UTS LSS Careers Guide 2020

CAREERS GUIDE CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Careers (Publications) Director Zaki Zeini Cover Designer Briallen Moore

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ADDRESSES

9 10 14 18 20

BREAKING INTO LAW Power of your Law Degree Beginning your Journey Post Graduation Beyond Law

27 28 30 33 35 37

LAW RADAR Disruptive Technologies Intellectual Property Law Health and Community Law Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Bankruptcy Law

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Alumni - Dominic Woolrych

49 50 52 53 55 56 57

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW The Bar In-House Judges Associateships Public Service Private Sector Practicing Internationally

Designer Michael Graziano President Sam Guzman Vice President of Careers Vicky Kuo Vice President of Sponsorship Catherine Thomas Dean of UTS Law Professor Lesley Hitchens

2020 Subcommittee

Amani Mahmoud Drafting

Jeevan Kullar Drafting

Rita Rabie Drafting

Divya Saxena Drafting

William Marshall Editing and proofreading

Special thanks to UTS Careers Dominic Woolrych CEO of Lawpath Lauren Krejčí Paralegal at Hall & Wilcox Tristan Salanitro Contracts Administrator at Cochlear Ltd Kurt Cheng Client Success Specialist at EasyCompanies Tom Farinelli Law Clerk at Craddock Murray Lawyers Pty Ltd UTS Law Students’ Society ©

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This publication is subject to copyright. Except where permitted by under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may form or by any means (electronic or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any process without specific written consent of the UTS Law Students’ Society. Enquiries are to be addressed to the publishers.

Eleni Carydis Assistant at 9 Wentworth Chambers Justin Cordi Electorate Officer at Parliament NSW Erika Serrano Paralegal at Egisto Solicitors

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

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ADDRESSES Director’s Address Many of us may feel unsure and disorientated when focusing our attention on finding work. However, rest assured, there are many career paths available to UTS: Law students, some of which you may not even be aware of.

This publication has been produced to address those very issues and tackle the trends that can help you narrow down what kind of career path you might want to consider if you haven’t already. The 2020 Careers Guide also provides an overview of the range of industries available and their pathways to job opportunities.

Zaki Zeini

The most important takeaway from this guide is the understanding you’ll have of our industry's landscape.

You might not even want to pursue law after reading this, and that is fine! T he p oint o f t his g uide i s t o broaden your perspective of what you can do with your law degree and how to align it with the goals and aspirations you have in mind or want to realise. You must be honest with yourself about what you want to do with your career and how you want to navigate our changing job market.

I wish you all the very best in your pursuits and feats.

Dean’s Address For those of you contemplating your future career plans, 2020 may seem a confusing time for such contemplation as the COVID-19 Pandemic creates uncertainty in all aspects of our lives. However, I encourage you to be confident about your future and the career options open to you. Because some career paths have an obvious recruitment pathway, like the clerkship rounds, you might be concerned that employment opportunities are limited.

Professor Lesley Hitchens

This is why the UTS LSS Careers Guide is so valuable because it shows the diversity of careers available.

Many of you may decide not to practice as a solicitor or barrister or will move out of practice after a few years. A law degree can be a good foundation for these other career paths, whether you are based locally or internationally. This Guide will be an important source of information here also. I regularly receive very positive feedback from law firms, lawyers, judges, and alumni about the quality of UTS: Law graduates.

Work-ready; practically oriented; commercially focused; articulate; and good team-players are common descriptions. This feedback indicates the value of a UTS: Law degree, which focuses on rigorous legal knowledge and professional skills.

Not all graduate employment will be found through a clerkship round; you may have to actively seek out the opportunities, but future employers will value the resilience and initiative you demonstrate in that process.

Be reassured that law graduates continue to have high employment outcomes. Law graduates nationally have one of the highest employment outcomes for all graduates (86.5%), and UTS: Law graduates have high graduate employment outcomes, 90.5% (2017-2019). So, review the options, think carefully about how you might want to use your law degree, and know that you will be well-equipped for your chosen career path.

President’s Address It is never too early or too late to start considering your career choices. Whether you are in your first year or final year, this guide will offer you a wealth of tips and tricks about how to work today for the career you want tomorrow!

A legal education is undeniably valuable, offering a variety of career options to law graduates upon completion. Equipped with a highly transferrable skillset – from research and communication skills to problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically – law graduates are sought after in a range of sectors and industries.

Sam Guzman

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While the process of job-hunting may seem incredibly daunting, it is important to continue putting your best foot forward and to remain confident in your abilities. Be sure to make the most out of the opportunities presented to you while studying to place yourself in the best position possible.

On behalf of the UTS Law Students’ Society (UTS LSS), I would like to thank and congratulate Zaki Zeini, Careers (Publications) Director, and the Careers (Publications) Sub-Committee, for their tireless efforts in creating another fantastic publication. As always, I would also like to express my gratitude to our sponsors for their continued support. I wish you all the best with your future careers, wherever that may be!

Great change is here.

Shape the future with Allens At Allens, we’re focused on equipping our people with the skills and experience they need to be the lawyers of the future. We’re ready to define tomorrow. Are you?

With us, you’ll be more than a lawyer. Our people are technical experts, but they’re also trusted business advisers who think bigger, more broadly and more strategically. Together, we solve complex legal challenges, and collaborate across practice areas and disciplines to guide our clients.

We work across borders too, thanks to our alliance with Linklaters. This provides opportunites for our firm and our people, including annual rotations in Linklaters London, Hong Kong and Singapore being available to our graduate lawyers.

An early legal career at Allens includes highly tailored training through the Allens Academy. Developed in partnership with the Australian National University, our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice will help you transition from law graduate to legal expert and trusted business adviser.

In a rapidly changing world, we seek opportunities to innovate, embracing creative thinking, new approaches and emerging technology. We don’t just seek opportunities to benefit ourselves and our clients, we believe strongly in driving positive change to do right by our community too, as demonstrated through our strong pro bono practices.

Our teams are open, inclusive and encouraging, giving you the opportunity to learn and grow while feeling supported.

You’ll have the flexibility to drive your own career, and we’ll recognise your achievements and hard work as you progress through the firm. Are you ready to begin?

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM A clerkship at Allens is the first step in a rewarding legal career, and will give you invaluable insights into our work and culture. With support from a buddy and development supervisor, you’ll work on real matters for real clients and be involved in a variety of projects. The programs: run from three to 10 weeks; are available at our Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth

and Sydney offices;

feature ongoing support, including a buddy system; and include exposure to one or two practice groups.

GRADUATE PROGRAM In each rotation, you’ll gain a depth of experience that comes from seeing matters through to the end, and get exposure to stimulating legal challenges. At Allens, we don’t work in silos, meaning you won’t be limited to working with only one partner or by your practice areas. You’ll work alongside a range of partners and lawyers, giving you exposure to a wide variety of tasks. Working with different teams and leading organisations, you’ll grow a solid skills base and develop the agility needed to thrive in our ever‑changing world. The programs include: two 12‑month rotations in your areas of interest; secondment options in London or Asia, via our alliance

with Linklaters;

ongoing supervision, coaching and mentoring; completing a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

(via Allens Academy); and

a 12‑month weekly legal seminar series

(Cornerstone Program).

Find out more at graduates.allens.com.au Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP.

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Face up to the challenge.

Put the competition behind you.

Make it to the top together.

IT’S TIME.

Visit allenovery.com/careers/gradsaustralia

IT’S TIME | SYDNEY

It’s time…

As an Allen & Overy Summer Clerk, you will be a part of a team which prides itself in working on top tier Australian and international deals and cases.

What we can offer you During your ten week placement at Allen & Overy, you will participate in real transactions from beginning to end as well as specifically designed exercises that provide a valuable insight into the role of an Allen & Overy lawyer. Bespoke training is provided by some of our leading lawyers in Australia including access to international training sessions too.

In addition to gaining experience in two of our practice areas in the Sydney office, our previous summer clerks have been able to spend time in one of our Asia Pacific offices during the program.

This experience will give you a greater understanding of our global network and a taste of future opportunities at Allen & Overy.

As your career progresses with Allen & Overy, you will be given a range of choices to develop your experiences, such as taking up the opportunity to spend time working in another office, whether that’s a rotation as a junior lawyer, a longer term secondment or a permanent transfer.

Top tier Australian and international work From the moment you join the firm, you’ll be involved in helping our clients to protect and grow their assets. You will get involved in cross-border deals including inbound investment by international clients and outbound investment

by Australian clients; international disputes and

© Allen & Overy LLP 2020

regulatory reviews; project financing for projects both in Australia and around the world; and international bond programs. Clients increasingly expect global service providers and Allen & Overy is currently one of the only firms in Australia able to provide a fully integrated domestic, regional and global offering. Our four core practice groups provide a full suite of corporate, finance (debt and equity), international capital markets and litigation services. Within these Groups, the practice areas are diverse, including Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Projects, Structured Products, International and Capital Markets, Funds, Asset Finance, Competition, Tax, Litigation and International Arbitration.

What we are looking for Our shared culture and the values inspire the way we work and behave: instinctively thoughtful, collectively ambitious, insightfully inventive and refreshingly open. There is no typical Allen & Overy lawyer. We realise each person has their unique skills and qualities.

In addition to excellent academic results, we seek penultimate year students who are team players, show resilience, are good communicators, have strength in planning and organisation, are adept at problem solving and have general commercial awareness with an overall ambition to build a career at Allen & Overy.

Your journey to a world-class career begins here

Baker McKenzie is Australia’s first global law firm.

We’ve been developing global lawyers in Australia for more than 50 years – each started out as a law student, just like you.

Angelique Holden +61 2 8922 5596 angelique.holden@bakermckenzie.com

Become a world-class lawyer.

Join the firm that was born global.

www.bakermckenzie.com/australia#careers Find us at @BakersAUS

Ready to explore our world?

Find us on Facebook

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Power of your Law Degree Beginning your Journey Post Graduation Beyond Law

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POWER OF YOUR LAW DEGREE Our current situation dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 has left many concerned about whether they will even find a job once they have graduated. Many of you reading this may be in your first year of study and are questioning whether persisting with your law degree is a good idea after such an arduous year. Wherever you are and whatever stage, this guide will be dedicated to helping you widen your perspective on what your law degree can offer and where it can take you for the years ahead.

Benefits of your law degree Having a law degree does not confine you to one lane of the job market. Your law degree is much more agile than you think. Outside of fulfilling a threshold to becoming a lawyer, having a legal education provides you with a range of skills highly valued by all sectors of our changing economy.

Your degree teaches you to: • Think analytically; • Form constructive arguments; • Develop advanced research skills; • Train your critical thinking skills; • Understanding the mechanisms of how the world operates; and • Learning how to express yourself succinctly.

Studying law is not simply about reading hundreds of textbooks and mindlessly highlighting core principles.

Your legal education is imparting skills that allow you to observe the world differently. Grasping this perspective is critical to taking advantage of everything your law degree has to offer.

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Gaining these core skills is highly valued by your future employers, in whichever industry that may be.

Your degree can give you access to industries such as business, government, and the community sector, locally and internationally. As we are all taught, the law is constantly changing and adapting, and so will you!

We are currently in the middle of a rapidly changing environment, and as a law student, you are the most equipped to deal with that change.

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According to the University of Melbourne, law graduates can be found working in: • Sport; • Arts; • Finance; • Not-for-profit sector; • Military; • Media; and • Innovative start-ups.

Your law degree isn’t as restrictive as it may seem or limited to how others make it out to be. A legal education isn’t entirely a technical qualification. It can also be used more generally and has been for over half a century. It is a matter of perspective and how you sell yourself.

Your degree checklist

First year Take the right subjects at the right time – consult your student handbook and talk to some experienced law students you may know.

Every year, the UTS LSS facilitates the Buddy Program. A program designed to pair you with a mentor law student! Keep a lookout for this opportunity in 2021. Reach out to edu.internal@utslss.com for any inquiries.

“The Buddy Project is one of the LSS’ most impactful initiatvies.

Your buddy can be a friend, mentor, a study partner, or all of the above! When I came to law school, my buddy introduced me to the ‘important places’ on campus (The Loft) and to so many people in the Law Society. I can’t thank him enough and it was a pleasure to return the favour as a Senior Buddy this year” – Justin Cordi

Focus on creating a strong study routine! Your performance in first-year subjects will be considered by your future employers when you apply for internships, summer clerkships, or graduate programs later on.

Find your tribe! Create a network, mingle, and form a study group. This will help you most when you need support. Consider participating in UTS LSS events in 2021 if you didn’t get the chance this year.

Visit a courthouse with some friends! Gaining practical observations is an invaluable tool for understanding your legal theory.

Go to First year Law Camp! It is an invaluable opportunity to network and lay the foundations for your university relationships.

Build your extracurriculars – get involved in more sport, music, and volunteer work for your personal development. The UTS Brennan Justice and Leadership Program is a great start to network with others, build your volunteer experience, and gain exposure to social justice opportunities.

You can contact brennan.program@utslss.com

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“The Brennan Program is an extremely rewarding program that reminds students of their own privilege when considering the various barriers to justice that exists within our society. In engaging with social justice through reflection and service, students are reminded of their roles as future lawyers in enacting just outcomes.” – Erika Serrano

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Your degree checklist

Second year Consolidate your study routine. Reflect on your mistakes. Learn from them and create better strategies to cope with stress and other external commitments.

Start thinking about your career path. Consider some specialties based on your passions. Reach out to UTS Careers for a consultation session for an in-depth discussion.

Find ways to reach out to professionals of your target career. The UTS LSS offers many events that facilitate discussion between students and industry professionals. Keep a lookout for them in 2021!

Look for internship opportunities to develop your soft skills and gain some practical experience.

Explore ways to train your legal skills. Consider competing in UTS LSS skills competitions and mock trials in 2021!

Consider a position on a student society such as the UTS LSS.

Third year Start learning how to write a professional CV and Cover Letter for your job applications. You can get your applications reviewed by UTS Careers here.

Consider signing up for a law journal or magazine to stay updated with our changing circumstances and networking/job opportunities.

Start looking into what electives you want to consider for your final two years of study.

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Attend more law events with legal professionals and consider preparing questions for the organization that visit!

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If you are still struggling to find work experience, consider job opportunities outside the legal sector that can offer you the chance to develop transferable skills.

Fourth year Try solidifying what you want out of your chosen career path. Talk with friends and other professional consultants.

Start researching the types of firms or organizations you are interested in working for.

Attend clerkship networking events and other legal professional fairs.

Consider applying for clerkships. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience at a top-tier commercial law firm and for the chance to be offered a graduate position.

Fifth year Start researching and applying for somewhere to complete your Practical Legal Training.

Explore opportunities for graduate placement work.

Consider a position working for a judge as an associate or tipstaff if you want to pursue a legal career after graduating.

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BEGINNING YOUR JOURNEY Starting your journey finding a job is always challenging and is no different when it comes to searching in the legal sector. The best mindset to start with when approaching this stage is to focus on opportunities that build your soft skills, i.e. interpersonal, communication, personality, social intelligence, and career attributes.

Legal Centres Legal Centres offer a host of opportunities to develop your practical skillset through unpaid volunteering opportunities. This can range from: • Developing your interpersonal skills by liaising with clientele.

• Acting as the first point of contact.

• Applying your research skills.

• Testing your problem-solving skills when faced with novel situations.

• Assisting with drafting advice or instructions.

• Training your ability to listen actively.

• Applying your legal theory practically.

This avenue will, of course, depend on the developing situation with COVID-19. However, it is important to look ahead. We will not be stuck in this pandemic. The following are some places to keep in mind once the pandemic is over and workplace social distancing is no longer required.

New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties The NSW Council for Civil Liberties regularly hosts students for placements and internships.

The organization monitors and fights against the infringement of such rights and abuse of power by the government, its agencies, and other entities. It attempts to influence public debate and government policy on a range of civil and human rights issues by securing amendments to laws or policy changes where civil liberties are not fully respected.

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The NSWCCL is a non-sectarian and non-party political that undertakes tasks such as: • Preparing submissions to the government; • Conducting court cases defending infringements of civil liberties; and • Engaging in public debate, producing publications, and community outreach.

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Students get involved with a variety of activities with NSWCCL. Activities typically include researching civil liberties and human rights issues, writing submissions to government inquiries, preparing information for media releases and comment, drafting responses to complaints about breaches of civil liberties, assisting asylum seekers and refugees, and attending meetings and conferences. Interns are generally placed in the office of one of NSWCCL’s executive officeholders.

To apply for an internship or student placement, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your interest in civil liberties and human rights to office@nswccl.org.au.

The Aurora Project The Aurora Project works on Indigenous Legal Issues such as native title, land rights, advocacy, social welfare, human rights, and environmental policy.

Aurora provides internships, training, professional development, and scholarships to support lawyers working in the native title sector.

The Aurora Project’s Internship Program places students and graduates with backgrounds in law (including some business), anthropology, some social sciences (including archaeology, community development, cultural heritage, environmental management, education, history, human geography, Indigenous studies, media/communications, and sociology) as well as health science and social welfare (including social work and psychology) and at Indigenous sector organizations involved in native title, land rights, justice, policy and community development, health, social welfare and research, Australia wide.

Justice Action Justice Action is a community-based advocacy group that supports criminal justice and mental health reform.

Justice Action offers voluntary, unpaid internships to students. During the internship, students will increase their awareness of criminal justice and mental health issues and develop their research, writing, and communication skills. Interns receive supervision and undertake work such as preparing tribunal and court cases, contributing to media releases, writing correspondence, and assisting in policy work.

To apply, applicants can email their CV and cover letter to the Justice Action Assistant Coordinator at asst.coordinator@justiceaction.org.au.

Legal Aid NSW Legal Aid NSW is a state-wide organization responsible for providing legal services to socially and economically disadvantaged people across New South Wales.

The organization deals with matters concerning criminal law, family law, and civil law.

Applications are made through Jobs NSW and generally involve producing a CV and cover letter and answering targeted questions to determine your suitability for a role.

More information can be found at https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/working-at-legal-aid.

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Arts Law Centre of Australia The Arts Law Centre of Australia (ALCA) is a community legal centre that works directly with Australian artists and art organizations. ALCA provides free and low cost specialized legal advice and provides education and resources on legal and business issues. ALCA commonly deals with contracts, intellectual property, business structuring, insurance, and employment law issues.

Student volunteers play a valuable role in supporting the solicitors in the provision of legal advice. They are the first point of contact for clients and are tasked with providing information and taking accurate legal instructions. Volunteers may also conduct legal research for the solicitors, get involved with advocacy projects, sit in on legal advice sessions as note-takers, and assist with a legal centre’s general administration.

The Aboriginal Legal Service The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) does legal work in criminal law, children’s care and protection law, and family law. The ALS assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children through representation in court, advice and information, and referral to further support services.

The ALS is a community organization that refers clients to secondary services as required.

In this program, student legal volunteers work closely with ALS Solicitors and staff to understand the workings of a Criminal law or a Children’s Care and Protection Law practice in an Aboriginal community organization setting.

Extracurricular activities UTS LSS Competitions Getting involved in the UTS LSS competitions is an invaluable and riskfree avenue to train your legal skills.

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The UTS LSS offers a range of skills and mock trial competitions that can help you develop your ability to communicate, argue, network, and put your legal knowledge to the test. Many of these competitions are also sponsored by top-tier firms, providing an optimal opportunity to gain exposure. These competitions can also allow you to compete against other universities at a national level!

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The following are a list of competitions being facilitated by the UTS LSS: • Negotiations • Client Interview • Witness Examination • Mooting (mock trials) • Intervarsity competitions Each competition touches upon various areas of the law, such as: • Criminal • Commercial • Constitutional • Contracts • Torts/civil law • Social justice

Brennan Justice and Leadership Program The Brennan Justice and Leadership Program (Brennan Program) was introduced in 2011 and is named after Sir Gerard Brennan AC KBE, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and UTS Chancellor (1999-2005).

Being a part of the Brennan Program offers a great opportunity to build your knowledge and experience regarding social justice and the importance of leading by example. This avenue affords law students the chance to gain volunteering experience and a great way to network with others through social justice events.

Additionally, being involved in this program provides a great way to add to your professional portfolio. You can accrue points and hours to eventually gain a certificate (Brennan Justice Leadership Award) that can end up on your official academic transcript!

How does it work?

The Brennan Program is separated into two components: Reflection on Justice (ROJ); and Leadership through Service (LTS). To gain the Brennan Justice Leadership Award, you must engage in both components and fulfill their respective requirements.

ROJ – Students must earn a total of 100 ROJ points to be eligible for the award. Keep in mind that you cannot accrue 100 points in 12 months.

This can be done through some of the following activities: • • • • •

Brennan Program Events (5 points) External events credited towards the program (around 5 points) Law and Justice Discussion Groups (20 points) Reflective blog (10 points) Brennan Book Program (20 points)

LTS – Students can engage in voluntary activities in a range of legal and non-legal settings that involves service to others and also indicates the assumption of some leadership role. To be eligible for the award, you must complete the required number of hours pertaining to your studies’ duration at UTS. For more detailed information regarding the Brennan Program, consult the Brennan Program Handbook.

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POST GRADUATION Practical Legal Training (PLT)

Admission to the Supreme Court of NSW

Practical Legal Training provides you with the foundations of the practical legal skills that admitted lawyers require to function daily. A common provider of Practical Legal Training is the College of Law. Students who undertake Practical Legal Training on a full-time basis will complete their training in 15 weeks. Students who undertake Practical Legal Training on a part-time basis will complete it in 30 weeks.

It is important to understand that admission does not entitle you to engage in legal practice. The admission process is a prerequisite for applying for an Australian practicing certificate, which entitles the holder to engage in legal practice.

There are several accredited providers for Practical Legal Training. A list of these accredited providers can be found on www.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au.

For more information on the College of Law Practical Legal Training course, visit https://www.collaw.edu.au/.

To apply for admission as a lawyer in NSW, you need to: 1. Sign up to use the online Admission Portal; 2. Register your application by completing the online admission application form; 3. Print your Admission Checklist, sign the Application Summary, scan them along with your documentary evidence, and email the scan to the Office of the LPAB; and 4. Forward by post the originals of selected items of your documentary evidence, if you requested to do so by the Office of the LPAB. A person who proposes to be admitted in New South Wales may apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board for a compliance certificate.

Practicing Certificate admission requirements To be able to practice in New South Wales, you must hold a practicing certificate. An application for a practicing certificate in New South Wales must be made either to the Law Society of NSW (to practice as a solicitor) or the NSW Bar Association (to practice as a barrister). If you intend to practice outside of New South Wales, you must contact the respective jurisdiction’s local regulatory authority.

The Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales governs admissions for the legal profession in New South Wales. To be admitted as a lawyer in New South Wales, you must:

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Have successfully completed a tertiary academic course in Australia which: • Includes the equivalent of at least three years of full-time study of law; • Is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board; and • Provides appropriate understanding and competence in each element of the academic areas of knowledge set out in Schedule 1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Admission Rules 2015.

Have successfully completed the practical legal training prerequisite: • In New South Wales, this requirement can be satisfied by successfully completing a PLT course conducted by a provider accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board.

Be a fit and proper person to be admitted to the Australian Legal Profession.

Take an oath of office, or make an affirmation of office, in the form required by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) CPD points are minimum education and professional development requirements for lawyers holding a practicing certificate in NSW. Each year, solicitors are expected to complete at least ten CPD units. Within these ten units, there must be at least one unit within each of the four compulsory ‘fields’: • • • •

Ethics and professional responsibility Practice management and business skills Professional skills Substantive law

The four compulsory ‘fields’ cover specific topics.

For example, the ‘professional skills’ field includes interpersonal skills, client interviewing, legal research, and plain English drafting.

These units can be accrued through various activities, including seminars and workshops, presenting at lectures, private study, research, or membership with certain committees. Generally, one-hour participation in any of these activities will equate to a single unit.

CPD is imperative as it ensures that practicing solicitors have contemporary knowledge and the requisite skills to deliver professional legal services to their clients. The CPD points system also instils public confidence in the profession by ensuring that all solicitors meet current professional standards and are aware of substantive law changes within their practice areas.

CPD requirements are a condition imposed on an Australian practicing certificate under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW) and the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015. As such, the Law Society may cancel, suspend or refuse to issue a practicing certificate if a solicitor does not comply with these minimum requirements.

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BEYOND LAW The common expectation amongst law students is that they will become lawyers or work within the legal sector once they have graduated. However, many students question whether this is the right decision for them. Completing a law degree does not entirely mean you have to pursue a career in law. The reality is that your legal education does not limit the scope of where you can apply your abilities. The skills you learn throughout your degree are transferrable to many standards of other industries. While you can choose to pursue another career besides law, you must make this decision carefully and reflect on what will bring about a positive outlook for your life in that job.

Some of the most valued attributes by employers that are found in law graduates are: • Negotiation skills.

• Collaborations skills.

• Analytical skills.

• Strong communication skills.

• Leadership capabilities.

• Problem-solving.

• Appreciation for social and cultural diversity.

Accounting and Advisory

Consulting

Working with numbers is not everyone’s forte, but it isn’t always limited to maths and calculations. Having a legal education helps set yourself apart as you’re taught to point out discrepancies and identify issues. Being in an accounting firm can task you with the duty to review financial records, conduct auditing processes, draft budgets, and advise on investment decisions. All of which a law graduate is capable of doing in some way.

Consultants are the problem solvers of the professional business world. They provide advice, educate, facilitate change, and recommendations based on their research in a particular field. As a law student, your knack for problemsolving is trained and developed from the beginning, making this one of the most ideal career choices for law graduates.

According to the Law Society of NSW, the Big Four Accounting firms try to ‘poach top-tier lawyers’ for their growing legal services. They are regarding the skills possessed by law graduates as highly desirable in the accounting industry. If you are doing a double degree in Business and Law, working in an accounting firm could be a viable option for you.

Banking and Financial Services

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Being involved in the banking finance sector will involve a range of roles related to auditing, analyzing investment decisions, or compiling statistics to be used as evidence to calculate the level of risk associated with insurance and premiums.

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As • • • • •

a law graduate, this industry will test your ability to: Communicate complicated data.

Analyse data.

Understand new data.

Identify patterns in behaviour.

Handle large amounts of information.

Your legal education will also provide a background in some fundamental areas such as taxation and regulatory compliance, boosting your credentials as an employee.

Law students should consider internship opportunities and graduate programs facilitated by banking institutes and government regulatory bodies.

Some common approaches to working as a consultant are: • Independently (freelance or contractual basis); • Consultancy firms; or • In-house.

Many employers for consultancy firms value law graduates who can develop ideas for novel contexts and provide creative approaches to solving a client’s matter.

If you’re interested in this area of expertise and want to train your knack for case-by-case problem solving, get involved in the UTS Consulting Club.

IT and Communications The impacts of COVID-19 has only increased the relevance of the IT and communications field. Law students can expect roles related to planning, researching, installing, and monitoring the performance of IT and communication systems and transmissions.

While you would expect employers from this field to only invite IT students specifically, the UTS Legal Futures and Technology Major’s induction has changed the spectrum of students to consider. IT communication companies are still on the lookout for non-technical personnel in positions compatible with the skills of law graduates.

If you are still yet to choose a major, consider the Legal Futures and Technology Major if you have a passion for technology and the IT field.

You can expect to be exposed to: • Disruptive technologies.

• New Law. • Intellectual property.

• Innovation.

Retail and Consumer Goods This field will primarily entail working with major corporations and businesses that offer household products and services. Law students can consider working in departments that don’t require ‘legal expertise’. Rather, roles that demand their analytical skills, creativity, and problem-solving skills such as in advisory, administrative, or managerial positions.

On the other hand, law students can seek out positions in departments that require a knack for negotiating, brand protection, capital raising schemes, and other legal issues that arise from advertising and marketing. All these roles draw from a law student’s skillset as many situations related to consumer goods involve novel contexts and demand the adaptability of people with legal backgrounds.

Many students with a combined degree in Business and Law will find this to be a logical avenue.

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Activate your career.

‘PLT at The College of Law is so much more practical than I expected.

I got experience speaking in a court setting and cross-examining a witness. I also drafted legal documents, letters and affidavits – which I never did at uni.’

Cormac Foley Solicitor, Danny King Legal Graduate of the University of Wollongong

Learn more at collaw.edu.au/PLT

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Practical Legal Training

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Just 5 days face-to-face attendance

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Courses located in St Leonards, the Central Coast, Coffs Harbour, Kensington, Newcastle, Parramatta, & Wollongong

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More than 40 programs a year in New South Wales

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Access to 1:1 appointments with a careers adviser Emphasis on task-based, practical learning

Law Radar 28 30 33 35 37

Disruptive Technologies Intellectual Property Law Health & Community Law Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Bankruptcy Law

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DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES Tristan Salanitro

What are disruptive technologies?

Disruptive technologies generally define any type of innovation that removes old systems and habits and replaces them with recognizably superior attributes.

This method is essential for both established companies and start-ups. Companies can cement longevity into their business operations through disruptive technologies and enable start-ups to enter the market with relative ease.

Blockchain technology

Internet of things

Why are disruptive technologies growing?

In both culture and practice, the law has been relatively insulated against disruptive technologies.

In its regulation of education, standards, rules, and norms, conservatism has created a system that limits how it is practiced. This inaccessibility manufactures a dichotomy between the legal industry and its clients.

Moreover, they cannot assess its services’ risk and thus rely on external factors such as reputation, cost, and pedigree. From this, it is clear that the legal industry is ripe for disruption, and why companies such as Lawpath, DocuSign, and Plexus are establishing a firm foundation in the middle of the market by increasing access to justice through the creation of disruptive technologies. It is here that established companies must compete with constantly evolving start-ups, or risk losing a significant market share.

3D Printing

Robotics and autonomous vehicles

Artificial intelligence

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Career adaptability

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Around 111 independent Australian legal tech firms have opened since 1988 and provide a range of legal compliance solutions, practice management, legal research, intellectual property technology, and case management. Otherwise, Australian law firms such as Clifford Chance, Ashurst, and DLA Piper have undertaken legal technology initiatives such as technology academies for lawyers, automated contract drafting, e-disclosure, and client self-service applications. Furthermore, since 2010, the ‘big four’ accounting firms have begun to utilize technology to offer their legal services and have established themselves as a threat to law firms by improving the functioning of in-house legal teams through legal operation services.’

(e-Discovery, knowledge management, contract review algorithms)

Big data analytics

New Law

Relevant qualifications & skills Strong technical skills, an understanding of legal technology, and an innovative mindset are the most sought-after skills for these roles. Evidence of project management, communication, and adaption skills will place you ahead of the pack by demonstrating your ability to confront any situation objectively.

Depending on the role’s level, experience in previous roles such as law, services, and consultancy is highly admired. Education or experience in any of these roles’ subject matters is also valuable, such as studying law, business, or information technology. However, most of the roles categorize experience at a firm or agency as an essential skill. It provides a measurement of how much value the candidate has provided to similar companies. Thus, pathways such as internships, paralegal roles, assistant/ administrator roles at firms, and government agencies are an excellent way to get your foot in the door and enter an ever-evolving industry.

Pathways & opportunities A simple search on Seek and LinkedIn will reveal the plethora of opportunities available for lawyers, consultants, software developers, university students, and anyone genuinely interested in getting involved with disruptive technologies. Jobs range from consultants, legal technology managers, eDiscovery analysts, technology lawyers, legal technology internships, and document reviewers.

Companies and firms to consider: • Lawpath • LegalVision • Sprint Law • Plexus • Allens

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property law involves protecting and asserting individuals’ rights over their intangible assets such as copyright, patents, and trademarks.

It allows people to gain recognition and financial benefits for their inventions. People involved in this field are found to share similar interests in being creative, practical, analytical, and innovative.

This can range from: Literary or artistic works Designs Symbols Names Images used in commerce

IP is divided into two categories Industrial property these are inventions that extend to patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications.

Copyright

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focuses on protecting individuals such as authors, artists, and producers for their literary works, films, music, artistic works, and architectural designs.

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Relevance of intellectual property

Why is intellectual property growing?

Intellectual property law is a highly multi-faceted area.

Most of what we see, hear and touch in our daily lives can be a form of IP such as the software on our phones (copyright) or the taste of our food (trade secrets).

This area of the law evolves as we evolve. Common incidents like the way we interact with each other, do business and buy and sell products and services can all have some form of IP involved in its conception. That is why IP is such a critical area of the law and a major asset to innovative businesses. A report by IP Australia in 2017 identified that the growth of IP legislation would double every 20 years.

The increase in reliance on intangible infrastructure is driving the demand for IP specialist lawyers. In a global context, IP has no limits and be obtained anywhere and at any time (per the law). Because intellectual property encompasses several different fields, its importance to business dealings and disputes is of the highest priority.

Protecting the ideas of businesses, and how those ideas transfer to what they offer, has the potential to shape the economy. From who and where we purchase or consume our daily products and services is dictated by intellectual property law and transactions. New developments in science and technology will continue to create demand for IP lawyers as the creators require mechanisms to protect and profit from their inventions.

Some relevant areas to consider include:

1

Increase in global policies and treaties For example: • Madrid Protocol, • ICANN’s UDRP process, • WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty.

These are still complex and uncertain areas, which invites future problem solvers.

3

Digital transformation • Omni-IP management – big data, integration of technology into practice, machines, and algorithms will conduct various functions, including searching for infringing material, and preparing patent applications.

• Data-driven IP – artificial intelligence will improve IP practices by assessing the value of IPRs, evaluating patent prosecution’s performance using algorithms, improving predictability, and cutting costs for IPR owners.

• The growing digital economy requires greater protection from knowledge infringement due to data breaches and cyberattacks.

2

Business infrastructure • the value of knowledge-based capital has increased in importance and economic value.

• There has been an increase in utilizing intangible assets for financial and banking purposes.

• Branding investment has increased as companies shift their focus on selling the experience of being a consumer of their products/services.

• R&D activity is being driven by IP rights and innovation, with most expenditure being directed towards formulating new IP systems, services, and products in a range of different industries.

4

Globalisation and integration • Inventors are increasingly filing their inventions with multiple IP offices • The use of harmonious initiatives by IP offices around the world has increased • Global flows of inventors and other skilled workers continue to grow • Companies are increasingly moving from closed to open collab practices

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Career adaptability

Pathways & opportunities

Being involved in IP law enables you to access a range of industries that handle or deal with creating and transferring ideas and inventions. The transition to a highly knowledgebased society has driven the need to protect knowledgebased capital. This means various industries are looking for people with specialized knowledge on IP to maximize how they can protect and benefit from the creation and exchange of their intangible assets.

You will have the chance to practice intellectual property law and most top-tier multi-disciplinary law firms. However, there exists a multitude of IP specialist firms.

Some of the most popular industries or areas of specialty an IP lawyer can adapt, and access includes: • IT industry • Film & entertainment industry • Pharmaceuticals and therapeutic goods • Agricultural industry • Marketing & branding • Manufacturing and industrial technology

Relevant qualifications and skills A law degree is the bare minimum requirement expected of people interested in entering the area. Common approaches also extend to passing the bar. Having an additional background in science or engineering disciplines can also bring more utility to lend as part of your skillset. Popular specializations are Patent Attorneys and Trademark Attorneys.

According to a 2016 census by the ABS, approximately 66% of IP lawyers had a Postgraduate, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate, and over 30% had a bachelor’s degree before entering the field.

Working in an intellectual property law field requires a very high level of education and training due to how many areas IP can extend to.

This broadly includes skills such as: • Critical thinking.

• Active listening.

• Complex problem solving.

• Persuasion and negotiation.

• Time management.

• System analysis.

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An understanding of the following is expected of IP lawyers: • Customer and personal service.

• Admin and management.

• Law and government.

• Economics and accounting.

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An • • • •

IP lawyer is heavily involved in tasks such as: Providing written/oral advice and opinions.

Drawing up settlement documents.

Liaising with clientele.

Preparing and reviewing critical contracts between parties.

• Thorough research concerning the operation and status of intellectual property regulations.

Some firms to consider include: • Griffith Hack • Bird & Bird • Gilbert and Tobin • Clayton Utz Some other places for opportunities include community legal centres such as the Arts Law Centre of Australia. This institute provides free legal advice to socio-economically disadvantaged individuals struggling to protect their ideas and inventions. They provide pro bono and advice and frontline volunteer opportunities.

HEALTH & COMMUNITY LAW Lauren Krejčí What is health and community law?

Health & community is an expansive area of the law covering the health, aged care, life sciences (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), disability, health insurance, retirement living, education, and community service sectors.

1

2

Corporate and Commercial

Regulatory

Advising on mergers and acquisitions, compliance with the Corporations Act and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act.

Advising on compliance with the various pieces of legislation that regulate these sectors and several issues such as consent, regulatory approval for new medical devices, guardianship, and advanced care directives.

3

4

Employment and Royal Commissions workplace relations and Commissions of Inquiry Health & community lawyers must deal with employment and industrial relations issues in a manner that recognizes the nuances of these sectors.

There are currently Royal Commissions into the Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability and Aged Care Quality and Safety.

5

Property

Working on retirement living, community houses, health, aged care, and disability infrastructure projects.

Why is health & community law growing?

Relevance of health & community law

Before COVID-19, the health & community sector had strong growth prospects due to medical technology advancements, coupled with a growing population and better life expectancy. As the legislation regulating these sectors frequently changes, health & community lawyers are relied upon to ensure that their clients comply with legislative requirements. As such, many health and community sectors have ever-present legal needs.

Health & community law focuses on advising key stakeholders within critical sectors of society, including health and aged care providers, research organizations, hospitals, government, medical practitioners, notfor-profits, pharmaceutical companies, and industry associations. Lawyers practicing within this area are part of a support network and facilitate these sectors’ effective functioning. As such, this area of the law is always relevant and necessary.

However, COVID-19 has brought a host of new opportunities and challenges to different sectors. Some notable examples include:

Law Radar

• Investment opportunities in the health and life sciences sectors – capital raising.

• Changes to the Therapeutic Goods Act to support the surge in demand for the manufacture, importation, and sale of critical medical supplies in Australia.

• Employment issues – managing staff absences, shortages, and stress claims in residential aged care facilities.

• COVID-19 restrictions imposed on the health and aged care sectors.

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Career adaptability

Pathways & opportunities

The health & community sector is a highly adaptable area of the law due to its expansiveness – these lawyers are trusted advisors to various clients from different sectors.

There is also a range of job opportunities within other industries, such as Medical Science Liaison and Risk Management within the life sciences sector.

There are various firms with health & community practice groups. The Doyle’s Guide listed the following as leading firms in Health & Aged Care for 2020:

Some of the most notable industries or areas of specialty where a health & community lawyer can adapt, and access include: • Life sciences – pharmaceuticals and medical devices.

• Community – aged care, disability, charities, and notfor-profits.

• Private health insurance.

Relevant qualifications and skills To practice health & community law in Australia, you must complete a law degree or equivalent course. While a degree in Science or Social Science is not mandatory, these degrees can provide a holistic understanding of the health and community sectors and the challenges they face. UTS also offers electives such as Medicine and Law, which focuses on aspects of the law relevant to health care.

You must also undergo your Practical Legal Training for submission to the Supreme Court of NSW.

Law Radar

As health & community lawyers advise a wide range of clients on various points of law, there are some requisite skills: • Statutory interpretation: The health & community sector is heavily regulated. As such, health & community lawyers must be familiar with several pieces of federal and state legislation, including the Aged Care Act 1997, Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, Private Health Insurance Act 2007, and relevant subordinate legislation.

• Strong interpersonal skills: The health & community sector is centred on people – whether they are the disabled, the sick, senior citizens, or the carers who assist them.

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• • • • • •

Hall & Wilcox Maddocks MinterEllison Thomson Geer Kinny Legal Elderlaw

Most Health & community practice groups within the top and mid-tier firms will present opportunities to advise clients within all health & community sectors. Specialist firms, such as Elderlaw, focus on one industry or sector.

PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY LAW Amani Mahmoud

What is cybersecurity & privacy law?

Cybersecurity is the process of protecting and recovering computer systems, networks, devices, and programs from cyber-attacks and threats to privacy. Cybersecurity and privacy continue to grow in prominence as a significant risk faced by Australian and global business due to the increasing frequency of incidents occurring and greater regulatory analysis of how companies respond to this growing threat to cybersecurity and privacy.

Why is cybersecurity & privacy law growing?

With the onset of COVID-19 and the significant shifts to working remotely, our society is more technologically reliant than ever before, and there is no indication of this trend slowing down. Data and sensitive information are now more exposed and vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Computer systems are relied upon every day. This, combined with the rise in cloud-based services and poor cloud service security, brings up many cybersecurity threats that did not exist previously.

Information theft is the most expensive and fastest-growing segment of cybercrime. This is driven by the increasing exposure of identity information to the web via cloud services. But it is not the only target. Industrial controls that manage power grids and other infrastructure can be disrupted or destroyed. Identity theft isn’t the only goal; cyber-attacks may compromise data integrity (destroy or change data) to breed distrust in an organization or government. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, changing what they target, how they affect organizations, and their attack methods for different security systems.

Due to the constant learning and development in this sector, there is a potential for exponential growth professionally.

The evolution of cybercrime means cybersecurity can no longer be silted to IT departments and needs to be addressed across all functions of an organization or business. This highlights the escalating importance of the legal industry, intersecting with cybersecurity, and privacy issues.

Skills in this area of law are in high demand with skill shortages in Australia and internationally. The Australian Cyber Security Growth Network (ACSGN) estimated that the deficiency resulted in a loss of $405 million in revenue and wages in one year alone. Australia’s demand for cybersecurity skills will increase by 18,000 positions by 2026. The valuation indicates this growing field’s nature that digital technologies will comprise 7% of Australia’s GDP by 2020. Across the western world, there are 52 job types in cybersecurity, these are technical and nontechnical roles. This is anticipated to double within the next ten to fifteen years.

There is a valuable intersection between the law, privacy, and cybersecurity thus making it a real opportunity to use a law degree to branch into this career path.

Relevant qualifications and skills Although the additional study is not a prerequisite, it could provide an edge to one’s application and career prospects.

Electives that are relevant and available to study as part of your law degree at UTS include: 76105 Disruptive Technologies and the Law 76056 Intellectual Property Commercialisation Overview 76521 Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge 76084 Intellectual Property: Copyright and Designs 76085 Intellectual Property: Trademarks and Patents 76114 Just Tech 76089 Privacy and Surveillance Law

76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1)

Further information on these subjects is available in the UTS Law Handbook 2021.

It is no doubt that the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused significant disruption to career paths and planning. However, there are still opportunities to gain relevant industry experience by pursuing virtual internships.

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It is no doubt that the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused significant disruption to career paths and planning.

However, there are still opportunities to gain relevant industry experience by pursuing virtual internships.

To practice Cyber Security and Privacy Law in Australia, you must first be admitted as a lawyer. This is completed by meeting the following three requirements:

1

You’ve completed a law degree or equivalent course.

2

You’ve undertaken a Practical Legal Training program.

3

You’re a fit and proper person.

Cybersecurity and privacy lawyers need a diverse range of skills to adapt to the industry’s rapidly changing nature.

Privacy Law relies heavily on the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW), and you would require a thorough knowledge of this for daily practice.

A genuine interest in the rapid development of technology industries and how this intersects with the legal industry.

Interpersonal and communication skills are essential to work within practice groups.

It is essential to have a working knowledge of Intellectual Property as it intersects with the industry’s work.

It is integral to have creative problem-solving skills to tackle the unique nature of issues that emerge in this line of work.

Pathways & opportunities You will be able to practice cybersecurity and privacy law in the most top-tier and mid-tier firms. To enter this law field, you could apply for graduate positions at the top tier and mid-tier firms with cybersecurity and privacy law practice groups. If you are successful in pursuing this career path, then you could then select cybersecurity and privacy law practice groups in your rotations.

Law Radar

The Big Four firms are also making headway and intervening in the legal technology industry. You could apply for graduate positions to transition into cybersecurity and privacy law practice groups there.

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BANKRUPTCY LAW Jeevan Kullar

What is bankruptcy law?

Relevance of bankruptcy law

Bankruptcy is a process where individuals who cannot pay their debts give up their assets and control of their finances, either by agreement or court order, in exchange for protection from legal action by their creditors. The law of bankruptcy governs the rights of the creditors and insolvent debtors during this process.

The demand for Bankruptcy Lawyers is growing! During times of economic downturn, Bankruptcy cases tend to increase. As the COVID-19 pandemic withers, the global economy and individuals/businesses pay the price. The legal market’s counter-cyclical reply is to put more faith in Bankruptcy Law, restructuring, and reorganization. Within Australia, fuelled by the first economic recession since 1991, Bankruptcy lawyers are needed to assist debtors, creditors, and trustees as they require legal advice.

As a lawyer practicing bankruptcy law, you will be able to advise three key stakeholders. Lawyers can advise trustees about their statutory obligations and statutory recovery actions that are available to them. This can include unfair preferences, voidable transactions, and potential causes of action. Lawyers in this field also play an important role in assisting creditors filing a bankruptcy notice and the required application to the court for a sequestration order. Lastly, a lawyer practicing bankruptcy law can ordinarily assist debtors voluntarily entering into bankruptcy to finalize all debts or to dispute a bankruptcy notice issued by one of their creditors.

Relevance of bankruptcy law Bankruptcy law is widely relevant within both the legal and financial industries. The task and role of lawyers to assist debtors, creditors, and trustees with their responsibilities enable other industries to be effective. For example, Bankruptcy lawyers can play an important role in working with Financial Advisors to create a model on how the crisis will be dealt with. In turn, this enables the liquidator (as trustee) to effectively take control of the assets.

Although the Federal Government implemented temporary changes to bankruptcy laws, including increasing the threshold to $20 000 at which creditors can issue a demand for bankruptcy, and an increase in the notice period from 21 days to 6 months. The effects of the economy will inevitably continue beyond the temporary period. Bankruptcy lawyers will be required to assist debtors and creditors in assessing their options and their ability to pay/recover debts.

While it is hard to predict the long-term economic cycle, many firms are expanding their bankruptcy practices, demonstrating long-term prosperity in growth within the industry.

Alternatively, where a corporation is having bankruptcy forced upon it, lawyers in bankruptcy can assist in the statutory recovery actions available to them. Therefore, its utility is placed within the Insolvency and Restructuring practice of many commercial law firms, as it is often described as ‘personal insolvency’. Its role within the industry enables the restructuring of both an individual and a company’s financial position. This encapsulates the importance of Bankruptcy Law during the current economic downturn and ensures a smooth financial transition towards a technologically driven future.

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Relevant qualifications and skills

You’ve completed a law degree or equivalent course.

In terms of growth within Bankruptcy law, moving in house is a popular option for experienced solicitors.

More and more roles for bankruptcy lawyers appear in-house. This trend is bound to continue with the aftermath of COVID-19, as individuals and commercial clients will require structuring, bankruptcy, and insolvent solicitors.

You’ve undertaken a Practical Legal Training program.

Pathways & opportunities

To practice Bankruptcy Law in Australia, you must first be admitted as a lawyer. This is completed by meeting the following three requirements:

1 2 3

You’re a fit and proper person.

Bankruptcy Lawyers require a wide range of skills to facilitate the variety of tasks performed on a day to day basis.

Bankruptcy law relies heavily on the Bankruptcy Act 1966 (Cth); therefore, having a strong understanding of this legislation is essential in daily practice.

Individuals must have strong ‘people skills’ to enable them to communicate effectively with clients and negotiate with adversaries in pending proceedings.

Often proceedings may require court assistance; thus, litigation skills are imperative. Individuals should be able to argue motions filed in court, along with the possibility of settling outside of court.

Analytical skills are highly valuable in practicing Bankruptcy Law. A lawyer in this field is required to review large volumes of complex information and use inductive and deductive reasoning to reach conclusions on the outstanding debts.

The bankruptcy timeframe can be a lot shorter than the typical litigation; thus, working under pressure is essential.

A desire to make a difference by helping individuals turn around their finances and high emotional intelligence.

Having these skills will enable you as a Bankruptcy lawyer to flourish in facilitating the goal of having both the debtor and creditor satisfied with the outcome.

Law Radar

Career adaptability

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A role within Bankruptcy Law is adaptable by allowing individuals to access a range of jobs and industries.

The specialization requires individuals to extend beyond traditional accounting and auditing work.

Instead, it teaches critical thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills are both valuable and transferable to other practice areas. The knowledge gained within Bankruptcy Law may be useful in other practice areas such as Banking and Finance. Further, the litigation and transactional skills gained from Bankruptcy Law are widely used both within commercial law and law in general.

You will have the opportunity to practice bankruptcy law at most commercial law firms. Clerkships provide a pathway to gain experience in different practice areas, including Insolvency and Restructuring, which bankruptcy falls under. Do look out and apply for Clerkship Opportunities!

Boutique firms also practice Bankruptcy Law and can be a great opportunity to gain experience in the field!

These roles can be found on Career Hub and includes paralegal roles within insolvency departments.

While the matters which local community legal centres handle are broad and variable. It might also be worthwhile to volunteer at service centres, for example, Redfern Legal Centre. Alternatively, the Financial Rights Legal Centre periodically require PLT volunteers and can be a great way to experience bankruptcy financial situations.

Think progressive Think innovation Think Hall & Wilcox

For more information about our clerkship and graduate programs visit hallandwilcox.com.au/careers

DISCOVER Looking for a law firm that really is different?

Where you can be empowered to DISCOVER quality work and clients, DEVELOP through opportunities to learn more while growing your career, and THRIVE in a diverse and inclusive culture?

Then join our global community of talented visionaries.

To learn more about how you can discover, develop, and thrive in a dynamic global law firm, visit klgates.com/careers.

THE K&L GATES EXPERIENCE. K&L Gates LLP. Global legal counsel across five continents.

Learn more at klgates.com.

About the firm Lander & Rogers is a leading independent Australian law firm operating nationally from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. We are a principal advisor to many publicly listed and private Australian companies, Australian subsidiaries of global companies, as well as all levels of government.

We have more than 500 people nationally and seven key areas of practice. We cover a range of industry sectors, with a core focus on financial services, insurance, government, real estate, retail & supply chain and technology.

We specialise in the following areas in NSW: •

Corporate;

•

Commercial Disputes;

•

Real Estate & Projects;

•

Workplace Relations & Safety

•

Family & Relationship Law; and

•

Insurance Law & Litigation.

We are at the forefront of innovation, recently establishing Australia's first LawTech Hub, with campuses in Sydney and Melbourne. The LawTech Hub is where the best and brightest technology entrepreneurs and legal experts create new and innovative legal tech solutions. It provides a unique opportunity for start-ups and scaleups to collaborate with Lander & Rogers' lawyers and business specialists, while forging connections with the firm's clients and networks.

At Lander & Rogers, we pride ourselves on our friendly and down-to-earth culture. We believe that legal services are much more than just the law – they are about great people, sustained excellence and exceptional client service. We have a distinctively happy workplace, achieved through selectively recruiting people who think and act collaboratively and will strengthen our culture.

Graduate program Successful candidates spend the year developing and honing their legal skills and understanding our business. You will undergo four rotations, spending three months at a time in separate practice areas.

While you're undergoing rotations, you'll complete a part-time Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice with The College of Law.

Applications The process is simple. All you need to do is submit your CV, cover letter and academic transcript.

As well as setting out your key skills and experience, we would like to see: •

who you are – be yourself and let your personality shine through

•

your interests and hobbies – we recruit people who are passionate about their career in law but have extracurricular interests too

•

what you can offer our firm and why we should recruit you

•

what attracts you to working with Lander & Rogers.

ALUMNI Dominic is the CEO of Australian Legal Tech start-up, Lawpath. Lawpath is Australia’s leading legal software platform for businesses and individuals backed by LegalZoom and LexisNexis. Lawpath has helped over 150,000 Australian businesses access legal services at a fraction of the traditional system’s time, cost, and complexity.

Before Lawpath, Dominic was a corporate lawyer at MinterEllison Lawyers, Australia. Dominic has also spent time as a criminal solicitor at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the International Court of Justice. Dominic is also an Adjunct Professor at UTS and a Director of the Australian Legal Tech Association.

Dominic Woolrych

Why did you decide to pursue the ‘New Law’ space and other Legal Tech fields?

Where should students start if they are considering a career in Legal Tech?

I started my legal career as a graduate lawyer at MinterEllison, Sydney. I thoroughly enjoyed my work at the firm, however, I noticed huge technology changes that were happening in accounting/finance /insurance and believed that legal services was the next industry to be disrupted. I wanted to be at the forefront of that change and felt that small-business law was where the biggest impact could be made. I joined Lawpath in 2014 as a Legal Product Manager and made my way up to Chief Executive Officer.

To grasp the Australian legal tech landscape, I highly recommend checking out the Alta law website. This website collates all of Australia’s legal tech companies in one place. Additionally, reaching out and applying for internships are a great way to get a taste for what legal tech is and if you’d like to pursue it as a career. Keep in mind that most legal tech companies are currently conducting all their internship programs virtually due to COVID-19.

What does Legal Tech mean? How will it shape the legal industry in your opinion?

I think the term ‘Legal Tech’ has a much broader meaning than just technology. It’s about questioning the current way or process in which tasks are done and trying new things. Often to create efficiency, all that is needed is a new process – technology plays a part but not all the time.

Alumni

You can split legal technology into two parts: (1) technology that creates efficiencies for lawyers and (2) technology that creates efficiencies directly to clients. Right now, we are seeing a huge explosion of start-up companies that create efficiencies for lawyers. Specifically, artificial intelligence used in legal research and contract review are gaining wide adoption. Eventually, I see these technologies being available directly to clients. This will not replace lawyers however dramatically they change how we work.

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Legal tech investment currently accounts for just 2% globally. This is expected to grow considerably. In 2019 we saw investments into legal tech companies increase 700% to $1.9B.

COVID-19 and Beyond What do you feel is the greatest barrier for law students breaking into the legal industry?

The legal industry is very competitive, especially if you’re taking the traditional path of joining a large commercial firm. You have to think outside the box.

There are a lot of opportunities working in new areas of the legal industry. As legal tasks become ‘unbundled’ many more players will enter the industry, which means more interesting and unique student roles.

Do you think COVID-19 has artificially forced people to adopt the technology we are now using to interact?

Or do you think this was bound to happen regardless of the pandemic?

COVID-19 has accelerated trends that were already emerging in the legal industry. Lawyers and clients have been forced to work online and therefore we’ve seen mass adoption of technology to help with the transaction. One basic change that has occurred is the widespread adoption of video technology. Specific to the industry, we’ve seen very high adoption levels for electronic signature technology and even changes in legislation by the Government to help facilitate the change.

With the increase of firms now delivering their services online, does that lack of in-person interaction affect customer service in your opinion?

The increase in online solutions has reduced the number of in-person interactions a lawyer might have with a client. I see this as a positive outcome. For many years the legal industry has placed too much emphasis on face-to-face meetings. Many legal tasks can be done online. This greatly increases the number of lawyers that can provide their services, thereby reducing the cost and time. There are exceptions to this: high end complex matters, personal, criminal, family law are areas of law that still require in-person interactions. However, as we’ve seen, firms that provide this type of work have been slower to adopt online solutions.

What is your outlook of the industry in a post-pandemic world?

I see a very bright future for the legal profession as lawyers embrace technology and new ways of working. Ultimately the profession needs to adapt to the ways of working that provide the best outcomes for clients.

Alumni

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Students and Legal Tech What is one piece of advice you would give yourself as a university student?

Do more work experience! I wish I’d been involved in more internship and work experience programs while at university. It’s the perfect way to get a taste of different industries and sectors. I don’t think students comprehend the incredible value and ease of access to fantastic programs until it’s gone. Once working full time, it’s very hard to try new roles/jobs. University is the perfect time to discover what areas of law you might be interested in.

Do you think having a background in legal technology has become a general skill students should adopt?

I think all law students and lawyers should have a basic level of understanding in legal technology.

However, specific technology skills such as coding and programming are not required. It’s important that lawyers stick to their specific knowledge (which is the law) and let software developers build legal software.

I do believe that a fundamental skill for lawyers looking to work in legal technology is the ability to communicate and function within development teams i.e. you don’t need to know how to code but you do need to know how to work alongside developers.

What are some trends in legal technology students should look out for?

Alumni

A couple of areas that I’m excited about within legal technology are online dispute resolution and machine learning contract review. There are already some amazing Australian companies working in these areas. I’m excited about online dispute resolution because technology has now reached a level where this model is viable. Access to the courts has been a huge hand brake for the industry (when considering back-logging and COVID-19) and I believe that online systems can give people access to justice.

Companies like Modria (60 million disputes a year) and Immediation are at the forefront of this. AI and specifically machine learning will change the way that contracts are drafted and reviewed. Companies such as LegalGeex and Contract Probe are leading the way in this area. I encourage you to check them both out.

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From Day One you will experience what it’s like to work at Maddocks This means you will have challenging, meaningful work, gain exposure to clients, be given a good level of responsibility, work in a supportive and collaborative team and have regular access to our partners.

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

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

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

MinterEllison has given me great exposure to different teams and access to a diverse range of experiences – from transactional, to advisory, to litigious work. That has allowed me to find out what type of law I want to do and where I want to settle.�

William Vu Lawyer

MinterEllison is a leading law firm.

But we think beyond the law.

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Sparke your career with us…

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

Why choose Sparke Helmore?

What do we look for in our lawyers?

Sparke Helmore offers its lawyers a challenging and rewarding environment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connect with us... tglaw.com.au Thomson Geer @ThomsonGeer

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ARRIVE...

at a large Australian corporate law firm We have more than 560 people, including 116 Partners operating out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. We are one of the 10 largest law firms operating in Australia, and the 5th largest independent Australian law firm.

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO WORK FOR US The law is an incredibly rewarding profession, but we recognise it can be demanding. For this reason we create an environment that is flexible, friendly, personable, collegiate & professionally stimulating.

Our clients are at the centre of everything we do; so it is not only the collaborative, supportive relationships we have with each other, but also the well-established, trusting relationships we have with our clients, which make Thomson Geer a great place to work.

Wellbeing has a significant impact on motivation, morale and performance at work. Our wellbeing@work program supports employees to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Our employees love to get involved in mixed sporting teams and they enjoy healthy breakfasts and snacks.

We also have an active social committee, providing lots of opportunities to develop close relationships with your colleagues.

Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Perth Adelaide

Our industry coverage and client work is diverse and we are regularly engaged on challenging, complex commercial work.

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AT THOMSON GEER To find out more about Thomson Geer and what it’s like to work for us, please visit our website or contact us hr@tglaw.com.au

Industry Overview

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The Bar In-House Judges Associateships Public Service Private Sector Practicing Internationally

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THE BAR Rita Rabie

What is a Barrister?

Many of our readers may have heard that there are two main types of lawyers, solicitors, and barristers. The difference can be put simply. Solicitors are responsible for the preparation of legal documents both before and during a court case. On the other hand, barristers are qualified professionals who provide legal advice while also representing, advocating, and defending clients both in judicial (i.e., Courts and Tribunals) and non-judicial environments (i.e., negotiation, mediation, or arbitration). Barristers also play a crucial role in advising both solicitors and their clients on the most appropriate path to take based on their examination of the case’s likely outcomes. It is important to note that Barristers are not attached to a law firm but rather work as individuals who often specialize in a particular area of practice.

What Opportunities Does It Create?

Independence Barristers are not attached to a law firm but rather work as individuals. Therefore, you are offered a high degree of independence. Not only will you avoid dealing with office politics, but you are in charge of your career progression, based on the work you put in and the results you achieve.

Advocacy Working as a barrister involves making oral submissions, cross-examining witnesses in criminal trials, and presenting strong and persuasive arguments before a courtroom full of people. If you’re someone who enjoys public speaking and critical thinking, then the Bar may be a good fit for you.

Variety and Intellectual Challenge The cab-rank rule means that a barrister must accept any case offered to them if they are competent to do this. It is important to note that no two cases are ever the same! While this may seem daunting at first, it provides opportunities for learning and improvement due to the evolving and unpredictable nature of client experiences and the trial process.

How do I become a Barrister?

Industry Overview

To become a barrister in New South Wales, you must fulfil the following three requirements:

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Be admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of NSW or another Australian state or territory under a corresponding law.

Sit and pass the Bar exam.

Complete the reading program. This includes satisfactory participation in the Bar Practice Course and one year of readership under a tutor’s supervision.

The New South Wales Bar Exam One of the first steps towards practicing as a barrister in NSW is to sit the Bar exam. This ensures that potential barristers can respond appropriately when faced with sensitive ethical issues while also testing your familiarity with relevant legislation, Barrister Rules, and other relevant authority that assist in ensuring barristers can fulfil their professional obligations.

NOTE: You do not have to be admitted as a practitioner to the Supreme Court of NSW before you sit the Bar exam.

Registering/Preparing for the Bar Exam • The NSW Bar Exam is offered twice a year.

• The application process involves filling out an online application form and paying the associated fees ($795.00).

• The application form can be found via the New South Wales Bar Association’s website under the section titled ‘Becoming A Barrister.’

• Note that the registration fee is non-refundable.

• Exam candidates are provided with a reading list and the relevant study materials. The NSW Bar Association also offers tutorials in weeks leading up to the exam.

• Overseas or interstate sittings may be arranged through the Professional Development Department: exams@nswbar.asn.au.

Bar Practice Course What Comes After the Bar Exam?

If you pass the Bar exam, you will be eligible to register for the Bar Practice Course. Offered through the New South Wales Bar Association, the course runs twice a year (May and September) over 4 weeks.

Participants can expect to develop advanced advocacy skills and gain practical insights into a Barrister’s life through lectures, workshops, and court practice sessions. Note that unlike the Bar exam, participants must be admitted as a lawyer in an Australian jurisdiction.

The Reading Program When issued with a practicing certificate, lawyers are often referred to as a ‘reader’. Often referred to as the reading year, the period of reading when the practising certificate is issued and runs for 12 months. During this time, the reader remains under the supervision of a ‘tutor’, an experienced barrister who acts as a mentor to new barristers over the 12 months.

• Lawyers may arrange their tutors by approaching either a set of chambers or a practitioner whom you may know through a briefing or by reputation. Either must be included in the Statutory List of Tutors.

• It is strongly advised that arrangements be made with tutors at least 6 - 12 months before coming to the Bar. • Readers are strongly advised to have two tutors, as opposed to one.

At the end of the 12-month reading period, tutors will return ‘Satisfactory completion of Reading’ form to the Bar Association if all requirements have been met. This allows the reader to obtain a practising certificate that does not have reader’s conditions attached to it.

Industry Overview

After you complete the Bar Practice Course but before the end of your 12-month reading period, the following requirements are also imposed on readers: • Criminal and civil reading requirements; and • Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD).

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IN-HOUSE Working as an ‘in-house’ lawyer means that you are employed by a corporation and can only represent and serve the legal interests of your employer. This is different from a position at a law firm where you represent the interests of multiple clients. An in-house lawyer carries out work directly for the corporation they work for. You can expect to be a part of a team of around 30 lawyers who make up the ‘In-House Counsel’ of the corporation. In this capacity, you are expected to engage with the goals, liabilities, obligations and assets of the body you represent.

Relevant Interests

Career Prospects

Being a part of a corporation means you will need to have an understanding of project management, branding and business development.

The workplace environment for an in-house lawyer tends to be less hierarchical compared to other parts of the legal industry such as private practice. This is because the inherent differences of this occupation related to its function to the operations of a corporate entity. However, this does not mean being an in-house lawyer will limit your ability to progress. Many lawyers start off as legalcounsel and grow to become part of a corporation’s Senior Counsel or General Counsel. Other channels also involve obtaining a legal leadership role or becoming a specialist advisor. There are also opportunities to become a Partner.

This means you will need to have an interest for: • Business and corporation law.

• Working in a team.

• Engaging with multiple stakeholders of the corporation.

• Contract law.

• Human resource management.

• Accounting and financial auditing.

How to work towards it 1. Working towards becoming an in-house lawyer will require to complete a Bachelor of Laws undergraduate degree or Juris Doctor (JD) post graduate degree. A background in business, economics or accounting will help build a greater understanding and skillset appropriate for your duties to a corporation.

2. You will also be required to undertake and complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) once you have graduated from your degree.

3. Gaining admission from the Admissions Authority within 5 years of graduating from your degree.

4. You will have to apply and complete a requisite course to attain your Practicing Certificate from the Law Society of NSW or other Law Society if you choose to practice in another jurisdiction.

Industry Overview

5. Finally, completing 18-24 months of supervised practice at a law firm.

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Some benefits of being an in-house lawyer include: • Enriching your commercial knowledge and perspectives.

• Building skills that are transferable to diverse range of work.

• Greater work-life balance.

• Focus and dedication on one client.

• Opportunity to work overseas.

Opportunities Every organisation that offers a product or service in the economy will have a dedicated in-house counsel to handle its transactions and legal affairs such as: • • • • • • •

Banks and financial institutions.

Technology and software companies.

Recruitment agencies.

Accounting firms.

Insurance companies.

Retail and supermarket chains.

Telecommunication companies.

As an in-house lawyer, you will provide advice on a large spectrum of legal matters that will apply to how the corporation navigates the economy and interacts with its consumers and other business partners or competitors.

JUDGES ASSOCIATESHIPS Judge’s Associates (or tipstaff) are law clerks who work for judges within chambers. This is a close working relationship that involves personally and confidentially aiding a judge in and out of court with respect to case matters.

Duties of an Associate include: • Conducting legal research; • Liaising with court staff, government departments, the press and other legal professionals; • Organising jury empanelling; • Managing arraignments; • Preparing memorandums; • Taking minutes of criminal trials; • Listing matters; • Handling court files; and • Recording orders.

Being an Associate is a unique and highly skilled role that is critical to the efficient and effective conduct of a Judge’s duties to the court. You will be part of a dedicated team responsible for the proper administration of court proceedings and managing chambers. An Associate position is usually on a fixed term basis for 12 months (full-time). However, this will vary according to the jurisdiction you apply for.

Judge’s Associates are employed by the following jurisdictions: • High Court • Federal Court • Supreme Court of NSW • District Court of NSW

Relevant interests

To apply for a Judge’s Associateship, you will generally need to be a recent law graduate or be in your final or penultimate year of study of an Undergraduate law degree, LLB or JD. Graduates are the most common group of applicants to apply for these positions because of the knowledge and experience built up over time.

Due to the intensity of this role, strong grades and an advanced understanding of legal concepts and jurisprudence will be sought after from an applicant.

Career Prospects Attaining a role like this can be advantageous to those seeking a career in legal jurisprudence or are interested in laying the foundations for their skills as a barrister.

This also offers an incredibly invaluable opportunity to learn from the experiences of many esteemed judges.

Other benefits from attaining a role as an Associate or tipstaff include: • An opportunity to expand your professional network.

• Developing valuable insights on the complexities of court procedure.

• Building and consolidating advanced legal research skills.

• Laying the stepping stones for your career in litigation or at the Bar. • PLT experience.

Opportunities You can apply to be a Judge’s Associate directly to the judge or court. You will need to do some research into the many Chambers around NSW or other States if you wish to work outside Sydney. Other things to consider like caseload, jurisdiction and a judge’s specialty are critical aspects of your application process. Generally, applications for these roles are usually made during the first quarter of the year, with interviews taking place through the second or third quarter. Applicants can expect to commence work the following year.

All • • •

applications will generally require the following: CV; Cover Letter; and Academic transcript.

Industry Overview

Given the high demands of the role and its importance, graduates interested in this position should demonstrate a knack for the following: • Helping and being part of a team.

• Jurisprudence.

• Passion for the administration of justice and courtroom procedure.

• Willingness to learn.

• Applying their analytical skills to real problems.

• Being able to think creatively when solving problems.

• Practical application of legal knowledge.

How to work towards it

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High Court Associateships an application to the High Court is exceptionally competitive and expects graduates with first class Honours and advanced research skills. Keep in mind that Associates are appointed 2-3 years in advance, so your application should indicate the years you are available. For more information, check out the High Court website here.

Federal Court Associateships Associates are generally employed as part of the personal chambers staff of a judge.

These positions are generally not advertised, and the selection process is conducted by a judge personally. Availability periods will need to be specified by an applicant.

Applications are usually sent directly to the judge or to the District Registrar. For more information, check out the list of Federal Court Judges and other contact details.

NSW Supreme Court The Supreme Court generally tends to hire graduates as tipstaff. These positions are available in the Equity and Common Law Division of the NSW Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. You can also apply to be a legal researcher. Applications are directed to the individual Judge’s chambers. These positions are also generally not advertised, and the selection process is conducted by judges. You can expect the contract basis to also be up to 12 months. The list of contact details can be found here. You can also email the Judicial Staff Coordinator at sc.supportservice@justice.nsw.gov.au.

NSW District Court

Industry Overview

Associateships will exhibit the same fundamental application process as other jurisdictions. Advertised positions can be found by calling the Judicial Support Coordinator on (02) 9287 7324. You can also check out the list of judges to contact here.

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PUBLIC SERVICE Public service roles are available under various government levels, such as the executive, judiciary, and legislature. These can extend to agencies, departments, and public bodies that implement policies, administer their respective jurisdiction, and uphold the public interest. Being a lawyer in the public sector will involve a range of capacities. Some common roles include advocating on behalf of the government or working within a specialist ministry. Many who pursue this pathway work to provide advice and policy guidelines to public servants regarding improving the law or correcting its interpretation.

As a lawyer, you can either pursue a public service role that requires a legal background or draws upon your law degree’s generic skills.

Duties of a public sector lawyer can range from: • Handing civil and criminal litigation; • Writing legal documents and providing advice for or to the government; • Defending or prosecuting cases in court; • Challenging the decision of a public servant through tribunals or judicial review; • Drafting and developing legal policy; • Researching and analyzing emerging legislation; or • Legislative reform and interpretation through a position on a Commission.

Other areas that a public sector lawyer may have a close working relationship with are: • Australian Defence Force or other military departments; • Public healthcare system; • Public education system; or • Infrastructural service providers.

Relevant interests Pursuing this industry area is highly competitive and requires strong research skills, analytical skills, and an appreciation for public law and jurisprudence.

People in this area usually demonstrate an interest in the following: • Administrative Law. • Constitutional Law. • Statutory interpretation.

• Passion for public service/interests.

• Accountability of public servants.

• Policymaking.

How to work towards it

Being a public lawyer offers an abundance of opportunities for career advancement. Many begin their careers by entering a graduate program or transition from a private-sector job after gaining some experience.

Moving into individual departments and agencies offers scope for promotions from junior positions to more senior roles.

Being involved in the public sector can offer a diverse experience, depending on what you want to achieve and focus on. Some relevant areas include: • Native title.

• Civil justice.

• Family law.

• Criminal justice.

• International law.

• Taxation.

Some notable job titles range from: • Legal project manager.

• Lawyer.

• Intelligence officer.

• Legislator.

• Policy analyst.

• Political advisor • Lobbyist.

• Crown prosecutor or public defender.

• Legislative drafter.

• Government research officer.

Opportunities Employers such as national government agencies, state-based agencies, and parliament offer graduate programs for law students looking for a platform to begin their public service careers.

Notable government employers that offer these programs are: • Attorney General’s Department.

• Director of Public Prosecutions.

• Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

• Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

• Crown Solicitor’s Office.

• The Australian Department of Defence.

Industry Overview

Becoming a government and public sector lawyer will require the following: 1. Bachelor of Laws (LLB) university degree; 2. Practical Legal Training (PLT); 3. Obtaining a Practicing Certificate from the Legal Profession Admission/Law Society 4. Undergo supervised practice; and 5. Continued learning through Postgraduate Specialisation Programs in Government and Public Sector Law or Professional Development Programs in Government and Public Sector Law.

Career Prospects

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PRIVATE SECTOR

Jeevan Kullar

The private sector comprises the segments of the economy owned and controlled by individuals and organizations seeking to generate profit. Law firms working in the private sector are characterized as free from state ownership or control. According to the Law Society of NSW, more than 70% of solicitors in NSW work for private law firms, demonstrating the private legal sector’s importance and popularity. The incumbent duties and type of work conducted within the private sector by solicitors include transactional, adversary, and litigation work.

The private sector provides a range of areas to practice law, including but not limited to: • Commercial law • Taxation Law • Property Law • Intellectual Property law

Relevant interests

Career prospects

While working within the private sector, it is essential to have commercial awareness. This means staying frequently informed about the developments occurring in the business world, along with the potential implications of an event and its relevance in a commercial space. Having this interest will allow students to remain informed about matters of interest to the relevant private sector law firm they are applying for. In saying this, while having business and commercial knowledge is desirable, it is not required as firms provide on-job training and expertise! The private sector’s benefit is that it offers a range of areas and options in which individuals may elect to practice.

The opportunities created vary depending on the specific private law firm and area of law. However, a private practice lawyer’s career progression tends to go from a summer clerk to a graduate lawyer, associate, senior associate, and eventually, the possibility of becoming a partner.

Alternatively, working within the private sector may open up opportunities to work as an in-house counsel. The skills working within the private legal sector are transferrable to an in-house role; however, companies tend to hire lawyers trained at a mid to large-sized law firm for at least a few years.

How to work towards it To practice law in Australia, you must first be admitted as a lawyer. This is completed by meeting the following three requirements: 1. You’ve completed a law degree or equivalent course.

2. You’ve undertaken a Practical Legal Training program.

3. You’re a fit and proper person.

Industry Overview

As the private sector is broad, students need to have an idea of which specific area they desire. By narrowing down the area of law, you can source opportunities that align with this.

Further, going to Career events to boost your knowledge will assist in working towards that section of the law.

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Securing a job within the private sector is extremely competitive amongst law students and graduates. Having work experience aids entry to the private sector. The working knowledge and practical experience gained makes students and graduates more attractive to prospective private sector employers.

According to the Law Society of NSW, 11 765 applications were made in 2015, compared to 325 offers made (each application made by an individual is counted as a separate application). Thus, the competitive nature of clerkships in the private sector may provide a barrier to entry.

Opportunities Opportunities within the private sector vary. An individual could work in a boutique or large law firm. The former is typically smaller than general practice and comprises lawyers that offer expert legal services in niche areas of law, from commercial law to employment law. By contrast, lawyers employed in large firms tend to focus on a specific practice area such as taxation law, intellectual property, or employment law.

The opportunities within most private sector companies arise during a law student’s penultimate year by way of clerkship programs. The clerkship process will help students discover the areas of commercial law they are passionate about and gain in-depth experience, which will aid them in deciding the private area of law they would like to specialize in. If you missed out on Clerkships, firms also provide graduate intakes as another means of getting in!

Further, international law firms offer clerkships, which may provide an exciting opportunity and overseas experience!

PRACTICING INTERNATIONALLY Divya Saxena Practicing law internationally can be difficult given there are specific criteria to complete for each overseas jurisdiction. However, once you put it into perspective and understand that changing countries within any field can be challenging, this process will seem much smoother.

Tips to remember: • Some countries require that anyone practicing law is a permanent resident or holds citizenship in that country • Some countries will require you to complete further training before you can apply for a local practicing certificate • Please look at the country’s jurisdictional policies. This section is simply a guide and not the bible!

It may be easier to practice law internationally from internally transferring within a global law firm. In this case, the firm will have its policies and will often sponsor you to work overseas. Imagine a trip already paid for!

There are various pathways to practicing law internationally and may depend on which jurisdiction you aim to practice.

For instance, to practice in New Zealand, the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 makes it easy for Australians to practice there. If you are admitted in Australia, all you need to do is get registered by the relevant court in New Zealand. It’s as easy as that!

Relevant interests

Career Prospects

The easiest way to practice law internationally is through specializing in international law. This contains issues such as conflict of law (private international law) and public international law. Typically, your career path would involve being a part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and travelling to Geneva, New York, Paris, and The Hague. It would therefore be of value to have an interest in international law.

Working internationally can give you a holistic understanding of the law globally while providing you the opportunity to work internationally and gain new experiences and perspectives. Most people who go to practice law internationally are lawyers within the public sector, and therefore their career advancement is dependent on the institution they are working with. For instance, if you are a lawyer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, you can potentially be promoted within an organization. Similarly, if you are working within a private firm internationally (rare, but it can happen), you will be able to work up the corporate ladder for global law firms such as Baker McKenzie, Doughty Street Chambers, etc.

How to work towards it To practice law internationally, think about where you want to go and look at their jurisdictional requirements. This will ensure you are well-prepared to fulfil their requirements.

To get admitted in England, Australians will need to go through the Qualified Solicitors Training Scheme. This means that Australian practicing lawyers will need to get re-admitted through the means of a multiple-choice test and a practical exam.

While we have only gone through a few jurisdictional requirements, The International Bar Association Global Cross Border Legal Services Report provides more information about foreign law practice requirements.

Although it is difficult to work internationally within the law, there are a few jobs that can get you there. Some of them include: • Foreign correspondent • Legal officer in an international organization • Human Rights advocate • United Nations officer • Diplomat Examples of employers include: • United Nations • International Criminal Court • Amnesty International • International Law Students Association • World Intellectual Property Organisation

Industry Overview

A more complicated pathway to practicing law internationally is in Singapore, where specific guidelines may take years to complete. The process is as follows: • You need to graduate in the top 70% of your class from one of the approved universities (UTS is not one!). For this, UTS students will need to undertake six months of legal experience before applying to the bar.

• A permanent resident • You need to pass a bar exam • Once the bar exam is passed, you need to undertake a 5-month training course in Singaporean law, and a 6-month training contract with a law firm

Opportunities

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Where will your degree take you?

UTS CAREERS

With so many options of which direction to take in life, how do you know which one will be most fulfilling? Or if there are actually multiple options you could pursue?

Find out more about the various pathways and career options for law students and graduates by booking in to speak with us. Some of the topics that UTS Careers can help you with include: • Exploring different career options • Developing your career and professional skills while studying • Testing out career interests and ideas • Marketing yourself to potential employers • Resumes, cover letters, interview tips and more Visit careers.uts.edu.au to book in an appointment today.

Make Meaningful Connections If you’re looking for insight into different career pathways for law graduates, salary expectations and clerkship advice from people already working in law, the Professional Mentoring Platform is for you.

This free, university-wide online community introduces mentees (UTS students and recent graduates) to volunteer mentors (industry professionals and UTS alumni). Connect with barristers, senior lawyers, associates, paralegals and recent graduates. No awkward introductions or long-term commitment.

Visit uts.ac/lawpmp to join the community.

Meet one of our mentors Nicholas Saady, a UTS alumni, has just completed his Master of Laws at NYU Law School and is starting as a Litigation Attorney at Davis Polk and Wardwell in NYC. Nicholas is here to help you with your career goals and direction, discuss further education, resumes, cover letters and interview preparation.

From the classroom to the courtroom Complete your Practical Legal Training at UTS Alumni discount and credit

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Together we make a mark Graduate careers in law Working at White & Case opens doors to experiences and relationships around the world that will help you build your career, wherever it takes you.

If you’re a team player with a global mindset, apply for our graduate opportunities in Australia.

whitecase.com/careers

1

2

97

of the only law firms to offer a guaranteed overseas seat

Australian offices in Melbourne and Sydney

nationalities represented across the Firm

44

Tier 1

89

offices across 30 countries

by The Legal 500 for Project Development and Project Finance

languages spoken across the Firm

Together we make a mark

“Working overseas is a great way to get out of your comfort zone.”

Ruveena Kaliannan, Associate, Melbourne

“Many firms talk about their international opportunities, but at White & Case the chance to work overseas actually seemed like a real and immediate opportunity,” says Ruveena Kaliannan, a graduate who started her career with the Firm in Melbourne, before moving to our Abu Dhabi office for her overseas rotation.

So why Abu Dhabi? Ruveena explains: “I completed my first rotation in the Project Delivery team in Melbourne and wanted to try out Project Finance for my second rotation. White & Case’s Abu Dhabi office has a Projects focus, so it seemed like a natural fit. Additionally, I had heard that the office provided great exposure to really interesting work.”

Cross-border work in an interesting location

I’ve had capacity, and been involved in project delivery, construction and disputes matters too.” She says that, “I’ve had the opportunity to have more responsibility with the matters I’m involved in, which can be intimidating but has also provided a great learning experience.”

Collaborating with colleagues from the White & Case global network is something that happens regularly: “Most of the matters I’ve worked on have involved other offices—including New York, London, Riyadh and South Africa -—and this has been a great way to work with other lawyers in the Firm.”

In terms of the work, she says that the friendly office culture has helped her deliver great work. “Everyone is very approachable and friendly. Having lawyers from all over the world in this office means that everyone has quite different working styles, which has been great to learn from and figure out my own preferences.”

With a choice of offices and countries, Ruveena felt that Abu Dhabi would be a particularly interesting option. “I felt that I would have further opportunities to work What’s her final word to future with other White & Case offices in the lawyers who want to understand Asia-Pacific region throughout my career. the benefits of developing their skills Abu Dhabi and the Middle East generally and experience in another country? was a little further afield and more unfamiliar. I also thought Abu Dhabi would “Working overseas is a great way to get out of your comfort zone, work on be a great base to explore the region.” diverse matters, gain great experience More responsibility and exposure and learn lots, all while meeting new to multiple practices and offices people and exploring a new region.”

Ruveena tells us about the matters that she has been working on as part of the Project Finance team. “I’ve been involved in a variety of work advising both lenders and sponsors in areas including renewables, petrochemicals and infrastructure. The smaller size of the office here has meant that I’ve also been able to work with other teams as

Ruveena Kaliannan Associate, Melbourne