regs,

background about what I might expect from

laws and standards that apply to our clients.

interviewers, and especially how to make a decision about where to go - with insights from behind the

What are your main responsibilities?

To be honest, part of what I enjoy about working here

68 | notre dame sydney law society

curtain.

What

is

your

opinion

of

gaining

industry

employment during law school?

What is something Law school doesn’t teach you?

Industry experience is important for two reasons; it

Hard to say, you could take a firm line and say that

looks great on your CV, but can also help you make

law school prepared me for nothing. But studying

informed decisions about your future. I know that

law, getting an understanding of how to quickly

when I finished high school I was very interested in

find important information, understanding what

Journalism. Then, during the course of my time at

regulations or rules mean - in plain English, and

uni, my opinion about what I enjoyed and was good

applying skills you learn from working in teams or

at waxed and waned.

clubs and societies actually all filter through - if not indirectly. So if anything, law school is about putting

What was the most valuable thing you gained from

yourself in the position to be well rounded and as

ND and Law School in general?

well placed as possible to meet whatever challenges

Definitely the lense you use when you look at work

you are confronted with - whether it be in law,

you are asked to do. When you begin working you

professional services, or otherwise.

need to be prepared to think critically, and know the detail of particular subject and files, and coming at that with a critical eye and a lense influenced by your understanding of acceptable commerce practices, the Corps Act, IP and the like - at least in a non-law role at a professional services firm - that knowledge / lense can be invaluable.

What advice would you have for final year students?

Use your network and ask questions about potential places of work / industries and gain what insights you can. Then be yourself in the interviews. Try to relax and be personable, because if you are at the interview stage it is likely they already know you are intelligent.

They are now trying to find out, if not subconsciously, if you are a good ‘cultural fit’ for their firm.

careers guide 2014

| 69

Social Justice rachel bennett

social justice director, notre dame sydney law society

We’ve all heard the ‘dodgy lawyer’ jokes…

I have listed just a few social justice organizations How can you tell that a lawyer is lying?

below. Some of them provide opportunities to

His lips are moving.

volunteer, some offer internships, all would be valuable and fulfilling organisations to pursue.

What do you get when you run an “honest lawyer” contest? No winners.

I wish you all the best with your studies as they fan your zeal into flame, and as you tackle the greatest

We smirk.

social issues of our time as Notre Dame Law Alumni.

But these jokes make light of a deeper truth - that lawyers, with their skills, minds and influence -

Australian Human Rights Commission:

can wield the law for corruption and greed, as the

www.humanrights.gov.au

humour suggests; or they can advance the cause of

Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org.au

justice, mercy and personal integrity. That’s what

Caritas: www.caritas.org.au

we’re about at Notre Dame Law.

Community Legal Centre Volunteers: www.clcvolunteers.net.au

Since the dawn of the profession, lawyers have

Human Rights Watch: www.hrw.org

fought for social justice. Thomas More, Abraham

Lawyers Without Borders: www.lwob.org

Lincoln, Mohandas Gandhi and Nelson Mandela all

Public Interest Advocacy Centre: www.piac.asn.au

fought to bring about social change for the benefit of

Reprieve Australia: www.reprieve.org.au

the disenfranchised. As we begin our careers in their

Salvos Legal: www.salvoslegal.com.au

shadow, there is still work to be done. As genocide

The Aurora Project: www.auroraproject.com.au

remains a devastating reality abroad, and standards

The Innocence Project: www.innocenceproject.org

of health and living are too often divided along racial

The International Criminal Court: www.icc-cpi.int

lines at home, society is in need of policy makers,

The United Nations: www.un.org/en/

advocates and lawyers who are committed to defend

UN Women Australia: www.unwomen.org.au

and protect the marginalised.

United Nations Human Rights Council: www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/

So as we consider the legacy of our profession and

Inner City Legal Centre:

the injustice in our time, I ask you- what is your

http://www.iclc.org.au/index.htm

passion? What in our world compels you to speak

The Wayside Chapel:

out? Research it, because there is a place out there

http://www.thewaysidechapel.com

where you can use your skills to defeat that injustice,

WAYS (Waverley Action for Youth Services):

and if you can’t find one, start something!

http://www.ways.org.au

70 | notre dame sydney law society

Graduate Employment and Summer Clerkship Programs The 2014 NSW Graduate Employment and Summer Clerkship Programs are co-ordinated by the Law Society of NSW for the benefit of law firms in NSW and law schools.

For more information see: http://www. lawsociety.com.au/community/forlawstudents/ GraduateEmploymentClerkships/index.htm

2014 Key Program Dates Graduate Employment

Summer Clerkships

Tuesday 4 March

Thursday 3 April

Applications for graduate positions open.

Offers for graduate positions to current summer clerks must be made and accepted/declined by

Friday 18 April

5.00pm.

Applications for graduate positions close at 5.00pm.

Wednesday 18 June Monday 12 May

Applications for summer clerkships open.

Interviews for graduate positions commence.

Monday 21 July Friday 13 June

Applications for summer clerkships close at 5.00pm.

Offers for graduate positions can be made.

Monday 18 August Friday 20 June

Interviews for summer clerkships commence.

Offers for graduate positions must be accepted or declined by 5.00pm.

Friday 26 September Offers for summer clerkships can be made.

Tuesday 30 September Offers for summer clerkships must be accepted or declined by 5.00pm.

careers guide 2014

| 71

Firm

Graduate Employment

Summer Clerkship

Addisons Lawyers

No

Yes

Allen & Overy

No

Yes

Allens

No

Yes

Ashurst

No

Yes

Baker & McKenzie

No

Yes

Brown Wright Stein

Yes

No

Champion Legal

No

Yes

Clayton Utz

No

Yes

Clifford Chance

No

Yes

DLA Piper Australia

No

Yes

Gadens Lawyers

No

Yes

Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers

No

Yes

Henry Davis York

No

Yes

Herbert Smith Freehills

No

Yes

Holding Redlich

No

Yes

Hunt & Hunt

Yes

No

HWL Ebsworth

Yes

Yes

Johnson Winter & Slattery

No

Yes

Jones Day

Yes

Yes

Justice Policy – NSW Department of Attorney-General and Justice

No

Yes

K & L Gates

No

Yes

King & Wood Mallesons

No

Yes

Lander & Rogers

No

Yes

Maddocks

Yes

Yes

Minter Ellison

No

Yes

Sparke Helmore

Yes

No

Thomsons Lawyers

No

Yes

TressCox Lawyers

No

Yes

Truman Hoyle Lawyers

No

Yes

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

72 | notre dame sydney law society

1

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

ADDISONS LAWYERS Level 12, 60 Carrington Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8915 1089

FAX:

02 8916 2089

Email:

samantha.pearce@addisonslawyers.com.au

CONTACT: Samantha Pearce (Human Resources Manager) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.addisonslawyers.com.au/site/Home/Summer_Clerkships.aspx (Please include a covering letter, detailed CV, current academic transcript and response to application questions.)

ALLEN & OVERY Level 25, 85 Castlereagh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9373 7700

FAX:

02 9373 7710

Email:

australianrecruitment@allenovery.com

CONTACT: The Australian Recruitment Team SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.allenovery.com/careers/australia/en-gb/ (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

ALLENS Deutsche Bank Place Cnr Hunter & Phillip Streets SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9230 4000

FAX:

02 9230 5333

Email:

Student.Careers@allens.com.au

CONTACT: James Taylor (Graduate Resourcing Consultant) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.allens.com.au/careers

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

2

careers guide 2014

| 73

ASHURST SYDNEY OFFICE Level 36 Grosvenor Place 225 George Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9258 6924

FAX:

02 9258 6999

Email:

amy.foulcher@ashurst.com

CONTACT: Amy Foulcher (Human Resources Consultant – Graduate Programs) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.ashurst.com/graduates (Please include a covering letter, detailed CV, current academic transcript and response to application questions) CANBERRA OFFICE Level 36 11, 12 Moore Street CANBERRA ACT 2601

Phone:

02 6234 4078

FAX:

02 6234 4111

Email:

margot.kindley@ashurst.com

CONTACT: Margot Kindley (Human Resources Relationship Manager) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.ashurst.com/graduates (Please include a covering letter, detailed CV, current academic transcript and response to application questions)

BAKER & McKENZIE Level 17, AMP Centre 50 Bridge Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8922 5715

FAX:

02 9225 1595

Email:

patricia.micallef@bakermckenzie.com

CONTACT: Patricia Micallef (Talent Management Consultant) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au

BROWN WRIGHT STEIN Level 6, 179 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9394 1047

FAX:

02 9394 1011

Email:

bag@bwslawyers.com.au

CONTACT: Brooke Glastonbury GRADUATE PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.bwslawyers.com.au/careers.aspx

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

74 | notre dame sydney law society

3

CHAMPION LEGAL Level 3, 60 Phillip Street PARRAMATTA NSW 2150

Phone:

02 9635 8266

FAX:

02 9635 1167

Email:

connect@champion.com.au

CONTACT: Michelle Forrester SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.champion.com.au

CLAYTON UTZ Level 15, 1 Bligh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9353 6111

FAX:

02 8220 6700

Email:

alennox@claytonutz.com

CONTACT: Amy Lennox (Graduate Recruiter) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.claytonutz.com/careers/graduates_and_clerkships/home.page

CLIFFORD CHANCE Level 16, 1 O’Connell Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8922 8000

FAX:

02 8922 8088

Email:

debbie.mckell@cliffordchance.com

CONTACT: Debbie McKell (Human Resources Manager) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.cliffordchance.com

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

4

careers guide 2014

| 75

DLA PIPER AUSTRALIA SYDNEY OFFICE 201 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9286 8520 / 03 9274 5491

FAX:

03 9274 5111

Email:

camilla.moore@dlapiper.com

CONTACT: Camilla Moore (Graduate Resourcing Manager – Australia) Cassie Jackson (Human Resources Assistant – Sydney) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript) CANBERRA OFFICE 55 Wentworth Ave KINGSTON ACT 2604

Phone:

02 6201 3434

FAX:

02 6230 7848

Email:

camilla.moore@dlapiper.com

CONTACT: Camilla Moore (Graduate Resourcing Manager – Australia) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

GADENS LAWYERS Level 16, 77 Castlereagh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9931 4831

FAX:

02 9931 4888

Email:

amilliken@nsw.gadens.com.au

CONTACT: Alida Milliken (Learning & Development Co-ordinator) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications via www.gadens.com.au

GILBERT + TOBIN LAWYERS Level 37, 2 Park Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9263 4504

FAX:

02 9263 4111

Email:

clerkships@gtlaw.com.au

CONTACT: Lizzie Maiden-McBryde (People Team) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

76 | notre dame sydney law society

5

HENRY DAVIS YORK 44 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9947 6532

FAX:

02 9947 6999

Email:

summerclerks@hdy.com.au

CONTACT: Fiona Page (People and Development Officer) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS Level 27, ANZ Tower 161 Castlereagh Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9322 4792

FAX:

02 9322 4000

Email:

leigh.dunlop@hsf.com

CONTACT: Leigh Dunlop (Graduate Recruitment Consultant) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

HOLDING REDLICH Level 65, MLC Centre 19 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8083 0388

FAX:

02 8083 0399

Email:

anna.peters@holdingredlich.com

roberta.tuckwell@holdingredlich.com CONTACT: Anna Peters (Human Resources Manager) Roberta Tuckwell (Human Resources/Learning & Development Advisor) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications via email: sydneyclerkships@holdingredlich.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

6

careers guide 2014

| 77

HUNT & HUNT Level 13, Gateway 1 Macquarie Place SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9391 3000

FAX:

02 9391 3099

Email:

rsutherland@hunthunt.com.au

CONTACT: Ms. Rebecca Sutherland (Human Resources Consultant) GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: http://www.hunthunt.com.au/join-us/graduate, in hard copy or by email to human_resources@hunthunt.com.au (Complete the Law Society Student Application Form, include a detailed CV, current academic transcript, HSC results and UAI or equivalent)

HWL EBSWORTH GPO Box 5408 SYDNEY NSW 2001

Phone:

02 9334 8555

FAX:

1300 369 656

Email:

NSWGraduate2015@hwle.com.au

CONTACT: Renee Lawton GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM: Submit applications, your CV, and academic transcripts online via http://www.hwlebsworth.com.au/join-us/graduate-centre.html.

SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM: Submission details will be provided closer to the opening date.

JOHNSON WINTER & SLATTERY

Level 25, 20 Bond Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

08 8239 7127 / 02 8274 9529 / 02 8247 9630

FAX:

08 8239 7100

Email:

romaine.ponniah@jws.com.au robyn.howard@jws.com.au megan.dcruz@jws.com.au

CONTACT: Romaine Ponniah / Robyn Howard / Megan D’Cruz SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

78 | notre dame sydney law society

7

JONES DAY Aurora Place Level 41, 88 Phillip Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8272 0500

FAX:

02 8272 0599

Email:

nberndt@jonesday.com

CONTACT: Natalie Berndt SUMMER CLERKSHIP AND GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM: Submit applications via email to: sydneyrecruiting@jonesday.com (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and your academic transcript)

JUSTICE POLICY – DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL AND JUSTICE – NSW Level 14, Swire House 10 Spring Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8061 9225 / 02 8061 9238

FAX:

02 8061 9370

Email:

jacob_campbell@agd.nsw.gov.au caroline_davies@agd.nsw.gov.au

CONTACT: Jacob Campbell / Caroline Davies SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications via email to: justice.policy@agd.nsw.gov.au Further information is available from the website at www.lpclrd.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/

K&L GATES Level 31, 1 O’Connell Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9513 2415 / 02 9513 2378

FAX:

02 9513 2399

Email:

alison.maclurkin@klgates.com robert.anderson@klgates.com

CONTACT: Alison Maclurkin / Robert Anderson SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.klgates.com/careers or www.cvmail.com.au (Complete an online application and include a detailed CV and current academic transcript)

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

8

careers guide 2014

| 79

KING & WOOD MALLESONS SYDNEY OFFICE Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower 1 Farrer Place SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9296 3573

FAX:

02 9296 3999

Email:

mitch.barreca@au.kwm.com

CONTACT: Mitch Barreca (Graduate Resourcing Consultant) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.kwm.com (Complete an online application and include a detailed CV and current academic transcript) CANBERRA OFFICE Level 5, 7 London Circuit CANBERRA ACT 2601

Phone:

02 6217 6638

FAX:

02 6217 6999

Email:

mary.costa@au.kwm.com

CONTACT: Mary Costa (People & Development Coordinator) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.kwm.com (Complete an online application and include a detailed CV and current academic transcript)

LANDER & ROGERS Level 19, Angel Place 123 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

03 9269 9333

FAX:

03 9269 9001

Email:

lgrant@landers.com.au

CONTACT: Laura Grant (Graduate Recruitment Consultant) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and academic transcript)

MADDOCKS Angel Place 123 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9291 6215

FAX:

02 9221 0872

Email:

kate.chisholm@maddocks.com.au

CONTACT: Kate Chisholm (People & Culture Advisor) GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT AND SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

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MINTER ELLISON SYDNEY OFFICE 88 Phillip Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9921 8583

Email:

tarley.slawson@minterellison.com

CONTACT: Tarley Slawson (Resourcing Advisor) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.minterellison.com/careers (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV, current academic transcript and our online application).

CANBERRA OFFICE 25 National Circuit FORREST ACT 2603

Phone:

02 6225 3737

Email:

liana.hurry@minterellison.com

CONTACT: Liana Hurry (Human Resources Manager) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.minterellison.com/careers (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV, current academic transcript and our online application).

SPARKE HELMORE Level 15, 321 Kent Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9260 2439

FAX:

02 9373 1486

Email:

nicole.garrett@sparke.com.au

CONTACT: Nicole Garrett (Recruitment Consultant) GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au

THOMSONS LAWYERS Level 25, 1 O’Connell Street SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 8248 5802

FAX:

02 8248 5899

Email:

smoffitt@thomsonslawyers.com.au

CONTACT: Stephanie Moffitt (Human Resources Advisor) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au Complete the online application form and include your covering letter, resume, and academic transcript.

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

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TRESSCOX LAWYERS 19 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9228 9398

FAX:

02 9228 9299

Email:

sharon_harrington@tresscox.com.au

CONTACT: Sharon Harrington (Human Resources Adviser) SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications online via: www.cvmail.com.au

TRUMAN HOYLE LAWYERS Level 11, 68 Pitt St SYDNEY NSW 2000

Phone:

02 9226 9888

FAX:

02 9226 9899

Email:

jthomas@trumanhoyle.com.au kedghill@trumanhoyle.com.au

CONTACT: Kathryn Edghill / Jan Thomas SUMMER CLERKSHIP PROGRAM ONLY: Submit applications via email: jthomas@trumanhoyle.com.au (Applications should include a covering letter, detailed CV and current academic transcript)

List of Participating Law Firms as at 31 March 2014

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