LIFE AT THE STATE SOLICITOR’S OFFICE ALEASHA SANCHEZ-LAWSON
Professional Research Assistant to State Counsel Introduction
What work does a PA undertake?
I am a final year Juris Doctor student at UWA. However, my study experience has been a little different. I have been working full-time at the State Solicitor’s Office (SSO) since the start of 2021 and will continue to do so until I graduate at the end of this year.
The PA roles are unique because you are exposed to the most complex and challenging matters within the SSO while at a very early stage of your career, by virtue of shadowing the most senior positions.
Not many people are even aware of the PA opportunity, so I truly hope that this article assists those who might be looking for something a little different to a traditional commercial clerkship.
In my role particularly, I am very often down at court with State Counsel and have been given the rare opportunity to assist in instructing counsel in both first instance and appellate matters.
I am regularly tasked with drafting submissions and other court documents, drafting significant My role at the SSO is titled ‘Professional Assistant’ and politically sensitive advice and briefing notes (PA). This is a unique, 2 year-long position that is to the Attorney-General, undertaking complex designed specifically for law students to undertake legal research and attending meetings with clients, before entering the Graduate Program. witness proofings and hearings.
The PA Role The PA roles are a longstanding tradition within the SSO. There are 4 different roles available: PA to the State Solicitor, State Counsel, the Solicitor-General and the Deputy State Solicitor. Each PA ‘shadows’ their assigned boss and the roles therefore differ but all roles are essentially comparable to that of a Research Associate. The roles require balancing full-time work and part-time study, which can be challenging and requires a high degree of organisation.
I have been involved in such a wide variety of matters including large-scale commercial litigation relating to mining tenements, significant judicial reviews relating to environmental approvals, coronial inquests relating to deaths in custody and alleged police misconduct, an international parental child abduction under the Hague Convention, a religious discrimination claim in the State Administrative Tribunal, High Risk Serious Offender matters, Corruption and Crime Commission matters, two High Court special leave applications, liquor licensing matters, prosecutions for pollution and animal cruelty, prosecutions for destruction of an Aboriginal Heritage site, mediations over the State’s compulsory acquisition of land, advice in relation to construction of State infrastructure, defamation claims, advice on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy and charitable trust disputes.
I am the PA to State Counsel, who is currently Alan Sefton SC. State Counsel is the highest advocate position within the State Solicitor’s Office. In essence, State Counsel is responsible for representing the State in high-level and complex disputes, with appearances at both trial and appellate levels in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia. He is I feel like I work in a different legal area daily and kind of like an ‘in house’ barrister, and solicitors in am constantly learning new things. the Office will brief him on complex matters. State Counsel is also responsible for providing a range of advice to the Premier, Attorney General, other Ministers and government agencies. 206
