Blackstone 2017 Careers Handbook by Blackstone Society

BLACKSTONE CARE E RS H ANDBO O K 2017

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS UWA Blackstone Society 2017 Careers Handbook Produced by the UWA Blackstone Society with the generous support of Herbert Smith Freehills. 2017 Careers Vice-President Kenneth Chen 2017 Careers Handbook Editor Sophia Nugawela 2017 Careers Sub-Committee Mary-Rose Bright & Andrew Huxtable 2017 Blackstone President Simon Ogden Firm Sponsor Herbert Smith Freehills Printing Graphic Source Contributors Alison Ho Belinda Coleman Cameron Barnes Charmaine Roughley Christopher Field Christopher Mofflin Daniel Nugawela David Hodgkinson David Ryan Emerson Walker Gabrielle Sumich Garrett Bray Hannah Flynn Jelena Durmic Jilliane Osborn Josephine Kwok Katherine Thompson Klaire Mulroney Lucy Mengler Lucy Young Madi Hay

Mark Bosnich Michael Tucak Natalie Skead Nicholas van Hattem Paul Evans Peter Keeves Projects Abroad Quentin Wong Rachel Lee Rhea Thomas Rickelle Kenny Sarah Mauriks Sharon Ho The Hon. Michael J Kirby AC CMG The Hon. Robert S French AC Thomas Percy QC Tony Joyner Corporate Sponsors Allen & Overy Allens ANU Legal Workshop Ashurst Azure Consulting Baker McKenzie Civic Legal Clayton Utz Clifford Chance Corrs Chambers Westgarth DLA Piper EY Gilbert & Tobin Herbert Smith Freehills Hogan Lovells HopgoodGanim Lawyers Jackson McDonald Johnson Winter & Slattery K&L Gates King & Wood Mallesons MinterEllison Norton Rose Fulbright Price Sierakowski Corporate Squire Patton Boggs The College of Law

CONTENTS Acknowledgements Foreword Editorial

3 6 7

CAREERS TOOLBOX Clerkships 10 Graduate positions 14 Key dates for 2017 15 Beyond Commercial Law 16 Application Process 17 cvMail 19 Writing a Cover Letter 20 Sample Cover Letter 22 Writing a CV 24 Sample CV 26 Interviews 28 Getting admitted 31 PLT Directory ANU legal workshop Leo Cussen Centre Lor Law The College of Law

33 35 38

ARTICLES FROM THE LEGAL PROFESSION Life at a Global Law Firm Life at a Global Law Firm Life at a Magic Circle Firm Working at a National Firm Life as a Graduate Life as a Graduate Working in a Boutique Firm The Clerkship Process Day in the Life of a Grad at PwC Working in-house Working in Criminal Law Working in Family Law Working in Aviation Law Working in Media/Arts Law Working in IP Law Working in Medicial Negligence The Piddington Society

42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58

COMMERCIAL LAW GUIDE Allen & Overy 60 Allens 64

Ashurst 69 Baker McKenzie 71 Civic Legal 75 Clayton Utz 77 Clifford Chance 81 Corrs Chambers Westgarth 84 DLA Piper 87 EY 91 Gilbert + Tobin 93 Herbert Smith Freehills 97 Hogan Lovells 99 HopgoodGanim Lawyers 102 Jackson McDonald 107 Johnson Winter & Slattery 109 K&L Gates 112 King & Wood Mallesons 117 MinterEllison 120 Norton Rose Fulbright 125 Price Sierakowski Corporate 127 Squire Patton Boggs 131 GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC SECTOR Articles Being the State Solicitor 144 Working at the ODPP 146 Being the State Ombudsman 148 Interning at Ombudsman WA 149 Clerking at the ODPP 150 Government Department Directory ACCC 151 Administrative Appeals Tribunal 153 ASIC 154 Aust. Human Rights Commission 155 Aust. Law Reform Commission 156 Australian Taxation Office 158 CDPP 160 Commonwealth Ombudsman 161 Corruption & Crime Commission 163 Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade 164 Department of Premier & Cabinet 166 Insurance Commission WA 168 Legal Aid 169 ODPP 170 Ombudsman WA 171 State Solicitor's Office 172

COURTS Articles Chief Justice of the High Court Former Justice of the High Court Being a Queen's Counsel Life as a Barrister Becoming a Barrister Being a Judge's Associate Becoming a Judge's Associate

178 179 182 183 184 185 186

VOLUNTEERING/SOCIAL JUSTICE Articles Benefits of Volunteering Why Volunteer? Community Legal Centre Lawyer Volunteering at a Rural CLC Volunteering at the EDO Human Rights Internships International Internships

188 190 191 192 193 194 195

Community Legal Centre Directory Aboriginal Family Law Service Citizens Advice Bureau Consumer Credit Legal Service WA Employment Law Centre WA Fremantle Community Legal Centre The Humanitarian Group Mental Health Law Centre WA Street Law Centre WA Tenancy WA Women's Legal Centre

196 198 199 201 202 203 204 205 206 207

MANAGEMENT CONSULTING Articles Why Management Consulting? A Week in Consulting Life as a Consultant Being a Student Consultant

212 213 214 215

Management Consulting Directory Azure Consulting Bain & Company The Boston Consulting Group

217 219 221

Copyright & Disclaimer ÂŠ The Blackstone Society of the University of Western Australia 2017. This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this publication may be reproduced or stored by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the Blackstone Society of the University of Western Australia. Although all individuals have taken every care in preparing and writing the Handbook, they expressly disclaim and accept no liability for any errors, omissions, misuse or misunderstandings on the part of any person who uses or relies upon it. The Blackstone Society of the University of Western Australia accept no responsibility for any damage, injury or loss occasioned to any person or entity, whether law students or otherwise, as a result of a person relying, wholly or in part, on any material included, omitted or implied in this publication.

FOREWORD DR NATALIE SKEAD

Head of School and Dean The UWA Law School The precepts of the law may be comprehended under these three points: to live honestly, to hurt no man wilfully, and to render every man his due carefully – Aristotle Law impacts and shapes our lives in a multitude of ways and provides the framework within which a successful society can flourish. It is now well-recognised that a professional law degree, whether an LLB or JD, opens the door to a plethora of diverse and exciting career options. UWA Law School graduates over the past 90 years have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution in a wide range of areas including legal practice, politics and government, the judiciary, academia, education, industry, the media, philanthropy, human rights, environmental protection, and many more. This Blackstone Careers Handbook provides personal firsthand insight into many of the career options available to you. Read it with an open mind, remembering that success means different things to different people – use your time at Law School to explore and discover what a successful career in law will mean for you. At a public address in 1994, the year of the first democratic election in South Africa, Nelson Mandela humbly said: ‘As a young man I decided to study the law with a view to using what little talent I had in the service of justice and the cause of my people. ... I entered legal practice with a determination to employ my skills and training to at least alleviate the suffering of the oppressed if not to reverse it.’ (Address at the Zionist Christian Church Easter Conference, Moria, 3 April 1994) With the great many opportunities and choices open to each of you when you graduate from UWA Law School, it is likely that your careers and futures will be as diverse as each of you. Whatever turns your life may take and whichever path or paths you choose to travel, I would remind you to take those turns and travel those paths with the understanding that each of you has had the privilege of an outstanding legal education and that each of you has the capacity, the opportunity and the responsibility to make a difference to the communities in which you live and work. If you apply the same diligence, commitment and passion to your chosen career as you are applying to your law studies, you will make a difference. TIPS FOR LAW STUDENTS 1. Have fun – it may not seem like it at times, but these are the best years of your life 2. Take care of yourself – graduating healthy is more important than graduating with a high WAM 3. Make time for your friends and family – the friends you make at Law School will become lifelong friends, but no one will love you as unconditionally as your family 4. Take your time – there is no rush 5. Don’t measure your own success by reference to the achievements of others – you are all different and so the measure of success for each of you will be different

EDITORIAL KENNETH CHEN

SOPHIA NUGAWELA

Careers Vice-President Blackstone Society

Careers Handbook Editor Blackstone Society

Welcome the 2017 Careers Handbook! With the changing legal landscape and increasing competition among law graduates in WA, we have designed this Handbook with the aim of providing all UWA law students with as much information as possible as well as insights and advice from both within and beyond the legal profession. A law degree is merely equipping you with the tools to navigate the world beyond law school whilst providing valuable skills transferable to any profession. We hope to put you all in the best possible position for entering your profession and life after law school. This year we have sourced over 40 articles from students and professionals from a diverse range of career paths. We have included articles covering areas of law such as commercial, family, criminal, aviation and media law. We have also sourced articles from government, social justice and judicial sectors to highlight the broad scope of a career in law. With the increasing interest in careers beyond law, we have sourced articles from management consultants to highlight how the skills and knowledge developed during your law degree, are transferable to a career in management consulting. Use these articles to gain insight and appreciation for where your law degree can take you! Compared to previous years, the Handbook this year has many new aspects. We have introduced a directory of firms and organisations that students can consider applying to. Although the list is not exhaustive, we hope it will provide you assistance in deciding where to apply, whether that be a commercial firm, the government sector, a volunteering position or a career in management consulting. The directory contains profiles of a numerous firms and organisations, highlighting key information and providing you with additional information about each to ensure you are well informed and understand all aspects of the application process. Lastly, we have put together a user-friendly careers toolbox that should assist you with every step of your application. We have included practical application tips, sample cover letters and resumes marked-up by professionals and the important dates for 2017. A significant volume of work by many people has gone into the preparation of this Handbook. To name a few, a huge thank you goes to our Handbook Editor, Sophia Nugawela, and the Careers sub-committee of Mary-Rose Bright and Andrew Huxtable. Also, a thank you to our Blackstone President, Simon Ogden, the entire Blackstone Executive Committee and our major sponsor, Herbert Smith Freehills. Most importantly, a big thank you to all of the contributors to the Handbook who took the time to offer their advice and insights to us. We wish everyone the best of luck in whatever career path you wish to pursue! You have all come this far and are certainly destined for great things!

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CAREERS TOOLBOX

The following section of the Handbook is a toolbox to assist you through any application process. It sets out techniques to write a cover letter and CV, and also provides insights and tips for an interview. It also sets out key information on clerkships and graduate applications and the important dates for 2017. We hope this section of the toolbox will assist you through the year and beyond. The 2017 Careers team will be hosting many presentations in the lead up to the application period, so ensure that you come along to gain further insight and knowledge. If you have any questions throughout the year, please never hesitate to ask a member from the Careers sub-committee.

CLERKSHIPS A clerkship is an employment experience in a law firm or government department over the summer or winter holidays. They tend to run for 2 to 3 weeks and are usually paid.

WHAT IS A CLERKSHIP?

Clerkships provide an opportunity to gain insight into what practical legal work is like and help you find the firm that suits you best. You are given the chance to see how you work and operate in a professional environment and firms will often offer high performers graduate positions. Exposure to a variety of firms and cultures will help you to decide the career path you wish to pursue. Further, clerkships can give you an insight into the areas of law that you may find interesting. For others, after completing a clerkship, you may even realise that practicing law isn’t for you, which shouldn’t be alarming as a law degree can open doors to many other opportunities.

Regardless, completing a clerkship will still provide you invaluable real-life experience and skills that will help you regardless of what career path you pursue. Clerkships are designed for students in their penultimate year of study (students in their second to last year) and these students will generally receive preference. However, this does not mean that non-penultimate students cannot apply as some firms do not have this restriction. Spend some time and do your research in order to determine which firms would be best to apply to. As a non-penultimate student, even if you don’t get offered a clerkship, there are still benefits to completeing the process, such as going through the experience, and you will have honed your application skills and will be better placed next time.

WHAT TO EXPECT? Expect to be given real work for real clients. You may be given tasks including sitting in on client meetings and taking notes for your supervisor, attending court, drafting correspondence, researching case law or legislation on a complex issue and writing a memorandum detailing the findings of your research.

If you work for government departments, professional services firms or in other internships, your work will vary. Expect the work you’re given to be quite different from what you’ve learnt at university and embrace it! Don’t forget that a clerkship is also an opportunity for you to figure out whether you would want to start your professional career with that firm and in that area of law.

CLERKSHIPS WHY DO CLERKSHIPS? It is generally recommended to apply for clerkships at a broad range of law firms. This will give you the opportunity to make a comparison between large, medium and small firms, which in turn, gives you a greater chance of making an informed decision about where you want to begin your professional career. Clerkships are regarded are important because many of the large international and national firms tend to only hire graduates that have completed a clerkship with them.

The main areas of law that most firms practice in include: • Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Insolvency; • Commercial Law, Mergers & Acquisitions and Insolvency; • Minerals & Resources and Environment Law; • Projects, Real Estate and Construction; and • Public Law, Constitutional Challenges, Native Title, Litigation for State Projects. You may also hear the terms, ‘front end and back end’. The distinction refers to the type of work legal professionals do. Front end includes legal advice given in setting up business activities

It is also a critical note that completing a clerkship does not guarantee a graduate position at the firm. However, do not feel pressured! Don’t do a clerkship just because everyone else is doing one. A clerkship is not something you have to do, or need to do, but it definitely can be a experience if you’re interested in a commercial path.

and operations (including mergers and acquisitions, contract) whilst back end refers to the work required when legal problems arise, typically exclusive to litigation. During your clerkship, the firm will likely hold presentations and seminars from across the firm’s practice groups. These provide great insight into each practice area and can highlight areas you may be interested in. Even if you think you know what area law you want to work, always try keep an open mind and try new things - you may find that an area which you first thought was very dull, is actually really interesting.

AREAS OF LAW

CLERKSHIPS

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU

SOCIAL EVENTS

It is important to remember that firms do not expect their clerks to walk into the firm and know everything. Firms will run a number of training exercises such as research skills, getting to know the firm’s resources, letter writing and drafting memorandums. These exercises will provide you with many useful tips and skills that can be transferred into the remainder of your university studies and future careers. It is also expected that you will work hard and put in effort to meet and get to know the staff. It’s important that you are enthusiastic and keen to learn more about the firm, even though the work can get tedious when you’re essentially at the bottom of the food chain. It’s also important that you act in a professional and courteous manner.

Clerkships aren’t all just about working! Many firms will organise social events which provide a good break from all the stresses of work and allow you to socialise with the wider community of the firm. If your clerkship is in December you will likely attend the Christmas party and if your clerkship is in June, you will likely attend the end of financial year functions. Generally, firms will also host Friday night drinks or other sporting competitions to engage with the clerks. It is important to make the most of these events as it is a wonderful opportunity to meet people from other practice groups in the firm and help you determine whether you feel like you would be a good fit.

Most importantly, it is expected that you be yourself because firms want to see how you fit in with the culture of the firm!

YOUR BUDDY and SUPERVISOR A lot of firms have a buddy system in place which means you will have a buddy (usually a graduate, lawyer or a restricted practitioner in your practice group) who you are partnered with during your clerkship. Your buddy is there is to help you with any questions you may have or if you need assistance with how things work. It is not a problem if you have any silly or embarrassing questions, your buddy would have been in your position not too long ago so they will understand how you feel.

CLERKSHIPS

GENERAL TIPS • The night before your first day: make sure that you have set your alarm and checked the train/bus times - you don’t want to be late! Make sure you have an early night because you want to feel fresh and ready to go - first impressions count! • Dress code: most firms have a corporate attire dress code. For males, this means suits, including a tie. Some firms don’t require their staff to wear ties but it is recommended to wear a tie on your first day and, if you don’t need to wear around the office, still bring one bring with you just in case you need to go to court or a client meeting. For females: this usually means a nice blouse and a work skirt or dress pants. It is recommended on your first day to dress up, including wearing a blazer. A blazer is always handy to have in case you have to go to court or have a meeting. You will very quickly be able to gauge the level of dress required by looking at what others wear around the office. • It is normal to feel nervous on your first day - don’t be! Remember that the firm was confident enough in your ability to choose you, so you should be as well! Your first day will usually consist of getting to know the other clerks, familiarising yourself with the computer systems, office tours and being introduced to your practice groups. • The most important advice is to enjoy yourself, learn lots and have fun!

OFFERS What happens on offers day? If you are lucky enough to get an offer (or even a few offers), you will receive a phone call from the firm (usually HR or your interviewing Partner) any time between 9am and 11am.

to consider everything on the table, make sure dates match up, and make a considered decision. However, it is best not to keep the firms waiting for too long! If you haven’t received an offer by a particular firm by 9.30am, it’s perfectly okay to give them a call and ask whether or not you will be receiving an offer. It is not awkward doing this and the firm representatives are traditionally very nice about it.

Do I have to accept the offer straight away? No, you have until 11am to decide. It’s very common to thank a firm for their offer and ask if you can call them back with your decision. This gives you the chance

GRADUATE POSITIONS

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Graduate positions are the link between the culmination of your studies and your entry into professional life. Graduate programs give you the practical training and hands on experience necessary to aid your entry into the profession. In the legal profession, a firm’s graduate program typically includes a year-long practical legal training or articles.

When should I start thinking about graduate positions? Obviously, the earlier you plan for your future the better prepared you will be for applying for graduate positions. As a rule of thumb, students should keep an eye on the market from the penultimate year of their degree, in order to make informed decisions about where they want to apply during their final year.

How do I apply? In most instances, an initial application will require a cover letter and CV. Depending on the firm, you may also have to undertake personality or competency testing, or answer further questions about the firm, the position and your suitability for the job. Even if you’ve clerked with the firm you are applying for, some firms may require you to interview again. Others may also host a social event where all applicants can attend and get to know each other.

Where can I browse graduate jobs? In most instances, graduate jobs will be advertised through a firm’s website. Like the clerkship process, research is the key to finding the firm and position that suits you. cvMail is a great starting point if you’re looking to apply for several positions quickly.

OFFERS What happens on offers day? Similar to vacation clerkship offers, firms will usually start notifying students of offers for a graduate position at 9am on the day. In contrast to vacation clerkship offers, your offer will be valid until 5pm, to provide you extra time to make up your mind.

What is an early offer? A number of firms offer graduate positions to students after the completion of their vacation clerkship. If you are lucky to receive one, it gives you assurance for the year ahead!

What is a priority offer? Priority offers are now made by many firms to applicants who have previously worked or undertaken a vacation clerkship with that firm.

What is a market offer? Some firms also use the standard offer system where all interested applicants are required to submit an application and proceed through an interview process before offers are made.

KEY DATES FOR 2017

CLERKSHIP Applications

GRADUATE Applications

Applications open

MONDAY 17 JULY

MONDAY 26 JUNE

Applications close

SUNDAY 6 AUG

FRIDAY 11 AUG

Offers day

FRIDAY 22 SEP

FRIDAY 15 SEP

BEYOND COMMERCIAL LAW

Although the clerkship process is highly emphasised throughout your law degree, don’t be afraid if a clerkship or if commercial law isn’t for you! In reality, there are many areas of law out there, that as law students, we are not exposed to during our degree. To help provide you some guidance, this Handbook contains articles written by professionals from a wide range of areas, including: family law, criminal law, aviation law, administration law and media/arts law. If you wish to pursue a non-commercial law career, the recruitment process is less structured, compared to commerical law. However, do not let this deter you! Always keep

an eye out for opportunities that arise as firms don’t have a set recruitment period. There are many websites that firms advertise on, such as: GradConnection, Seek, Beyond Law or even the Law Society of WA’s website. If you find a firm that practices an area of law you are particulary interested in but they are not recruiting, it never hurts to send them an email expressing your interest in a position. Although, they may not be actively hiring, showing them that you are interested and sending them your CV, means if a position does arise, it may put you in a good position for the job.

Even if you are still unsure what area of law you are interested in, it’s not a problem! Very few people actually know what they want to end up doing when they start their degree. Start by asking yourself what you actually want? What interests you? What do you find exciting? What would you prefer to avoid? Come to Blackstone Careers events such as our Night in the Gallery event (where you can hear from a range of professionals, both within the legal profession and beyond law, reflect on their careers and differing experiences). Other events include the Careers Fair or on-campus presentations throughout the semester. Never be afraid to ask older students, who may have experience in an area of law, to see how they found their experience and to reflect upon it!

APPLICATION PROCESS

Most applications will require applicants to submit the following: 1. a cover letter; 2. a resume; and 3. most recent academic transcript.

WHAT IS Required?

In this section, we have included tips and suggestions on how to write a good cover letter and resume. We have also included sample copies to provide you further guidance. Each firm will require you to submit a scanned and certified copy of your transcript, either through cvMail or directly with the firm (depending on the firm’s application process). This means you only need to purchase one official copy from university.

Additional Questions As part of their application process, a number of firms require you to answer additional questions. These questions will usually focus on finding out more about you, your achievements, what you can offer the firm, why you decided to pursue a career in law and questions about your level of industry awareness. Typical questions will involve asking you about specific situations, usually outside of university and your studies. For example, you may be asked ‘What do you feel is your greatest achievement, and what challenges did you face in achieving it?’ In other situations, your responses should have the effect of convincing the firm or organisation that you are interested in pursuing a career in law and your willingness to work with that firm or organisation. Such questions may include ‘What is your motivation for seeking a career in law?’ or ‘What has attracted you to this firm or organisation?’

Lastly, firms and organisations want to know that you are interested in the industry and that you will be able to assist their clients and provide innovative solutions. It is important that you conduct research in preparation for these questions! An example question may be: ‘Identify a current commercial issue that has attracted your attention recently. Why do you consider it important? Who are the key stakeholders and what are the implications for those concerned?’ Online Testing In addition to a written application, a number of firms conduct online testing. The nature of these tests is to test your personality, your ability to work in a team environment and to assess how you deal with pressure. If you are asked to complete a test, it is recommended that you give yourself ample time as some can be time-consuming.

APPLICATION PROCESS

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TIPS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• Always remember that first impressions count! Your written application is the first impression you make to a firm so give it everything! • In your written application, ensure you address the selection criteria that the firm outlines. These are usually stated on their website. • Try avoiding writing one generic cover letter that can be used for many applications. Every firm adopts different values and beliefs and therefore, it is recommended that you tailor your applications to each firm. • It is always important that proof-read your application numerous times. You want to make sure that it is free from elementary mistakes.

NETWORKING EVENTS Many firms host a networking evening or a cocktail function as part of their application process. Firms will usually invite those candidates that have been successful in receiving an interview with the firm. These events are designed to see how you fit in a social environment and provides the firm a good opportunity to get to know you in a more relaxed setting, outside of the interview. At these events, it is best to speak to as many people as possible as it helps you to gain an understanding of the culture at the firm. It is also important to meet other applicants as this demonstrates that you are socialable and these people may even become your future colleagues. Tips: • Always wear corporate attire. • Be on your best behaviour. Don’t be ‘that person’ who drinks too much. • Make sure you try to mingle and meet people. • Just be yourself!The firm has chosen you to be part of this stage of the recruitment process for a reason.

cvMAIL cvMail is an online platform run by Thomson Reuters which provides information about the legal industry. It is a portal for students to apply to firms for clerkships, graduate jobs and to schedule interviews online.

BENEFITS

A number of firms, across all the states, now prefer using cvMail as their method of receiving applications. Be aware that firms often vary their application process, so ensure you are aware of any changes before applying.

WHAT IS cvMAIL?

• It is easy to use. • It stores application data so that you can save time when completing multiple applications. It means that you only have to complete the firm-specific parts of the application. • You only need to enter your personal and academic details once. • Helps you to keep track of closing dates for each firm and the list of firms you have applied for. • Enables you to book your interviews online. • Allows you to browse detailed information about the firms and their application process. • Sets out other helpful tips such as what to include in application and sample cover letters and CVs.

GETTING STARTED How to use cvMail?

Visit cvmail.com.au to register as a ‘First Time User’. Create an account by inserting your name, email address and a password. You can then log in as a registered user using your email address and password.

Personal Profile This will ask you to enter your personal information, such as full name, address, email, contact details and any language abilities.

Academic Profile Create an education record for each relevant academic course. At first, this will require you to enter details for each course, such as the course name, length, institution, the units completed and the relevant marks.

WRITING A COVER LETTER

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THE ESSENTIALS You should set out your personal details in the top right corner of your cover letter. This should include: your name, address, email and contact number. Below this, on left hand-side, you should include the name of the person you are addressing your cover letter to, their position within the firm, the name of the firm and the firm’s address. The use of a heading (in bold) goes a long way. Use this to state the position you are applying for - e.g. Application for 2017/18 [Firm] Clerkship Program.

Start your cover letter “Dear [name you are addressing the cover letter to]”. It is best to avoid addressing them as “Sir/Madam” or writing “To whom it may concern,” as it shows the candidate has not researched the firm. If you are ever unsure, ask a friend or call the firm and ask. In most instances, the application will advise you to address your cover letter to a specific person, usually the Office Manager, Head of Human Resources, Partner or Principal of the firm.

BENEFITS OF A GOOD COVER LETTER

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A COVER LETTER A cover letter is a job application letter which candidates use to explain to an employer why they are qualified for the position and why they should be selected for an interview. It is the means by which an employer will be able to gain their first impression and is a fundamental way for candidates to make their applications stand out from the rest.

• A great cover letter will show off your achievements and focus quite heavily on why you want to work at a specific firm • It highlights how a candidate can contribute to the firm • It shows how a candidate has prepared for their application by researching the firm, the nature of the position and ensuring that they address the selection criteria • It demonstrates your communication skills and an ability to write clearly

• • • • • • • • • •

Make sure you state what year of study you’re in and when you intend to graduate. Keep your cover letter to one page. Ensure your cover letter is addressed to the right person. If you have a particular interest in an area of law you know the firm specialises in, make sure you mention this. Plan and write your cover letters well in advance. Highlight your strengths and how you can use these to benefit the firm. Write in first-person. Ensure you tailor your cover letter to each firm and are satisfying the selection criteria. Proofread your cover letter, get family and friends to read over it as well. Spelling and grammatical can detract from conveying a strong message. Avoid using big words and colourful adjectives. You should write in plain english and clearly and concisely.

TIPS

WRITING A COVER LETTER

SUGGESTED STRUCTURE

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT YOURSELF

THE ORGANISATION

CONCLUSION

An introduction should outline the name of your degree, how far into your studies you are, the position you are applying for and when you are expecting to graduate.

This paragraph should set out the skills and qualifications you have that are necessary for meeting the selection criteria. You should support this with evidence/ examples of past employment history, extra-curricular activities and volunteer positions. Ensure you are emphasising your skills (such as attention to detail, leadership, teamwork and ability to manage multiple tasks at one time) and how you can apply them if you were successful in getting the position.

This paragraph should outline why you are interested in the specific firm. Use evidence to support this, such as sharing similar values with the firm or identifying appealing aspects about the firm. Additionally, conduct research about the firm, their various practice groups, any people you have met, interesting work that the firm is currently working on, recent matters the firm has completed or recent achievements or awards the firm has received.

A conclusion should thank the person addressed for their time and consideration of your application, and state that you look forward to hearing from them.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER Kindly annotated by Norton Rose Fulbright

[INSERT FIRM] HR Services Bob Loblaw & Associates Ground Floor, 1 Law Avenue West Perth WA 6005

Elle Woods 3 Brighton Avenue Peppermint Grove WA 6011 0413 273 266 ellewoods@hotmail.com

To Whom It May Concern, Re: Clerkship My name is Elle Woods and enclosed is my CV to work as a clerk at Bob Loblaw & Associates. I am in my second last year of the Juris Doctor at the University of Western Australia and am very interested in gaining practical legal experience. I would therefore like to be considered for a clerkship position in your firm where I can be exposed to many areas of legal practice. My ultimate goal is to work in a top law firm where I can have knowledge of the law over a number of different areas. I consider myself to be a very astute law student and I definitely possess the drive and dedication that this position requires. You will see from my CV that I have participated in witness examinations and moots, both of which enabled me to develop a strong passion for the law. I was also elected to the Blackstone society. In addition, I have had a number of volunteering placements which ignited my passion for community legal centers. These placements assisted in strengthening my interpersonal and organisational skills. My qualifications appear to be consistent with the desirable attributes that Bob Loblaw & Associates is looking for in a successful candidate. I am also very hardworking and am known for my ability to work well independently with little oversight. My involvement in Blackstone and extracurricular activities, participation in competitions and volunteering placements demonstrates my ability to effectively balance work and personal activities with ease. This balance is especially important in the field of commercial work at Bob Loblaw which is a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Bob Loblaw & Associates not only appeals to me for its world-class reputation in the commercial law sphere but for its commitment to workplace diversity. The promotion of individuality within a firm is of significant importance to me. I am confident that Bob Loblaw & Associate’s commitment to recognising unique qualities of employees will improve my own ability to adapt to different circumstances in a diverse environment.

Comment [NRFA1]: As one of the first sections to be reviewed by whoever receives your application, it is crucial that these details are 100% correct - no spelling mistakes in the firm's name or address. Google is your friend! If possible, address to the HR contact who will be reviewing your application. Comment [NRFA2]: Referring to the firm you are applying to is appropriate as a letter heading ie “Clerkship Application to firm X” Comment [NRFA3]: If you are applying for a large firm chances are you will be applying by uploading your details, I would instead say "I am applying for" Comment [NRFA4]: Might consider changing this to 'penultimate'.

Comment [NRFA5]: If you can include specific practice areas of areas of interest to you, it may be worth highlighting them.

Comment [NRFA6]: This is awkwardly worded - would consider rephrasing "where I can have knowledge" and "my ultimate goal"

Comment [NRFA7]: Can cut this part of the sentence entirely. Comment [NRFA8]: If you are further able to identify a specific area or passion in the law, expand upon on this point.

Comment [NRFA9]: This is a vague statement - be clear or specific where possible, or expand upon it.

Comment [NRFA10]: I would avoid this terminology - it might be better to say "my experience at x or studies at x have developed my ability to..." Comment [NRFA11]: Good example of tying experience/extracurriculars to outcomes and skills.

Comment [NRFA12]: The more you can specifically tie your application to the firm you are applying for and its environment, the better.

Comment [NRFA13]: If the firm you are applying to has a distinct diversity focus, then include this, but be wary of sounding too 'generic'. Top tier firms will expect you to be able to identify how they differentiate from other firms. Comment [NRFA14]: Rephrase - this doesn't quite make sense and appears to be a generalisation.

Comment [NRFA15]: Again, be cautious with broad sweeping generalisations if you don't have specific knowledge of the firms commitments.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER Kindly annotated by Norton Rose Fulbright

Thank you for considering my application for a clerkship at Bob Loblaw & Associates. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have further questions. Best regards, Elle Woods

Comment [NRFA16]: This sign off is fine - an actual signature is not required. However I would advise keeping your covering letter to under a page.

WRITING A CV

[

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume is a brief account of a candidate’s education, employment history, qualifications, extra-curricular activities, hobbies and interests. A candidate’s CV is usually sent together with a cover letter and should be tailored to highlight the skills and experiences relevant to the

firm the candidate is applying to. Similar to a cover letter, it is the employer’s first contact they have with a candidate and therefore, presentation, format and structure are all essential.

• • • •

TIPS

Use professional language Highlight skills and qualifications relevant to the firm’s application criteria Attempt to keep your CV to two pages in length Proofread your CV, get family and friends to read over it as well. Spelling and grammatical can detract from conveying a strong message • There is no single correct structure to use. Choose a format that you like and ensure you are consistent throughout • Use headings to divide your CV into sections, such as education, work experience, achievements and interests • Avoid using large paragraphs for descriptions. Use short sentences and bullet points.

KEY ELEMENTS Personal Details You should include your full name, address, contact number and email address.

EDUCATION You should outline your education history in reverse chronological order and include the name of the course, the institution and length of study. For tertiary study, you should include your GPA and/or WAM. Feel free to include your secondary study, including your university entry mark.

WRITING A CV

EMPLOYMENT HIsTORY If you have extensive and relevant past experience, you may decide to include this first. You should outline all your relevant work experience, in reverse chronological order, so begin with your present/ most recent employment. Ensure you include your job title, start/finish employment dates, name of employer and responsibilities. Be sure to include the skills you developed and any achievements or accomplishments if you believe they are relevant.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR In this section, include your involvement at school, university or any community engagement. Examples include university societies, participating in competitions, sporting team or volunteering experiences. You should highlight the skills you developed in these positions, such as teamwork or leadership.

OTHERS You may decide to include other headings to suit your personal circumstances or which may be particularly relevant to the position/firm you are applying for. You can include other headings such as: Interests, Achievements, Leadership or Completed Courses such as first aid or computer proficiency.

REFEREES Referees may be included at the end of a CV as a point reference which prospective employers may contact. Referees are usually former or current employers, a teacher, or someone who is able to comment on your work and skills in a professional setting. Try to avoid including personal references, such as family members or close friends. You do not have to include referees and it is sufficient to say ‘referees available upon request’ under the heading. If you wish to include referees, two or three is usually appropriate. Ensure you include the person’s name, their position, the company name and contact number. If you decide to include referees, be sure to ask them for permission, inform them of the position you are applying for and the skills they are looking for.

SAMPLE CV Kindly annotated by Norton Rose Fulbright

RESUME

Elle Woods Address: 3 Brighton Avenue, Peppermint Grove, WA 6011 Tel: 0413 273 266 Email: ellewoods@hotmail.com DOB: 23 September 1995 Gender: Female

Comment [NRFA1]: The name should stand out. The formatting here could be more dynamic – take advantage of left and right alignment, headers, or underscores to display critical information. Comment [NRFA2]: It is not necessary to disclose this information.

EDUCATION 2016-Present 2013-2015

2000-2012

The University of Western Australia Juris Doctor WAM 67.5% GPA 5.6

The University of Western Australia Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science & International Relations WAM 75.4% GPA 6.2 Westside College Western Australian Certificate of Education Australian Tertiary Admission Rank: 95.00

Comment [NRFA3]: The format here is well displayed – easy to read and summarises important information such as WAM and the institutions of study.

EXPERIENCE

December 2016

July 2016 2015-2016 2013-2014

SKILLS

Suem & Wynn Law Associates Vacation Clerk – Energy Resources This involved document management, reviewing contracts, conducting legal research and drafting case notes Payne & Suffrin Vacation Clerk – Litigation This involved conducting legal research and drafting court documents, including defences and affidavits

InStyle Clothing Sales Assistant

Coffee Express Barista

Comment [NRFA4]: Instead of “this involved” use proactive language “Reviewed contracts, Drafted case notes” and be careful with past/future tenses.

Comment [NRFA5]: Be clear with dates – if only for July, in your description write why ie “month long discovery, working on a casual basis on x duties”.

Comment [NRFA6]: Where possible, try to identify if there are elements of your role where you had extra responsibility, or where the experience may translate to working in a law firm, and highlight this experience or parts of your roles.

Comment [NRFA7]: A basic description of your duties here should be included for each role and also the months in which you commenced and ceased work at each. Where you might not have legal experience, ensure you are providing enough details on your other roles. Including details of how you were involved in handling responsibility or dealing with customers would be a good idea.

SAMPLE CV Kindly annotated by Norton Rose Fulbright

Communication Writes clearly and concisely, listens attentively, gathers appropriate information, expresses ideas, communicates well with others, dependable Organizational •

Learns quickly, sets goals, multi-tasks, plans and arranges activities, meets deadlines Interpersonal •

Works well with others, sensitive, supportive, motivates others, shares credit, understands feelings Research and Planning •

•

Creates ideas, identifies problems, meets goals, defines needs, assesses situations

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES Leadership • 2012 House Prefect Volunteering • 2016 Blackstone academic mentoring • 2013-2015 Marketing director for a non-profit charity • 2012 Volunteer at The City to Surf (Perth) REFERENCES Brian Payne Partner, Payne & Suffrin 9111 3282 Simone Jackson Manager, Coffee Express 0411 121 213

Comment [NRFA8]: The “skills” section of a CV can be a tricky area to navigate. Keep in mind that these are unsupported statements to whoever is reviewing your CV and that your actual experience, academic qualifications and achievements, and extracurricular involvement is much more important.

Comment [NRFA9]: Leadership roles should be included and highlighted where possible.

Comment [NRFA10]: Be specific with what volunteering you’ve done – from this dot point, we cannot tell what this person did and how long for.

INTERVIEWS TYPES of INTERVIEWS

RECEIVING AN INTERVIEW There is no set date for when students are offered an interview. Generally, firms begin to contact students at least a couple of weeks after the application deadline, usually by phone or email. If you are offered an interview, you should be extremely proud because it means the firm is interested in you. The purpose of an interview is two-fold. Firstly, being invited to an interview means the firm believes you are suitable for the position and now they want to ascertain whether you will fit into their environment. This gives you an opportunity to reinforce the positive impression you have already made through your written application. You should elaborate on aspects that you have raised in your cover letter and CV, such as awards and achievements. Secondly, it gives you an opportunity to determine whether you would be a suitable fit at the firm. You should use this stage to learn more about the firm and the position you are applying for.

[

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Arrive late • Poor presentation - improperly dressed and lack of cleanliness • Bad manners, lack of eye contact • Addressing the interviewer by the wrong name • Inability to listen/not answering the questions properly • Having little or no knowledge about the organisation

Individual Interviews Individual interviews will require you to meet with someone from the firm’s human resources team and another member from the firm. This is the most common form of interview style. In these interviews, you will be asked a number of questions that assist the interviewers in geting to know you better and focusing on how and why you would fit within the firm. Additionally, it enables the interviewers to assess your communication skills and determine your confidence and ability to answer questions. Group Interviews A number of firms conduct group interviews as an alternative to individual interviews. The aim of these interviews is to determine your ability to work within a team environment by requiring you to discuss particular problem scenarios or case notes as a group. The problem scenario will most likely be generic in nature, and tend to focus around ethics and technical related questions. During the problem scenarios, one or two ‘silent interviewers’ will be present in the room, who are there to observe the dynamics of the team and to assess the problem scenario.

INTERVIEWS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW PREPARATION The interview stage is the best opportunity to make yourself stand out from the rest. Therefore, it is recommended that you prepare and ensure you do your research. Interviewers will want to see that you demonstrate an interest in the law, the firm and exhibit a desire to join them. You should conduct research into the firm’s culture, what they look for in prospective employees and, if you are told beforehand, the interviewers. RESEARCH The best place to start your research is the firm’s website. This allows you to find out more about the firm’s values, different practice areas, biographies on various staff, recent transactions, information on their clerkship and graduate programs and whether the firm engages in pro bono or volunteering activities. Another effective method of finding out more about a firm is to talk to people who work, or have worked there. There are many opportunities for this, such as the Careers Fair and various on-campus presentations.

This gives you the chance to ask questions directly to people who have experienced the work and culture of the firm. You should also consider researching the firm on other sources, such as in the news, the Australian Financial Review or the Lawyers Weekly. These sources provide up-to-date information about matters the firm is working on, whilst also providing insight into the legal profession generally. Many organisations want to see that you have commercial awareness, and it is therefore important to understand current events. BE YOURSELF! The final step of preparation should focus on yourself! Ensure you have read through your CV and cover letter. You want to make sure that you are prepared for any questions relating to points you have raised in your written application. Making sure you are prepared in this regard shows the interviewers a greater sense of honesty and confidence.

TIPS FOR THE INTERVIEW • Make sure your clothes are clean and professional. • Ensure you have all the relevant documentation. • Make sure you are on time - punctuality is crucial so try to arrive at least 10 minutes early. • When you are introduced to your interviewers, shake hands and smile. It is important to remember their names. • Maintain eye contact throughout the interview as it shows confidence. • Being able to answer questions is only one part of the interview. Make sure you listen carefully to the question being asked. • Try not to be nervous. It is important to be relaxed and professional. • The most important thing is to be yourself!

INTERVIEWS SAMPLE QUESTIONS

you may get asked

• • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Tell me about yourself? Why have you pursued a career in law? Why do you want to work in this particular area of law? Where do you see yourself in five years? Describe a time you have demonstrated leadership skills? What is your greatest weakness? Why do you want to work at this firm? Describe a time when you conflicted with another member of a team. Describe a time when you were faced with a difficult problem. How did you approach it? What skills can you contribute to this firm and this position? Describe a time when you had to meet a difficult deadline. How did you approach it? What has been your most enjoyable unit? What has been your least enjoyable unit? Tell me about a time you worked under pressure. What is your biggest regret? What sort of working environment motivates you? What is a current issue facing the legal profession? Why did you leave your previous job? What is your greatest achievement?

What is the most exciting/interesting part of working for this firm? Why did you choose to work here? What attracted you to working in your practice group? What would an average day as a clerk be like? What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? How often is feedback provided? Does the firm offer any international opportunities? Does the firm engage in any community activities, if so, what? How would you describe the ‘culture’ at the firm? Does the organisation have policies in place for ongoing/further studies? Do you have any advice for someone interested in a career in law? How is the health and wellbeing of employees encouraged in the firm?

to ask the interviewer

GETTING ADMITTED REQUIREMENTS At the completion of a law degree (or a course prescribed by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia), in order to be admitted into practice, a prospective practitioner must complete a practical legal training course (PLT) that complies with the training requirements for admission. There are many courses available, including the WA College of Law, the Leo Cussen Centre for Law and ANU Legal Workshop. These courses usually run for a year and will require a prospective practitioner to complete additional study, whilst obtaining a certain number of hours of practical experience. More information about each course is outlined in the following PLT directory. Upon completion of the PLT course, prospective practitioners are required to file a Motion Paper with the Supreme Court at least 2 months prior to the proposed admission date.

This will require you to locate a legal practitioner to move your admission at the ceremony. For more information, see the the Admissions section of the Supreme Court website. Within 2 days of filing the Motion Paper, you must then file a Notice of Application for Admission with the Legal Practice Board of WA, together with a copy of the Motion Paper and other supporting documentation. Following receipt of the application, the Legal Practice Board will place the required advertisements and the Supreme Court will write directly to you to confirm arrangements for the ceremony. The Board will file a compliance certificate with the Court, at least 7 days prior to the admission ceremony.

How to Practice in WA? A person must hold a practicing certificate issued by the WA Law Society. An admitted lawyer cannot engage in legal practice unless they hold a current practicing certificate. Upon initial receipt of the certificate, you must complete two years of supervised/restricted practice.

How to Practice in a Federal Jurisdiction? In order to be qualified to practice in federal jurisdictions, a practitioner requires entitlement to practice in the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, and entry in the Register of Practitioners kept in the High Court of Australia.

Choose Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading university provider of Practical Legal Training ANU Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice _ Accredited _ Online, with 4 day face-to-face intensive in locationsÂ across Australia _ Experienced, practitioner mentors _ Choose your start date, mentor and when you graduate

Go straight to the top.

facebook.com/ANULegalWorkshop

legalworkshop.law.anu.edu.au/gdlp

ANU LEGAL WORKSHOP ADDRESS Building 5, Fellows Road, ANU, Acton ACT 0200

CONTACT (02) 6125 3483 Edwina Breingan, Human Resources lwsa.law@anu.edu. au www.legalworkshop. law.anu.edu.au/gdlp

How does your PLT course differ from the other courses? ANU is Australia’s leading tertiary provider of Practical Legal Training (PLT). The ANU GDLP program uses online learning to enable you to balance your PLT with employment, or other personal commitments and to study at ANU regardless of your location. Our GDLP students are based all over Australia and the world. You are able to tailor your ANU GDLP to what best suits you: you decide your start date, your face-to-face location, your individual mentor and when you want to graduate. How is the course structured? The ANU GDLP is comprised of 5 elements. Element 1 - 4 day face-to-face intensive course, Becoming a Practitioner (BAP). You can decide which location you would like to complete this part of the course. The balance of the course is completed online. Element 2 - The Professional Practice Core (PPC) is a 12 week compulsory course which is delivered wholly online. The PPC is offered three times each year and covers: • Professionalism in Practice • Ethics and Professional Responsibility • Trust Accounting • Civil Litigation Practice • Property Practice • Commercial Practice

Element 3 - Electives. There are nine Admission to Practice electives in total and the number you need to complete depends on the length of your placement. Electives are studied online, except for the Criminal Practice elective which is a face-to-face intensive course. You may choose to do your electives before, during or after your Profesional Practice Core (PPC). Element 4 - Legal Practice Experience (LPE). LPE is a placement in the legal profession under the supervision of a lawyer with at least three years of legal experience. You have the option of completing a 20, 50 or 80 day placement in an approved legal workplace. Overseas placements can be approved, subject to some conditions. Element 5 - Ready for Practice (RFP). RFP is a three week capstone experience which enables you to draw together your learning in the GDLP. You will receive supportive coaching in preparation for a smooth transition to practice. When does the course start? There are various dates for each of the elements offered throughout the year. How long does the course run for? This is flexible. You can decide how you would like to complete the course and the time frame.

How do graduates enrol in the course? Apply online at any time during the year: https://legalworkshop.law. anu.edu.au/gdlp/applyaccept-enrol

Do you provide full time and part time courses? Yes More information Choose Australia’s leading university GDLP provider for your compulsory Practical Legal Training. Designed to build on the knowledge you have gained in your LLB/ JD, your ANU GDLP will provide you with the practical knowledge that you will need to take the next step in your career.

“

The ANU GDLP program uses online learning to enable you to balance your PLT with employment, or other personal commitments and to study at ANU regardless of your location

“

What work experience options (if any) are students able to choose from? ANU Legal Workshop is able to assist students with LPE opportunities.

Tailor your ANU GDLP: you decide your start date, your face-to-face location, your individual mentor and when you want to graduate. We welcome you to enrol online and take your PLT to the next level.

LEO CUSSEN CENTRE FOR LAW ADDRESS GPO Box 853, Melbourne VIC 3001

CONTACT 1300 039 031 pltadmin@leo cussen.edu.au www.leocussen.edu. au

How does your PLT course differ from the other courses? We believe that practical legal training should be just that – practical. Build your skills and confidence with a mentoring program you won’t find elsewhere. Small group training – to provide the finest practical training experience. Our blended learning program is offered predominantly online, but also has 13 days onsite so that you can better build skills and confidence through a personalised mentoring program. How is the course structured? Our online PLT is a blend of online and onsite activities over 24 weeks, and three weeks of professional placement that may be undertaken during the formal training period. Applicants must have proficiency in email and internet applications, reasonable access to such resources and an aptitude for successful learning via online delivery modes. Contact days The PLT is suitable for law graduates who have other commitments during typical business hours. The course includes 13 face-to-face intensive contact days from Perth’s CBD. Attendance is a requirement. Trainees manage and conduct simulated files. This includes attendances at hearings, settlements, interviews, signings and other activities are scheduled on intensive contact days. Students develop

excellent advocacy skills through civil and criminal file work. Online completion of Client Files Online PLT files are largely conducted via guided one-to-one online contact with mentors, except for attendance at hearings, settlements, interviews, signings and other activities that are scheduled on contact days. Professional Placement Trainees will need to complete a 15 week professional placement. Placement can be done shortly before or after the formal coursework, or concurrently with coursework. Placements can be organised with private law firms, community legal centres, government agencies, public interest organisations or in-house. Optional Topics Can be chosen in Administrative or Family law. When does the course start? New course - presently running in March 2017 How long does the course run for? 5 months How do graduates enrol in the course? Online via www.leocussen.edu.au/ apply

“

What work experience options (if any) are students able to choose from? Trainees have access to a designated Graduate Placement & Careers Advisor.

Build your skills and confidence with a mentoring program you won’t find elsewhere

Do you provide full time and part time courses? We currently provide a full-time course from Perth’s CBD. We also offer a full-time and part-time onsite and online course from Melbourne’s CBD.

“

More information Please visit www.leocussen.edu.au

Practical Legal Training Practical Legal Training Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Western Australia Western Australia

Leo Cussen hasoperating been operating sinceand 1972 we continue to be recognised as a of centre of excellence for providing Leo Cussen has been since 1972 weand continue to be recognised as a centre excellence for providing high high quality practical legal training. Our Graduate Legal Practice highly comprehensive well respected quality practical legal training. Our Graduate DiplomaDiploma in LegalinPractice is highlyiscomprehensive and welland respected by the by the legal profession. legal profession. At Leo Cussen our trainees learn to practise a very professional, yet friendly and engaging environment. At Leo Cussen our trainees learn how to how practise law in alaw veryinprofessional, yet friendly and engaging environment. In our In our online blended program, you work predominantly online of face-to-face instruction to give online blended learninglearning program, you work predominantly online but withbut 13 with days13 of days face-to-face instruction to give you a you a more personalised mentoring program. more personalised mentoring program. We believe that practical legal training should be just that, practical. That’s our training incorporates We believe that practical legal training should be just that, practical. That’s why ourwhy training programprogram incorporates small small group training, comprehensive and personalised mentoring and feedback, to provide thepractical finest practical group training, comprehensive and personalised mentoring and feedback, to provide the finest training training experience. experience.

Tel:

Established since 1972, Established since 1972, reputation. excellentexcellent reputation.

Highly practical Highly practical course course with ‘learning with ‘learning by doing’by doing’ and no exams. and no exams.

Develop Develop excellentexcellent Small groupto training to Small group training advocacy skills through provide finest practical advocacy skills through provide the finestthe practical and file criminal file civil and civil criminal training experience. training experience. work. work.

Build Build skills andskills and confidence confidence with a with a personalised mentoring personalised mentoring program.program.

and challenging ThoroughThorough and challenging with a simulated file with a simulated file to best prepare program program to best prepare you. you.

Our graduates work Our graduates work inof a range of legal and in a range legal and professional environments professional environments around the world. around the world.

Tel: 1300 1300 039 031039 031 +61 33111 9602 3111 +61 3 9602

pltadmin@leocussen.edu.au Email: Email: pltadmin@leocussen.edu.au www.leocussen.edu.au Web: Web: www.leocussen.edu.au

career support Access toAccess career to support servicesgraduate through graduate services through placement and career placement and career advisor. advisor.

THE COLLEGE OF LAW ADDRESS Durack Centre, Ground Floor, 263 Adelaide Terrace, Peth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9214 0200 enrolments@collaw. edu.au www.collaw.edu.au

How does your PLT course differ from the other courses? Now in its second year, our new and improved PLT program – PLT Plus – puts you first. With a renewed focus on flexibility, convenience, and practical, relevant learning, it’s no wonder more students are choosing PLT Plus over any other program. You will benefit from: • Only 5 days of face-to-face attendance • Lowest fees in Western Australia • No assessable group work • Part of the Western Australian profession for more than 10 years • Emphasis on task-based, hands-on learning • Only provider of the Legal Business Skills Series How is the course structured? Our aim is to ensure you transition successfully into your chosen workplace. We achieve this goal through the integration of three essential program components: • Coursework • Work Experience • Continuing Professional Education (CPE) How long does the course run for? • 15 weeks - If time is of the essence for you, you can study full-time online and complete the coursework in just 15 weeks. • 30 weeks – If you prefer to learn at your own pace while working or managing other commitments, you can study 38

online part-time either during the daytime or evenings. When does the course start? The College of Law offers more than 15 courses a year in Perth, so there’s never long to wait before you can start your PLT. How do graduates enrol in the course? You can apply via our online application form that will take less than 15 minutes to complete. Simply visit www.collaw.edu.au. What work experience options (if any) are students able to choose from? PLT Plus offers two formats for the work experience component of your training. • Short Format – 25 days of approved work experience + Clinical Experience Module (CEM) • Standard Format – 75 days of approved work experience Do you provide full time and part time courses? You can complete your coursework component in one of three study modes: online full-time, online part-time and online part-time evening. Choose the mode that suits your goals, timeframe and lifestyle. More information Please visit www.collaw.edu.au/ pltplus or contact our Student Services Team on 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au

JOIN THOUSANDS OF S AT I S F I E D L A W S T U D E N T S ACROSS AUSTRALIA PLT Plus – today’s most in-demand Practical Legal Training (PLT) program, delivered by The College of Law. Now in its second year, our new and improved program puts you first. With a renewed focus on flexibility, convenience and practical relevant training, it’s no wonder more students are choosing PLT Plus over any other program. Now it’s your turn to discover what the fuss is all about.

5 Reasons to choose PLT Plus J U S T 5 D A Y S O F FA C E - T O - FA C E AT T E N D A N C E With only 5 days of face-to-face attendance plus full-time, part-time and offsite study options, PLT Plus is truly flexible. We also offer more than 15 courses a year in Perth, allowing you to study at a time that suits you – not us.

LOWEST FEES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Only The College of Law can offer you the best value PLT program. Included in your course fees are tuition costs, resource materials plus comprehensive Practice Papers to take with you into the workplace.

NO ASSESSABLE GROUP WORK Our aim is to ensure that you are well-equipped as a practising lawyer from the getgo. So you can practise thinking on your feet – just like a lawyer - all PLT subjects are individually assessed orally via video or telephone conference.

PA R T O F T H E WA P R O F E S S I O N F O R 1 0 + Y E A R S Established in 2006, The College of Law Western Australia has delivered PLT to over 2000 lawyers. We have a trusted track-record for training ‘practice ready’ young lawyers who can contribute to their chosen workplace immediately.

YOU’LL BE MORE PRACTICE READY PLT Plus places greater emphasis on task-based, hands-on learning. It’s also the only program that offers a Legal Business Skills Series – equipping you with vital workplace skills such as time manage, leadership and communication.

Your career. Maximised.

For course dates or more information about our PLT Plus program visit The College of Law website www.collaw.edu.au/pltplus or contact our Student Services Team on 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au The College of Law is Australasia’s largest provider of Practical Legal Training (PLT), with campuses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. We also conduct programs in Adelaide, Canberra and regional Queensland, as well as onsite sessions in London. The College of Law’s PLT program leads to the award of a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) which makes you eligible to apply for direct admission to your state or territory.

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ARTICLES FROM THE LEGAL PROFESSION Whilst studying, students are only exposed to a handful of disciplines within the law. In reality, there are so many areas of law, many of which you may never have heard of or didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even realise existed. This section of the handbook is a compilation of articles written by a range of legal professionals. Each article touches on a different area of law and each author has their own unique background. The purpose of this section is to highlight the range of careers in the legal profession, and that studying law does not mean you are limited to the types of law you learn at university. We hope that the insights provided will help spark interest and intrigue and will provide guidance on how to pursue such a career. For those who already have interests, we hope that these articles confirm those interests and provide you with further insight.

LIFE AT A GLOBAL LAW FIRM

TONY JOYNER - herbert smith freehills - MANAGING PARTER I have been asked to write about what it is like to work at a top tier law firm. And I suppose that is what Herbert Smith Freehills is in a technical sense. But that’s not how I think of it. It’s where I work, and it’s where a lot of people I like work. I graduated from UWA in 1986. Bob Hawke was Prime Minister and Crocodile Dundee was the biggest movie in the country. I had never really met a lawyer - I had just fallen in to studying Law because it seemed more interesting than Engineering, and I faint when I see blood, which is apparently a problem at Medical School. So Law it was. And I ended up liking it. It was rational, and interesting, and the people were smart and (mostly) funny. I ended up with the firm that eventually morphed into Herbert Smith Freehills by being interviewed by the Managing Partner. He was old and scary, and it was obviously inconceivable that I would ever be anything remotely like him. And somehow I’m still here. Old. Not that scary. I never resigned, though through mergers I have worked at 4 firms. In my first year I did basic work, and collected the partners’ dry-cleaning (a sadly extinct practice). Last year I attended meetings in London, Madrid, Dubai and Singapore. I still feel pretty much the same, though I don’t look it. The work is hard, and it is challenging. You have to think. You have to solve problems. You have to have energy and nous. All of which I truly love and enjoy. I am still here because I have never felt like leaving. What I have done has always been changing, and interesting. And, most importantly, the people I work with continue to be great. Just like law school: rational and interesting; smart and (mostly) funny. I started in banking, which morphed into property when banking became a little quiet. The GFC wasn’t my first financial crisis you know. I then moved to our Melbourne office for two years - what a great experience.

When I came back I thought I’d like a change. It was 2000. The first Tech Boom was underway. I bought myself a black skivvy and became a technology lawyer. As time has passed and the economy here has grown, internationalised and changed, my practice has changed with it. There has been so much going on. It’s been fascinating being a small part of it. I have also had the opportunity of becoming involved in management. I am head of the office here in Perth. I am also a member of our global board. I also have really interesting roles within our Technology practice, and with our continuing strategy, both of which are fascinating when your firm is an international one. My experience has also meant that I have been able to take roles as a Director of the Lions Eye Institute and the Chamber of Commerce. I am also the Chair of Scitech. Great WA institutions, that I really enjoy working with - and I only had that opportunity because of my career at here at Herbert Smith Freehills. There are great opportunities for energetic and interested law students in this city. It is blessed with some really good national and international law firms that have good offices here. You will get good training and do interesting work that will set you up as a quality lawyer for the rest of your life. I urge you to hunt the opportunities down with gusto. It’s an adventure!

LIFE AT A GLOBAL LAW FIRM

RACHEL LEE - herbert smith freehills - GRADUATE I started at Herbert Smith Freehills in March 2015 after completing a vacation clerkship in January 2014. Prior to clerking I was uncertain whether I wanted to work in government, criminal law, commercial law, community law or perhaps something entirely different.

sible and give a clear, commercial answer to help the business you are working with. I have also been involved in the firm’s community initiatives. This has included a mentoring program for girls at Clontarf Aboriginal College, cooking Christmas dinner for the kids at Ronald McDonald House and meeting with the firm’s Big The reason I chose to work at a large commercial Issue vendor, Eve, fortnightly. law firm is predominantly for the opportunity to work with smart, dedicated people who challenge Working in London you to become the best lawyer possible. I have met I am currently on a six month secondment in our great mentors here who have helped me shape London office. Graduates have the opportunity my career direction and discover new interest ar- to apply for a secondment to our London office eas. I have also had the opportunity to balance or one of our Asian offices during their first two my passions for working on challenging, large years. Working at the London office has been “front page” commercial matters and pro bono the opportunity of a lifetime. People here call us human rights matters. “Herbies”, which is a cute alternative to the nickname Herbert Smith Freehills had while I was at Life as a graduate UWA of “Freemeals”. As a graduate lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills you complete three six month rotations The clients that I work with are predominantaround teams within the firm. I worked in ly in the consumer products sector includEmployment, Pensions & Incentives, Disputes ing pharmaceutical manufacturers, alcoholand Mergers and Acquisitions. ic beverages companies, food and soft drink companies and self driving cars (sadly yet to be As a graduate I always felt like a valued part offered a test drive, but we did get toy cars from of the teams I worked with. In these roles one client!). I have had the opportunity to meet I attended Court, drafted transaction doc- with top QCs, have assisted with a Court of Apuments, attended General Meetings, pre- peal hearing on issues of international intellectual pared research notes and assisted with writing property law and have worked on market leading legal advice. A big highlight of the experience advice for emerging consumer products (includwas the opportunity to do work with so many ing an analysis of Twitter Tweets for one matter!). offices on deals and disputes happening in various parts of the world from Singapore In addition to client work, I have also worked to Paris to - the most glam of all - Brisbane. on pro bono EU migration law advice to The lawyers I worked with were great at giv- vulnerable people such as trafficking victims, huing me the opportunity to attend client calls man rights law position papers on issues such the and meetings regarding work that I assisted rights of the children of prisoners and (for the Sewith. rial podcast fans) I have been involved in an innocence-project style appeal of a murder case from A key difference from law school is that you have the Caribbean to the Privy Council. It has not been people sitting in front of you with a real problem all work and no play – two of my favourite social - often involving millions of dollars and lots of events have been the Herbert Smith Freehills non-legal commercial risks and pressures to factor Christmas party inside Tower Bridge overlooking in - and no clear answer. This can be scary, but it is the Thames and a comedy night with performers also what motivates you to do the best work pos- from Edinburgh Fringe for multi-cultural week. 43

LIFE AT A MAGIC CIRCLE FIRM EMERSON WALKER - ALLEN & OVERY - graduate I joined Allen & Overy in March 2016 with two other graduates, all of us having clerked at the firm in late-2014. Our first two weeks comprised of graduate training in the Sydney office, which doubled as a fantastic opportunity to meet some colleagues from around the network. Everyone was extremely welcoming and the numerous functions that we attended, including a networking event overlooking Sydney Harbour, allowed for an easy introduction to life at Allen & Overy. My first rotation was in our litigation team and involved a pretty steep learning curve given that I was fresh out of university and a few months’ travel. The team was busy on two major matters that required a substantial work commitment day-today, as well as an array of smaller disputes. I had the opportunity to work on a $150m international arbitration relating to the construction of a significant LNG project, an insolvency dispute, and a raft of general commercial matters relating principally to actions for breach of contract and misleading or deceptive conduct, among various others. I worked closely with the team in Perth, as well as with members of the Sydney and Singapore offices. One of the things that drew me to Allen & Overy was the unique combination of the relatively small office here in Perth that allows for a tight-knit, collegiate feel in the office, with the scope to work on large cross-border matters with colleagues from around the globe. We finished our first rotation in September and I moved into our corporate team. Another graduate took advantage of the firm’s graduate secondment program and filled a seat in our arbitration team in Hong Kong for six months. Of the last eight graduates to start at the firm, five have been on secondment to overseas offices in Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Numerous others have taken up positions in London, either on a permanent or temporary basis and in a variety of practice groups. The chance to work internationally was one of the reasons I decided to join Allen & Overy and the opportunities are definitely there for those who are keen to explore their options internationally. The transactional nature of corporate work was a big change from the matters I was on while in 44

our litigation practice group. The work tends to ebb and flow – when there is a deal on it is all systems go (which sometimes involves some pretty late nights), but when things are a bit quieter there is absolutely no pressure to hang around in the office and ‘look busy’. I have managed to get involved in a broad array of work, including in relation to pure M&A deals such as IPOs and asset sales, general ASIC and ASX compliance, project financing, gas supply matters, and environmental regulation and licencing. My fellow graduates who have worked in the banking and projects group have also enjoyed working on a range of financing transactions, including ship financings in the Asia Pacific region, funding of projects in Western Australia and working with other offices on financing of projects in Africa and elsewhere around the globe. They have found learning about financing and security structures both challenging and stimulating. My first year at Allen & Overy has been a significant learning experience. While my knowledge of the law has improved markedly from both a procedural and substantive perspective (you will be amazed how much you can learn when you are involved full time, rather than for 15 contact hours a week), perhaps more significant has been the development of the softer skills around my integration into the legal fraternity. Under the lean model that Allen & Overy utilises, juniors are often afforded the opportunity to work directly with partners. While this was daunting at first, it has been incredibly insightful and has no doubt accelerated my development. The firm puts significant resources into training and development, and is able to draw on its depth of global know-how. This includes in future years the possibility of attending off-shore courses such as the firm’s corporate or banking “university” courses in London. There is no shortage of more informal support from individuals throughout the office and from the broader global network. I chose to work at Allen & Overy because of its international approach, the standard of work and its integrated model. After one year in the job I am glad to say that I am very happy with my choice.

WORKING AT A NATIONAL FIRM Klaire Mulroney - corrs chambers westgarth - LAWYER The clerkship process is a great way to get a real ‘feel’ for the firm. While the words ‘culture’ and ‘fit’ might get thrown around a little too often, more often than not you know pretty quickly if a firm aligns with your ideals, if the people are the kind of people you want to get Monday morning coffee with, and if the partners are the kind of people you want to learn from. It’s easy to forget the clerkship program is a mutual relationship from which you can both benefit tremendously. I clerked at every place I was given the opportunity – some mid-tier, some boutique and some top-tier firms. I knew straight away that some firms were not for me and others I would have happily worked at. At Corrs, I have had the opportunity to work with some incredible lawyers. Some exceptionally intelligent people at the top of their field, some with the time, patience and a knack for teaching and some that make the everyday just a bit more fun. I ultimately chose Corrs because the people that work here, as well as the ethos of the firm, seemed like the best fit for me. Other initiatives that Corrs offered, that meant a great deal to me, were the graduate pro bono secondment program (graduates can spend one day a week at a community legal centre during a rotation), pro bono engagements (ongoing clinics and secondments to rural WA with the ALS) and their dedication to training you to be a great lawyer. My journey to find seasonal clerk opportunities and ultimately a Graduate role coincided with the time many Australian firms were merging with international firms, and firms were changing their names left, right and centre. It was hard to gauge what these changes meant for the firms or for junior lawyers working there.

and Madrid, amongst other international locations, to work with some of our strategic partners. We also have a very cohesive national practice and I often work with people from our Sydney office, and have also spent six weeks working in the Melbourne office. Modern technology makes it just as easy to work with someone across the country as on the next floor. Commencing your career with Corrs, or another large firm, means you will get excellent training and support. Our first week of the Graduate Program is spent at ‘Graduate Academy’ in Sydney or Melbourne, and this is just the start of great connections you will make. During the Program and once you have settled in a practice group, you get to work on some of the biggest projects in Australia, with the biggest companies. The work is challenging and varied, which means you are constantly learning. I started out having no idea what area of law I wanted to practice. I loved each of my rotations in the Graduate Program but ultimately found my place in Workplace Relations – I am very much a people person. The work, the team and the type of clients really engage me. Overall, you can only do your best and take advantage of every opportunity. It doesn’t mean you have to work at a large firm, or be a certain type of lawyer. Explore all the different pathways and options open to you as a law student and find the place that best suits you and the type of lawyer you want to be.

With Corrs being a national independent law firm, I initially thought this might limit the number of overseas working opportunities. However, colleagues have been seconded to firms in London

LIFE AS A GRADUATE camERON barnes - allens - graduate I find it difficult to explain what it is like being a law graduate at Allens to my friends and family. Some friends picture me bursting into court rooms and making emotive speeches about justice and the rule of law. Others imagine me pulling all-nighters in order to read through mountains of paper. The reality of life as a law graduate is much less hyperbolic. It is, however, far from an ordinary job. To give you an example, I’ve pulled out a day from my calendar which happened a few weeks ago. This is the story of how it went. My day began as it always does – reading through newspapers with a big coffee, a bacon and egg roll and a stunning view of the city. I always try to skim through the West and the Fin Review, as I frequently come across articles relevant to matters I’m working on. After reading through emails and preparing a to-do-list for the day, I walked down the fanciest staircase in all of QV1 to one of our many Cornerstone sessions. Cornerstone is an opportunity for junior lawyers to learn about different areas of commercial law from some of the best practitioners around the country. In addition to the sessions being a great learning opportunity, there is also free food! The remainder of my morning was taken up with legal research for a large commercial dispute in the WA Supreme Court. Most of the time, the research tasks I’m given don’t have a clear or easy answer. Unlike at university, you can’t just pull out a textbook and find the relevant legal principle. This task was no different. After reading through the relevant general principles, I began looking through online case extracts, trying to formulate a helpful analogy which could be relied on by the court to answer questions which haven’t been previously considered. I managed to find something, and excitedly talked it over with another grad to check that it made sense before I wrote up my findings in a memo.

At around midday, I dropped in to another lawyer’s office to talk about a business development initiative we were working on together. After brainstorming ideas for a while, we came up with an idea we were both really happy taking to the relevant Managing Associate. When I popped in to run the idea by her, she was stoked with our proposal and gave us the go ahead to start putting it into action. After having lunch with some of the graduates (Pho Tai at Mama Tran), I got stuck back into more legal research. At this point, it’s worth mentioning that I probably do more legal research than any of the other graduates in the Perth office for three reasons. First, my current rotation is in the Commercial Litigation and Disputes team, which tends to involve much more research than transactional based teams. Second, the matters I have worked on up to this point have mostly been disputes at a very high level. For the first three months of my rotation, I worked on an appeal before the Full Court of the Federal Court which involved some very complex questions of law. Third, I personally enjoy research and make an effort to take it on when I can. In the afternoon, I had a meeting with a Partner from our Corporate practice group to settle some rules I had drafted for a new Aboriginal Corporation. The Aboriginal Corporation is one of our newer pro-bono clients and I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know the people involved at an early stage. After we had settled the draft rules and sent them off to the client, the remainder of my afternoon involved setting up for a charity fundraiser which the law graduates had organised as a team. The fundraiser was ‘hipster’ themed, so we got to work turning our large conference space into a hipster paradise. Once the party started, we led off with a charity auction followed by a silent disco. In the end, it was a pretty great day.

LIFE AS A GRADUATE Daniel Nugawela - LEGAL CONSOLIDATED - graduate From late 2015, I have had the benefit of working with a law firm that practises with fewer than 10 lawyers. I joined the law firm as a clerk in my final year of Bachelor of Laws. I continued to clerk with the firm up until being admitted as a lawyer in Western Australia. I now practise with the firm as a full-time lawyer. I have come to realise that a broad range of experiences from working with law firms and varying workplace cultures have influenced the decision-making of law students and law graduates, when job hunting in the legal profession. I will touch on a few key aspects of working with any law firm, but in particular, refer to my experiences in working with a smaller firm. 1. The Work Firms practising many and very different areas of law tend to place clerks on ‘rotation’. Smaller firms tend to focus on fewer areas, giving clerks the opportunity to undertake refined and in-depth work in one or two areas of legal practice, furthering their exposure and gaining deeper technical knowledge over a 2-week clerkship. Over the past year, I have predominantly practised in commercial and tax law, only recently starting succession law and estate planning. I have over a year’s worth of experience researching and advising in niche areas of commercial law and tax, and have the benefit of carrying that knowledge and skill into my legal career. Some may enjoy the benefit of being rotated in a larger firm which practise in many areas of law; however, be mindful of the opportunity to learn one or two of your favourite areas in significant detail. It is important to hone in on and find your passion in life, and therefore law. If you know which areas of law you’d like to practise, consider work with a smaller firm that specialises in those areas. 2. Time There is a general consensus that the larger the firm you work for, the more hours you do each day. You can be assured that this is not consistently the

case, and that the hours you work will depend on the number of clients you oversee or advise. All law firms encourage their lawyers to work hard (even when if it’s quiet) and not develop a ‘comfort zone’. Smaller firms tend to work friendlier hours; however, the type of work and number of clients you are advising will prevail over the size of your firm when it comes to determining what time you go home each night. 3. Clients For me, client exposure was a top consideration when choosing a firm to work with. Unfortunately, building client relationships and communicating directly with clients face-to-face is not something that can be taught nor learned at University. At my firm, I have had the benefit, from day 1, of talking to and building client relationships on a daily basis. It is an essential skill for those who aspire to be partners of law firms one day. There is a consensus that when building your legal expertise as a clerk in a smaller firm, you have more opportunity to work with clients face-to-face and develop your interpersonal skills in the workplace. 4. Prospects of full-time work If you are choosing law firms to clerk at, consider the future prospects of full-time employment. Should you apply for a graduate position at a firm you clerk with, the size of the firm will generally affect the likelihood of successfully obtaining a fulltime graduate position. While many firms will ask whether you have worked with them before, the smaller ones will remember you, and most importantly, remember how well you performed and fitin with the team. I found this to be especially the case, in my situation. Establishing a career with a law firm that you compliment in skill and personality is important. It is equally important that your law firm compliments you.

WORKING IN A BOUTIQUE FIRM LUCY MENGLER - Price Sierakowski - graduate I graduated with a Law/Arts LLB degree from UWA at the end of 2015. I worked as an associate in the Court of Appeal for the first half of 2016, and then crossed the associate’s table to join Price Sierakowski Corporate as a litigation graduate in August 2016. My experience at Price Sierakowski Corporate has highlighted the advantages of working at a smaller or mid-size law firm, particularly as a junior litigation solicitor. First, working in a smaller litigation team at Price Sierakowski Corporate has given me early exposure to advocacy in the Magistrates Court and District Court. I began by attending Pre-trial conferences, Assessment of Damages hearings and Means Inquiry hearings at the Magistrates Court with a solicitor to build my confidence, and following my admission to the Court I quickly moved on to appearing at these court listings on my own. I’ve conducted negotiations with both represented and unrepresented parties, and have found these experiences to be invaluable to my development as an advocate as each situation involves its own challenges and strategies. Some of my pre-trial experiences have been a matter of learning on my feet how to deal with obstructive, unreasoned or emotional opposition from the person across the table. In sum, if you’re looking for court experience and exposure to advocacy, a smaller firm is a great place to learn. Second, I have been able to take responsibility for the carriage of my own files from very early in my career. It is satisfying to know that my contribution is of assistance; there are no sweat files or tasks designed purely to test the mettle of a new employee.

Third, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a range of different tasks in the litigation context. I had assumed throughout university that becoming a litigation graduate and then junior solicitor necessarily involved being tied up in discovery for 2-3 years, but this has so far been incorrect. I have indeed been involved in discovery, but have also appeared in court, drafted settlements, letters of advice and attended meetings with clients and barristers. The emphasis on the quality and development of my work rather than quantity of billable hours alone has also meant that I do not approach my work day as a multiple of 6 minute units. Not all the benefits of a smaller firm relate to the work. As someone who is generally not the loudest voice in the room, a smaller firm has provided greater opportunities for me to get to know my colleagues without the pressure of corporate networking or stressful face-time culture. I am a keen hockey player and travel enthusiast, and I have been able to build my personal interests into my work-life routine to give sufficient time to each. Work-life balance doesn’t have to be just a corporate catchphrase.

THE CLERKSHIP PROCESS A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

PETER KEEVES

If you have made it this far, you understand that studying law is pretty challenging and each day you are surrounded by incredibly intelligent people. Clerkships are no different; except the reality is that you are now competing for a job, not a spot on the bell curve. Even if you think that “big firm” culture is not for you, I would encourage you to submit a few applications and give it a go. I can try and tell you about different experiences that I have had, but its not until you start working in a law firm that you get a real sense of how they operate. Clerkships let you see whether spending a significant amount of your life at a law firm is something you wish to pursue, and you won’t know that until you get involved. With only 500 words allocated to assisting your futures, I am going to provide some short tips on aspects I found most important. 1. Seasoned troops: find someone who has been through the process. Their advice and support will be invaluable. 2. Research: one word that will improve your applications infinitely and give you the confidence to impress in person. This means attending careers fairs, reading firm websites and understanding a firm’s key personnel, practice areas or clients. Start early, it will be worth it. 3. Applications: like your Tinder picture, your application is seen first, and is what you are judged on. Structuring your CV and cover letter is crucial. Attend any development sessions you can and get examples from older students. Don’t leave submitting applications to the last few days. 4. Firm Questions: some firms have additional questions built into the application process. They often relate to your interest in commercial law or their individual firm. Your research will help you tailor them to each firm. Save your answers in a word doc as you go (re-use them).

5. Cocktail Functions: most firms will have a networking event before interviews. Attend, be sociable, have a few drinks and enjoy the free food. Be interested, ask questions, and don’t be afraid when you are having a conversation that is completely unrelated to law. It is an opportunity for you to assess the people you may be working with. 6. Interviews: if you are offered an interview, that’s great. However you still need to impress. I cannot stress preparation and research enough. Find out who will be interviewing you. Read about their careers. Research the firm. Prepare questions for them. On the way to your interview have your CV, cover letter and research with you; go over it so you are comfortable. In the interview, be yourself, listen to what is asked, think, and then speak. 7. Offers Day: if you had multiple interviews, expect every firm to call you. Most likely they won’t, but preparation is key. Prepare your preferences, and decide in advance where you want to go in each period. 8.Clerkships: everyone has a different experience at each firm. I believe it is highly dependent on the team you are in and who you work with. You will get the most out of your time at a law firm if you are able to be yourself. Also be polite, friendly, eager to participate and hard working. The more you get to know people, and people get to know you, the better. It is as much about the quality of your work as it is about the quality of any relationships you can develop in the three weeks. I hope this brief insight is of some help to settle your nerves. Everyone has what it takes to do well if you put the effort in. Even if we haven’t met, please do not hesitate to come and talk to me if you have any questions. I am more than happy to help you with your structures and answer any questions you may have.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF A GRAD AT PWC

ALISON HO - PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPER - LAWYER It’s Thursday and I just got onto the early bus to the city. We are close to completing a transaction and finalising some advice so I have a busy day ahead of me. I’m wearing jeans because I know I won’t be seeing any clients today. I get to the office and decide to sit at a desk by the window. The day starts with a meeting with the Corporate Tax team on a client we are working together on. When I get back to my desk, I have a brief chat to a partner from our R&D Tax team, and a senior manager from our Private Clients team. I receive a phone call from a solicitor at PwC’s Sydney offices, asking me if I want to be involved in a job she is working on later this month. After our brief chat, I start working on the first item on my to-do list. This is a typical day for me as a law graduate in the Legal team at PwC and I am pretty sure this is not a typical day for other law graduates from my university cohort. When I started working at PwC, the contrast between PwC and other firms became immediately apparent. Our ‘no dress code’ dress policy, activity-based working office and remote working capabilities set the PwC working experience aside from other firms. After working here for a few months, I learnt how we were different to our clients too. PwC is a full-service professional services firm, which means I work alongside accountants, tax consultants, finance advisors and management consultants (just to name a few) as well as other legal professionals. We provide our clients with work that pulls together different areas of our practice and as a result I work closely with professionals from these other teams.

This has meant I have learnt a great deal on other aspects of business that are important to our clients such as their accounting, taxation and financial interests, which are just as important to them as their legal interests. Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about all the different sides to our practice and feel it has been advantageous to the start of my career in the law. If you are interested in working with us, we have just opened our applications for our vacation program in many practice areas. Please visit www.pwc.com.au/studentcareers/vacation.html for more information.

WORKING IN-HOUSE

Jillianne Osborn - vodafone - senior legal counsel I am responsible for the protection and enforcement of Vodafone’s intellectual property. Working at Vodafone’s global headquarters, I advise other lawyers in the Vodafone group, marketeers, engineers, tax, business and external affairs teams on intellectual property issues. I manage Vodafone’s global trade mark, design and domain name portfolios (from filing applications through to litigation and licensing), multi-jurisdictional intellectual property litigation and all brand protection efforts. I advise on global sponsorships, advertising campaigns and social media/internet issues. To give an idea of my wide range of work, on an average day I can be applying to register a three dimensional trade mark for our retail store concept, advising on how to avoid ambush marketing during the Rio Olympics and on the appropriate creative commons copyright licence to ensure Vodafone-created emojis can be installed on smartphones or apps. What steps I took to get to where I am now Before I joined Vodafone, I worked in the intellectual property teams at Norton Rose Fulbright in Melbourne and Wrays, a specialist intellectual property firm, in Perth. After studying intellectual property at UWA, I knew intellectual property was the area I wanted to specialise in, so I opted to join Wrays after graduating, instead of joining a larger firm where I would rotate through different practice areas for at least two years. A healthy dose of hard work and a good sense of humour mixed with a bit of humility and confidence enabled me to secure my role at Vodafone when I moved to London without a job three years ago. Admittedly it is a bit of a dream job!

Transitioning from working domestically to internationally Intellectual property is one of the few legal areas where Australian law is not completely different abroad, so it was relatively easy to transfer my skills and experience abroad. Other transferable areas are commercial and corporate law. The UK is comparatively an ‘easier’ jurisdiction to work as an Australian qualified lawyer, as compared to civil law countries or the USA. If you are interested in working abroad, do be prepared to accept a reduction in post-qualification experience. If you speak another language, it will definitely open doors to other countries. Tips for current students 1. Build up legal work experience at university. It makes it easier to get your first legal role upon graduation. 2. Don’t underestimate the power of good grades. Your academic transcript follows you around longer than you’d think (including getting accepted into post graduate programs)! 3. If you know what type of law you are interested in, don’t be afraid of ‘breaking the mould’ and seeking opportunities in that area after graduation. Speak to practitioners in that area for insight and to make sure. 4. If you want to work abroad, consider obtaining experience at a global brand (in-house or private practice) so that potential employers recognise something on your CV.

WORKING IN CRIMINAL LAW Lucy Young - LEGAL AID - LAWYER I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a lawyer, or what kind of law I wanted to practise, when I finished my Arts/Law degrees at UWA. I completed my articles at a boutique commercial law firm but realised fairly quickly that corporate life was not for me. I was fortunate to be offered a position as a restricted practitioner at Legal Aid in 2009. I started in the duty lawyer team, which is part of the Criminal Law Division, and I have practised mostly in criminal law ever since. Working as a duty lawyer is a great way to gain criminal law and advocacy experience. Duty lawyers attend Magistrates Courts throughout the metropolitan area every day to interview clients charged with criminal offences and then represent them in court. Clients can be on bail or in custody. They might be charged with fairly minor offences or facing a term of imprisonment for more serious offending. The duty lawyer meets most clients for the first time on the day of their appearance, and can appear for up to 15 or 20 clients in a day. You quickly learn to think on your feet and get to the point! After a year off studying in London, I had the opportunity to work in our East Kimberley Regional office, based in Kununurra. Providing legal services to clients in remote communities involved occasionally hair-raising journeys in small planes or on unsealed roads, and interviewing clients sitting on the ground in front of a temporary courthouse. But the work was incredibly rewarding – the relationships developed with clients, the resilience of people living and working in remote communities, and (as a bonus) the incredible landscape. I now deal with criminal matters in the Magistrates, District and Supreme Courts.

Working in criminal law is not without challenges. Clients can be demanding, and managing deadlines can be difficult. However, it’s an endlessly varied and interesting area of law. There is never a dull moment working at Legal Aid – we encounter a client with a colourful tale or a thorny legal question every day. I work with a passionate, dedicated, hardworking and good-humoured group of lawyers and support staff. The mentoring and assistance from senior lawyers is invaluable. Perhaps most importantly, I believe that the work we do assists some of the most disadvantaged people in our community to obtain access to justice. My advice for students interested in working at Legal Aid (or a similar organisation), or working in criminal law: 1. Persevere – if at first you don’t succeed, apply again! I didn’t get a position at Legal Aid when I applied the first time, but I was successful when I tried again. 2. Work with our client group – work experience or volunteer work assisting our client group will give you a better understanding of the kinds of issues you will encounter, and demonstrate your commitment to the work we do. 3. Be prepared to go regional – working in a regional office is a good way to gain experience in a wide range of matters, and appear in superior courts as a junior practitioner. 4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and ask for feedback!

WORKING IN FAMILY LAW KATHERINE THOMPSON - LEGAL AID GERALDTON - SOLICITOR Since being admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of WA I have focused on the area of family law. I am lured by the urgency of family law matters and the significance of arrangements that impact on the lives of children and individuals. Common family law matters include situations where a parent has relocated a child without the other parent’s consent, where one party alleges the other parent is a crystal methamphetamine user and the child is exposed to drug use or where one party alleges that the other parent was violent to them frequently during the relationship and now wants to share the care of the child. Sometimes both parents aren’t acting in the best interests of the child and an Independent Children’s Lawyer has to be appointed. In relation to family law financial matters, many clients are now facing a situation where the value of the matrimonial home has dropped below the value of the mortgage, which adds to the complexity and grief of a financial settlement. In 2007 I had the opportunity to train as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and be registered with the Attorney General’s Department to facilitate Family Dispute Resolution sessions. I have worked in a non-legal capacity at a Family Relationship Centre for 5 years gaining great insight into the issues impacting separated families, especially where there are issues of family violence. I am presently working at Legal Aid in Geraldton as a Solicitor. I have also worked at the Aboriginal Family Law Service (when it was the Yamatji Family Violence Prevention Legal Service), in a private family law practice and at the Geraldton Community Legal Centre. I am a Chairperson on the Legal Aid Panel for Child Related Alternative Dispute Resolution Conferences and find this role very rewarding. I encourage anyone to explore the family law universe. You have to learn to be a bit detached from the stories you hear so that you can continue to be a great legal adviser and not burn out. It has taken me years to work that out! There are some matters

that definitely get under your skin and you need to consciously let go of the details through a technique like meditation or debriefing with colleagues. A typical day as a family lawyer involves meeting with a client, hearing their legal issue and giving some legal advice in relation to that issue. If clients need advice in relation to arrangements for children after a family breakdown, there is about an hour of general legal advice that is given. This general legal advice covers what the law says about a child’s best interests, equal shared parental responsibility, how to negotiate with the other party, and how to formalise agreements. In relation to post separation property settlement a general legal advice covers time limitations for applying for assistance to the Family Court of Western Australia, how to protect property through an order for an injunction or the placement of a caveat, the generally accepted approach to dividing the property of a marriage or de facto relationship, spousal maintenance and how to negotiate a settlement. In addition to giving general legal advice, family lawyers have file work, which may involve negotiations on a party’s behalf, participation in a mediation, drafting of court documents or appearances in court. File work allows you to be more involved in the resolution of your client’s legal issue and more experienced as a legal practitioner. Tip for students: 1. Soak up as many legal experiences as you can while you are still a student to open your mind to different areas of law and styles of work. 2. Access senior legal practitioners to give you some mentoring- even if it is just to meet with you on one occasion. 3. Develop real friendships with your fellow law students as they can be a wonderful source of expertise, support and collegiality in the years to come.

WORKING IN AVIATION LAW David hodGkinson - hodgkinsonjohnston - Partner I’m a partner at Perth-based aviation and aerospace law firm HodgkinsonJohnston (I’m also an associate professor in the Law School at UWA). Aviation law touches all aspects of flying – from the purchase or lease of aircrafts to safety, ticketing, accident liability, landing rights, commercial agreements and a multitude of other issues. It can also deal with issues such as terrorism, heightened security regulations and the carriage of particular groups such as refugees. Aviation is one of the world’s most regulated industries. For example, the ability of an aircraft to fly from country to country is governed by almost 4,000 treaties. When you board a plane to Singapore, for instance, the type of aircraft, its capacity, landing rights and a host of other elements are covered by these agreements. It is a unique area of practice and while some of my firm’s clients have legal departments of their own, they need specialist advice on aspects of aviation law, leasing, aircraft safety or jurisdictional issues. Another pressing aviation legal issue is the regulation of aviation emissions. And such regulation is difficult because of attribution and jurisdictional issues. An aircraft, for example, manufactured by a country A corporation, owned by a company in country B, leased to a country C entity, operated by a company registered in country D, departs country E, flies over countries F to H, and lands at an airport in country I. Who is responsible for that aircraft’s emissions? Notwithstanding a recent UN meeting in Montreal to address these issues, they have yet to be comprehensively addressed. HodgkinsonJohnston’s clients are located in Australia and around the world. We act for Facebook on aviation mat-

ters, for example, and increasingly advise on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) and their regulation. We also act for clients on a range of commercial aviation matters, such matters involving both advice work and the drafting of agreements. There are a number of possible paths to a career as an aviation lawyer in addition to working in an aviation law firm. A few universities – McGill University in Montreal and Leiden University (the International Institute of Air & Space Law) – offer graduate degrees in air law, and airlines, airports and aircraft manufacturers employ lawyers and law graduates. My own aviation law career happened almost by chance. While working at the High Court for a year I had the opportunity to look at the rich history of aviation regulation in Australia. I then provided advice to a number of Australian aviation-related entities while working at what is now Herbert Smith Freehills. Subsequently I became Director of Legal Services at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Montreal and Geneva, and authored or co-authored a number of books on aviation law. I’d be very happy to talk to you about careers in aviation law.

WORKING IN MEDIA/ARTS LAW MICHAEL TUCAK - CREATIVE LEGAL - PARTNER I usually begin my legal seminars with this: “I’m Michael Tucak, I’m a creative industries lawyer. I work in film/TV, startups, art, design and music. Nick Cave once gave me some great advice, he said ‘Michael, don’t be a name dropper’. Actually, that’s not true. I stole that joke, from Malcolm Clark of the Sleepy Jackson.” I’ve practiced law now for over 20 years, and have been fortunate to work with a lot of inspiring and talented creatives. Just not Nick Cave – yet. I have run my own arts/entertainment firm, Creative Legal, for eight years. My legal work is mainly in intellectual property (copyright and trademarks) and contracts (record contracts, management agreements, film investment agreements and co-founder’s agreements – all sorts of contracts used in the creative industries). It can involve areas such as employment, privacy, competition and consumer areas, defamation and sometimes court actions. The firm is predominantly about helping clients set up a creative business or build a good relationship with others, and not as often about suing or enforcing rights. But that is unfortunately becoming a growing problem for designers and illustrators. I’ve extended my legal work into sitting on various boards, such as the Chamber of Arts & Culture (WA), pvi collective, and previously FringeWorld, RTRFM and WAM. I’m currently focused on taking my legal and creative background into parliament – as an independent candidate in the ‘upper house’ seat of North Metropolitan. You’ll probably know by the time you read this whether or not I was successful in that. At least, I hope I can encourage others, including lawyers to do something similar, as I do believe we need a diverse range of contributions to our parliamentary system.

I didn’t intend to get into “creativity law” when I was at Law School, or when I did my articles at what was Blake Dawson Waldron (now Ashurst). I was very intent on mining law, having studied a combined degree (in the 1990’s) in Law and Geology. I really enjoyed the world of Geology – however the work of a mining lawyer didn’t end up being as fulfilling, and I did soon find myself questioning my career path. Intellectual property was opened up by a consultant lawyer at Blakes, and I was at that time also very involved at RTRFM 92.1 doing radio shows, mainly Perth music – so I had lots of people asking me for help on music law! I was fortunate to get a job at Freo firm Garton Smith/Owen, who did lots of film, arts and technology work. A key step in arts law work was volunteering with the Arts Law Centre of Australia, providing pro bono advice to artists. It was a great way to build up more experience. I also did lots of work in corporate/commercial law, including startups and junior ASX companies. It was all very good experience and I recommend graduates get broad experience before focusing on an area. In 2004, I moved to Melbourne to pursue my interest in arts law fully, working at Sony in Sydney and Mushroom in Melbourne. I then felt I needed to take another step, and branch out on my own. It meant I could take my legal work into much broader arts directions – and bring my experience back to WA, where from all those years ago, I knew it would be needed.

WORKING IN IP LAW GABRIELLE SUMICH - WATERMARK INTELECTUAL - INTERN I undertook two weeks of work experience at Watermark Intellectual Assessment Management to find out what it was like to work in a specialized intellectual property (IP) law firm. My expectations were completely different to my experience of what it was like to work in the interesting, but what I soon came to realise as complex and challenging area of IP. I would recommend IP experience to anyone as it is such a specialised area and the exposure will really assist in guiding you as to whether IP is meant for you. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the IP lawyers – I found my involvement to be very hands on and intriguing from the start. I was also able to get involved in the pro bono work whereby I went to Edith Cowan University with one of the lawyers and over a number of hours, met with over 12 new start up companies who were looking for IP advice for their ideas and projects. I learnt about all the different ways of protecting one’s work whilst at the same time how to explain the varying options in a practical way to prospective clients and what would suit their needs most. The start-ups I was exposed to ranged in types from apps and technology to property and specialised products for the engineering industry. It was also interesting to learn about the importance of timing when it comes to protecting IP – for some of the start ups, it was simply too late and they had gone ahead with an idea without considering the implications of not protecting their work from the beginning. For others, their project was in a stage where it was too early to consider protection. Nevertheless, I loved the exposure to all these new ideas and projects which people had begun and which IP lawyers often get exposed to from the very start. A task that I was frequently given throughout my internship was to undertake patent and trademark searches for clients who wanted to protect a certain word, logo, mechanism or process to see

if it had already been patented or trademarked or if there was anything similar. This involved doing domestic and international searches. I really enjoyed this as it exposed me to the complexities of IP law as well as learning about how to apply for patents in other countries and international systems that aided this process including the PCT. Working with the patent attorneys was a really unique experience and another reason why I would recommend trying to get experience at an IP firm. The patent attorneys I worked with were geniuses in their areas of specialty! Those that I worked with were very knowledgeable in the areas of physics, chemistry, biochemistry and engineering. The matters I worked on were very complex and technical – one particular task I was required to do was to determine whether a client’s new design for a sprinkler was distinguishable from another company’s sprinkler in terms of its internal mechanisms to ensure there was no infringement on the latter’s IP. To work with an expert in this area was really amazing but also challenging – I found myself having to learn about forces, fulcrums and levers and analyse diagrams of the internal mechanics of sprinklers. It was very difficult work but when I finally was able to distinguish between the two types of sprinklers I felt real sense of achievement for the client because of the intricate but real importance of the difference. Working at Watermark was a brand new experience for me, whilst I did continue to develop basic legal skills, I was also exposed to the complexities of IP law both on the domestic and international stage, the ideas and projects that many young people in Western Australia have begun to successfully put in place and even how sprinklers worked internally! It is a challenge, but a hugely positive one as everyone who works in IP is there for its specialist nature and is therefore hugely passionate in what they do.

WORKING IN MEDICIAL NEGLIGENCE RICKELLE KENNY - SLATER & GORDON - INTERN The area of medical negligence has always intrigued me, however I found it a difficult field to gain experience in. I was extremely grateful to receive a placement at Slater and Gordon in the Medical Negligence and Catastrophic Claims division through the UWA internship unit. This was an alternative route to clerkships where I worked one day a week throughout the semester as an intern. I was incredibly lucky to be placed in a firm who were so welcoming and assigned me responsibility that fostered my professional growth. During my internship I was given lots of tasks, some of which I had never come across before in my prior legal experience. The work consisted of going through medical records and working out a chronology of events to send to a medical expert to examine. This expert would then submit a report on whether they believed the practitioner in question had failed to uphold their duty of care. Based on this I would draft advice to clients on the strength of their claim. If there were prospects of success, I would then go to more typical legal tasks such as drafting court documents. There was also a lot of research involved in determing whether similar cases had succeeded and general investigation into the usual steps of medical procedures. Working in medical negligence did have its challenging moments. Often clients can feel vulnerable and betrayed by doctors so they can appear hostile in initial meetings. However, I saw this as a learning curve for creating strong client-centric relationships focusing on building trust. In particular, I noticed the sympathy and open line of communication lawyers in the field would display to prove to their clients they were invested in their claim.

I also had to learn a lot of new terminology to understand and interpret medical records. This was vital in being able to efficiently brief medical experts on the purpose of their reports. After working in medical negligence I have developed a passion for the field. The work is incredibly engaging as you are helping real people who have gone through traumatic experiences. I found hearing what the client had gone through motivated me to complete research tasks as it pulled on the innate human desire to help others. Although I had not studied a medical law unit so far in my degree I was able to see my study be put into practice. Not only in torts and remedies but also my study of legal ethics. I developed many professional skills through my interaction with clients but also by attending unit seminars which had guest lecturers who were professionals from various legal fields. I would encourage students to enrol in the internship unit and take advantage of the opportunity for UWA to create connections for you especially in the competitive legal market. If you are studying law to help others, medical negligence is an area worth exploring. It is so rewarding to help people who have gone through such catastrophic experiences receive compensation which will support them for the rest of their lives.

THE PIDDINGTON SOCIETY Nicholas van hattem - piddington project - director The Piddington Society is an association of lawyers in WA, which welcomes new members throughout your legal career. Students are welcome to come to our monthly events, which are a great opportunity to meet with practitioners. Graduates can apply to join the Piddington Justice Project which provides a pathway to a career in the community justice sector. Once admitted, Piddington provides ongoing training as well as fun events like our legendary Bali conference, Rottnest Weekend and annual ball at the Government House Ballroom. We’re grateful to continue to engage with practitioners at the highest levels of the profession, particularly the Judges and Silks who contribute their wisdom both at our events and within our management committee. Our flagship event is our annual Bali Conference, which this year will feature presentations from the Hon Michael Kirby and the Hon Chief Justice Wayne Martin. But for students and recent graduates, our most relevant offering is the Piddington Justice Project – which offers an alternative to the College of Law. This initiative connects law graduates with community legal centres. We aim to support access to justice and create new employment opportunities for graduates. Nineteen students enrolled in 2016, and became our first Piddington Justice Fellows. Each Fellow: • completed a PLT course taught by local practitioners in association with the Australian National University; • gained free access to Piddington’s monthly events; • met with senior practitioners in the Piddington community; and • was placed in a Community Legal Centre for an 80-day supervised work placement.

After completing all aspects of the program, Fellows were admitted in a special ceremony at the Supreme Court. Of the 19 who originally enrolled, 18 became admitted solicitors and 16 of these are now in graduate roles. What’s more, through philanthropic contributions (including a generous donation by the Blackstone Society), Piddington’s other fundraising and an arrangement with ANU, the cohort contributed $29,000 to the Community sector. Our second cohort of Piddington Justice Fellows started in January this year. They’re a great group and so far have given us great feedback for the Project. To follow their progress, please like us on Facebook or join our mailing list at www.piddingtonsociety.com . Good luck with your studies and we hope to see you soon!

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COMMERCIAL LAW GUIDE Gaining experience in a commercial law firm will offer you a chance to develop your legal skills and knowledge whilst also being exposed to a variety of practice groups. The experience will help you develop skills that are not taught at university, such as client interaction and various other real-life scenarios. It is a common misconception that in order to work in a commercial law firm, one needs a background knowledge in business. This is wrong! Many firms have comprehensive training and career development programs which help to build skills and develop the career of any individual. This may be in the form of mentoring, international rotations, whilst also building relationships and gaining practical experience. As there are a large number of firms, it is recommended that you spend some time learning about each firm, its culture and its opportunities, in order to find the right fit. We have put together firm profiles of our major sponsors, outlining key information and other insights to help assist you in making the right choice. Beyond the information provided, firm websites are a helpful tool to gather more information. A number of firms also attend on-campus events or the Careers Fair, which also provide you an opportunity for direct contact with the firms and to ask any questions you may have.

ALLEN & OVERY ADDRESS Level 27, Exchange Tower, No 2 The Esplanade Perth 6000 NUMBER OF OFFICES 2 offices in Australia (Sydney and Perth). Globally 44 offices. CONTACT (08) 6315 5919 Rachelle O’Keefe, Human Resources Assistant Manager rachelle.okeefe@ allenovery.com www.allenovery.com AREAS Our Australian practice has three core groups: Banking & Finance, Corporate and Litigation. Within these, the practice areas are diverse including: International and Debt Capital Markets, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Projects, Structured Products, Funds, Competition, Tax, Energy & Resources, Litigation and International Arbitration.

How does the firm distinguish itself? Allen & Overy (A&O) was the first global elite law firm to commence operations in Australia. The firm is fully integrated with the global A&O network and now has over 90 top-tier lawyers in Sydney and Perth. At A&O, we advise on our client’s most strategically important business decisions. With a track record of advising on complex, Australian and cross-border matters for market leading organisations, we are able to offer the best of both worlds: the expertise and resources of a global elite law practice coupled with seasoned practitioners with Australian and international experience. We focus on innovative and expert legal solutions for our clients across a broad range of areas: mergers and acquisitions; private equity; capital markets; regulatory and funds; anti-trust/competition; litigation and dispute resolution; banking and finance; infrastructure and projects; energy and resources; communications, outsourcing and technology; tax and real estate. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? A&O is very active in the pro bono space, both globally and here in Australia. In Australia, we have established a committee comprised of staff from the Sydney and Perth offices that are dedicated

to community volunteering and building our pro bono practice. All staff have the option of regularly donating to our Global partner War Child. A&O’s Perth office has also built relationships with other local Western Australian organisations such as Lady Lawley Cottage - a residential respite care service for children with disabilities. We are also a stakeholder on the Law Access advisory committee overseeing the Western Australian Law Access clearing house, a system designed to help people obtain pro bono legal assistance in areas of law where there is limited or no assistance available from Legal Aid or any other agency. What significant work has the firm done recently? Some of our work highlights include advising: • The financiers, on the USD7.2 billion project financing of the Roy Hill iron ore mine, rail and port project in Western Australia. The largest financing of this type of all time. • Hindalco Industries on the successful takeover bid by Metals X for its controlled subsidiary, Aditya Birla Minerals and the subsequent block trade of Hindalco’s 6.8% interest in Metals X. • A client in respect of arbitral proceedings seated in Perth relating to the development of a significant LNG project in Australia, with assistance being provided by the A&O APAC

arbitration team including A&O partners Judith Gill QC and Matthew Gearing QC (both of whom who will appear on behalf of the client at the 3 week arbitration in May 2017). • Nexus Energy/Seven Group: the first takeover by way of a deed of company arrangement. • Fortescue, on its offering of USD2.3 billion of Senior Secured Notes. • Aquarius Platinum, on the acquisition by way of a Bermudan plan of amalgamation of Aquarius by Sibanye Gold Limited.

we can’t see, like education, social background, religion, sexual orientation, personal experiences and perspectives. At A&O we believe everyone should be able to be themselves and we all have a responsibility to create an inclusive environment where that ideal becomes a reality. Structurally, diversity and inclusion are key planks of our global strategy, and the firm has invested accordingly, including programmes aimed at fostering female leadership and enabling new parents to return to the workforce.

Of particular note is A&Out, our active global LGBT forum estabHow would you describe the lished in 2006, which provides culture of the firm? support and guidance to LGBT At A&O we believe in the fundamental importance of collaboration partners and staff, as well as an opportunity to socialise and network, and teamwork, of giving lawyers, graduates and summer clerks tasks both internally and externally with the LGBT community. that will challenge, stretch them and support them to advance their How does the firm encourage a careers. work/life balance? A&O understands that to have We have developed a culture of learning, where lawyers at all levels the most engaged and productive employees, work needs to adapt are committed to helping graduto integrate with other areas of its ates and clerks to understand not employees’ lives. The importance just what needs to be done, but of work/life balance at A&O is unwhy it is important. We believe derscored by the A&O iFlex initiathat our people perform best tive, which was introduced in 2015 when they are given the very best and enables our lawyers to work resources, facilities, opportunities from home or elsewhere on an ad and encouragement to explore their full potential. We believe that hoc basis. teams perform best when they A&O Perth also has an active social focus on performance rather than committee, free gym membership, hierarchies, and where they are comfortable socialising together as wellness programmes and a number of other initiatives in place to well as working together. assist our people to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? Do you offer paralegal At A&O we recognise that people positions? are different – in ways we can see, Yes like age, gender, ethnicity and physical appearance, and in ways

CLERKSHIPS

Number of clerkships offered in 2016 Over the 2016/2017 summer break we offered 10 clerkships. What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? We anticipate offering 10 clerkships over the 2017/18 summer break. When can students complete their vacation clerkship? We will be running two programs during summer break. • Program 1: Nov/Dec • Program 2: Jan/Feb How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Applications for summer clerk positions must be submitted through our website at www.allenovery.com – you can access the portal via the Australian sub-site of our careers pages. Candidates will need to attach a cover letter, curriculum vitae and their latest academic transcript. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? During the program you will gain practical experience in one of our practice areas, where you will work alongside A&O partners and lawyers on real deals, disputes and other client matters. Before you join us, we will ask you to indicate the areas that most interest you – this is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in an area of law that really appeals to you. In addition to your legal work you will attend training sessions and presentations aimed at broadening your understanding of our business

and helping you to develop the skills you need to be a successful commercial lawyer. What does the firm look for in a clerk? There’s no such thing as a typical A&O candidate. We’re open-minded and interested in people who share that quality. Beyond strong academic performance, we want to see evidence of teamwork, motivation and drive, communication skills, planning and organisation, critical thinking, commercial awareness and commitment - both to a career in law and to a career with A&O. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 We recruited 2 graduates in 2016. What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? We aim to recruit between 2-4 graduates each year. How do students apply for a graduate position? Applications for graduate positions will only be accepted through our website at www.allenovery.com – you can access the portal via the Australian sub-site of our careers pages. Candidates will need to attach a cover letter, curriculum vitae and latest academic transcript. What is the structure of the graduate program? Graduate training will comprise of at least two six-month rotations in different practice areas. During each rotation, graduates work

alongside a partner and our lawyers and actively contribute to the dayto-day work of that team – working on transactions and cases, taking real responsibility and gaining plenty of client exposure. Our new graduates attend a dedicated training program to introduce them to core legal and commercial knowledge and skills which will form the essential building blocks for a career at A&O. Asia Pacific Graduate Secondment Program A&O graduates also have the opportunity to participate in the APAC Graduate Secondment Program, an exciting program which provides our graduates with the opportunity to experience a 6 or 12 month secondment to one of our Asian offices. During their secondment, secondees have the opportunity to expand their technical skills and experience a range of different practice areas in an international office, while experiencing the culture of a new city. Once you are through the graduate programme, international secondments to one of our 44 offices around the globe are real possibilities and readily made available to our lawyers in the Perth office. An international secondment is a great way for our lawyers to develop their career and build their personal network within A&O whilst getting the opportunity to live and work in a different city. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Your PLT will be completed through the College of Law (NSW and WA) and we will support you throughout the program, providing financial and study break assistance. 62

What is the typical progression path of graduates in their early years at the firm? Graduates are quickly integrated into our network with excellent training and development opportunities. Our graduates will need to embrace change and innovation, and be ready to challenge themselves. They will be rewarded with access to interesting and high-quality work, interactions with clients at an early stage and working with colleagues from Perth, Sydney and around the world who are the best at what they do. After gaining some experience locally, secondment opportunities to explore our extensive global network are on offer, as well as first class training programs via the A&O Business School, which are offered domestically and globally for all levels of lawyers.

Get connected to the rest of the world Be part of something exciting Allen & Overy was the first global elite law firm to commence operations in Australia. Our practice comprises hand-selected, top-tier partners and lawyers, each leaders and experts in their field. Allen & Overy offers comprehensive legalÂ services in Australian and internationalÂ markets. Our culture and the values we share inspire the way we work and behave: excellence in everyone and everything, dedication to our clients, helping our people to achieve their potential, respecting and including every individual, working together as one firm, and entrepreneurial spirit and energy.

Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings

Careers at Allen & Overy Visit us at allenovery.com/careers Join us on LinkedIn

ALLENS ADDRESS Level 37, QV.1 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 Australia

NUMBER OF OFFICES 9 offices in Australia and Asia and many more throughout the world with our integrated alliance with Linklaters

CONTACT (08) 9488 3700 Courtney Mullens, Graduate Resourcing Consultant Student.Careers@ allens.com.au www.allens.com.au

AREAS Banking & Finance, Corporate, Energy, Resources & Infrastructure, Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Tax, Competition Law, Intellectual Property, Patents & Trademarks Attorneys

How does the firm distinguish itself? If you want to make the most of your career in law, our global network is the perfect place to start. Our worldwide capabilities give us access to the most interesting markets, the most exciting clients and the most significant and complex transactions. For you, this means the chance to work on market-leading deals with some of the most experienced and talented lawyers in our industry, together with access to international secondment opportunities from early in your career. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes! Being a leading law firm in Australia and Asia, we have an important role to play in the wider community. We take this role very seriously and are proud of our people who work with great passion, energy and commitment for the benefit of the wider community. We offer our people opportunities to make a broader difference to the firm and the wider community through pro bono work or through the work of our Reconciliation, Charity and Footprint committees. As well as our people’s contributions, we are proud of the community organisations and people with whom we are associated and invite you to take a look at some our recent pro bono achievements and community initiatives (via our website) – and some follow-ups on past community stories.

What significant work has the firm done recently? We work with many of the world’s leading organisations - including 55 of the world’s top 100 companies and more than 75 of Australia’s top 100 companies. From your first day at Allens, you’ll be working at the cutting edge of the law, learning from business leaders and lawyers who are among the world’s best. Recent work: • Advised PEP on acquisition of Allied Mills • Assisted AGL with sale of Silverton wind farm • Advised DUET Group on $7.3 billion takeover proposal • Advised Bendigo and Adelaide Bank on strategic partnership with Equity Trustees • Advised Hunan Valin on US$355m issuance • Advised AGL on second stage of renewables fund • Advised Dixon Hospitality on proposed purchase of iconic Sydney venues • Advised SpeedCast on $295m entitlement offer • Advised on NZ cornerstone road infrastructure • Advised Newcrest on Hidden Valley sale • Advised NSW Treasury on $16.2bn Ausgrid transaction How would you describe the culture of the firm? Underpinning our culture are our values: excellence, integrity, respect, performance and one firm. Above all, we treat others as we

would like them to treat us. We energise you with ambition, passion and enthusiasm.

coaching and support, tailored to the aspirations and development needs of each individual.

How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? We value the contribution that different backgrounds and life experience bring to our firm. Our success is built on the talent and enthusiasm of our people and the values they bring with them from their homes and their communities.

Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

We recruit, develop and promote talented people, and we – and our clients – benefit from the different backgrounds, experiences and points of view that shape their thinking. We are proud to be the first business in Australia to launch Rare’s Contextual Recruitment System, a data-driven tool to further increase diversity in our workforce. If you join us as a clerk or a graduate you will have plenty of opportunities to get involved in our community. We also have active committees such as our LGBTI network, ALLin, which aims to assist in providing an inclusive workplace at Allens where diversity, including identifying as LGBTI, is celebrated. How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? We believe flexibility is more than just establishing a flexible work arrangement – it is about how, when and where work is done. Our approach to flexibility is broad and recognises that needs are different for every individual and may change over time. Our career model supports employees working flexibly through dedicated

CLERKSHIPS When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) The first step in our recruitment process is to apply online. As part of your online application, we will ask you to provide the following: • Cover letter • CV • Academic transcript • Any other relevant documents, such as your visa. Our clerkship recruitment process varies in each state. Please refer to our Perth clerkship page for further information: www.allens.com.au/ careers/graduates/clerk/per.htm What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Our clerkship programs offer an exceptional opportunity to experience our work, people and culture. The program in Perth runs over three weeks and includes full-time work experience during your university break. Our clerkship programs are designed to give you the insights into the workings of a large corporate law firm and to help you make an informed decision on where you want to start your career.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you can look forward to • An induction program that introduces you to our people and the work we do. • On-the-job training with support from a partner and junior lawyer who’ll act as your supervising partner and buddy. • The opportunity to work with many of Australia’s and the world’s top 100 companies. • Build strong relationships with our clients and our lawyers across our network. • Tasks similar to those of a junior lawyer rotating through the group. • Learn about our global secondment opportunities on offer to you early on in your career. • Sports and social events where you will really get to know us and our culture. • The chance to get involved in our community work. • An opportunity to build a network of peers What does the firm look for in a clerk? Our clients often tell us we have ‘great people’. And it’s true. We aim to recruit people who are open minded, willing to learn, and committed to contributing to the firm in many different ways. We look for people who meet a broad range of criteria and who will make a positive, ongoing contribution to our firm. To help us find people who will thrive in our environment, our recruitment process involves a combination of online assessment and interviews. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

GRADUATE POSITIONS How do students apply for a graduate position? We are always on the lookout for great talent and our graduate program is the perfect place to start a career with us. Ideally, you will have done a clerkship with us; however, if you are interested in joining us as a law graduate outside of the clerkship program, please contact us. What is the structure of the graduate program? We offer a rotations program over two years. Experience has shown us that these two 12-month rotations give our graduates great exposure to clients, work and teams across a variety of areas. One of the other benefits of our approach is that you don’t work for one partner – you will work for many people across a variety of areas, therefore we do not operate in a siloed structure. During the program you are individually supported by three people – a development supervisor, a performance coach and a buddy. We recognise that it’s early in your career and we aim to give you as much support, guidance and mentoring as possible. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? We deliver our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) in conjunction with the Australian National University. The 18-week program consists of a variety of learning opportunities that will help you transition from law student to prac-

titioner. The majority of the GDLP program is undertaken online and involves you working with other graduates in ‘virtual law firms’ to conduct ‘real life’ legal transactions. This online format gives you the ﬂexibility to access information for the course and submit assignments when it’s convenient to you, while the virtual team structure keeps the program as close to the realities of a law practice as possible. What is the typical progression path of graduates in their early years at the firm? We will provide opportunities for you to build a sustainable and fulfilling career, and develop the skills and capabilities you need to meet the needs and expectations of our clients, our business and the ever-changing legal market. Performance-based assessment and progression give you control over the pace at which you develop and progress. Clear expectations at each career stage ensure you understand what we expect, and what you need to focus on. Year-round coaching, feedback and development support allows you to drive your own growth and learning. And our career milestones give you greater client and people management responsibilities earlier in your career.

LIVE YOUR AMBITION > Global opportunities > Market-leading experience > Create your career with us

Visit www.allens.com.au/careers and www.linklaters.com/ukgrads to find out more.

MOVE YOUR MIND

Graduates in Law

Aim beyond pure legal knowledge. Beyond commercial advice. Be known for something more: a clarity of thought and an instinct for problem solving that can influence governments and leading businesses the world over. Join us and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you enrich and expand your worldview, grow your skills and influence new ways of thinking. In other words, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you move minds.

Begin now at careers.ashurst.com Connect with us on

ASHURST ADDRESS Level 10 Brookfield Tower II, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 25 globally

CONTACT 08 9366 8000 Jacqueline Taylor, Human Resources Consultant Graduate.Programs@ ashurst.com www.careers. ashurst.com

AREAS Finance, Resources & Infrastructure, Corporate and New Economy Markets, Disputes and Competition

How does the firm distinguish itself? We collaborate globally and respect and support each other in our teams. We share individual and collective success. The firm’s ambition creates opportunities and our global reach means working with high calibre clients on challenging work as well as opportunities to work with our clients directly on secondment or on global assignments.

compasses our community involvement, place to work and environmental initiatives. What significant work has the firm done recently? Please visits the Ashurst website for updates on our most recent work.

Our deep industry and sector knowledge allows us to really get to know the environment in which our clients operate, anticipate their needs and to provide them with incisive and straightforward advice.

How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? In Perth, the Brookfield Place precinct offers a wealth of opportunities right in the heart of the city. Our employees can take advantage of complimentary gym membership with GoodLife, discounted BUPA insurance, sports teams, employee assistance scheme and wellbeing initiatives.

We are instinctively inclusive, delivering a broader perspective through our diverse employees. It is an environment in which all can thrive individually. We are creating agile, dynamic and new ways of working.

How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? We are committed to offering a global elite service to our clients through recruiting, retaining and promoting the best people from the widest possible talent pools.

Innovative working such as our Glasgow business model allows our fee-earners globally to concentrate on high value and complex work.

We also run a number of employee networks including the Perth Office Women’s initiative (POW!) and Spectrum – the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Network.

Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Involvement in our stand alone pro bono practice is an integral part of the firm and we are passionate about using our skills and resources to support initiatives we believe will make a difference. Corporate social responsibility at Ashurst en-

Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 Over 100 seasonal clerks nationally What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? Similar to 2016 numbers When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Directly to the firm What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? The best way to understand what it feels like to work here, is to actually work here! We work hard to make sure our clerkship is as useful and as stimulating as possible. In our Perth office, you’ll spend time in one department where you’ll work with a supervising partner, a lawyer and a buddy who’ll get you involved in real work. What does the firm look for in a clerk? There’s absolutely no Ashurst ‘type’. We want to actively involve a broad range of minds with a broad range of backgrounds, all united by a common set of strengths.

Put simply, we want to meet people with energy, passion and drive. People who are able and eager to build strong relationships with colleagues and clients alike. Above all, we want to meet people with inquisitive mindsets and a desire to grow as a professional. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 Approximately 70 nationally What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? Approximately 70 nationally How do students apply for a graduate position? We predominately recruit our graduates from our seasonal clerkships. What is the structure of the graduate program? Your programme kicks off with an induction and education series where you’ll meet your peers in one location, giving you the chance to build your networks across the nation. Back in your home office, you’ll benefit from a local induction plus an in-house Practical Legal Training

(PLT) course. This is tailored to our firm and so, as you might expect, some modules are chosen for you. We cover all the costs. We’ll also work closely with you to plan your three rotations, and we’ll review this regularly over the 18 month programme. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Ashurst offers in-house Practical Legal Training to all of its graduates in conjunction with the College of Law.

BAKER McKENZIE ADDRESS Level 19, 181 William St Melbourne VIC 3000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 77 offices in 47 countries

CONTACT (03) 9617 4200 Joshua Cook, Talent Consultant joshua.crook@ bakermckenzie. com www.bakermckenzie. com/

AREAS Mergers & Acquisitions; Dispute Resolution; Construction; Employment; Banking & Finance; Energy, Resources, Infrastructure & Commercial; Commercial Real Estate; Information Technology & Communications; Environment & Climate Change; Private Equity; Tax

How does the firm distinguish itself? At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. Like no other law firm, we were born global. Conceived and built as a global firm in 1949, thinking and working globally is embedded in our culture. With more than 1,000 locally qualified lawyers across our Asia Pacific offices, we are one of the world’s largest law firms by markets, revenue and headcount. Baker McKenzie offers our people access to complex, market-leading matters for leading multi-national and domestic companies and the ability to work with some of the world’s best legal minds – people who know the law and who understand business. We have an unrivalled ability to provide training and secondment opportunities across our global network and have an inclusive culture of learning, coaching and opportunity. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? We care about the same things you do. Poverty, hunger and homelessness. The health of our planet. Social justice. Quality legal representation and access to justice for all. We believe that connecting with the community and sharing one’s skills and time with those in need are core professional responsibilities. In 2016, we contributed more than 6,000 pro-bono hours to more than 200 individual members of our community, charities and other not-for-profit organisa71

tions and about 82% of our legal staff participated in our pro-bono matters. As a Summer Clerk you will have the opportunity to work closely with other lawyers to run pro-bono matters and to participate in our community service initiatives. How would you describe the culture of the firm? We are a firm drive by values. Like all top-tier firms, quality and excellence along with teamwork, integrity and responsiveness are central in delivering outstanding service to our clients. The values that make us unique and a great place to work are deeply embedded and you will notice our difference in all of your interaction with us, in Australia and across the globe. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? We are passionately global and leverage our global expertise for our Australian and global clients at every opportunity, recognising that our strength is in our diversity. Our award winning diversity strategy, initiatives and programs are focused in four areas, in which all of our people can participate: • BakerWomen – gender equality and supporting the progression of women; • BakerDNA – ethnic, indigenous and cultural diversity; • BakerBalance – supporting careers and parents, employee wellbeing and workplace flexibility; and • BakerLGBTI – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex diversity.

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 22 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? Approximately 20 What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Our Summer Clerkship Program provides insight into life at Baker McKenzie. You’ll get the chance to do substantive work for market-leading local and global clients, build your network, learn about our practices, clients and structure, and hear about our global training and work opportunities. The majority of our Graduate positions are given to former Summer Clerks. We also provide Summer Clerks with the opportunity to undertake Research Clerk roles, and apply for our unique International Clerkship Program where you can work for four weeks in one of our overseas offices. What does the firm look for in a clerk? It is difficult to say what makes a clerkship application stand out. Each applicant is obviously unique, which in turn makes each application unique, as an individual brings their own style, profile, experience

and interests to their application. However, some of the general things that make an application stand out include: • it is well-written, succinct and structured, is grammatically correct, has no spelling errors, uses headings and uses a font that is easy to read; • it reflects and highlights you as an individual (your personality, skills, experiences, achievements and interests) and it makes readers want to work with you; and • it sets out why you want to work with our Firm and shows a good understanding of our Firm – beyond what is contained in a clerkship guide or the Firm’s website.

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 10 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 9 What is the structure of the graduate program? Our Graduate Program builds on the Summer Clerkship. Our Graduates complete three rotations across our practice groups working

with the world’s largest local and global companies, and will be assigned a supervising Partner and Associate ‘buddy’ in each rotation to maximise their mentoring, development and on-the-job and formal learning. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes. Our Graduates complete PLT with the College of Law in conjunction with internal seminars on core legal topics and practical skills sessions (such as business communication and drafting). The Firm covers the costs of PLT, admission and practicing certificates.

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. Become a world-class lawyer. Join the firm that was born global.

www.bakermckenzie.com/en/locations/asia-pacific/australia#careers Find us at @BakersAUS

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Ready to explore our world? Joshua Crook +61 3 9617 4351

Start a strong legal career

At Civic Legal, you’ll quickly become part of the team. Our office

For any queries, contact:

is friendly, and everyone will take the time to get to know and

careers@civiclegal.com.au

welcome you. That’s just the way we work. Learn more about our global network Our senior lawyers will give you the support you need to gain valuable experience in our local government, insurance, litigation and commercial practice areas. You will discuss the background, the context, and the next steps in every matter you work on. Get your legal career off to a great start at Civic Legal – we are one of Western Australia’s premier boutique law firms.

www.civiclegal.com.au

Lawyers you want to work with

CIVIC LEGAL ADDRESS Suite 2, Ground Floor, 1 Havelock Street, West Perth, 6005

NUMBER OF OFFICES 1

CONTACT (08) 9200 4900 Sasha Fay Quahe, Recruitment Officer careers@civiclegal. com.au www.civiclegal. com.au

AREAS Local Government, Insurance, Commercial

How does the firm distinguish itself? Civic Legal is a boutique firm with capabilities far beyond its size. With major institutional clients, partnerships with peak industry bodies, superior IT resourcing and an international alliance of law firms, Civic Legal is an excellent choice of law firm for clients and staff alike. At Civic Legal, law clerks and graduates quickly become part of the team. At the friendly West Perth office, everyone will take the time to welcome you. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes - some pro bono work. What significant work has the firm done recently? • Multi-million dollar insurance claim litigation • Industry-shaping advice on the local government gift and travel regime • Complex land development contract dispute (international) • Industry-shaping advice on the Fair Work Act and its application to local government How would you describe the culture of the firm? Approachable, friendly, welcoming, professional, hard-working.

How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? Civic Legal hires on merit and suitability - an approach that has produced a diverse workforce. There is strong representation of women and a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 3 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 3 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Apply directly to the firm. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? The role may include legal research, writing memos, writing articles or case studies, observing or taking notes in court, working on a legal educational seminar and other tasks which may arise that would be appropriate for the role.

Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 2 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 1 How do students apply for a graduate position? The opportunity will arise on a needs basis, and usually graduates are recruited from the vacation or ongoing law clerks. The opportunity will be announced on the website if and when it arises. You can submit an expression of interest with a cover letter, your resume and your academic transcript any time to: careers@civiclegal.com.au

What is the structure of the graduate program? You will work for a variety of teams to get a feel for the different practice areas. As a boutique firm, there is no rigid structure. Notably, you will get the benefit of working closely with the senior lawyers. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? The firm employs graduates during the work experience component of PLT, and it is a paid position. When you are here, we will discuss with you the flexibility you need to complete your coursework component. Graduates are responsible for their own PLT course fees. What is the typical progression path of graduates in their early years at the firm? Graduates work closely with Senior Lawyers and get plenty of experience with legal work. Law graduates become Lawyers after admission. They will be based mainly in one practice group, although they may gain experience from time to time in other areas. The next step in career progression is Senior Associate.

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A clerk should have a strong academic grounding, and have a good attitude. This includes taking initiative, being hard working, seeking to improve, and having a genuine desire to contribute to the firm

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What does the firm look for in a clerk? A clerk should have a strong academic grounding, and have a good attitude. This includes taking initiative, being hard working, seeking to improve, and having a genuine desire to contribute to the firm. Clerks will do well if they are both personable and professional.

CLAYTON UTZ ADDRESS Level 27, QV1 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 6 in Australia

CONTACT (03) 9286 6955 Alison Tassiou, Graduate Recruiting Consultant atassiou@claytonutz. com www.claytonutz. com/graduates

AREAS Commercial Litigation; Corporate/M&A/Capital Markets; Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety; Environment & Planning; Real Estate; Banking; Restructuring and Insolvency; Major Projects & Construction

How does the firm distinguish itself? Staying true to your direction is what defines Clayton Utz. At Clayton Utz, we’ve built a team of down-to-earth, collaborative lawyers who know that at the heart of exceptional client service is knowing what your client needs. We offer the sharpest legal minds. The clearest advice that cuts through the complexity, so our clients can concentrate on the things that really matter. And an unshakeable sense of what’s possible. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes! Pro bono, volunteering and community activities are a fundamental part of Clayton Utz. We were the first large Australian law firm to establish an in-house pro bono practice; the first to appoint a full-time pro bono partner; and the first to sign the National Pro Bono Target. Since 1997, our commitment to pro bono has helped to shape what it means to be a leading Australian law firm. In 2015, we became the first law firm in Australia to provide 500,000 hours of pro bono assistance (and counting). Partners and employees have direct involvement with charities across Australia by volunteering and fundraising through Community Connect. This has enabled us to participate in numerous activities, with our Community Partners, including climbing mountains with children with Cerebral Palsy, holding mock job interviews in schools 77

and setting up mobile libraries for people living on the streets. We have financially supported our charity partners through the Clayton Utz Foundation, distributing over $8.3 million since 2003. Our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is reflected in our Reconciliation Action Plan, which commits us to working with Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to overcome the challenges and disadvantage faced by Indigenous Australians. We promote sustainable practices through Footprints with environmental initiatives that assist us to understand our impacts and incorporate sustainability into our decision-making. What significant work has the firm done recently? We’re a leading Australian law firm, so we advise many of Australia’s top financial institutions, multinational corporations operating in a range of sectors, and state and Australian government departments and agencies on a wide variety of issues. International work is a really important part of our practice too. We’ve got strong relationships with many overseas firms, and we handle both inbound and outbound matters. How would you describe the culture of the firm? Our culture is founded on the behavioural values of trust, respect and co-operation and our foundation value of highest ethical standards. They underpin every-

thing we do. It affects the way we approach each other and our work, our service to our clients and our community involvement. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? Our people come from a wide range of backgrounds and have different skills, interests, personalities and capabilities. We are committed to an inclusive culture where all of our people are recognised for their unique contributions and are encouraged and assisted to achieve their full potential. Diversity at Clayton Utz includes diversity of thought, background, experience, personal circumstances, education, religion, sexuality, gender, age, ethnicity and ability/ disability.

The “LGBTI Alliance” (our LGBTI program) is an essential part of our diversity agenda and is actively promoted by our Chief Executive Partner. It’s about encouraging an environment that maximises opportunities for our people to achieve business success and career satisfaction regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. The role and activities of the LGBTI Alliance are focused around fostering an LGBTI inclusive culture within the Firm, connecting with the broader LGBTI community, developing internal policies, training and education. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS

Diversity and inclusion is integral to our culture which is founded on the behavioural values of trust, respect and co-operation. We continue to develop our open and flexible workplace where we accept, value and respect the differences of our people.

What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 25-35

Our diverse and inclusive workplace brings together different experiences and perspectives, helps to generate new ideas, creates more effective teams and relationships, and attracts, develops and retains the very best people.

How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Via our website at www.claytonuz. com/graduates

Gender is recognised as a priority area under the Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategy. Our approach is multi-faceted and includes maintaining our WGEA Employer of Choice status (EOCGE citation); running our highly regarded “Momentum” program (a national initiative focused on women); promoting flexible work practices; setting gender KPIs for our people and setting (and achieving) gender targets.

When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter

What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? There is no set routine and allocated work will depend largely on the practice group and its specific needs at the time. However, some common responsibilities include: • Research; • Writing clients memos/letters; • Attending client meetings with lawyers; • Attending court with lawyers; • Pro bono work; • Liaising with internal col78

leagues; and • Assisting with the preparation of matters for hearings. What does the firm look for in a clerk? We’re looking for people who are personable, practical, commercially-savvy, as well as flexible. Our lawyers undertake complex and innovative legal work, so it’s important that our clerks and graduates are motivated individuals who aren’t afraid of a challenge. We are also interested in learning more about your outside interests. You need to be able to balance your professional and personal lives, and have fun! Most importantly, we are looking for people we’d enjoy working alongside. We want clerks and graduates who embody the firm’s behavioural values of trust, respect and co-operation and our foundation value of highest ethical standards in all that they do. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

GRADUATE POSITIONS How do students apply for a graduate position? Via our website at www.claytonutz. com/graduates. We generally recruit our graduates from our Clerkship Programs. What is the structure of the graduate program? 3 x 6 month rotations in our national practice groups. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes, graduates are able to complete their PLT+ as part of our Graduate Program.

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

STAY TRUE.

claytonutz.com/graduates

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

WHERE BRIGHT MINDS MEET

At Clifford Chance, our diverse and talented people are at the heart of everything we are and everything we do. Your time with us as a graduate will connect you with the best clients, and the most innovative transactions in the market. Working with a dynamic, diverse and ambitious team across the globe, you will also have access to our first-class lawyer development programmes, a breadth and depth of expertise and the best opportunities to develop an international legal career.

Visit our website at www.cliffordchance.com For enquiries please contact aileen.ferguson@cliffordchance.com

CLIFFORD CHANCE ADDRESS Level 7, 190 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 33 offices in 23 countries

CONTACT (08) 9262 5555 Aileen Ferguson, Office Manager aileen.ferguson@ cliffordchance.com www.cliffordchance. com

AREAS Corporate, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Banking & Finance

How does the firm distinguish itself? Our culture of international collaboration sets us apart. Our teams are close-knit and clients praise the seamless, integrated service they receive from us. For you, it will make for an exceptionally supportive environment where you will connect regularly with colleagues around the globe. Collaborating across borders, languages and legal systems, you’ll work as part of a team to find solutions for global and domestic clients on high profile matters. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes – we are active locally and globally. During the 2015/2016 financial year, as a global firm we helped more than 140,000 people through our pro bono work, community outreach volunteering, the use of our facilities by charitable organisations and donations from the Clifford Chance Foundation. What significant work has the firm done recently? Many high profile, high value litigious matters and many high value transactional matters. For example, acting for Apache, Quadrant Energy, Shell, BHP Billiton to name a few. How would you describe the culture of the firm? Inclusive, collegiate and supportive, focused on servicing client needs internationally.

How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? In all the firm’s policies and by active promotion of diversity and inclusion initiatives. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? By having a mentoring/buddy program and by actively monitoring workloads. What advice would you give someone applying to the firm? Apply to attend our Graduate Open Day where you can learn more about the international career opportunities that we offer.

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 4 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 4 How do students apply for a graduate position? Via our online portal. What is the structure of the graduate program? Graduates undertake a two year training program that involves four six-month rotations across the practice areas. Business needs permitting, at least one seat will be

Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes, we offer study leave for exams and we cover the cost of PLT. What is the typical progression path of graduates in their early years at the firm? At the end of the two year training program, Graduates can select their preferred practice area and, subject to business needs, will settle into that group. Subject to meeting performance hurdles, Graduates can expect to be promoted to Associate and can then work towards promotion to Senior Associate and beyond.

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Our teams are closeknit and clients praise the seamless, integrated service they receive from us

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undertaken in another office in the Asia Pacific region, usually Singapore or Hong Kong.

WANT REAL INSIGHT? WWW.CORRS.COM.AU/TIPS

University won’t last forever. Soon, you’ll be embarking on a legal career full of new and wonderful experiences as well as the occasional curve ball. You need to be prepared. So, visit our dedicated graduate website to see our top 10 tips designed to help you get the most out of your early years as a lawyer. To learn more, visit corrs.com.au/tips

CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH ADDRESS Level 6, Brookfield Place Tower II, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 4 - Perth, Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane CONTACT (08) 9460 1666 Jennifer Jacobs, People & Performance Consultant jennifer.jacobs@ corrs.com.au www.corrs.com.au/ graduates AREAS PERTH OFFICE: - Corporate, Finance & Tax (Energy & Resources, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Advisory and Banking & Finance) - Property & Development (Property & Infrastructure, Environment & Planning and Construction) - Litigation and Workplace Relations (Commercial Litigation & Insolvency and Workplace Relations)

How does the firm distinguish itself? Corrs Chambers Westgarth is a premium independent Australian law firm. With offices around the country and strategic alliances throughout the Asia Pacific region and worldwide, we partner closely with our clients to create opportunities for them in Australia and on the global stage. Corrs is a firm that thinks strategically, not just in its legal work, but also for the firm’s future and the success of its people. Corrs is known for its clear vision and ability to develop and implement strategy, as well as its lawyers’ ability to help clients achieve their business goals. Corrs’ culture of performance excellence drives this achievement and can be seen in our mentoring, coaching and comprehensive learning and development programs, both formal and informal. We draw on the best expertise in Corrs’ own lawyers as well as external specialists to make sure our people never stop learning. The combination of these factors creates a firm that celebrates its independence, is open to new ideas, has the courage to think and act differently from the rest of the market, and thrives on new challenges and opportunities. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Helping others is a key aspect of the culture at Corrs and can be seen every day in every office at 84

Corrs. It happens in three ways – through pro bono legal work, volunteering and philanthropy. Corrs provides pro bono legal services for disadvantaged individuals who might not otherwise have access to legal representation through the conduct of nine legal clinics and referred public interest matters. We also act for charitable and not-for-profit organisations with access to justice objectives, or who support one of our priority social causes. The firm is the principal legal partner for the United Nations Refugee Agency in Australia, and we work with many other organisations including Yooralla, The Salvation Army, The Big Issue and Very Special Kids. We have been associated with Oxfam for more than 20 years. In some cases, pro bono secondments are offered during graduate program rotations, so graduates are involved early in their time at Corrs. This happens through nine clinic-style arrangements across Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, which offer pro bono services for some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged individuals for whom access to justice is almost non-existent. Corrs Perth works for the: • Aboriginal Legal Service of WA, providing legal representation and support services in WA; • Employment Law Centre, an independent, not for profit com-

munity legal centre specialising in employment law; and • Street Law Centre, a free outreach legal service for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in WA. The Perth office also undertakes pro bono work for the RSPCA in the area of prosecutions. Through our pro bono work our lawyers become accomplished in areas of law that they aren’t usually exposed to, which helps them attain a well-rounded legal education. Our staff are proud of Corrs’ contribution to the wider community. They enjoy it and see it as a valuable part of their professional and personal growth. What significant work has the firm done recently? We are excited to work with some of the biggest organisations in the world on their most important matters. Our clients include more than half the top fifty ASX listed companies, some of the largest privately owned companies in Australia and a number of global Fortune five hundred companies like Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Wesfarmers, Microsoft, and Pfizer.

erative Co. Limited (Devondale) to secure a landmark 10 year, $2b milk supply agreement with Coles that will deliver a better return for farmers. We work with well-known organisations like McDonald’s, Vodafone Hutchison, ANZ, BG Group, Mirvac, Woolworths and Carlton United Breweries, mining giants like BP, Woodside and Fortescue Metal Group and leaders in finance like NAB, and CBA. But we also work with governments, Federal and State, on significant matters including the $43b National Broadband Network Project. We also protect a long list of famous international brands including Quiksilver, Hermès, Cartier, Ferrari, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Moet & Chandon. Corrs is the go-to firm for clients like Facebook, eBay, Apple, Spotify and LinkedIn in Australia.

Corrs has been involved in some of Australia’s largest deals including advising on Australia’s biggest resources project, the INPEX Browse $24b Ichthys gas field development. We also advised Hancock Prospecting on the $7.2b Roy Hill iron ore mine development project in Western Australia.

How would you describe the culture of the firm? Ours is an energetic and exciting environment in which our people are motivated and challenged to do their best. An open culture, where people feel free to ask questions or talk through an issue. We seek out the best people to work for us, so we can provide the best results for our clients. And we support and train them to do just that. We consider our learning and development to be the most innovative, progressive and supportive people development program in the industry.

Corrs also advised a consortium of Macquarie Capital Group Limited and Brookfield Asset Management Inc on their US$2.1b acquisition of the Australian oil & gas portfolio of Apache Corporation – now known as Quadrant Energy. We also advised Murray Goulburn Co-op-

Our culture is defined by collaboration and opportunity. A supportive workplace through teamwork, mentoring and flexible resourcing. Opportunity for professional and personal growth and innovative opportunities for both legal and business services staff. An open 85

environment in which diversity in experience, opinions and skills is embraced and celebrated. And a reward and remuneration system that drives excellence across the board. Collaboration and opportunity extend well beyond the daily legal work. They extend into Corrs’ pro bono and community efforts and social events as well. Corrs people work together, but it’s not all work! Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 In 2016, Corrs Perth offered three, three-week clerkship programs which were held in either summer or winter. Each program had approximately 6-8 clerks. What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? Corrs will continue to offer three, three-week clerkship programs, during summer or winter. We anticipate having 6-8 clerks per program. When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) All applications must be submitted online, via the firm’s website. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Corrs’ Seasonal Clerkship Program is a great opportunity for you to experience the people, clients,

Clerks are also encouraged to ‘shadow’ partners and lawyers on activities such as meetings with clients, barristers or witnesses; client phone calls; and mediations, settlements and court appearances. The clerkship program promotes a more hands-on approach to developing their knowledge and skills. What does the firm look for in a clerk? At Corrs, we appreciate diversity in our clerk and graduate cohorts and are not looking for identical or ‘cookie-cutter’ candidates. In particular, we look for well-rounded individuals who can demonstrate strong academic performance, evidence of work experience (law or non-law related), as well as experience in leadership positions, volunteering or community service, and other extra-curricular activities. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 Corrs had 8 Graduates commence in the 2016 Graduate Development Program. What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? Our 2017 Graduate Development Program will consist of 7 Graduates. Nationally, our Graduates

commence in March and there is only one intake per calendar year. We anticipate recruiting 7-8 Graduates for our 2018 Graduate Development Program. How do students apply for a graduate position? Previous clerks will be eligible to receive a priority offer for 2018 Graduate positions. Corrs contacts eligible clerks about the priority recruitment process in May, with offers made in late July. If necessary, Corrs will open applications to the general market after the priority offer process. What is the structure of the graduate program? Our Graduate Development program sets the foundation for building world class lawyers, whilst creating an engaging experience for Graduates through structured learning, practical experiences, and mentoring and feedback. The 16-month program consists of one six-month rotation and two fivemonth rotations, with Graduates assigned a Mentor and Buddy for each rotation to help them settle in to each practice group. During the program, Graduates work with partners and lawyers on matters across practice groups within the division. Each division has a graduate practical experience guide that identifies the type of legal work Graduates are expected to experience during each rotation. In addition, each division runs an induction program for Graduates rotating through that division. The induction program includes training in core skills and knowledge relating to each practice group within the division.

And finally, each Graduate has a Graduate Mentor, typically an experienced Special Counsel or Senior Associate who guides the Graduate and supports their professional development. Local HR also assist to provide regular feedback to Graduates (including at mid- and end-rotation reviews). Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Corrs provides PLT study assistance to all Graduates who commence with the firm as part of our Graduate Development Program. We partner with the College of Law and our Graduates undertake the PLT course part-time, during the first year of the Graduate Development Program. Study leave to prepare for and attend PLT exams, as well as workshops and subject introductions, is also provided.

“

At Corrs, we appreciate diversity in our clerk and graduate cohorts and are not looking for identical or ‘cookie-cutter’ candidates

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work and culture that differentiates Corrs from other law firms. Clerks will spend the three week program working within one practice group. During the clerkship program, clerks will have the opportunity to draft advice, conduct research and review documents.

DLA PIPER ADDRESS Level 31, Central Park Building, 152158 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 5 in Australia

CONTACT (03) 9274 5000 Mith Ambikaipalan, Human Resources ClerkshipsAU@ dlapiper.com www.dlapipergraduates. com

AREAS Litigation & Regulatory, Corporate, Real Estate, Employment, Finance & Projects, Intellectual Property & Technology, Tax, Restructuring

How does the firm distinguish itself? We help the world’s top companies with their business-critical issues. Many of the deals we work on are complex and challenging – transcending not just practice areas, but borders, languages and legal systems. As a firm, we never stand still. We think nimbly and seize opportunities. We’re ambitious and are never afraid to innovate. So if you possess these qualities too, there could be a bright future for you at DLA Piper. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? At DLA Piper we are committed to contributing to the wellbeing of communities around the world. We encourage our lawyers to do pro bono work that is meaningful, impactful and supports those in need. New Perimeter, our non-profit initiative, provides pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world to support access to justice, social and economic development and sound legal institutions. Our Break into Law project is a worldwide initiative focused on removing barriers to employment within the legal profession, while we have pledged $6.5m over the course of our three-year partnership with UNICEF to improve child justice. We are proud to be signatories of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), as our support for the initiative underlines our commitment to responsible business. 87

What significant work has the firm done recently? DLA Piper is one of the world’s largest law firms, with lawyers in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, positioning us to help companies with their legal needs around the world. As trusted legal advisors to approximately a third of the ASX 100 companies or their subsidiaries and all levels of government, we take great pride in delivering quality and value to our clients through practical and innovative legal solutions. Some of our most recent work includes advising Link Group on its AU$2.3 billion listing on the ASX, advising the Australian Football League on the landmark acquisition of Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium and advising Investa Commercial Property Fund on the acquisition of a 75 per cent interest in Sydney’s landmark 420 George Street, to the value of AU$450 million. Innovation and entrepreneurialism is at the heart of DLA Piper’s global culture. In 2016, DLA Piper launched Flexible Lawyering, in partnership with Lawyers on Demand (LOD), and implemented a machine learning tool for document and contract reviews via a partnership with Kira Systems. DLA Piper’s commitment to Responsible Business incorporates one of the world’s largest pro bono practices, wide-reaching volunteering programs, fundraising and capacity building for NGOs, a world-class environmental management program and a leading diversity and inclusion strategy.

Most recently, we were delighted to be awarded ‘Best firm for Pro Bono work’ at the Euromoney Legal Media Group Asia Women in Business Law Awards. We were once again awarded the ‘Employer of Choice for Gender Equality’ citation by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) in 2016. Gender equality is a key focus for DLA Piper and we are proud to have been recognised by WGEA as a leader in workplace gender equality since their citation list began in 2014. We also expanded our Diversity Committee to include two new areas of focus, LGBTI and ethnicity and culture, in addition to our focus on gender equality. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 50 nationally What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? Approximately 50 nationally When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) We accept online applications via our job board. Visit our website for more information on recruitment dates and our selection process www.dlapipergraduates.com. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? During your seasonal clerkship you can expect to do a variety of things both in and outside the office. The tasks you are involved in will depend on the team you are assigned to and the work they

have on at the time. Some common examples include accompanying lawyers to court, attending client meetings and mediations, and assisting on large corporate transactions. As a clerk, your learning and development begins with our tailored clerk induction program. The knowledge you gain here is supported by on the job training from partners, senior lawyers and other peers. We also ensure you have regular contact with the other clerks throughout the program through social activities, lunches and presentations. All clerks are assigned a buddy (usually a current graduate) and a supervisor (senior associate or senior lawyer) who will support and guide you through the clerkship. What does the firm look for in a clerk? We hire clerks and graduates from all kinds of backgrounds. Not only does this allow us to serve our diverse client base better; it keeps our thinking fresh by opening up a wider range of perspectives. While you could be studying from a range of degree subjects, you will need a strong academic record. But it goes further than that. You’ll need to be naturally inquisitive, have plenty of drive and possess a genuine commitment to your career path. Among other things, we’ll be looking at your extra-curricular activities for evidence of these qualities. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 38 nationally 88

What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 25 nationally How do students apply for a graduate position? Joining us as a clerk is your path to a Graduate position. What is the structure of the graduate program? We offer graduate programs in all our Australian offices and have one intake each year in February. The graduate program starts with an induction, designed to ease you in and get you acquainted with the firm. Within the first six months, you’ll also attend a two-day event at our Career Academy, where you’ll meet and network with graduates from across our Australian offices. The program itself will see you undertaking rotations in different practice groups. This will see you work alongside people at all levels of the business, including partners. As an integral member of the team, you’ll be ready to hit the ground running and make a real contribution from the outset. While much of your learning will be done on the job, you’ll also receive formal business skills training. This will develop your abilities in areas such as networking, business development, commercial awareness and financial management. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes. In all states, our graduates receive the prescribed training necessary for admission through the College of Law.

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Our goal is simple. We want to create the future leaders of the firm. That means giving you the skills you need to become a successful lawyer, but also the experiences to discover where your true interests lie. Find out more at

DLAPIPERGRADUATES.COM DLA Piper is a global law firm operating through various separate and distinct legal entities. Further details of these entities can be found at www.dlapiper.com. This may qualify as “Lawyer Advertising” requiring notice in some jurisdictions. Copyright © 2016 DLA Piper. All rights reserved.

Start making an impact on your future today

“I always knew I wanted to get into a role which allowed me to utilise both the legal and commercial aspects of my university learning, but it wasn’t until I undertook vacationer work at EY in Perth that I recognised a role at EY would provide me with this opportunity. I work in tax controversy, which is a tax legal services team. In addition to providing advice on often contentious and complex tax issues, my team helps clients manage disputes with the tax authorities, and if necessary, provides representation in litigious proceedings. In my role as a consultant and solicitor, I assist with all aspects of my team’s engagements. I have the opportunity to work with large national and multi-national corporate clients. EY has a fantastic learning culture that is complimented with countless training opportunities that have allowed me to learn a lot.”

Shea Lukey, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce

At EY, there is no one career path for everyone. You’re encouraged to create a path that reflects your individual talents and aspirations. With EY you can influence the future of your career, the businesses you work with and even the world you live in. We’ll work with you to help you succeed professionally and personally. Your journey starts here ey.com/au/careers

Using the knowledge you’ve gained from your law studies, you’ll help all types of companies, from entrepreneurial start-ups to multinationals. We’ll provide you with experiences that’ll shape your career for years to come. Because when you grow, we do too.

One decision, life time of opportunities Our Vacationer Program is a great way to experience the working world during your summer (or winter) holidays. Show us what you’re capable of and you may be invited to join us after graduation in a full-time position. Our Graduate Program will put your knowledge to the test. Build your technical skills. Join us full-time as a graduate and you’ll get early responsibility, support and training. We also offer our Game Changers Club and Career Compass Program to students who are due to graduate in 2019. Please see our website for more details.

Get connected ey.com/au/careers

bit.ly/EYLinkedIn_Careers

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EY ADDRESS 11 Mounts Bay Road, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES Over 150 worldwide

CONTACT (08) 9429 2222 Pippa Winship, Campus Recruitment Manager perth.graduate. recruitment@au.ey. com www.ey.com/au/ betterbeginsnow

AREAS Taxation Law (Advisory and Litigation), Succession and Estate Planning, Commercial Law

How does the firm distinguish itself? We are Perth’s largest specialist tax law team and have a collegiate, learning environment headed by senior and experienced tax lawyers. We undertake work for our existing, external clients, but also have access to EY’s internal network of clients in WA and nationally. This gives the team a broad range of clients and matters from all areas of tax, commercial law and estate planning. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? EY is actively involved in giving back to the community through our Workplace Giving Program, Local Focus Charities and Volunteering Days. What significant work has the firm done recently? • Preparation of an extensive ATO private ruling application for a restructure of one of Australia’s largest private groups and liaising with the ATO. • Negotiation, drafting and settlement of documentation for a multi-million dollar sale of business and property to an ASX listed company and giving associated tax and legal advice. • Acting in several large trust matters in advisory and dispute work concerning contested rights and obligations of trustees and beneficiaries covering a range of trust and tax issues.

How would you describe the culture of the firm? Supportive, inclusive, people-focused and ambitious. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? EY has a strong focus on diversity and inclusiveness and promotes an environment where everyone feels accepted and supported. This is achieved through identification of focus areas and having clear plans in place to bring to life our ambition. How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? EY has a variety of flexible work practices in place to enable our people with the flexibility that they need at each stage of their lives to enable them to perform their roles. EY also has a strong focus on health and wellbeing, for example, we have a Wellness Centre located in our Perth office, offering a variety of health services as well as fitness classes. What advice would you give someone applying to the firm? Do your research and demonstrate your knowledge of EY and the role. In addition to your academic achievements, highlight your non-academic achievements such as involvement in the community, extra-curricular activities and leadership positions. Do you offer paralegal positions? No

CLERKSHIPS

GRADUATE POSITIONS

Number of clerkships offered in 2016 2-5

Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 2-5

What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 2-5

What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 2-5

When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Students submit an online application through www.ey.com/au/ careers. This involves an online questionnaire and submitting your CV as well as your academic transcript. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Tasks include, but are not limited to, legal research, preparing file notes and drafting commercial documents. What does the firm look for in a clerk? We look for people who are technically capable but also those who are self-motivated and keen to make the most of the opportunities given to them. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

How do students apply for a graduate position? Students submit an online application through www.ey.com/au/ careers/apply. This involves an online questionnaire and submitting your CV as well as your academic transcript. What is the structure of the graduate program? Graduates are provided with training throughout their career with EY and given real client work from day one of the program. All new joiners have a firm wide induction program and support is given to them via a buddy and counsellor. Our Perth office is unique given our GradLink group which connects our current graduate cohort with the previous year via networking events. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Graduates are provided with assistance to complete further study relevant to their career.

GILBERT + TOBIN ADDRESS 1202 Hay Street West Perth WA 6005

NUMBER OF OFFICES 3 - Perth, Sydney, Melbourne

CONTACT (08) 9413 8400 Lisa Harold, Human Resources lharold@gtlaw.com. au www.gtlaw.com.au

AREAS Banking and Infrastructure; Corporate Advisory – funds, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital markets, tax and stamp duty; Communications and Technology; Competition and Regulation; Energy and Resources; Intellectual Property; Media; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; and Real Estate and Projects.

How does the firm distinguish itself? Gilbert + Tobin is a leading independent corporate law firm and a key player in the Australian legal market. From our Sydney, Melbourne and Perth offices, we provide innovative, relevant and commercial legal solutions to major corporate and government clients across Australia and internationally, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. With a focus on dynamic and evolving market sectors, we work on transactions and cases that define and direct the market. Gilbert + Tobin has become the legal adviser of choice for industry leaders who value our entrepreneurial culture and determination to succeed. Established in 1988, Gilbert + Tobin employs more than 500 professionals. We have one of the highest proportions of female partners of any major Australian law firm and are acknowledged as a pioneer in providing pro bono services. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? At Gilbert + Tobin we have always understood that our business is part of the society in which we operate. That is why, since our inception in 1988, we have delivered pro bono legal services to marginalised and disadvantaged people initially close to home, and as our business grew and our reputation spread, across the country.

We are proud to have set a standard for the Australian legal profession by employing full-time pro bono lawyers since 1996. At Gilbert + Tobin, pro bono is a vital part of what we do and who we are. It has been a feature of our practice since the firm’s beginning in 1988, and in 1996 we became the first firm in Australia to appoint a fulltime, in-house pro bono lawyer. Whilst we have a dedicated pro bono team, all lawyers in the firm provide legal representation and advice to a range of marginalised and disadvantaged people and organisations. In 2015-16, the firm completed more than 19,454 hours of pro bono work at an average of 65.3 hours per lawyer. At Gilbert + Tobin, our CSR program specifically focuses on three streams – community, reconciliation and the environment. Through these programs we: • Monitor, improve and report on our environmental performance to our key clients, and to the public. • Guarantee that our staff are as diverse as the broader Australian community and that we fulfil our commitments to our people. • Work to ensure the justice system is accessible to everyone by helping parts of the community who cannot afford legal assistance. • Develop and deliver programs that strengthen our business’ connection with communities with whom we have relationships.

• Offer the benefits of our commitment to environmental and social sustainability to our clients. • Commit with our suppliers of goods and services to achieve better environmental and social sustainability by managing our procurement processes. • Maintain an open work place where staff are encouraged to commit to causes, and we provide the flexibility to enable them to do that. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? At Gilbert + Tobin, we know that getting the best result means having the best people. We recruit, develop and advance talented people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and points of view, ensuring that our core attributes of high performance, innovation, authenticity and collaboration continue to grow. We have developed a number of professional development programs to ensure all employees realise their full potential. This includes initiatives specifically designed to inform, support and inspire women at all levels of the firm. Recognising that each woman has distinct aspirations, roles and values, we have a range of flexible working arrangements and support structures available, including a leading paid parental leave policy, part-time and job share opportunities, remote working arrangements, flexible working hours and an on-site family room. We are currently focusing on developing new, and strengthening our existing, successful flexible work arrangements in consultation with our people and clients. OUT is Gilbert + Tobin’s LBGTI and allies group. OUT’s objective is to ensure that Gilbert + Tobin continues to celebrate diversity, including

for all LGBTI staff, as a fundamental value of the firm. Founded in 2012, our OUT network: • Raised awareness and advocates on LGBTI issues within the firm and in the community. • Consulted with the firm’s Diversity Manager in the development of market leading practices including inclusive policies, diversity audits, training and profile raising. • Contribute to the firm’s pro-bono and social responsibility work. • Made submissions on behalf of the firm to the Australian Workplace Equality Index. • Participated in Pride In Diversity events, including the Pride in Diversity Mardi Gras float. • Offered networking and social events for OUT members, allies and clients. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

GRADUATE PROGRAM What is the structure of the graduate program? Our graduate training program complements your academic knowledge with invaluable practical and commercial skills. Graduates benefit from a tailored Younger Lawyers training program that starts with a concise introduction to the firm’s areas of specialisation. This is followed by training in the core skills areas you will require as a lawyer. The program fosters the specific legal skills required to service clients in complex industries. We also reinforce your group training with individual instruction and mentoring. Mentoring is an important aspect

of life at Gilbert + Tobin. We assign each graduate with their own mentor – usually a senior lawyer – to guide you through your first rotation and your transition into the firm. Mentors provide open, genuine support and help graduates establish relationships within the group and across the firm. Graduates are also mentored by a junior lawyer ‘buddy’, a friendly contact who provides invaluable advice and guidance. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Gilbert + Tobin funds and provides a Practical Legal Training (PLT) program for graduates through the College of Law. We also offer continual professional development and education programs in all practice areas, at every stage of your career. PLT keeps you up to date with the latest legislative developments, while allowing you to expand your skills, improve your capabilities and build a successful and rewarding career. PLT at the College of Law also enables you to complete mandatory continuing legal education required of you as a lawyer.

ABOVE AND BEYOND BE A PART OF EVERYTHING

GRADUATE CAREERS IN LAW Join Herbert Smith Freehills and you’ll do more than just experience life at a leading law firm, you’ll be a part of everything we have to offer - whether you’re working on a high-profile takeover, catching up with an overseas client or taking on some challenging pro bono work. It’s an environment in which your perspective, ideas and experiences will make a real difference. Don’t just experience everything, be a part of it.

SEARCH HSF GRADUATES FOR MORE

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ADDRESS Level 36 QV.1 250 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 26 globally

CONTACT (08) 9211 7556 Chloe McClements, Graduate Recruitment Consultant Chloe.McClements@ hsf.com www.herbertsmithfreehills. com

AREAS Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Finance, Real Estate and Projects; Employment, Pensions and Incentives; Competition, Regulation and Trade; and Alternative Legal Services

How does the firm distinguish itself? Takeovers and mergers. Arbitration and litigation. Finance and real estate. As a world class professional services business, our work is incredibly varied. Thanks to the quality of our global network and world-class Business Services professionals, we work with some of the biggest international organisations on some of their most ambitious projects. Join us as a Herbert Smith Freehills graduate and you’ll do more than just experience life at a leading law firm, you’ll be a part of everything we have to offer. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? At Herbert Smith Freehills our focus is on using our expertise and leadership to increase access to justice and opportunity for the benefit of local and global communities. At the core of Herbert Smith Freehills’ approach is a long-standing and proud tradition of providing pro bono legal services and advocacy. This commitment to pro bono legal services for members of the public has developed into a broader program of volunteering and charitable giving that involves a much wider range of people across our firm. Many of our vacation clerks participate in pro bono and community work and describe it as one of the highlights of their clerkship.

What significant work has the firm done recently? To read about some significant work the firm has recently been involved visit the news page on our website: herbertsmithfreehills.com/news What values are most important to the firm? We look for exceptional people with the desire and ability to become truly brilliant lawyers. And there’s more to that than just a great academic record. There’s fantastic perception skills. There’s confidence. There’s empathy. There’s an international mindset. There’s diligence. And there’s the drive to not only experience everything, but to be a part of it. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to promote a culture of fairness, equality and inclusion. We believe that having a diverse and open workplace adds new dimensions to how we tackle client challenges and drives innovation forward. Wherever you join us, you’ll find talented people with different views, experiences and backgrounds. In Australia, we have focused our efforts to be more inclusive and our first priority was to run inclusive leadership sessions for the entire partnership so that we could each understand why diversity and inclusion is a business imperative for our firm. For more information on our diversity and inclusion program visit: herbertsmithfreehills.com/ about-us/diversity-and-inclusion.

At the core of Herbert Smith Freehills’ approach is a long-standing and proud tradition of providing pro bono legal services and advocacy

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Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 40-45 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Applications for vacation clerkships should be submitted via cvMail. Your application should include a brief cover letter, a current CV and a recent copy of your academic transcript. We ask all candidates to answer a few short questions about their interest in Herbert Smith Freehills and commercial law generally. Candidates who are invited to interview will be asked to complete an online assessment. We’ve included some information on our online assessment process to help you prepare: careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/ au/grads/join-us We run events in each state throughout the recruitment period, where you can meet our lawyers in an informal setting. Chat with our graduates and junior and senior lawyers, and ask any questions that haven’t been answered. We aim to make the interview as relaxed as possible. It’s less about us asking a list of prepared questions and more about giving you

a chance to tell us all about yourself. Even so, the interview is your opportunity to present yourself in the best light. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? As a vacation clerk, you will be given extensive training on all aspects of the firm, drafting and research skills. Current lawyers and partners will speak to you about what they do and the nature of work in each of the legal sections of the firm. You will have the opportunity to work with our lawyers as a member of our legal team, attend professional development seminars and briefing sessions on business development strategies and information technology. Of course, there is also a variety of social events organised for the clerks. What does the firm look for in a clerk? We are interested in who you are and the strengths you can bring. We recruit employees from a wide range of backgrounds who possess the qualities we look for in our lawyers: intellectual curiosity, confidence, clarity of thought, the ambition to grow personally and professionally, and the ability to develop exceptional working relationships with clients and colleagues. We have prepared some more detailed information on our website: careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/ au/grads/join-us Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

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GRADUATE POSITIONS

What is the structure of the graduate program? Our structured graduate program is designed to provide the best foundation for your future success, wherever your career takes you. Graduates will have three rotations in different practice groups. During each rotation, graduates are assigned a supervising partner and buddy. A learning and development program also supports the on-the-job learning to help you to develop your leadership, business development, negotiation and presentation skills. Training takes place during working hours and is delivered by internal experts as well as specialist providers and leading commentators. Herbert Smith Freehills funds and assists graduates at the firm who need to complete practical legal training to gain admission to practice. We encourage students to participate in our vacation clerkship program and we fill the majority of our graduate positions through this program. We do not currently have a separate graduate recruitment program planned. We also run a number of graduate and clerkship programs in our overseas offices. To find out more visit our graduate careers website: herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers

HOGAN LOVELLS ADDRESS Level 13, 225 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 45 offices globally 2 in Australia - Perth and Sydney CONTACT (08) 6208 6550 Terrie Cole, Practice Manager terrie.cole@hogan lovells.com www.hogan lovells.com/

AREAS Corporate, Banking & Business Restructuring

How does the firm distinguish itself? There is a dynamic to our firm that makes us feel different. Everyone here contributes. Everyone pushes themselves. Everyone works together to find smarter, bolder ways to solve problems. There is a desire to share knowledge and work collaboratively. An emphasis on building deep relationships with clients and with each other. The firm feels, to the people who work here, more like a community - one, most importantly, where you can always be yourself. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Good Citizenship is one of the core values of Hogan Lovells and it is endorsed at the highest levels within the firm. Everyone at the firm is asked to volunteer at least 25 hours each year as part of normal work duties, and our lawyers devote more than 100,000 hours every year to pro bono matters. So whether it is righting injustices, strengthening society or mentoring young people, we go beyond talking about good citizenship â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we live it every day. What significant work has the firm done recently? We have recently completed two major cross-border transactions led by the Australian team but working together with our corporate teams in US, Singapore and London covering seven jurisdictions - Australia, North America, Thailand, India, the Philippines, the UK and Singapore.

How would you describe the culture of the firm? Inclusive, collaborative and supportive. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? To ensure that members from all offices and roles have a voice, our internal Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Network focuses on retention and development and explores ways to help our female talent flourish. The Working Families Network provides support, practical advice, and a forum for working parents and careers, and our LGBT Network seeks to address the challenges that LGBT individuals face in the workplace. How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? Balancing your career and your home life is not easy. At Hogan Lovells we not only provide flexibility in the number of days you work or your location (working from home) but you can also discuss options to change your start and finish times to fit in with your family needs. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 2 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 2

When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer, winter or during semester How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Directly to the firm What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Research and drafting of internal advice. Work-shadow an associate. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 3

What is the structure of the graduate program? The graduate pragramme is a two year program specifically tailored to the learning and professional development of law graduates and junior associates. The graduates have two one year rotations in corporate and finance. There is also an opportunity for the graduates to spend six months in another office of the firm. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes, the firm supports the study and progress towards attaining admission as a lawyer including the costs and participation in either the College of Law or other practical legal training course.

What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 3 How do students apply for a graduate position? Directly to the firm

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Careers in Law

Think globally. Develop constantly. Be yourself. Create your networks. Define your future. This is the new dynamic. There is a dynamic to our firm that makes us feel different. Everyone here contributes. We push ourselves and are challenged in return. Everyone works together to find smarter, bolder ways to solve problems that, in a global market, are increasingly complex. This sense of trust runs through the firm. There is a desire to share knowledge and work collaboratively, an emphasis on building deep relationships with clients and with each other. We are an international law firm that feels, to the people who work here, more like a community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one, most importantly, where you can always be yourself. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just about everywhere. The United States, Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Our 2,500 lawyers work in over 45 offices across 26 countries.

www.hoganlovells.com

HOPGOODGANIM LAWYERS ADDRESS Level 27, Allendale Square, 77 St Georges Tce, Perth WA 6000 NUMBER OF OFFICES 2

CONTACT (08) 9211 8111 Lisa Stockwell, Human Resources Manager l.stockwell@hop goodganim.com.au www.hopgood ganim.com.au AREAS Banking and Finance, Capital Markets and M&A, Commercial Property, Corporate and Commercial Advisory, Competition and Trade Practices, Construction Employment, Health and Safety, Information Technology and Data Protection, Insurance, Insolvency, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Manufactured Homes, Native Title, Planning and Environment, Resources and Energy, Taxation, Personal and Family Law, Estate Planning, Estate Litigation, Family and Relationship Law, Taxation

How does the firm distinguish itself? We are fiercely independent, possess a unique culture and we are uncompromising in the protection of our values. More than 40 years ago, HopgoodGanim was founded by two great friends with a focus on commercial litigation and family law. Today, HopgoodGanim is a large and fully integrated law firm offering solutions to commercial problems across the full spectrum of legal services. We continue to house one of Australia’s largest and most well regarded family and relationship law practices. We believe it is the close relationships we have with our clients and each other that makes us different to any other firm. We do our very best work when we know our clients personally and we know their businesses inside and out. Inside our firm, people genuinely like each other, refer to each other as friends and work collaboratively to achieve the best outcomes possible for our clients. It’s our emphasis on deep and successful relationships that helps us maintain our reputation as a law firm with the greatest skills and best expertise along with a truly great place to work. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Some of the initiatives we are supporting at HopgoodGanim at the moment include: • An active pro-bono program

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• • • •

and signatory to the Pro Bono Centre of Australia’s aspirational pro bono target A member of the Women’s Legal Service A lead sponsor of the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal A workplace volunteering program with the Salvation Army A supporter of numerous other charitable causes including Foodbank and Youngcare

What significant work has the firm done recently? During 2016, HopgoodGanim Lawyers was thrilled to have once again been shortlisted as a Finalist in the 2016 AFR Beaton Client Choice Awards. Amongst a collection of the country’s best professional services firms, HopgoodGanim was listed in the categories for Best Law Firm (revenue $50m - $200m) and Best Queensland Firm. The firm was ultimately the winner in the category for Best Queensland Firm. In 2016, the firm’s Corporate Advisory & Governance practice, led by eight partners across the east and west coast, successfully advised numerous clients across a diverse range of sectors and industries. Amongst the firm’s M&A and capital markets highlights for 2016, HopgoodGanim Lawyers advised: • Westgold Resources Limited gold listing on ASX in excess of AUD $500m market capitalisation • Michael Hill International redomiciling from the NZX and AUD $400m listing on ASX • Aeris Resources Limited - USD

$130m refinancing • Metals X Limited - AUD $100m takeover bid of Aditya Birla Minerals, and AUD $115m placement and share purchase plan • USA-based fintech startup, ChimpChange Limited - AUD $15m IPO and listing on the ASX • Sealanes Group - sale to Quadrant Private Equity How would you describe the culture of the firm? HopgoodGanim enjoys a reputation as a place where people love to come to work. We describe our culture as ‘The HG Way’ and central to this is a theme of Business Mateship. Business Mateship was a phrase we coined many years ago to capture the culture of friendship created by our founding partners and to describe how the people of HopgoodGanim, our clients and other stakeholders come together and interact. That is, we believe in treating each other, and our clients, as we would treat our friends. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? HopgoodGanim promotes diversity and inclusion through our support of the Out for Australia organisation which aims to provide visible role models, mentors, and other support to aspiring LGBTIQ professionals and to strengthen the sense of community among professionals and students. At HopgoodGanim we make people decisions based on merit and ensure our internal policies reflect the same.

How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? Some of the initiatives we are supporting at HopgoodGanim at the moment include: • 40% of our people taking advantage of flexible work arrangements • An annual leave purchase scheme to allow you to take longer holidays • A generous paid parental leave scheme • Additional complimentary leave for all staff over the festive season What advice would you give someone applying to the firm? We really do like to get to know our future leaders long before they embark on their graduate position with the firm and we do that through vacation clerkships or via a research clerk position which we offer (when business needs dictate) to those who’ve accepted a future role as a graduate lawyer with HopgoodGanim. Do you offer paralegal positions? No

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 6 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 7

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When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer and winter How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) cvMail What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Over the course of each program, our vacation clerks spend time with two different practice groups (based entirely on their preference) and will undertake real legal work as well as attend client meetings and court appearances. What does the firm look for in a clerk? Our clerks will often become our graduate lawyers. Our graduate lawyers are our future leaders. Our future leaders need to be relationship builders, highly commercial, service and outcome focused and excited by change. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 1 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 2 How do students apply for a graduate position? cvMail What is the structure of the graduate program? We offer our graduate lawyers two one-year placements during the program. One placement will be with one of our litigious practices and the other will be with a non-litigious practice to allow you to gain a more complete understanding of the important links between the transactions and negotiations at the front end of a matter or transaction and how they can then form part of a dispute down the track. Your placements in our practice groups are based on the business

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needs of the firm and your own personal preferences. While we can’t guarantee that both placements will be your first choice, we certainly try our hardest to ensure at least one of them is. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? We currently use College of Law as our PLT provider and we cover the costs associated with you completing this course. We also provide you with paid study leave for both study and exams. What is the typical progression path of graduates in their early years at the firm? Our graduate lawyers are admitted half way through their two year program as we recognise there is so much to learn in law that one year of practice just isn’t enough time. By having a two year program, we provide our newly admitted lawyers with a further one year safety net while they continue to learn (and make mistakes) as they hone their craft. At the end of the two year program, we typically offer a permanent role to our graduate lawyers in their preferred workgroup.

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Our future leaders need to be relationship builders, highly commercial, service and outcome focused and excited by change

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We treat each other, and our clients as we would treat our friends.

A unique culture and a place where people love to work HopgoodGanim enjoys a reputation as a firm where people love to come to work. We nurture a flexible working culture that acknowledges there is life outside the law. We also offer our people challenging and interesting work with a national and international client base and the chance to learn from industry-leading practitioners who are experts in their fields. Our two year graduate program includes a structured professional development framework to provide our graduates with the right mix of technical training, personal development and commercial acumen.

Find out more Web Facebook Instagram Twitter

hopgoodganim.com.au/careers facebook.com/hopgoodganimlawyers @hopgoodganim @hopgoodganim

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was surreal to work on real files, real client work and to be trusted with complex research tasks on a diverse range of legal issues.â&#x20AC;?

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Jackson McDonald Careers Jackson McDonald @jacmacwa www.jacmac.com.au

JACKSON McDONALD ADDRESS Level 17, 225 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 1

CONTACT (08) 9426 6611 Ella Cuccovia, Human Resources Advisor ecuccovia@jacmac. com.au www.jacmac.com.au

AREAS Dispute Resolution and Litigation, Construction, Insurance and Risk, Property Planning and Finance, Corporate Commercial, Workplace Relations, Energy and Regulation

How does the firm distinguish itself? Jackson McDonald is the largest independent full service law firm in Western Australia. Whether a M&A transaction, complex high value dispute or bespoke tax advice, our graduates have the opportunity to get involved in legal matters that shape our state. We are regularly recognised across multiple leading legal directories in the Asia-Pacific region such as Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Doyles Legal Guide. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes! Last year our fee earners recorded over 3600 hours in pro bono services for organisations such as Classroom of Hope, RSPCA, Princess Margaret Hospital, various Traditional Owner start ups and numerous charitable organisations. From giving blood and prettiest pet competitions to abseiling down a building and shaving our heads, our community committee works with our employees to raise both funds and awareness on issues affecting our staff and our community. Organisations we have assisted this year include: Fragile X, Red Cross, Essentials for Women, Cancer Council, Orana House and Lifeline WA. We are also the reigning champion five years in a row for the Guide Dogs WA Corporate Challenge.

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What significant work has the firm done recently? Some of the recent matters that we have been involved in include large complex disputes, IPOs for technology companies, bespoke tax advice, Indigenous governance advice, full-service advice for various start-ups, clean energy advice, as well as advising on amendments to various state laws. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 20 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? To be decided When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) cvMail What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? A vacation clerkship at Jackson McDonald presents a unique opportunity for students to experience life in the firm. This is an opportunity to become part of a practice group for a three week duration.

Students will engage in real legal work, working directly with experienced legal practitioners on current matters and will perform tasks such as conducting research, reviewing documents and attending client meetings. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

completion of a vacation clerkship with the firm during a student’s penultimate or final year of study. Lateral hires for graduates are on an ad-hoc basis. What is the structure of the graduate program? Graduates typically commence in March each year and will participate in a 12 month rotation program before settling in a chosen practice area.

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 6 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 4 How do students apply for a graduate position? Jackson McDonald’s graduates are usually employed through a priority offers process following the

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Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes. Jackson McDonald have a dedicated Learning and Development team that coordinates the Practical Legal Training. The firm will meet the cost of the registration fees and graduates have access to additional paid study leave benefits during their training.

Jackson McDonald is the largest independent full service law firm in Western Australia.

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JOHNSON WINTER & SLATTERY ADDRESS Level 4, 167 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 5 - Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane & Perth

CONTACT (02) 8247 9630 Wilma Lewis, Human Resources wilma.lewis@jws. com.au www.jws.com.au

AREAS Transactional & Advisory and Dispute Resolution

How does the firm distinguish itself? Johnson Winter & Slattery is a national law firm where young lawyers play a meaningful role in strategic and complex transactions and disputes, and build relationships with executives from Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most successful companies through close client contact. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes, JWS supports a number of community initiatives and not-forprofit organisations across Australia through pro bono legal work, charitable donations and sponsorships. Our lawyers also contribute to the broader business community by presenting at workshops and seminars on legal developments, and authoring formal submissions to regulatory bodies to assist with legal reform in Australia. Organisations we support and provide pro bono services to include: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Anglican Church of Australia and Australian Chamber Orchestra to name a few. What significant work has the firm done recently? Microsoft Corporation Advised Microsoft on all aspects of its acquisition of technology assets from Event Zero. Cooper Energy Acted for Cooper Energy Limited in connection with its entry into a series of agreements to acquire the Victorian Gas Assets of Santos Limited and in relation to an underwritten accelerated pro rata entitlement offer to raise $62 million. 109

Bain Capital Advised Bain Capital on its acquisition of a majority interest in Only About Children, a leading early childhood education and development business. State of Victoria Successfully represented the State of Victoria in two significant disputes with Tabcorp Holdings and Tatts Group over compensation following the expiration of their gaming licenses. How would you describe the culture of the firm? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a highly professional and focused firm, committed to delivering superior services to our clients and each other. While integrity, accountability and high performance are expected, staff notice the friendly, open and collaborative atmosphere in all of our offices. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkship offered in 2016 6 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 4-6 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer or winter

How do students apply for a clerkship? cvMail What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Examples of work done by the clerks at JWS include: • Research on a particular case law or matter • Preparation of a brief for counsel • Drafting of letters for a corporate takeover bidder and ASIC • Review of an Investment Management Agreement • Drafting of directors’ resolutions • Preparation for and attendance at a meeting in relation to trademark applications • Preparation of the documents needed for a witness interview • Attendance at court to hear closing statements on a case • Preparation of a full summary report for a client on discussion and orders made at a directions hearing • Research and preparation of a memorandum summarising points on the legislative history of continuous disclosure obligations

development of their technical and commercial skills • Are excellent communicators • Will thrive in a collaborative envionment • Demonstrate a genuine interest in the commercial affairs of our clients and Australian commerce Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

GRADUATE POSITIONS What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 2 How do students apply for a graduate position? Graduate positions are offered to candidates that complete a clerkship program at JWS. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? Yes

What does the firm look for in a clerk? The primary criteria for assessment of junior lawyer applications are outstanding academic achievement, excellent communication skills, and a demonstrated interest in commercial law. We look for candidates that: • Are enthusiastic about succeeding in a service driven environment • Have excelled academically • Are committed to the continual

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Staff notice the friendly, open and collaborative atmosphere in all of our offices

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CAREER, YOUR CHOICE Johnson Winter & Slattery is a national law firm where young lawyers play a meaningful role in strategic and complex transactions and disputes, and build relationships with executives from Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most successful companies through close client contact. We have an established reputation for providing practical commercial solutions and outstanding client service.

THRIVE WITH NO BOUNDARIES

SHAPE YOUR CAREER

QUICK ACCESS TO QUALITY WORK

Our lawyers thrive in an environment that fosters collaboration with few internal administrative boundaries and is free from financial targets. Enjoy working across practice areas. Collaborate with diverse teams of specialists across the country.

Strong technical and client service skills are developed through structured mentoring and professional development education programs. Be mentored by Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best lawyers. Get regular feedback on performance.

Our hands on and proactive approach creates an environment in which ambitious lawyers become directly involved in significant opportunities from an early stage. Work side by side with partners and play a meaningful role in strategic and complex transactions and disputes.

Law students choose our firm because we provide an excellent learning environment, and an exceptional place to begin and develop your career. Our clerkship program is a realistic snapshot of your future as a lawyer at Johnson Winter & Slattery.

Please visit our website for more information: http://www.jws.com.au/en/graduate-lawyer-careers

SYDNEY

jws.com.au

PERTH

MELBOURNE

BRISBANE

ADELAIDE

K&L GATES ADDRESS Level 32 44 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 NUMBER OF OFFICES 4 in Australia - Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. K&L Gates practices law on an integrated basis and has the largest integrated network of offices of any global law firm. CONTACT (08) 9216 0966 Sarah Brown, Human Resources Manager sarah.brown@ klgates.com www.klgates.com

AREAS PERTH OFFICE: Energy, Infrastructure & Resources (EIR), Corporate & Transactional, Labour, Employment and Workplace; and Litigation, Dispute Resolution GLOBAL OFFICES: Corporate & Transactional, EIR, Finance, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Labour, Employment and Workplace, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Policy & Regulatory, Real Estate

How does the firm distinguish itself? K&L Gates is a commercial law firm operating at the intersection of globalisation, innovation and regulation to deliver legal solutions for clients facing an increasingly complex global marketplace. K&L Gates has more than 2000 lawyers across five continents. With a presence in Australia’s leading financial and commercial centres, K&L Gates represents leading global corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital markets participants and entrepreneurs in every major industry group as well as public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organisations and individuals. With the extraordinary inbound investment into Australia from Asia, especially from China, and 4 of Australia’s 5 largest trading partners – China, Japan, Korea, and India – located in the region, the firm has the resources on the ground to handle the most sophisticated legal requirements. Over each of the last five years our revenues exceeded $1 billion. Choosing a career at K&L Gates is choosing to be a part of a progressive and innovative law firm that continues to grow year on year. We work with market leaders across many industries in a range of exciting areas of commercial law. We have a one-company, one-team mentality, constantly seeking ways to add value to our clients and your career objectives. We look to recruit talented people, then provide the opportunities and support for them to achieve their best.

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Join us and you will join a team of passionate professionals dedicated to providing exceptional client service. Learn what makes our global law firm different: Check out our Facebook page: /klgatesgraduaterecruitingau Check out our brand video on YouTube: /klgateslaw Or visit our Careers page at www.klgates.com for application details. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? In short, yes! Our lawyers participate in a range of pro bono and other activities. Each lawyer has a minimum number of pro bono hours they must achieve each year. Ideally you will be involved in pro bono matters during your clerkship. This will be dependent on the nature of the work that is available in the practice area during your clerkship. Globally the entire workforce is encouraged to take part in our ‘Global Day of Service’ each year. We volunteer for a day in a variety of ways to give back to the communities we work in. How would you describe the culture of the firm? • Law firms often talk about many of the same things - having great lawyers, delivering excellent client service, offering global capabilities. At K&L

Gates, we consistently provide all those things to clients, and indeed, we often surpass expectations in those areas. But that’s what we do - it isn’t who we are. • K&L Gates is about more than practicing law or making a living. It’s about building something amazing - creating a legacy for you, the firm, our clients and the communities we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces our diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals, an approach that ultimately enables us to serve clients more effectively. Here you can make a difference, lead the way and let your innovation shine. • We are all in it together. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done. We are a global community of entrepreneurs and self-starters. We are nimble and ambitious with a high level of integrity, resolve and strength of character. Although we take pride in our willingness to run through walls for clients, we also value the importance of laughing with clients, colleagues or friends. We genuinely enjoy working with each other and for our clients. We expect you to work hard, but we don’t want you to be a robot. • We have doubled in size in the last decade. You don’t do that by waiting for someone to show you the way. There is no “that’s the way it’s always been done” at K&L Gates - instead we have adapted and evolved as we’ve experienced our exponential growth. We guide our clients through their most complex legal issues while they shape their futures, businesses and

industries. The net result of building a unified and globally integrated law firm is that we are confident that we can do this better than our competitors. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? At K&L Gates, diversity is one of our greatest strengths. As a global law firm with offices in major cities throughout the world, we strive to provide our clients with the highest quality service by relying upon and valuing the diverse talents, perspectives and experiences of each person with whom we work. The Australian Offices have a Diversity Committee whose primary focus is to consult with partners and employees and make recommendations to the Managing Partner, Australia and Australian members of the management committee in the areas of advancing women into leadership roles, cultural inclusion and LGBT. We have a Women in Leadership Strategy for our Australian offices. This strategy will be in place until 2018 to support our target to achieve a greater amount of women in leadership roles. K&L Gates is also a recipient of the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation for 2016. The citation is awarded to a select group of Australian organisations who demonstrate that they have leading practices and strategies to achieve equality between women and men in the workplace. What advice would you give someone applying to the firm? Solid academic results are important but to be a successful lawyer you need to demonstrate talent and skill in a variety of areas. You need to be able to demon-

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strate commerciality, logic and attention to detail, as well as an enthusiasm for delivering exceptional service. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 5 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 5 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) We ask that applicants apply via cvMail. If successful in obtaining an interview, they will have the opportunity to meet as many K&L Gates people as possible during the 2 round interview process, meeting with a combination of Partners/Senior Associates and HR team members. What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? During your clerkship at K&L Gates, you will benefit from being involved in real legal work. This will include participation in client meetings and court visits, research and drafting of advice and general support within one or more of our practice areas. You will participate in a comprehensive induction program that continues throughout your clerkship to learn important skills to lay the foundations for a successful

legal career. You will work closely with partners, senior associates and have the support of a junior lawyer or trainee lawyer as a buddy. There are also a number of social and sporting activities that are organised to help you to network with others across the firm and, most of all, have fun! What does the firm look for in a clerk? We believe in hiring individuals who will become a part of our collaborative, committed and diverse team. To be successful at K&L Gates you will have: • Leadership experience: You’re a self-starter committed to personal and professional development. And you’ve demonstrated initiative, tenacity and potential. • Curiosity: You’re a strategic thinker who solves problems creatively. • Maturity: You possess sound judgment and have excellent people skills. You’re confident and professional. • Passion: You must be dynamic, enthusiastic and excited about our firm. • First class communication skills: You possess the ability to speak and write clearly and intelligently. • Attributes of a team player: You’re approachable and enjoy participating in group activities. You’re a good listener. And you’re always willing to share thoughts and ideas.

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 3 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 3 How do students apply for a graduate position? We recruit our graduates from our summer clerkship program. What is the structure of the graduate program? Our graduate program is designed to give you the technical expertise and commercial context to succeed. Throughout the year you are supported with a buddy, supervisor and mentor. Partners and senior lawyers will guide you through each rotation and support your career development. Your buddy, a junior lawyer, will help you transition into your new role. Your professional development program runs weekly. It combines Practical Legal Training (delivered in-house by the College of Law) with sessions presented by partners, lawyers, external presenters and our professional development team.

Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

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Our program delivers skill development in 2 key areas – fundamental legal abilities and professional legal skills which incorporate: • Legal technical skills (analysis and judgment); • Client service (client and business knowledge, networking); and • Personal effectiveness (communication, work ethic, motivation and maturity). As a graduate you will complete 3 practice area rotations, of a 4 month duration. You will be exposed to a variety of areas of commercial law in all of your rotations.

Voted Australasian Lawyerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Employer of Choice. (>500 employees)

GROW YOUR CAREER Looking for a law firm that is defined by its universal experience and unsurpassed commitment to client service? Join us and grow your career.

PERTH Clerkship applications open: 17 July 2017 Clerkship applications close: 6 August 2017

Check out our Facebook page. /klgatesgraduaterecruitingau /klgateslaw Watch our brand video. /klgateslaw

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KING & WOOD MALLESONS ADDRESS Level 30 QV.1 250 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 27 globally

CONTACT (08) 9269 7000 Connie Herbert, People & Development Advisor connie.herbert@ au.kwm.com www.kwm.com/en AREAS PERTH OFFICE: Dispute Resolution, Mergers & Acquisitions, Banking & Finance, Projects & Real Estate

How does the firm distinguish itself? As a leading international law firm headquartered in Asia, we help clients to open doors and unlock opportunities as they look to Asian markets to unleash their full potential. Combining an unrivalled depth of expertise and breadth of relationships in our core markets, we are connecting Asia to the world, and the world to Asia. We differentiate ourselves through our people and the ways we aspire to live our values and harness our expertise. Working in collaborative, flexible teams we apply our expertise in connecting with and caring for our clients, standing in their shoes, understanding what they want and then going ‘all out’ to deliver. Always pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved, we are reshaping the legal market and challenging our clients to think differently about what a law firm can be. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Our firm is proud of the ongoing contribution that we make to the community. KWM in the Community is a multi-faceted, national integrated strategy that uses the skills of our lawyers and non-lawyers. We donate money and volunteer our time. As a firm, we have defined our specific charitable targets as being to: • help children and young people at risk • help alleviate poverty and improve community welfare.

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What significant work has the firm done recently? See our website. How would you describe the culture of the firm? KWM is a firm with a community feel with room for everyone to make their mark. Our people are the difference. Our belief in the power of together delivers the best results for our people, our clients and the firm. We have a strong focus on recognising and acknowledging our staff’s contribution, to ensure all staff are able to achieve a healthy work life balance. Each centre has social and sporting committees to help organise a wide range of activities for staff to enjoy. We also have a multitude of sporting teams including soccer, basketball, netball and cricket. King & Wood Mallesons is a platform to achieving amazing things. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? Diversity for us is not optional - it is fundamental to our business success and to creating our great place to work. Diversity and inclusion at King & Wood Mallesons is about how we acknowledge, understand, accept and value differences among all our people. This may relate to age, marital status, ethnicity, carer’s status, gender, physical and mental disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, spiritual practice or religious belief, for example.

We take gender equality seriously and were in fact the first top tier firm to set a gender target for females in partnership which currently stands at over 25%. We’ve run unconscious bias training across the firm to highlight the impact of bias and stereotyping. And we have embedded that into every single people related activity – from the way we recruit our staff, to the way we train and develop them, the way we remunerate them, the way we promote them. Almost half of our Special Counsel and Senior Associates are women so our pipeline is building. We are in the unique position of having women leading two of our major practices - Sue Kench as the Australian Managing Partner – the first ever female in the top job in Australia and Wang Ling the Managing Partner of China. How does the firm encour age a work/life balance? We embrace the workplace of the future, focused on what we get done not how we do it. We value mobility, flexibility and agile working. Nearly 17% of our workforce is on flexible work arrangements. Flexibility is critical in building sustainable careers especially for those returning from parental leave or just needing to work in a different way. We’re focussed on delivering the best to our clients and this means being committed to outstanding service – sometimes this does mean long days, but equally we recognise that people need to recharge and have a balanced life in order to have a successful career. We try to encourage and role model this behaviour. There is support for hard work and time to recharge.

Individual workloads vary depending on what deals are going on at any one time. We encourage people who have been putting in long hours on deals and other matters to take a break whenever they can. We also provide a lot of support around the hard work - Health & Wellbeing seminars, activities like yoga and massage, team sports, building resilience sessions and we have a time in lieu policy that kicks in if you are working really long hours for a period of time. We are committed to making sure the work is both satisfying and sustainable, this really is the key for all of us. What advice would you give someone applying to the firm? Though interviews can be nerve-racking, try to relax as much as you can (little things like turning up early and having a read over your cover letter and CV can really help!). Remember that the interview is just an opportunity for the firm to learn more about you and for you to learn more about the firm. It also helps to do some research beforehand, as it will help you frame why you want to be at KWM, which in turn will help you formulate questions about the things we do that you find most interesting. Also, don’t be afraid to let your personality show – there is no single “type” at KWM. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? Driven by business needs

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When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Novemer/December 2017 and June/July 2018 How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Via our online application system at www.kwm.com/careers What is the structure of your clerkship program? We’ve designed a program to help you make the most of your time with us. During your clerkship, you’ll learn: • The day-to-day skills to get you started – taking instructions, meeting with clients, drafting memos and documents, managing your practice and professional relationships. • The core practice teams at King & Wood Mallesons – who they are, what they do, how they’re structured, the clients they work for and of course, your role within them. • Our culture – working within your team, you’ll be exposed to (and encouraged) to get actively involved in the many activities and events that help create our unique culture. • Our people – you’ll find that people from every part of the business will help you along, sharing their knowledge and ensuring you have everything you need to fit in and do well. What does the firm look for in a clerk? KWM distinguishes itself from other top tier law firms in the way that it grows market leaders. We recruit high achieving, client centric, learning agile people with an international perspective. We understand that technical excellence is only one success factor. We value

a range of skills in our employees and recognise that a diversity of strengths leads to best results. We believe in teamwork and the ‘Power of Together’. We are not a collection of siloed practices, but work closely across the network to pursue client opportunities. Through a high performance culture, our results are realised through collaboration, innovation and engagement. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? Influenced by business needs How do students apply for a graduate position? Via our online application system at www.kwm.com/careers What is the structure of the graduate program? Our graduates participate in a targeted development program, we have a framework that cultivates valuable skills and that sets them up for success now and in the future. The program provides a practical business foundation for junior lawyers. You’ll receive: • Meaningful work covering a wide range of practice areas • Client contact and an in-depth understanding of how they operate in a commercial and regulatory environment • The opportunity to work with a range of partners, senior associates and solicitors in different practice groups

• A practical understanding of areas of our legal practice • A comprehensive knowledge of the firm, our technology, our resources, our processes and, of course, the people you’ll work with. The program also promotes and supports the mobility of our staff across our offices by giving you the opportunity to apply to go on exchange in one of our interstate or overseas offices. Through this, you are able to access a greater choice and variety of destinations and on-the-job experience. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes. As part of the Graduate Program, we also offer a Practical Legal Training (PLT) for our Australian Law Graduates. PLT ensures that you meet the practical requirements for admission to legal practice. Delivered online during your first 8 months as a graduate, it’s a customised, in house program conducted in association with the College of Law and aligned to the work you’ll do with us. We assist graduates by offering reduced billable targets to allow them to focus on PLT.

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We are looking for people who have an intellectual curiosity and are intrinsically motivated. Excellent marks are not necessarily a predictor of career success

MINTERELLISON ADDRESS Level 4 77 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 NUMBER OF OFFICES AUSTRALIA: Adelaide*, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin*, Gold Coast*, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney ASIA: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Ulaanbaatar NEW ZEALAND: Auckland*, Wellington* EUROPE: London [*Associated offices that operate as members of The Minter Ellison Legal Group]

CONTACT (08) 6189 7800 Neisha Clare Talent Consultant neisha.clare@ minterellison.com www.minterellison. com AREAS Competition & Market Regulation, Construction, Corporate, Employment, Finance, Environment & Planning, Insurance, Real Estate, Reconstruction, Tax and Technology

How does the firm distinguish itself? At MinterEllison, our aspiration is to be our clients’ best partner. Our large, diverse client base includes public and private companies, leading multinationals operating in the region, global financial institutions, and government and stateowned entities. We think beyond the law and apply a commercial approach and creative thinking to some of the region’s most high-profile transactions, projects and disputes. We draw on the extensive capability of our own office network and relationships with other leading firms around the world to deliver seamless service to our clients wherever they need us. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? At MinterEllison, our people take immense pride in contributing to the communities in which we live and work. The focus areas of our community work is driven by our people who have driven our efforts towards breaking cycles of disadvantage – especially for young people, people experiencing homelessness and poverty, and those who require access to justice. Our community partnerships ensure that resources are targeted effectively where assistance is most needed, with our contribution including pro bono legal work, staff volunteer hours, in-kind support and financial assistance

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in the form of community grants and a matched workplace giving program. Some of our community initiatives include: • Strong local pro bono practices and a national commitment to the Homeless Persons Legal Clinics in Brisbane and Melbourne, and the Homeless Persons Legal Service in Sydney. • Charity morning teas to raise money for charities such as World Vision, Kids Help Line, Jeans for Genes and the Cancer Council. • Regular blood donation drives. • MatchME staff donation program that enables staff to donate directly from their pretax pay to a charity. The firm matches dollar for dollar every contribution made, donating up to $120,000 annually. • World Vision sponsorship of children by our staff through automatic payroll deductions. • Non-legal volunteering opportunities, including mentoring students through partnerships with government schools in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra through our membership of the Australian Business and Community Network. In Hong Kong we also have an active school-based volunteering program. In FY16, similar to the previous year, MinterEllison delivered more than 30,000 pro bono hours. This was a record for the firm and a reflection of our commitment to make the justice system more ac-

cessible. This equates to an average of 39 hours of free legal work per lawyer – exceeding the 35 hour industry benchmark set by the Australian Pro Bono Centre. This solid result was reinforced by more than 75 per cent of our lawyers performing pro bono work on a voluntary basis throughout the year. What significant work has the firm done recently? Clients trust us with their biggest and most complex transactions, major litigation and problems that span jurisdictions. Our lawyers are legal heavyweights, innovative thinkers, strategists and tacticians. They close deals, resolve disputes and solve problems. During the year, we collaborated with clients to resolve complex legal issues and major disputes, grasp business opportunities and create value. Our deep understanding of how business is conducted in our region, local language skills and proven track record for delivering outstanding work means that clients were able to access local experience and expertise that was informed by an international perspective. During 2015, MinterEllison led some of our region’s headline transactions – including the privatisation of the Ports of Melbourne and Darwin by the Northern Territory and Victorian governments respectively. This followed our work for the NSW Government in its landmark privatisations of the Ports of Newcastle, Botany and Kembla in 2013/14. We also acted as Australian counsel to Singapore’s Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust on its A$1.013 billion acquisition of a portfolio of logistics properties from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC, and Frasers Property Australia – the second largest industrial property

deal to date in the Asia Pacific and the largest ever industrial property deal in Australia. Our M&A team advised on transactions that have reshaped the telecommunications landscape in Australia – TPG’s A$1.4 billion takeover of iiNet, Vocus Communications’ A$1.2 billion merger with Amcom Telecommunications and Vocus’ proposed merger with M2 to create a new player in the Australian and New Zealand telco sector. We were also specialist tax advisers in a number of significant M&A transactions, including providing strategic tax advice to Federation Centres on its A$6 billion merger with Novion Property Group and on the A$2 billion sale by Crown Castle of its Australian subsidiary. Across the firm, our teams worked with the world’s leading banks and handled financing and capital markets work across Australia, in Hong Kong and in London. There were also landmark cases. Our IP and trademark specialists won a landmark victory in Australia’s High Court for generic pharmaceutical companies in a dispute with AstraZeneca and our competition and regulatory specialists acted for Tooltechnic Systems in the first successful resale price maintenance application in Australia. During the year, our team also continued to act as solicitors to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. How does the firm promote diversity and inclusion? We believe diversity is about creating a high-performance culture that values individual contribution, teamwork, innovation and productivity regardless of background, ethnicity, disability, gender, faith, sexual orientation or family struc-

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tures. Diversity and inclusiveness are at the core of our values and we firmly believe our people should be able to bring their whole self to work. We are committed to leveraging the advantage of a diverse and inclusive workforce and actively promote an inclusive work culture through our Empower Program, our Pride Respect & Inclusion at MinterEllison (PRiME) network as well as numerous internal training sessions and related resources. How does the firm encourage a work/life balance? Health and wellbeing initiatives are available: • Free gym membership. • Discounted corporate health insurance with four leading providers. • Subsidised in-house massage in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. • Free annual influenza vaccination clinic on the premises. • Free health, wellbeing and lifestyle sessions presented by health professionals and providers on an array of topics. • Free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing confidential counselling service for employees and their immediate family on work or family related issues. • Free Personal Health Optimiser (PHO) online service that looks at, monitors, and records various aspects of individual long term health and wellbeing. • Free, healthy and delicious after-hours meals cooked by our in-house chefs available in our Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney offices. • Business casual dress Fridays.

CLERKSHIPS What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 20 How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) All clerkship applications should be submitted online via the careers section of our website. Applications should include: • Online application form • Resume • Cover letter • Transcript What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Our vacation clerkships offer you real life work experience. A comprehensive orientation program and learning on the job will help you build your legal skills and commercial acumen. During our program you will: • Work closely with partners and lawyers on active matters to meet deadlines • Produce quality and meaningful work • Participate in tangible learning & development activities • Attend social and networking events You will also be allocated a supervisor for daily support who will help you manage your workload, and a ‘buddy’ for extra insight and advice. What does the firm look for in a clerk? You should consider a career at MinterEllison if: • Your passion for excellence leads you to winning solutions.

• You have what it takes to apply technical thinking through the prism of commercial advice. • Building relationships excites you. You see yourself outside the office, working in partnership with clients. • You think outside the box and embrace new ideas. • You want to feel empowered and be part of a high performance team. • Collaboration and inclusiveness are principles you value. • The status quo bores you. You want to be part of something different. • You’re looking for a firm with a clear game plan.

GRADUATE POSITIONS What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? Depends on business demands. What is the structure of the graduate program? MinterEllison is committed to providing you with the tools to become not just a qualified lawyer, but a lawyer that inspires and excels. We will enable you to utilise your commercial and business acumen, along with our ongoing development and support programs to ensure that every time you interact with clients you showcase your skill set. Through our flexible graduate program you will be exposed to subject matter experts, mentors and thought leaders that are committed to fostering your professional development. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Part of our formal learning

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includes MinterEllison’s integrated Practical Legal Training (PLT) program. Through your PLT, you will attend various workshops to gain the practical skills that a lawyer needs – such as interviewing skills, legal writing and drafting skills, and negotiation and advocacy skills. Our PLT program is specifically tailored for MinterEllison graduates with a strong focus on working for a top tier commercial law firm. Assessment timetables are designed to allow you to manage your workload more effectively, and firm precedents and resources are used so that your experience is truly ‘practical’.

Innovate Partner Gareth Jolly and Associate Cameron Loughlin, winners of the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national Hackathon for their client service app.

graduates.minterellison.com

NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT ADDRESS Level 30, 108 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 55 globally

CONTACT (08) 6212 3286 Celeste Hancock, Human Resources Coordinator celeste.hancock@ nortonrosefulbright. com www.nortonrose fulbrightgraduates. com/en/australia

AREAS Real Estate, Litigation, Insurance, Employment & Labour, Corporate, Banking & Finance, Construction & Engineering, Financial Restructuring & Insolvency

How does the firm distinguish itself? Knowing how our clients’ businesses work and understanding what drives their industries is fundamental to us. Our lawyers share industry knowledge and sector expertise across borders, enabling us to support our clients anywhere in the world. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes What significant work has the firm done recently? Please visit our website to see news articles about recent major matters in Australia and globally www.nortonrosefulbright.com/au/ news/press-releases How would you describe the culture of the firm? We pride ourselves on our culture and work hard to maintain it. We are widely recognised as an inclusive, friendly, collaborative and supportive workplace with a genuine sense of community. We are confident that you will recognise these qualities from your very first encounter with us. Our business principles - quality, unity, integrity - are fundamental to us and the way we work with clients and each other. In our recent employee engagement survey our people said that they understand our business principles and feel that they fit well with their own

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personal values. We had a positive response to the survey and our employees felt that our culture is supportive and respectful. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 5 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? During the 4 week period commencing 27 Novemer 2017 How do students apply for a clerkship? cvMail What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Our summer clerkship programme offers you a real taste of life as a Graduate. The programme involves doing many of the things our Graduates do, including attending clients meetings and court. You will also enjoy exposure to our deals, culture and practice areas. There will also be lots of additional activities for you to take advantage of including: • Key skills training with our learning & development team • Q&A sessions with heads of practice and our managing partner

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An inclusive, friendly, collaborative and supportive workplace with a genuine sense of community

• Talks about practice areas and deals • Participation in a group project • Networking and social events

What is the structure of the graduate program? A two year program consisting of 4 six-month rotations.

What does the firm look for in a clerk? Strong academic results are important, but not the only criteria - Norton Rose Fulbright seeks well-rounded candidates who have work experience, extra-curricular interests and a good attitude.

Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes, the firm coordinates Practical Legal Training as part of the Graduate induction program for first year Graduates and meets all other costs associated with admission to practice.

Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? No

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 5 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 4 How do students apply for a graduate position? Via summer clerkships.

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PRICE SIERAKOWSKI CORPORATE ADDRESS Level 24, 44 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 1

CONTACT (08) 6211 5000 Monica Harvey, Human Resources apply@pricesierakowski. com.au www.pricesierakowski. com.au

AREAS Corporations Law, Energy & Resources, Mergers & Acquisitions, Insolvency & Reconstruction, Litigation, Commercial Law

How does the firm distinguish itself? We are a boutique commercial law firm. Our expertise is in high level corporate work, including capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions, energy and resources, reconstructions and litigation. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes. Visability (formerly Association for the Blind WA Inc), Leukemia Foundation, numerous sporting and other community groups. What significant work has the firm done recently? Capital raisings • Regularly ranked number 2 in Australia for number of IPOs. • Acted on Dragontail Systems Limited’s IPO, an Israeli based fast food optimisation business. • Acted on Blackstone Minerals Limited’s IPO, a Western Australian mineral exploration company. • Acted on eSports Mogul Limited’s backdoor listing on the ASX, an eSports competition platform and media hub. • Acted on ResApp Health Limited’s backdoor listing on the ASX, a respiratory health technology company. • Acted on G8 Communications Limited’s backdoor listing on the ASX, a Silicon Valley based next generation wireless technology company. • Acted on 1-Page Limited’s backdoor listing on the ASX, a human resources technology

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• •

•

company (1st Silicon Valley listing on the ASX). Acted on Swift Networks Group Limited’s backdoor listing on the ASX, an Australian provider of digital entertainment systems. Acted on 3D Medical Limited’s backdoor listing on the ASX, a 3D medical printing company. Acted for various Chinese based businesses in their IPO and ASX listing with Hong Kong, Singapore and PRC advisers. Acted as Australian counsel for numerous capital raisings of TSX listed companies.

Mergers and Acquisitions • Acted for vendors of a Western Australian industrial company in relation to its restructure and sale to the Berkshire Hathaway group. • Acted for vendors of a Western Australia trucking and mining company in its sale to NYSE-listed conglomerate. • Acted for the sellers in the $55 million sale of their national electrical training company to a buyer in conjunction with the buyer’s $250 million IPO on the ASX. • Acted for Amcom Telecommunications Limited in its acquisition of L7 Solutions Pty Ltd. • Acted for Coziron Resources Limited in its acquisition of 3 entities holding iron ore assets in Western Australia. • Acted for Outback Ecology in relation to the sale of its environmental consultancy business to international engineering company MWH.

• Acted for a listed Australian company in relation to their merger by Scheme of Arrangement with a Canadian listed company and subsequent listing on TSX-V. • Acted for a TSX listed medium level uranium producer in its all cash takeover offer (in excess of $200 million) for an ASX listed target. • Acted for an ASX listed target in relation to an all cash takeover offer (approximately $133 million). • Acted for ASX listed and unlisted targets in all scrip takeover offers. How would you describe the culture of the firm? The firm acts as a partner with staff in their professional and personal development. Working in an intimately sized firm means that interests can be clearly identified and addressed. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 10 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 10 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer, winter and during semester How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) Please email your CV, cover letter, and academic transcript to apply@ pricesierakowski.com.au

What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? Clerks undertake meaningful work from day one of their clerkships, working on transactions with experienced solicitors. We only place one clerk in the firm at any time, so clerks enjoy sole exposure to training and development. What does the firm look for in a clerk? The ability to work in a collaborative environment and preferably a commerce/law double degree. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 4 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 4 How do students apply for a graduate position? Please email your CV, cover letter, and academic transcript to apply@ pricesierakowski.com.au What is the structure of the graduate program? Graduates are mentored by experienced solicitors and undertake various tasks to develop their technical skills. These include: • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating various agreements; • Drafting letters of advice/opinions; • Conducting due diligence investigations; and • Providing assistance with takeovers and ASX listings.

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Graduates complete their College of Law qualification, and a Certificate of Applied Finance, to further their knowledge. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes, we provide assistance in line with our Graduate Study Policy.

• • • • • •

As a graduate lawyer with Price Sierakowski Corporate you will enjoy transaction experience early in your career and client contact from day one. Our individually tailored mentoring and CPD programs provide a ‘fast-track’ for high performers. Our staff enjoy high level corporate work in a casual and friendly office. Easy application process, simply send your CV and cover letter to apply@pricesierakowski.com.au or go to www.pricesierakowski.com.au

PHONE (61-8) 6211 5000 FAX (61-8) 6211 5055

EMAIL info@pricesierakowski.com.au WEB www.pricesierakowski.com.au

SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS ADDRESS Level 21, 300 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 46 globally

CONTACT (08) 9429 7444 Rebecca Hansen, Human Resources Advsior rebecca.hansen@ squirepb.com www.squirepatton boggs.com

AREAS Litigation, Restructuring & Insolvency, Corporate, Real Estate, Financial Services, Energy & Natural Resources, Labour & Employment, Construction, International Dispute Resolution

How does the firm distinguish itself? We are an international law firm with 46 offices in 21 countries. As a global 20 law firm, our team of 2,600 colleagues includes more than 1,500 lawyers. With the ninth broadest global footprint of any law firm, we provide access to new knowledge, new markets and new expertise. Renowned for our international reach and diverse sector expertise, we advise a wide variety of business enterprises, financial institutions and governmental entities in Australia and across the globe. Work is moved around the Australian platform to take advantage of time zones and quick delivery. We are nimble, agile and have been able to quickly adapt to business needs in our market. We provide quality legal services to businesses in Australia, Asia and globally, and operate within the same time zones as China, India, Indonesia and Japan. This places us in the heart of a regional hub that contains the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest growing economies. Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Yes What significant work has the firm done recently? See website and relevant media releases.

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How would you describe the culture of the firm? In Australia we have gone to great lengths to create a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. Our people are what count the most, and developing their talent to its full potential is a priority. This is something we are immensely proud of. Do you offer paralegal positions? Yes

CLERKSHIPS Number of clerkships offered in 2016 4 What is the anticipated clerkship intake for 2017? 4 When can students complete their vacation clerkship? Summer How do students apply for a clerkship? (cvMail/apply directly to the firm) cvMail What tasks would a clerk be required to undertake? The perks of working for a global law firm means you are exposed to large scale projects and cross boarder transactional work from

day one. Clerks undertake new tasks and learn new skills, all whilst working with an amazing team who are incredibly supportive and strive to facilitate a collaborative working environment. The work undertaken definitely builds upon the fact that Squire Patton Boggs has a collaborative culture at both an office level and a global scale. Does the firm offer clerkships to non-penultimate students? Yes

GRADUATE POSITIONS

How do students apply for a graduate position? Our Graduates are hired through our vacation clerkship process. What is the structure of the graduate program? 1 year as a Graduate then an Associate upon admission to practice. Graduates will take at least 2 to 3 rotations in different practice groups, for 6 months each. Does the firm assist graduates to complete their Practical Legal Training? If so, how? Yes, the firm pays for and supports Graduates while they undertake their PLT.

Number of graduate positions offered in 2016 4 What is the anticipated number of graduate intakes for 2017? 4

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The perks of working for a global law firm have meant you are exposed to large scale projects and cross boarder transactional work from day one

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GOVERNMENT/ PUBLIC SECTOR Working in the public sector is one of the most rewarding positions available. The work is diverse, varied and always exciting. One of the key distinguishing factors why professionals choose a career in Government departments rather than commercial law, is the more-structured working hours. This gives rise to a better work/life balance, especially for those that are after a 9-5 working life. While there may be comparatively fewer opportunities for advancement in the public sector, there is greater flexibility between government jobs and departments at the senior levels. Contrary to popular belief, starting salaries at the junior and mid levels are just as competitive as commercial law firms, if not more so. In this section, we have compiled articles from both professionals and students who have experienced working in the public sector. We hope these articles provide insight into a career working for the Government. Additionally, we have put together a directory with various Government departments that students should consider applying to if they are interested in working in the public sector.

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BEING THE STATE SOLICITOR

PAUL EVANS - STATE SOLICITOR A law student looking forward to a career as a practitioner has a number of choices to make about what that career will look like but those choices do not need to be made all at once. It may be hard to believe now, but the choice you first make about where you will start work, isn’t the last choice you will or should make. If you think about your legal career as something which will span, perhaps, 40 years there is plenty of time to make some choices, and try out different styles and areas of practice, as you develop as a lawyer and a person. You may do that in one place, or many. In a sense, that is my story - I started off at a firm called Muir Williams & Nicholson, the Perth end of the first National Legal Federation - Freehill Hollingdale & Page. I went there because I had a really enjoyable interview, with a couple of really interesting partners, during which I don’t think we spoke about law at all. I hadn’t done a clerkship at MWN (I had spent my sole clerkship at Parker & Parker, with which we would merge many years later) but the firm had a good litigation reputation, which interested me, and based on the interview I thought I would enjoy the culture (more so than at other places that I interviewed). I guess I did enjoy the culture: I spent 28 years at MWN and its successor firms, 24 of them as a litigation partner. I didn’t start as a litigator, but rather as a banking and finance lawyer who did a little bit of litigation on the side, then a mining lawyer who did a bit of tax, and then a bit more litigation. And as a litigation partner I was, at various times and to varying degrees a corporations litigator, an engineering and construction lawyer, a banking litigator, a competition lawyer and an oil and gas specialist, with a liquor licensing practice on the side. In that time I was a partner in (at least) 3 different partnerships as the firm evolved. Doing different things kept life interesting. Do-

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ing those things in a culture which I enjoyed and which supported me made life not merely bearable but enjoyable. But it was to keep life interesting that I changed to my new role 5 years ago, taking up the position as State Solicitor. It is a job that combines a chief executive role, running an office with more than 200 people (two thirds of them lawyers), with being a legal adviser, and some policy responsibilities. While the State Solicitor’s Office is to some extent structured like a private law firm, drawing on the strengths of the professional services model (we refer to the agencies with whom we work as clients, do timesheets and have the gamut of professional obligations), we are also public servants in an Office which is an important part of the Department of the Attorney General, a policy and operational agency of Government, generally responsible for functions within the Attorney General’s portfolio. That means that in some important ways, the SSO does not behave like a private sector law firm. That becomes important in 3 areas: 1. our responsibility to the Attorney General as first law officer of the State; 2. our obligation to maintain, at all times, a “whole of Government” view in giving advice regardless of the Department or agency instructing us; and 3. our involvement, on behalf of the Attorney General and Government, generally, in seeking to advance best practice in legal matters across Government. The Office has only one client: the State, but “the State” is broken up into several hundred ‘bits’ (large and small) operating under more than 1600 Acts and legislative instruments. That makes life challenging some times, and of course always “interesting”.

About 70% of our work is litigation or advice, everything from small debt recoveries for the Office of State Revenue and Department of Finance to very large commercial litigation, administrative law and constitutional cases. We have a robust commercial practice, delivering large public infrastructure, as well as supporting the procurement operations of government, and probably the pre-eminent native title practice in Australia. It is amazingly diverse. And most of our lawyers do more than one thing, in one practice area, at a time. While we have some deep specialists and specialities, our lawyers tend to specialise much later in their careers. The first 4 years are generally spent in very active learning as an advocate and adviser, often followed by a couple of years embedded in a client, before any real level of specialisation starts. But if the people that I work with have some common characteristics they are probably these: they are very collegial (we don’t need to fight over who gets the billable hours credit); they are very bright with a robust intellectual integrity and sense of independence; they are hard-working; and they have a sense of “public spirit” which is why for the most part, they became public sector lawyers as opposed to private sector lawyers. They are also pretty good fun. Those are all good things to look for in a place to work. Every professional office has its own culture, and that is one of the most important determinants of whether you will fit in and succeed in a job - does your culture match the culture of the office you are going to go to? I have enjoyed great success in both the organisations I have worked in. I hope you will too.

So think about the following when planning your career: 1. Longevity - if you are going to be a lawyer for a lifetime (and many are not, it is a great degree to do other things as well) don’t be in too much of a rush. Explore diversions along the way as they come up. 2. People - law as a subject can be dry and in practice quite isolating when you’re solving a problem. But it actually requires great people skills - after all you’re in the persuasion business. You need not only to find the answer but persuade sceptical others that this is the answer. Build your people skills! 3. Culture - find an organisation with a culture that suits and supports you. 4. Relaxation - There is no getting away from the fact that law is a stressful profession. Find (at least) one important thing that will take you away from the law to relax and clear your mind. Problems and tensions can linger around in your head. Find a meaningful distraction to clear the cobwebs.

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WORKING AT THE ODPP

BELINDA COLEMAN Prosecuting is all about the art of persuasion, so if you have a passion for advocacy and criminal law, then prosecuting is the career for you!

to have some experience in criminal law, along with advocacy experience, given that 2LG prosecutors are required to represent the State in bail hearings in the Magistrates and District Courts, State Prosecutors at the Office of the Director for sentencing hearings in the Magistrates and Public Prosecutions for WA (“ODPP”) represent District Courts, disclosure committal hearings in the community and public interest by conducting the Magistrates Court and simple superior court criminal prosecutions, primarily in the District hearings. and Supreme Courts. Prosecutors don’t have ‘clients’ in the general sense: they act independent- Junior prosecutors at the office manage a numly, yet in the public interest. ber of prosecution files at any one time. They will be those assessed as being of low to mid-range Prosecutors at the ODPP are allocated a certain complexity, and include files relating to burglarnumber of files, for which they have the overall ies, possession of drugs within intent to sell or responsibility for the preparation and presentasupply to another, robberies and assaults. They tion of the State case, as it progresses through will be expected to accurately draft court docuthe court process. The prosecutor is expected ments (with some supervision), prepare concise to work largely with autonomy and must make and informative supporting memoranda that profair decisions regarding the appropriateness of vide recommendations regarding the evidence, charges and the relevant evidence to be relied relevant law and the prosecution of each matter, upon. conduct case conferences with investigators, provide clear information to counsel appearing A prosecutor’s primary aim is not ‘to win’ a case, on the file and prepare files for sentence. Ongobut rather to present the admissible evidence ing training, support and assistance is provided. fairly and impartially, in order to assist the court (whether it be a judge or a jury) to arrive at the At times the work can be demanding but there truth. Prosecutors have an overriding responsiare so many opportunities for growth, both on bility to ensure that the State’s case is presented a personal level and also by gaining invaluable properly and with fairness to the accused. That’s experience from Senior State Prosecutors and not to say that prosecutors cannot resolutely Consultants. argue the State’s case – rather, the case may be firmly but fairly prosecuted (and not stray beyond So, how would you prepare for a role at the what is indicated by the admissible evidence). ODPP? First and foremost, you must ask yourself whether you enjoy advocacy: if you don’t like Currently, the ODPP does not have an active public speaking or appearing in court, then this graduate program, though it is possible to seisn’t the job for you! Secondly, given that State cure a vacation clerkship at the office. The Grad- Prosecutors deal almost exclusively in criminal uate Program may be reinstated in the future but law, you must have an interest in this area. in the meantime, recruitment has been geared towards entry at Level 2: this requires applicants

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State Prosecutors are required to liaise with a number of different stakeholders, including police, witnesses, defence counsel, experts, court staff and other outside agencies, so your ‘people skills’ should be well developed. It’s important to note that at times you will be exposed to sensitive and potentially disturbing subject matter (including graphic and disturbing photographic and video evidence), so you will need to make an assessment as to whether you are the type of person that would be capable of dealing with such material. Good time management and organisational skills are essential, since our office operates on strict timelines and court imposed deadlines. So having read this short synopsis, if you think that prosecuting may be the career for you, begin by investigating ways to expose yourself to criminal law and public speaking. Seize every opportunity that will help develop your speaking and people skills. Don’t forget to have fun along the way! As my late mentor and friend Keith Steele said to me upon my admission to practice, “I’m sure you’ll have a great and fulfilling career – remember to enjoy it!”

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BEING THE STATE OMBUDSMAN CHRISTOPHER FIELD - state ombudsman The principal role of the Ombudsman is to investigate the administrative actions of State Government agencies, local governments and universities. The Ombudsman undertakes these investigations following a complaint or by their ‘own motion’ (that is, without a complaint). In undertaking investigations, the Ombudsman has all the powers of a standing Royal Commission. In doing so, the Ombudsman is a critical access to justice mechanism for Western Australians. The Ombudsman also plays a role in protecting and promoting the rule of law and parliamentary democracy. In addition, the Ombudsman has important roles to review certain child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities as well as scrutinise and report on a range of powers exercised by Western Australia Police. The Ombudsman is a member of the Western Australian Integrity Coordinating Group, consisting of the Public Sector Commissioner, Corruption and Crime Commissioner, Auditor General, Ombudsman and Information Commissioner. The Ombudsman is also an ex-officio State Records Commissioner. In Western Australia, the Ombudsman undertakes the role of Energy and Water Ombudsman, investigating and resolving complaints about electricity, gas and water services providers. I graduated with Arts and Law (Honours) degrees and commenced my career as an articled clerk, then lawyer at Arthur Robinson and Hedderwicks (now Allens Linklaters). I held the roles of Executive Director, Consumer Law Centre Victoria and Chairman, Australian Consumers’ Association (now Choice). Immediately prior to my appointment as Ombudsman in 2007, I was an inaugural Member of the Governing Body of the Western Australian Economic Regulation Authority. I enjoy every aspect of the role of Ombudsman, both as an officer of the Western Australian Parliament and as a CEO. The role of Ombudsman has developed significantly since its establishment over 40 years ago in Western Australia. The role involves the exercise of leadership and executive management, knowledge of a range of legal disciplines, 148

particularly administrative law, an understanding of public administration, public policy and public sector accountability. I also have the opportunity to engage with the work of Ombudsman on an international level, including Ombudsman that are vitally involved in developing democracies. In 2014, I was elected to the position of Treasurer and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the International Ombudsman Institute, having previously served as the President of the Australasian Pacific Ombudsman Region of the Institute since 2012. Additionally, I enjoy the opportunity to teach law students, particularly as co-coordinator of the unit Government Accountability – Law and Practice at UWA. Any role you undertake should be challenging – if it isn’t, you should find one that is challenging! The Ombudsman must show care to never become a de-facto rule-maker, nor question the laws of the Parliament (beyond any powers provided in the Ombudsman’s legislation). The Ombudsman, like all public officers who spend other people’s money, must ensure that their work is undertaken as efficiently as possible. My office also places a strong emphasis on evidence-based recommendations about material matters that consider both the benefits, and costs, of recommendations as well as the potential unintended consequences of recommendations. Tips for law students: 1. The harder you work, the luckier you get. 2. Pursue your passions and what you enjoy – it will be what you are best at and it will also make the hard work seem not so hard. 3. Don’t worry too much about planning every aspect of your career – do today well and tomorrow will look after itself. 4. If you are given the opportunity during your career to undertake public service, always remember it is a great privilege and must be undertaken with the utmost integrity, responsibility and humility.

INTERNING AT OMBUDSMAN WA DAVID RYAN - intern The WA Ombudsman deals with complaints by individuals against public bodies. It considers complaints to ensure compliance with standards required in matters of administration. The Ombudsman therefore serves an important role in accountability and promoting administrative improvements. During my internship at the Ombudsman as part of the Legal Internship unit, I gained an appreciation for the incredible variety of work and subject matter dealt with by the Ombudsman. Seven teams handle nearly 12,000 contacts every year, amounting to almost 2,000 official complaints against the government sector, local councils and public universities. My experience was within the Investigations and Legal Services team. The team is the most law-oriented within the office dealing with complicated complaints requiring more time and legal skill than is available within the other teams. The complaints received within ILS have already been assessed by the Intake and Early Resolution Teams, who may flag particular difficulties. My role during the internship was to work towards the completion of various stages in the complaint resolution process. From a practical perspective, the stages required considering whether a complaint was within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman, reviewing the content of the complaint, contacting parties for additional information, and researching relevant legislation, policies and guidelines. Outcomes were communicated to the complainant via an official letter and could occur at various stages. Often, on assessing the complaint against the jurisdictional questions, for example, whether the complaint relates to a body within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman, the standing of the complainant, and whether

the issue is a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;matter of administration, as well as whether there is a more appropriate body to consider the complaint, a determination would be made that the Ombudsman is unable to investigate. This process often involved research on the organisational structure of the body in question, its internal complaint handling processes, the legislative basis (if any) of the decision, as well as the actions of the complainant. My experience was invaluable in developing skills in client communication, research, file management, and working both autonomously and within a team. The nature of the work exposes you to a variety of government bodies, legislation, policy, and guidelines, and requires the ability to learn as you go. Working within a government department was a new an interesting experience. The pace of work was fairly consistent each day, allowing for a predictable work environment. There was also some flexibility in work hours, and the time constraints for finalising complaints generally made it possible to work through cases systematically. There was generally good access to necessary resources, for example cases, with additional resources made accessible through other departments. Prior to my internship, I had not considered a legal job within government. However, I would consider it now given the day-to-day work pace and flexibility. The work during my internship was genuinely interesting and served an important accountability function, and significantly changed my perception of working within government.

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CLERKING AT THE ODPP JELENA DURMIC - CLERK Working at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has been my dream since before I even started law school and I was lucky enough to secure a two week summer clerkship this year. If you also have this dream or are considering criminal law as a pathway, have a quick read of my experiences to see if it is right for you. My time there During my clerkship I got to do a variety of things. On the first two days I participated in a Junior Prosecutors’ Advocacy Course (JAPAC) which was a real practical way to get some great tips and advice from some of the best prosecutors on how to be a good advocate. One thing I will always remember from the course is to never say to a judge, ‘Your honour, I seek to tender this evidence’. The next few days I was given my own file briefs where an accused had pleaded guilty and the file was being fast tracked for sentencing. I had to sort through evidence which included watching police video record of interviews and looking at juicy text messages to draft an indictment memorandum and subsequently the indictment. Lastly, I got to attend court on a wide range of matters but my favourite would have to be the 5 day manslaughter trial with a whole basket of issues ranging from causation, to arguments of self-defence, accident and alternative charges. Application The application for a clerkship at the ODPP is very different because there are no interviews. Due to this I would recommend that you spend a lot of time perfecting your cover letter and making it at least two pages long on your experiences, why you want to work at the ODPP, what you could bring to the ODPP and why criminal law is for you. Always keep at the back of your mind that at the end of the day, your CV and cover letter are all that they have to go off so it is fine to sell yourself completely.

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Why I would recommend it A clerkship at the ODPP may not be as glamorous as the top tier commercial law firms - there’s no specific orientation program, no free goodies and no buffet lunches. In my opinion however, it is one of the most interesting and most rewarding of them all and I would highly recommend it because you are given a great deal of responsibility from the get go and are thrown into a wide array of challenging and confronting matters that make you feel a real sense of purpose when you get through them. Good luck! Tips for law students 1. Get involved in Blackstone and everything they have to offer- it really helps when you actually have something beyond your grades at uni to talk about in an interview. 2. Try and get some legal experience as early as possible- whether it is voluntary or paid, it makes you stand out. 3. When applying for clerkships start writing your cover letters some time in advance because then you can keep going back and adding to them so they are perfect. For example, I started writing mine 3 months before applications opened. 4. Don’t worry if you don’t know what kind of law you want to get into yet. It’s good to experience a variety of areas and it would be a shame to close yourself off to certain options just because maybe you didn’t enjoy the unit at uni.

ACCC AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

ADDRESS Level 3, East Point Plaza, 233 Adelaide Terrace Perth WA 6000

CONTACT 1300 302 502 recruitment@accc. gov.au www.accc.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Competition and Consumer Law

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is an independent Commonwealth statutory authority whose role is to enforce the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and a range of additional legislation, promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure for the benefit of all Australians. Competitive markets increase the prosperity and welfare of Australian consumers. Our role is to protect, strengthen and supplement the way competition works in Australian markets and industries to improve the efficiency of the economy and to increase the welfare of Australians. This means we will take action where this improves consumer welfare, protects competition or stops conduct that is anti-competitive or harmful to consumers, and promotes the proper functioning of Australian markets. What does a career at the organisation involve? A career with the ACCC will give you the chance to work on a wide variety of key industry issues, consumer protection matters and significant public interest issues of the day. Be part of a high profile, professional public service agency with city offices in each state and territory across Australia. People looking for interesting and challenging work, who want to do something in the national interest,

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who want to work in a collegiate and professional environment should consider a career at the ACCC. Does the organisation offer any opportunities to students still studying? Yes, our internship program provides interns with the opportunity to apply and develop the skills and knowledge they acquire at university in a professional workplace. ACCC interns gain exposure to a Commonwealth Government agency with work that has far-reaching consumer, economic, industry and legal implications. Regular training and seminar events are included in the program. What does the organisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduate program involve? Our graduates enjoy applying and expanding their existing skills and knowledge to their work with us. They form an important part of a small, high-performing agency that is committed to promoting competition and consumer protection and fair trading in the Australian marketplace. Our graduates also work with the Australian Energy Regulator. As a constituent part of the ACCC, the AER operates as a separate legal entity. As well as other duties, the AER is responsible for the economic regulation of the wholesale electricity market and gas transmission networks. Graduate rotations are a key element

of our program, with graduates taking part in three 14-week rotations. They work in a range of areas to gain a broad understanding of the work of the ACCC and the AER. Graduates may undertake an interstate rotation as part of their training, which gives them the opportunity to work in another office, meet and learn from different staff and gain a greater understanding of the ACCC and the AER. Our graduate program is professional and responsive. We focus on ex-

panding our graduatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience and developing their knowledge through on-the-job learning, a series of formal training events and other learning and development activities designed to meet their individual needs.

PERSONAL PROFILE

KYLIE JOHNSON SENIOR PROJECT OFFICER

I joined the ACCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduate program in 2012 after completing my professional legal training. I chose the ACCC because I was interested in the consumer protection work undertaken by the Commission and was looking for a job that would allow me to utilise my legal degree in different ways. The ACCC graduate program runs for approximately 9 months. For my three rotations, I worked in the telecommunications branch, water branch and compliance strategies branch. Exposure to such different areas allowed me to gain a better understanding of the different roles and functions of the ACCC.

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My current role in the small business and industry codes team requires me to be familiar with the Australian Consumer Law and a number of other legislative instruments. My job regularly involves developing guidance to explain the operation of this legislation, assessing complaints to the ACCC for possible breaches, and liaising with other agencies and government departments. As a regulatory agency, the ACCC is well-suited to graduates with legal and/or economics-related backgrounds.

ADMIN. APPEALS TRIBUNAL ADDRESS Level 5, 111 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

CONTACT 1800 228 333 recruitment@aat. gov.au www.aat.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Child support; Commonwealth workers’ compensation; Family assistance; Paid parental leave; Social security and Student assistance Migration and refugee visas and visa-related decisions; Taxation; Veterans’ entitlements.

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) conducts independent merits review of administrative decisions made under Commonwealth laws. We review decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies and, in limited circumstances, decisions made by state government and non-government bodies. We also review decisions made under Norfolk Island laws.

How do you apply to work at the organisation? The tribunal uses a web-based e-recruitment system for lodgment of job applications. When applying online via the e-recruitment system for the first time you will need to register and provide a valid email address. This will then generate an automatic email that will be sent to your nominated email address and contains a password that allows you to resume or review your job application.

How does the organisation seek its employees? Members of the Tribunal are statutory office holders appointed by the Governor-General. From time to time the AAT seeks to have appointed persons with professional skills or knowledge in areas including aviation, actuary, social work, specialist or general medicine, compensation law and so on.

When submitting an online application you will be required to provide a written statement of claims against selection criteria. Your statement against each criterion should be clear, concise, relevant and generally no longer than half a page (approximately 400 words). It is recommended that you check the job advertisements via the link on this page for any specific application instructions. You will also need to attach a current resume. Please check the individual job advertisement for any specific job requirements.

The AAT also employs staff under the Public Service Act 1999. Staff are Commonwealth public servants and are employed as either ongoing or non-ongoing to perform a range of duties including management of the AAT’s Registries, conducting conferences, legal research, provision of client services and support services to Members. The AAT has offices in all states of Australia and in the Australian Capital Territory. The AAT is an equal opportunity employer which upholds the APS employment principles and actively encourages a diverse and inclusive workplace.

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ASIC AUSTRALIA SECURITIES AND INVESTMENts commission

ADDRESS 11 Mounts Bay Road, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9261 4000 careers@asic.gov.au www.asic.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Corporate governance, regulation of financial services

What is the main focus of the organisation? ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets and financial services regulator. We contribute to Australia’s economic reputation and wellbeing by ensuring that Australia’s financial markets are fair and transparent, supported by confident and informed investors and consumers. We are an independent Commonwealth Government body. We are set up under and administer the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, and we carry out most of our work under the Corporations Act. We regulate Australian companies, financial markets, financial services organisations and professionals who deal and advise in investments, superannuation, insurance, deposit taking and credit. As the consumer credit regulator, we license and regulate people and businesses engaging in consumer credit activities (including banks, credit unions, finance companies, and mortgage and finance brokers). We ensure that licensees meet the standards –including their responsibilities to consumers – that are set out in the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009. What does the organisation look for in an employee? ASIC seeks a range of graduates who can contribute to ensure that Australians have trust and confidence in our financial system.

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Importantly, you’ll have an enquiring mind and enjoy working with others to solve complex problems. You’ll be a person who seeks out new challenges and experiences to help build your career and knowledge. What does the organisation’s graduate program involve? You’ll be involved in some high profile cases, protect Australian consumers and ensure a meaningful difference from the moment you walk through the door. The work is interesting, challenging and personally rewarding. You’ll enjoy working for a values driven organisation where we balance opportunities to take responsibility with support and mentoring from experienced professionals. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a balance of financial and non-financial benefits. We never forget the importance of getting your worklife balance right.

AUST. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ADDRESS Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000

CONTACT (02) 9284 9600 www.humanrights. gov.au/

What is the main focus of the organisation? The promotion and protection of human rights in Australia. What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? A mix of relevant work experience, qualifications and personal qualities. What does the work at the organisation involve? This varies from investigation and conciliation of complaints under our laws to policy/research, education and corporate roles such as HR, Finance, IT and legal.

AREAS OF FOCUS Law, human rights, policy, education

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What advice would you give a student applying to the organisation? Provide relevant examples of how your knowledge, skills and experience applies to the job you are applying for. Does the organisation offer any opportunities to students still studying? We have two intern intakes per annum. What is an interesting piece of work the organisation is currently working on or has recently completed? National University Student Survey on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment.

AUST. LAW REFORM COMMISSION ADDRESS Level 40, 19 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000

CONTACT (02) 8238 6333 Marie-Claire Muir web@alrc.gov.au www.alrc.gov.au

What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? Excellent legal research and writing skills, experience in policy development, the ability to synthesise complex information, and the capacity to contribute to and work within a team. What does the work at the organisation involve? Undertaking legal research, analysis, writing and legal policy development, attending stakeholder consultations, providing support to other legal officers, supervising interns.

AREAS OF FOCUS Federal law reform

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Does the organisation offer any opportunities to students still studying? The Australia Law Reform Commission (ALRC) runs an internship program for law students in the penultimate or final year. What is an interesting piece of work the organisation is currently working on or has recently completed? The ALRC is currently working on an inquiry on elder abuse. In 2017, it will also undertake an inquiry into the rates of incarceration of Indigenous Australians.

PERSONAL PROFILE

SHREEYA SMITH LEGAL OFFICER

I chose to work at the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) because unlike in many other policy roles, I could dedicate my attention to a policy area and think deeply about it. Often, working in policy, you are acting reactively, responding to the immediate issues in front of you. By contrast, at the ALRC, over 12 to 16 months I can focus on an area, engage critically with the issues, and develop proposals for reform. I don’t simply apply the law. I can think about how it can be changed, and how it can work better. Through the Australian Law Reform Commission’s consultation processes, I’ve been able to meet with experts in the field and road-test my ideas, which is both exhilarating and daunting.

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I’ve had the opportunity to work on something new every 12 to 16 months, and I’ve worked across a whole host of areas. For example, I started at the ALRC looking at how to ensure that any encroachments of traditional rights, freedoms and privileges by statute are justified. I am now working on the role of the law in responding to elder abuse. Our next inquiry is on Indigenous incarceration.

AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE ADDRESS Level 15 770 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT 1300 720 092 taxofficecareers@ ato.gov.au www.ato.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Taxation

What is the main focus of the organisation? Our role is to effectively manage and shape the tax and superannuation systems that support and fund services for Australians, including: • Collecting revenue; • Administering the goods and services tax (GST) on behalf of the Australian states and territories; • Governing a range of programs which result in transfers and benefits back to the community; • Administering the major aspects of Australia’s superannuation system; and • Custodian of the Australian Business Register. We aim to be a leading tax and superannuation administration, known for our contemporary service, expertise and integrity. We are committed to advancing our strategic direction. Our mission is to contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of Australians by fostering willing participation in our tax and superannuation systems. We aim to achieve taxpayer confidence of the Australian tax and superannuation systems by helping people understand their rights

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and obligations, improving ease of compliance and access to benefits, and managing non-compliance with the law. What does the organisation look for in an employee? We are one of Australia’s largest public service employers, with over 20,000 people across the country. We strive to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Australian community, and we offer dynamic and rewarding careers. We employ people in a range of roles, from accounting, finance and auditing to law, administration and customer service to human resource management, information technology and marketing. What does the organisation’s graduate program involve? Our Graduate program offers you the opportunity to develop your career in a dynamic and high-profile national organisation. We offer diverse work experiences that will prepare you for exciting career paths. Join us as we become a more contemporary and service-orientated organisation, known for expertise and integrity. Our legal team establishes and maintains the ATO’s view of existing tax and superannuation

laws, and oversees processes that ensure consistency and timeliness of tax technical decisions. We also help shape the development of new laws by working with Treasury, providing high quality advice on policy proposals and implementation of new law. As part of a team, your work opportunities will include: • Managing interpretative advice and guidance; • Having an influential role in shaping tax law, policy and design; • Managing our litigation cases and clarifying the law; • Enhancing our relationships with professional bodies, consultative forums and the community; and • Working with other business areas across the ATO to provide advice and clarity on law. During your work rotations, you will build networks and identify work types that interest you. Over 12 months, you will complete: • two different work rotations • a client-contact component to give you exposure to different facets of the organisation.

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CDPP The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

ADDRESS Level 1 226 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9264 7264 recruitment.cdpp@ cdpp.gov.au www.cdpp.gov.au/

AREAS OF FOCUS Criminal law

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) is an independent prosecution service established by Parliament to prosecute alleged offences against Commonwealth law. We aim to provide an effective, ethical, high quality and independent criminal prosecution service for Australia in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth. We will provide an effective and efficient independent prosecution service that contributes to a fair, safe and just Australia where Commonwealth laws are respected, offenders are brought to justice and potential offenders are deterred. What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for people who value integrity, honesty, impartiality and who want to make a difference. Working alongside our experienced prosecutors, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have the opportunity to actively participate in shaping our organisation and work with our partner agencies to deliver services that contribute to a safer Australia.

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What advice would you give a student applying to the organisation? We are looking for graduates with a strong record of academic achievement, who have a genuine interest in criminal law issues and understand the important contribution our work makes to society. Core skills include excellent written and verbal communication skills, integrity, ethical practice and a motivation to provide an effective prosecution service. All vacancies are advertised on www.cdpp.gov.au. Should you wish to apply for a job at the CDPP, a summary addressing the competencies (selection criteria) will form a crucial part of any application. You are encouraged to set out why you have the right aptitude, skills and experience based on these competencies. You may wish to include examples that demonstrate and substantiate your claims against the competencies that can be verified by your referees.

COMMONWEALTH OMBUDSMAN ADDRESS 489/469 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT 1300 362 072 recruitment@ ombudsman.gov.au www.ombudsman. gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Administrative decision making and practices in public authorities

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Commonwealth Ombudsman exists to safeguard the community in its dealings with Australian Government agencies by: • Handling complaints and conducting investigations; • Performing audits and inspections; • Encouraging good administrative practices, and • Carrying out specialist oversight tasks. Our complaints and investigations role The Ombudsman can investigate complaints about the administrative actions of Australian Government departments and agencies. If a complaint raises matters that we can and should investigate, we will do so as quickly as practicable, acting fairly, independently and impartially. If we cannot assist with a particular complaint, we will explain why, and suggest other avenues for resolving the matter. Our menotiring and inspection roles The Ombudsman has statutory responsibility for inspecting the records of certain law enforcement and agencies in relation to: covert controlled operations; telecommunications interceptions; stored communications; and the use of surveillance devices. We

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are responsible for inspecting and reporting on some immigration detention matters, and for reviewing the exercise of coercive information-gathering powers by the Director of Fair Work Building & Construction. Our public interest disclosure roles The Ombudsman promotes and maintains the Commonwealth public interest disclosure scheme and undertakes a specific defined role for the whole of the Australian Government. What work at the organisation typically involve? Ombudsman employees can work across a wide range of issues of national importance. Our staff are exposed to a wide range of legislation, policy, and procedures from a range of different agencies, including those with responsibilities for policy development and those charged with service delivery. What does the organisation look for in an employee? Our staff have a wide range of skills, qualifications and experience. We value integrity, impartiality, honesty and service. Our staff are expected to maintain the strictest confidentiality.

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Each advertised position will specify relevant selection criteria and each applicant should provide a statement of claim against each of the criteria, along with any other information they think is useful and appropriate. Generally speaking, desirable attributes in an applicant would include: • excellent communication, research, analytical and/or investigative skills; and • abilities to prioritise and work independently or as part of a team.

Our staff are exposed to a wide range of legislation, policy, and procedures from a range of different agencies, including those with responsibilities for policy development and those charged with service delivery

What opportunities are there for students/graduates at the organisation? The Ombudsman does not operate a graduate recruitment program, but encourages graduates to apply for advertised vacancies. From time to time we can accommodate unpaid work experience placement requests, resources permitting. Any request for a work experience placement should include a statement of support from the university.

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CORRUPTION & CRIME COMMISSION ADDRESS 186 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9215 4888 info@ccc.wa.gov.au www.ccc.wa.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Criminal Law

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Corruption and Crime Commission is an anti-corruption agency that was established on 1 January 2004 to investigate allegations of serious misconduct by Western Australian public officers. It also assist the WA Police to investigate organised crime by authorising the use of investigative powers not ordinarily available to them. What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? The Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work culture is based on trust and respect and empowers our people to act with integrity and transparency. We look for people who abide by these values. What does the work at the organisation involve? Commission lawyers work as part of multidisciplinary teams that include investigators, analysts, and assessment officers.

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Lawyers engage in a wide variety of work including general advice, advocacy, drafting parliamentary reports and submissions, and preparing a range of complex documentation relevant to legal process (e.g. applications for notices, summonses, warrants, telephone intercepts, surveillance devices). Does the organisation offer any opportunities to students still studying? All employment opportunities can be viewed at www.jobs.wa.gov.au. What is an interesting piece of work the organisation is currently working on or has recently completed? You can read more about the work of the Commission at www.ccc. wa.gov.au/news.

DFAT THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & TRADE

ADDRESS Level 17, Exchange Plaza, 2 The Esplanade Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9231 4499 dfat.wa@dfat.gov.au www.dfat.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS International law, trade & development policy advice

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) purpose is to help make Australia stronger, safer and more prosperous by promoting and protecting our interests internationally and contributing to global stability and economic growth. The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the government. We work with other government agencies to ensure that Australia’s pursuit of its global, regional and bilateral interests is coordinated effectively. What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? The department operates in a complex and highly dynamic international environment. We look for and value in our employees: responsiveness, especially to the Government we serve, but also to a wide range of other clients, such as parliament, business and individual members of the Australian public; knowledge of the international environment and issues relevant to the promotion and protection of Australia’s national interests; the capacity to operate with sensitivity in many distinct cultural environments, while projecting clearly and confidently our Australian identity; vigilance in the protection of sensitive information handled in the department,

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both in Australia and abroad; high standards of ethical and personal conduct, especially abroad where, in representing Australia, officers have a real impact on our international reputation; comprehensive and contemporary management approaches, encompassing best practice, family friendly policies, continuous improvement, performance evaluation, strict accountability and a strong commitment to training and development, and personal and corporate flexibility, versatility and adaptability, all of which are demanded in a portfolio characterised by a uniquely diverse agenda and an often demanding and unpredictable environment. What does the organisation’s graduate program involve? The Policy Graduate Program is for applicants from all academic backgrounds and prepares successful candidates for a career as a generalist policy officer. Policy graduates work to advance Australia’s interests across a broad range of areas - from security to human rights, international trade to development and aid development & management, and represent Australia in a formal capacity while serving overseas. The graduate program includes a block of courses designed to build upon and give graduates the opportunity to fill gaps in their academic studies. For example, those who haven’t studied eco-

nomics have the opportunity to take an introductory course in economics and those without law have the opportunity to take an international law course. There are also workshops to develop graduatesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; presentation and negotiation skills, as well as courses in human rights, diplomacy, international development, people and financial management, and consular services. Graduates also have an opportunity to travel interstate to make calls on peak industry bodies and government officials. Over the course of the program, policy graduates will generally undertake five placements of 5-6 months across key areas of the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. These include multilateral desks (such as disarmament, development issues, counter-terrorism or human rights), bilateral desks (including foreign policy and aid program delivery), trade desks (covering areas such as the WTO, free trade agreements or international finance), development desks (including development and sectoral policy, humanitarian response and aid management) and corporate desks (such as consular or human resources).

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DEPARTMENT OF PREMIER & CABINET ADDRESS Dumas House, 2 Havelock Street, West Perth WA 6005

CONTACT (08) 6552 5222 Dallas Feeney, Organisational Development Consultant strategichr@dpc. wa.gov.au www.dpc.wa.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Administration of Executive Government services and Government policy management

What is the main focus of the organisation? Our role is to provide quality policy and administrative advice and support to enable the Premier and Government to serve the WA community well. What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? Our Department has a diverse workforce and looks for people with a broad range of experience in various fields of study. In particular, the Department’s annual Graduate Program aims to recruit people who are energetic, enthusiastic, looking for a challenge and are interested in a career in government. We are interested in smart people, with good social skills, who have original ideas, can problem solve and are intellectually curious. What does the work at the organisation involve? The Department delivers the following key services: • Providing administrative support to the Premier and his Cabinet • Providing administrative policy advice and support to the Ministerial Offices and the Executive Council • The promotion of Western Australia’s interests overseas • The communication of Government policies and activities • The administration of parliamentary electorate offices on

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behalf of the President of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the Legislative Assemby • Management of the State occasions and official visits program • Providing a secure, confidential and time-critical printing and publishing service for Parliament and Government • Management of exhibitions and programs at the Constitutional Centre. What advice would you give a student applying to the organisation? If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career, and are interested in working at the centre of Government in Western Australia, then the Department of the Premier and Cabinet will be able to assist you in your professional development. Working in the Department will give you a broad overview in areas such as public policy formulation, public administration and state administrative matters. What is the structure of the organisation’s graduate program? Our Department has a well established annual Graduate Development Program that provides graduates with an opportunity to gain experience across a range of policy contexts that contributes to government policy and processes.

Our Department occasionally offer internships through the Public Sector Commission’s Public Sector Internship and University Cadetship Programs. What is an interesting piece of work the organisation is currently working on or has recently completed? The Department conducts wide-ranging work including providing policy advice and support on key government priorities through promoting the State’s interests at the national level, strengthening regulatory reform, investing in the State’s natural and cultural heritage, promoting collaboration in policy and planning and providing strategic, cross-portfolio advice on land, State and Commonwealth approvals and Indigenous issues.

• Building Western Australia’s scientific expertise and capabilities including leading the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project and the Premier’s Science and Agribusiness Connect Program (SAC). • Leading the Dirk Hartog 400th Anniversary Commemorations.

Key highlights of work undertaken during the 2015/16 financial year have included: • Working with relevant agencies to develop a State-wide Methamphetamine Strategy, including cross-government initiatives to combat supply, demand and use of the drug in the community. • Providing oversight for the second year of the comparative trials of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

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INSURANCE COMMISSION WA ADDRESS 221 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9264 3333 hr@icwa.wa.gov.au www.icwa.wa.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Insurance law, motor vehicle claims/ insurance

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Insurance Commission of Western Australia is a statutory corporation and Government Trading Enterprise owned by the Western Australian Government. We are the State’s insurer, providing injury insurance to motorists and self-insurance to Government. We provide motor vehicle injury insurance for more than 1.7 million drivers and 2.8 million vehicles in Western Australia. We also provide self-insurance arrangements for the Government, covering over 169 WA public authorities for workers’ compensation, property and liability. What does the organisation’s graduate program involve? The Insurance Commission actively seeks graduates and young professionals to join our organisation. We offer training and professional development to build your career and help you achieve your goals. Working with us will provide you with public sector experience and a skill set that is transferable to the global financial service and insurance industries.

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What opportunties are available to students at the organisation? The Insurance Commission offers opportunities in a dynamic, flexible and innovative work environment for talented people. We value innovative thinking from people who are team players committed to delivering excellence to our customers and stakeholders.

LEGAL AID ADDRESS 32 St Georges Terrace Perth, WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9261 6222 positions@legalaid. wa.gov.au www.legalaid. wa.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Various areas of law.

What is the main focus of the organisation? Legal Aid WA is an independent statutory body set up by the Legal Aid Commission Act 1976 (WA). We provide information, advice and other legal help. The type and amount of help you will get depends on your finances, your legal problem and our resources. • Information services: through our telephone information line, community legal education, this website and a range of publications and kits. • Legal advice: through our duty lawyers at court or legal advice sessions, either face to face, over the telephone or by video conference to people in remote areas. • Minor assistance: through solicitors or paralegal advisors who can help you negotiate, write letters, draft documents or prepare to represent yourself in court. • Legal representation: through lawyers working for Legal Aid WA as well as private lawyers. Only people with incomes and assets below a certain level get their own lawyer. We also provide specialist services through our: • Dispute Resolution Unit • Family Court Services (Duty lawyer) • Children’s Court (Protection) Services • Domestic Violence Legal Unit • Child Support

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• Civil Litigation Assistance Scheme • Immigration Service • Social Inclusion Program • Youth Law Team How would you describe the working culture at the organisation? Working for Legal Aid WA means making a real difference to the lives of legally disadvantaged people in our community. At the same time you will experience being part of a diverse, supportive and vibrant work environment that delivers excellent professional development opportunities to all staff. Legal Aid WA is committed to enhancing the mobility and multi-skilling of its staff. Lawyers are involved in delivering a range of services to clients. Legal Aid WA has excellent opportunities for dynamic individuals who thrive in a challenging work environment. Does the organisation hire graduates directly? Yes

ODPP The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

ADDRESS Level 1 International House 26 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9425 3999 dpp@dpp.wa.gov. au www.dpp.wa.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Criminal Law

What is the main focus of the organisation? The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is the independent prosecuting authority for the State of Western Australia, responsible for the prosecution of all serious offences committed against State criminal law. The ODPP acts independently of the Government in decision making on criminal prosecutions. The Director is however responsible to the Attorney General for the operation of the Office. The ODPP does not investigate crime - that is the role of investigating agencies such as the WA Police and the Corruption and Crime Commission. Does the organisation accept vacation clerks? Yes What is the structure of your clerkship program? The ODPP actively contributes to the training and development of future lawyers by running a vacation clerkship program. The ODPP offers a number of vacation clerkships during the mid-year (winter) and end of year (summer) university semester breaks. Vacation clerkships are offered to law students who are typically in their last, or second last year of study. During the two week clerkship period, students will be provided with an opportunity to learn about the nature of the work that the ODPP performs.

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Does your organisation hire graduates directly? Yes What is the structure of your graduate program? The ODPP actively contributes to the training and development of future lawyers by running an annual Graduate (Articled Clerk) program. The ODPP employs up to 4 graduates each year on fixed term contract of two and a half years, incorporating periods of the graduate program (12 months) and post admission, restricted practice (18 months). The graduate program provides exposure to a range of legal practice experiences and learning opportunities. It also provides an environment that promotes structured training and development. The graudate program is designed to introduce the graduate to general legal practice but with a particular focus on developing a sound fundamental understanding of criminal practice and procedure and an emphasis on knowledge about the roles and obligations of a prosecutor and the functions and operations of the ODPP. In addition to completing compulsory course components of practical legal training with an approved training provider aligned to the National Competency Standards for Entry-Level lawyers, graduates will be provided with regular opportunities to participate in a variety of continuing legal education activities.

OMBUDSMAN WA ADDRESS 489/469 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9220 7555 mail@ombudsman. wa.gov.au www.ombudsman. wa.gov.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Administrative decision making and practices in public authorities

What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? Most positions at Ombudsman Western Australia require good conceptual and analytical skills, a high level of written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of the principles of independence, reasonableness and procedural fairness. People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for vacancies at Ombudsman Western Australia. What does the work at the organisation involve? The office of the Ombudsman has four principal functions, which are to: • Receive, investigate and resolve complaints about State Government agencies, local governments and universities; • Review certain child deaths and family and domestic violence fatalities; • Improve public administration for the benefit of all Western Australians through own motion investigations and education and liaison programs with public authorities; and • Undertake a range of additional functions, including statutory inspection and monitoring functions. What advice would you give a student applying to the organisation? Contact the person in the job advertisement to get an understanding of the advertised role and information about the job, 171

and provide a comprehensive curriculum vitae that details your qualifications, duties and achievements in your current and previous work. The CV needs to show that you have the skills, knowledge and capacity to do the work of the advertised position. Does the organisation offer any opportunities to students still studying? Ombudsman Western Australia provides law students that have completed Administrative Law units an opportunity to apply for the office’s Clerkship program during the summer university vacation. These opportunities are advertised on the Western Australian Government Jobs Board (www.jobs.wa.gov.au) in early August each year and the office also informs universities when the program is advertised. What is an interesting piece of work the organisation is currently working on or has recently completed? In November 2015, the Ombudsman tabled in Parliament the report of a major own motion investigation into issues associated with violence restraining orders and their relationship with family and domestic violence fatalities. This contained 54 recommendations to four government agencies about ways to prevent or reduce family and domestic violence fatalities. On 10 November 2016, the Ombudsman tabled in Parliament a report on giving effect to recommendations arising from the investigation.

STATE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE ADDRESS 28 Barrack St, David Malcolm Justice Centre, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9264 1005 Jenette Schoch ssohr@sso.wa.gov. au www.department. dotag.wa.gov.au/

AREAS OF FOCUS

Specialist Advisings and Litigation, Civil Wrongs, Native Title and State Lands, Commercial and Counsel.

What is the main focus of the organisation? The State Solicitor’s Office provides the Western Australian State Government and Ministers, and over 120 client departments, instrumentalities and statutory corporations, with legal advice and representation across all areas of law. If you can think of it we probably do it! What does the organisation look for in a potential employee? While the State Solicitor’s Office looks for graduates with excellent results in their law degrees, we also want to employ people who have a commitment to public service and understand that working in government can be different to working for private clients in a private practice. You should be able to work well with others and at the same time work independently when required (and it is required a lot). We need graduates who are not afraid of public speaking or who are prepared to have a go at advocacy despite the fear. We want to create an office full of interesting people who will maintain the happy working environment in which all State Solicitor’s Office employees are privileged to work.

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What is the structure of the organisation’s graduate program? Working at the State Solicitor’s Office as a graduate involves rotating through our practice areas and going to court on interlocutory matters (actually speaking not just pushing the trolley!). As a restricted practitioner you’ll have your own prosecutions to conduct in the Magistrates’ Court, your own advice files and you’ll assist on bigger matters as part of a team. You never need “settle” in one practice area if you enjoy maintaining a variety of work but you can develop expertise if you have a passion for a particular area of law. There is substantial in-house training for junior staff (including mock court sessions before you head to court on your own) and continuing professional development opportunities throughout your career. What advice would you give a student applying to the organisation? Please only apply if you are genuinely interested in the law, particularly government law, and are prepared to work hard and spend some time going to court in the first five years of your career. In regards to your application; do your research before you apply, make your application stand out, proofread properly, highlight your areas of interest and ability and most importantly convince us you actually want to work at the State Solicitor’s Office.

Does the organisation offer any opportunities to students still studying? The State Solicitor’s Office offers excellent paid vacation clerkships each summer and winter for law students, giving them the opportunity to gain practical legal experience with a leading law office. The carefully structured vacation clerkship program ensures that participants are well mentored and gain experience in as many of the State Solicitor’s practice areas as possible. What is an interesting piece of work the organisation is currently working on or has recently completed? The State Solicitor’s Office is involved in a number of areas of law, providing a variety of work for our solicitors. We provide advice on

a range of legal issues for government and Ministers, with over 4000 requests for advice received in 2016. Our Commercial team has been involved in a number of recent major infrastructure projects including the new Perth Stadium and the new Museum. Our organisation is designed to be flexible with a broad appreciation of the operations of government and the broad skill set required to cater to the diverse legal demands that government generates. Consequently while every lawyer is a member of a practice team they can be adjunct members of one of more additional teams and also members of specific interest groups such as counter terrorism and emergency management, Hague convention or constitutional law.

PERSONAL PROFILE

STEFAN TOMASICH LEGAL PRACTITIONER TRAINEE

My decision to work at the State Solicitor’s Office (SSO) was an easy one. There is nowhere in Perth where you will get the same opportunities as those available at the SSO. As the primary provider of legal services to the State government, the Office is involved in a wide range of work, from commercial drafting, to formal legal advice and litigation. As a young member of the Office you are exposed to all facets of the work done by the Office. From day one you get a high level of independence, often being asked to draft formal advice to clients (with supervision, of course). Further, you will be given your own court appearances as soon as you start. There

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is excellent training and support available as well, so even though you are given independence, there is always help available when you need it. The responsibility and independence that you have means that you learn a lot very quickly, as well as making it a rewarding environment to work in. The SSO is full of exceptional people – both legal and support staff – and it is an Office that I am proud to be a part of.

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COURTS This section of the Handbook focuses on careers in the judicial system. By this we mean, experience working as a judge, a judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s associate (associateship) or joining the Bar and becoming a barrister. The articles contained within this section are from professionals who have held such positions, including insight from judges who have been on the Bench of the High Court of Australia. They should give you insight into the nature of these positions and the challenges and expectations that they faced. Associates are employed as part of the personal chambers staff of a particular judge. They provide legal research, in-court duties, proof judgments, liaise with Counsel and other support for that judge. Obtaining experience as an associate may be a particularly attractive pathway for those wishing to pursue a careers at the Bench or at the Bar, as it provides an opportunity to work closely with a judge and observe legal advocacy from within. Depending on the court and the judge, positions will generally run for 12 months, with particular associate positions being 2 years in length. If you are interested, it is recommended that you conduct research into the courts within Western Australia but also explore the courts around the rest of the country as associateships as applications are accepted from across the country. A barrister is different to a solicitor. Barristers are lawyers whose principal work involves presenting cases in court and other formal hearings, such as tribunals. They also undertake a variety of other work, providing specialist legal advice and acting as mediators or arbitrators.

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CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

THE HON. ROBERT S FRENCH AC I have been asked to say something about life as a judge. It could be summarised succinctly by adapting the definition of ‘history’ as ‘one damn thing after another’ to read ‘one damn case after another’. Judging, involving the exercise of the judicial power and the doing of justice according to law, is ultimately about the hearing and determination of cases. They may arise out of disputes between private individuals or corporations, individuals and executive governments, public officers or authorities and, sometimes, between governments in the Federation. The work of a judge is engaging and interesting and always exacting. For those who aspire to judicial office, there is no celestial career blueprint which will guarantee appointment. Obviously enough, integrity, legal knowledge and competence, and a strong work ethic are necessary conditions. Courtroom experience is almost always a prerequisite although appointments have been made from time to time of legal academics and of solicitors whose practice has not been predominantly court-based. In my case, after graduating from the University of Western Australia in 1971 and completing my Articles, I was admitted to practice in 1972. I practiced as a Solicitor and Barrister until 1983 when I went to the Independent Bar. In November 1986, I was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia on which I served until 1 September 2008 when I took up office as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. I resigned as Chief Justice with effect from 29 January 2017. My life as a Judge, which spanned 30 years, was one of variety, intellectual challenge and hard work. I was rarely bored. I enjoyed the judicial process and the high degree of collegiality between the judges in the courts on which I served. My office created opportunities for engagement with the legal academy in delivering occasional lectures and organising, seminars, and through my involvement as a Council Member and later President of the Australian Association of Con-

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stitutional Law and as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. I was burdened and blessed with the role of President of the National Native Title Tribunal for about five years from 1994 to 1998. That office took me to many parts of regional Australia. I met with members and leaders of Indigenous communities around Australia as well as members and representatives of State and local governments and the pastoral, mining, fishing and other industry sectors affected by native title. That was a non-judicial job but one which gave me a much greater appreciation of the challenges of public administration when I returned to fulltime judicial work on the Federal Court. Like any job, being a judge has its downside — the work is demanding in both the civil and criminal jurisdictions. There are some classes of case that become repetitious and, from a legal point of view, almost tedious. However, what judges have to keep in mind, as I tried to do, is that, at the centre of every case, however routine, there are real people to whom the outcome matters immensely. It was that awareness which sometimes made me a little anxious before delivering judgment in civil cases knowing that I was going to probably ruin somebody’s day and maybe his or her life and fortune for some time to come. There are courts in which the role of the judge offers less variety than I experienced on the Federal Court. In all courts, however, the judge or magistrate carrying out his or her task conscientiously, diligently and competently, by every decision, affirms and reaffirms in a public way the continuing operation of the rule of law and the commitment of the courts to do justice to all parties according to law. Appointment to judicial office is not something that can be planned as a career step. If it comes and you accept it, there will be good days and bad days, but the importance and value of what you do for the people who appear before you and to the wider society should never be in doubt.

FORMER JUSTICE

The hon. michael j KIRBY AC CMG

In many ways it is more exciting, yet uncertain, to be entering into a life in law today than it was when I arrived at the Sydney Law School in 1957, 60 years ago. Then, there were only six law schools in Australia; now there are nearly 40. Not a single legal firm had a branch in another state, let alone overseas. In 1971 women constituted only 6% of Australia’s lawyers. There were no legal aid systems; no community legal centres; no in-house lawyers in corporations; and few government lawyers. There were no women judges, QCs or law professors. None at all.

and fear were the reasons for silence. I pay tribute to the University of Western Australia – and its leadership – for playing a part in this change. Back in 1966 when I attended the annual meeting of the National Union of Australian University Students at UWA, I never dreamed that I would live to see the day (as I did) that the Rainbow Flag would hang with the national and state and Aboriginal flags at the entrance to the University. So we sure have come a long way in my lifetime. Your job is to make sure that similar changes will be achieved in your lifetimes. And by you.

Now lawyers have many more opportunities to use their degrees in different walks of life: in government, in corporations, in academe, in legal publishing, in politics, in overseas countries, in tribunals, in law reform bodies and civil society organisations. The variety of openings could not be dreamt of when I started my studies in law. New subjects have also arisen: environmental law; cyber law; animal welfare law. Late in 2016 I was in Tokyo and I met a room full of young Australian graduates working in a large legal firm. A week later I was in New York, only to find a dozen young Australian graduates working on the margins of the UN General Assembly and international civil society organisations. Countless selfies were taken. Mostly by me! Australia’s region is our natural geographic opportunity.

I realise that the current age is not without challenges for new lawyers. Two major forces drive these challenges. The first is the gap that is opening up between the number of students undertaking the professional studies and the number of traditional jobs. For example a recent article disclosed that Australia is producing 15,000 law graduates each year in total. However, the entire legal profession currently has only 66,000 jobs. Law journals declare that there are “too many law graduates”. Lecturers in law are calling for reality checks. Even federal ministers are beginning to flag a possible need for trimming enrolments, given current employment prospects.

My own career in the law is emblematic of the changes in the legal profession today. Once a retired High Court justice would tend the roses, talk of the “good old days” and try to look distinguished. Today he or she is more likely, as I have done, to be undertaking large international commercial arbitrations in Singapore or New Delhi. Or serving the United Nations on human rights in North Korea. Or on universal access to essential health care. Or addressing, as I have done in recent days, conferences on human rights in Asia concerning LGBTI rights and the dream of equality for everyone. When I was at law school, LGBTI issues were absolutely never mentioned. Shame

As if this were not challenge enough, there are others that need to be faced with realism. The greatest weakness of our traditional legal profession has been its cost-intensive character and hence its unavailability for many ordinary citizens. The funds provided by governments for public legal aid have been cut. This is so despite the fact that the needs are growing every year. The rise of artificial intelligence offers the prospect of systems becoming available in the law and in healthcare during the lives of today’s graduates. These will not only complement the professions but also, to some degree, redefine the work they do. As I pass through international airports, artificial intelligence systems photograph me and my passport; analyse the data, apply the Migration Act; and open the gate or hold it shut: all in

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OF THE HIGH COURT

a matter of seconds. Not so long ago these tasks were being performed by trained officials, taught to apply the law. This is symbolic of the changes that will affect all employment. Lawyers will not be exempt. In the lifetime of today’s law students, artificial intelligence will take over more and more routine tasks. Yet, so far, it has not proved possible to programme a machine to have the will to do justice and to have empathy for the victims of violence, discrimination and even of unjust laws. Such developments are not reasons to start looking around for a new vocation. The traditional path of solicitor, barrister, silk and judge may not be so traditional in the future. But university education teaches a mode of thinking and analysing problems. Law, for example, has found many new opportunities. They will continue. Within four months of graduation last year, 74% of those who were available for work using their degrees were already in employment. And they enjoyed commencing salaries well above those of students undertaking other degrees. Professor Richard Susskind, an expert on artificial intelligence, predicts that legal employment will undergo a period of “redeployment not unemployment”. “Lawyers”, he says, “move on to new tasks to adopt new areas of knowledge”. He predicts that we may even stop using the word “lawyer” for many of these tasks. They will be legal risk managers; legal project managers, legal process analysist, and legal knowledge engineers”. The same will be true for scientists and healthcare professionals. A bumpy ride ahead for some law students of the 2017 cohort? Perhaps. But graduates from University of Western Australia and other fine law schools are a species with a brilliant talent in survival. We cannot be all that proud of a society in which most people with legal or health problems significant for them and their families cannot afford to see a professional. The unmet demand is there. Adapting demand to supply is the challenge. Innovation and adaptation promise a big future for today’s graduates. 180

Finally, it is necessary to have a dream. To remember that science beckons us to the future; that healthcare is vital for all of us; and that law can be a noble vocation concerned with justice and fairness. The gifted Australian musician and comedian Tim Minchin, told a UWA graduation ceremony that this was bunkum. This is what he said. I know because it is on YouTube. Summing it up he claimed: “You don’t have to have a dream. You don’t need to seek happiness. Life is all luck. You should all do more exercise. You should be hard on opinions, including your own. You should teach what you learn. You should define what you love. And you should realise that the search for the meaning of life is usually a sign that the searcher is undergoing an early mid-life crisis”. I would agree with only about half of this advice. More exercise and less fruit cake is probably good advice for a person like me. But of course, you should all search for love and happiness. A person who comes to university cannot but ask about the meaning of life. And above all, every one of us should have a dream. A dream of a better world. A dream of justice for the disadvantaged. When I started out in the law, I certainly had a dream. It was a recurring dream. I called it my equality dream. I dreamed of equality for Aboriginal Australians. I dreamed of greater equality for women. I dreamed of equality for people of different skin colour. I dreamed of an end to ‘White Australia’. I dreamed of equality for people with disabilities. And I dreamed for equality for myself and all gay people. These dreams propelled me into civil society and lots of pro bono legal cases. None of those dreams has been entirely fulfilled. But it is people who have shared the dreams and then rolled up their sleeves and acted in pursuit who have helped to make parts of the dream come true. Those well-

known law professors Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers put this best in their 1949 musical South Pacific. In one of the show-stopping songs, Happy Talk, they explained the importance of dreaming. So that is my message: on entering law, “You’ve got to have a dream”: “You’ve got to have a dream, If you don’t have a dream, How’re you going to make your dream come true?” Eat your heart out Tim Minchin. And add a little fruit cake. You’ve got to have a dream! I send best wishes to the students of UWA and the members of the Blackstone Society. Careers are built on dreams. Great careers are built on very big dreams. Dream about equality and justice. And then spend your life making these dreams come true.

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BEING A QUEEN'S COUNSEL ThOMas percy QC - WOLF CHAMBERS I was never really interested in law as a kid or even as a younger adult. I went to Uni in 1973 with average marks and did Arts. I did like literatures and languages. I transferred to Law because a lot of my mates did. I knew next to nothing about it, and had no family background there at all. My folks had always run a country pub. Once in the Law school I really liked it, although that never reflected in my results, which were always average. In my own defence it probably has to be said I didn’t try very hard. After graduation in 1977 I went back to Kalgoorlie to do my articles. The Terrace scene didn’t interest me. Plus I had the opportunity to live in my own pub. I loved my early years of practice. I had a great principal who never saw costs or money as an issue. To this day I have never filed in a time sheet. His idea of legal practice is that you had to have fun, and that if in the process you could make a living and bring about some just outcomes, so much the better. The country practice suited my advocacy aspirations. If your client had to go to Court, you were his barrister, it was as simple as that. It also let me do anything and everything that took my fancy. Jury trials, Wardens Court, Divorce, Probate, civil litigation, whatever. Eventually I couldn’t resist the bigger challenge of the Perth Bar, so I moved in 1988. It was pretty quiet to start with, but it eventually picked up, and by the late 90’s I was pretty much in demand. There was no money in it, but it was a lot of fun. I just loved going to work every day. I did a lot of free work and many legal aid cases. In December 1997 I got the terrifying call from the Attorney General telling me I was now Percy QC. I thought he had called the wrong number.

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The last 20 years as a Silk have been more dificult. The cases are exponentially more challenging. There is also a lot of pressure to do more pro bono work. And there is still not a lot of money in it. Whilst my daily charge-out rate is terrifying (I doubt that I could afford myself if I was in trouble) the bottom line after staff, rent, tax and other expenses isn’t that flash. But I still love the job. I never look at it as work. Its just what I do, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. The day that I get out of bed and query why I’m doing it, or have the slightest feeling that I’m over it, I’ll stop. My advice to any budding lawyers out there would be that if you don’t enjoy it, every minute of it, dont do it. If you think for one minute that the practice of the Law is some sort of pathway to financial security, first-class holidays in Europe and a holiday house at Eagle Bay, think again. I don’t have any of that, nor do any other criminal lawyers I know. But if you do like helping out desperate people who are in desperate trouble, with little regard to what might be in it for you, it might your go. If you hate injustice and aren’t scared of the system and the powerful people in it, if you are prepared to take on the formidable resources of the DPP and the government, you might have what it takes. A wise old man once told me that if you find a job that you really enjoy you’ll never work again. I guess having that sort of job has outweighed in spades the more remunerative career paths taken by some of my peers. And after 40 years in the Law I can honestly say I wouldn’t have it any other way.

LIFE AS A BARRISTER DAVID JONES - FRANCIS BURT CHAMBERS Barristers represent less than 5% of legal practitioners in Western Australia, yet are part of a distinct profession which first emerged in the 13th Century. The role of a barrister is that of an independent specialist advocate and legal advisor, briefed by solicitors. We principally appear as counsel in superior courts, but also provide expert advice and opinions on complex legal matters, formulate litigation strategies and engage in various forms of alternative dispute resolution.

I was called to the Bar in 2016 after seven years at the State Solicitor’s Office. At the SSO I practised across a range of areas, including in commercial law, advising, civil litigation and criminal prosecutions. The SSO provided a great training ground for life at the Bar: a diversity of work, independence in practise and plenty of advocacy experience. I would encourage those considering a career at the Bar, to look for these opportunities with potential employers.

Unlike solicitors, barristers must each maintain their own independent practice. Most often these practices are grouped together into a set of chambers. Practitioners join the Bar through a variety of routes, typically from more senior levels of the profession. Barristers, in turn, constitute the majority of those appointed to the bench.

Personally, I’ve found life at the Bar to be extremely rewarding. The Bar is close-knit and supportive, and the love of law and logic amongst its members is inspiring. Being a barrister allows a practitioner to be an independent and trusted advisor. While often very difficult, being a barrister is something I love.

Life as a barrister is rewarding, competitive, challenging and diverse. The pace of work can sometimes be rushed, but more typically chambers is a quiet and cerebral environment in which we research and consider our work. Life as a barrister is not for everyone. The responsibility and pressures of a barrister’s life can be extremely stressful. Your instructing solicitors rely upon your critical judgment and guidance; and ultimately, you are responsible for every aspect of your own legal practice. I’ve found the sheer diversity of work and the independence of the Bar to be empowering. Each new brief provides an opportunity to be exposed to a novel area of law, and to digest a new set of facts. Key skills for barristers include a critical, analytical approach to problem solving, a mastery of procedure and the rules of evidence, strong communication skills and a passion for law.

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BECOMING A BARRISTER SARAH MAURIKS - FRANCIS BURT CHAMBERS For many years I worked as a Lawyer in the public service and taught law in Universities. As more and more of my friends transitioned to the Bar and after hearing about the excitement, challenges and freedom it gave them, I thought that maybe I would join the Bar too. The main thing holding me back was whether I would be disciplined enough to work for myself, but after having marked countless exams and assignments in what was essentially my own time, I knocked over that last mental hurdle. However, as I am not originally from Western Australia, joining Chambers proved to be quite difficult and after meeting with countless Barristers (whom I am very grateful to for their time), it became apparent that joining the Bar was not going to be a straightforward or easy task, mainly because I didn’t know anyone and my legal experience in Western Australia was limited. I forged on and made contacts with as many Barristers as I could which, after many coffees and asking around, I managed to establish a Pupil Cell comprising of four Barristers, including two Senior Counsel, who would mentor and support me in my first 12 months at the Bar. I then applied to Francis Burt Chambers and was (very fortunately) successful. The whole process from the decision to join the Bar to being accepted took about 12 months. Since joining Francis Burt Chambers, I have worked harder than I ever have and have found the environment to be one of outstanding support for new and junior members. I have had opportunities to work in a range of areas of law that I have never encountered before including bankruptcy and creditor’s petitions, family law and corporations law. These opportunities, while very exciting and rewarding, are often equally terrifying.

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Something very important that I have realised is that, as Counsel, I wield my own decision-making capacity and power (subject to a client’s instructions) and am no longer constricted or governed by an employer. It is important to acknowledge and appreciate that this decision-making power factors in not only the correct or good decisions, but the wrong or bad decisions too. Once I came to accept this idea, and that it was never going to be possible for me to be right or victorious every time or to know everything or get everything perfect, the fear factor reduced considerably. That said, a very well respected and senior Barrister in Chambers did tell me recently that, as Barristers, if we don’t experience a reasonable amount of terror or nervousness in our work, then we’re probably not doing a very good job. Instead of trying to be an expert in every area of law in order to be successful, I knuckle down to learn and apply an unfamiliar area of law as it arises. When I have some downtime, I make a point of re-reading the State and Commonwealth Evidence Acts to keep sharp in an area that is always relevant. I have found that being kind, respectful and helpful has been very beneficial and I have already established wonderful relationships with many other Barristers and lawyers where the hope that each other does well and flourishes is genuinely reciprocal. I love being at the Bar; I could not imagine doing anything else with my career. Well, except for being a Judge one day, but one thing at a time.

BEING A JUDGE'S ASSOCIATE CHRIStopher MOFFLIN - SUPREME COURT OF APPEAL WA

Working as a judge’s associate is hands down the best law-related job you can get straight out of university. You get to spend a lot of time in courtrooms (often in robes – it takes a long time for the novelty to wear off) and do interesting and complex legal research. It even counts towards your admission requirements, so you can get admitted to practice while working at the Court if you do College of Law. Best of all, you’ll be the only graduate in town not doing discovery or due diligence. Sign me up! How do I apply? Supreme Court associateships start in January and are usually for one or two years. Applications open around April-May of the previous year and close around June. Check the Supreme Court website and read your faculty and Blackstone emails for more precise dates and instructions. There are also occasionally ad-hoc vacancies to keep an eye out for. You apply to a judge directly, and will probably write to their associate and then interview with the judge. Good academic results help but don’t be discouraged from applying, as each judge is looking for something different in their associates. What does an associate actually do? Whatever your judge needs! Regular tasks include keeping the courtroom running (someone has to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time, your judge has the papers in front of them and video links line up), managing files (keeping everything ordered and making sure your judge is across all the relevant material) and legal research.

You can also end up with any number of more unusual tasks: turning a town hall into a temporary courtroom for a 200-person class action hearing, including security and transcription needs; formally asking the jury for a verdict into the dead silence of a packed courtroom; or moving to the Kimberley for three weeks with your judge to conduct a circuit trial. Effectively the judge’s role is to decide what should happen, and yours is to make sure it does. But can I still apply for graduate lawyer positions? Talk to the firm you want to apply to. I was able to defer my offer at Herbert Smith Freehills for two years after securing a position as an associate, and I know plenty of people who have done the same at HSF or at other firms. Alternatively, some associates take annual leave to do clerkships while at the Court (depending on your judge’s needs) and apply for graduate positions afterwards. Talk to an associate! If you have any questions about working as an associate, applications, or any particular judge, just call or email their current associate. Odds are they will be more than happy to discuss any questions you might have and probably talk to you at length about why you should apply. Seriously. It’s that good.

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BECOMING A JUDGE'S ASSOCIATE CHARMAINE ROUGHLEY - SUPREME COURT OF APPEAL WA

An Associateship is one of the most rewarding, challenging, prestigious anddesirable opportunities available to law graduates. Being an Associate means that you will work closely with one of the most eminent and distinguished members of the legal profession in Australia, as well as experience the collaborative environment of the court. Associateships are usually for a term of one year, although this can vary! For example, some Associates, such as myself, are hired for two years, acting as Research Associate in the first year, and Associate in the second. What does an Associateship entail? As an Associate no two days are ever the same. There are, however, a few core tasks common to Associates at the Supreme Court. 1. Legal Research Associates conduct extensive legal research and compile memos on a variety of matters. This research may entail investigating the law as it ‘is’ but, may extend into researching about how the law should be. 2. Court work A significant portion of an Associate’s time is taken up with preparing for hearings and sitting in court, as well as post-court tasks. 3. Proofread and give your opinion on draft judgments An important aspect of an Associate’s role is proofreading judgments. This involves checking the facts and the law contained in the judgment, as well as reviewing style and grammar. 4. Administrative Tasks As an Associate you are required to undertake a variety of administrative tasks, including file management and data entry. You are also the port of

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contact for all communication to your judge. This includes other court staff, barristers, solicitors, prisons, government agencies and the media. As an Associate you will meet several senior members of the legal profession, providing a unique opportunity to expand your professional network. Tips for applying 1. If you are interested in an Associateship, apply. 2. Associateships are available in the Supreme Court of each state (keep in mind that in some jurisdictions such as NSW they are known as ‘tipstaff’), the Federal Court and the High Court. Similar opportunities also exist at the District Court of WA. Don’t be afraid to apply for a lot of judges! 3. Applications for most Associateships in WA (usually) open in the first half of the year. Keep an eye out! 4. Good grades, extra-curricular and a genuine interest in the types of matters a judge deals with are highly regarded. Most importantly, judges are looking for the right personality type. This is because of the sheer amount of time a judge and their Associate spend working together. 5. Research each judge you apply for. This is particularly important. Make sure you are aware of the types of matters each judge hears. 6. Interview formats at the Supreme Court aren’t all the same. Some may belong and involve a series of set questions. Others may be brief and conversational. Or another combination! 7. Most importantly, if you are fortunate enough to get an interview, be yourself.

VOLUNTEERING Volunteering positions are a great way to get involved and give back to the community whilst developing your career. There are many benefits from volunteering, such as developing your understanding social justice issues, obtaining experience regarding a career in social justice, developing important careers skills (both analytical and communication) , but most of all, making a difference in communities. The work legal volunteers are required to undertake is challenging and rewarding at the same time and has the added benefit of enhancing employability in the future. One of the best places to start providing legal assistance is at community legal centres (CLCs). Volunteer positions at CLCs can provide valuable insight into the provision of legal services for the socially marginalised. Volunteering at a CLC can provide students exposure to various areas of the law, such as family law, domestic violence, criminal law, financial issues, public law and tenancy issues. Keeping in mind that CLCs tend to be smaller in size, there is opportunity to work directly with solicitors and other volunteers. The tasks that volunteers at CLC would be required to undertake are wide ranging and include: identifying legal problems, writing memorandums of advice, conducting legal research and other administrative duties. Other positions will require volunteers to communicate directly with clients, either in person or over a telephone, as many CLC operate on a telephone advice line. The following are a number of articles, written from the perspective of students and professionals, who have experience in social justice and have been happy to provide insight into their experiences. We hope these articles inspire you to get involved with different social justice organisations and give back to the community. We have also included a directory of social justice organisations that may assist you in looking for places that are willing to take law students on as volunteers. Many CLCs advertise for positions throughout the year and have their own application proceeds and requirements so always keep an eye out!

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BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING

josephine kwok

Over the past two years I’ve worked as a volunteer paralegal in various community legal centres specialising in different areas of law. With the amount of law students each of the five universities are currently taking in, it can be extremely hard to find practical legal work experiences. Volunteering at CLCs can give you an alternative and in my opinion, more rewarding, option to gaining legal experience and help you consider whether a career in social justice and humanitarian law may be for you. Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc (CCLS); Employment Law Centre(WA) Inc (ELC) CCLS and ELC are two WA-based community legal centres that provide free legal advice toconsumers in the areas of credit, banking and finance, and employees in the federal system of employment respectively. As a volunteer paralegal I was primarily assisting clients over the Telephone Advice Line. This involved taking initial client details and instructions about their financial or employment-related matter and assessing whether the issue was an area of law the centre could advised on. Unfortunately, given the limited resources, CLCs often have strict eligibility criteria to satisfy in order to assist the most vulnerable clients. After taking the client’s instructions I would then need to draft their legal advice and before delivering it to client over the phone, it would get checked off by a solicitor to make sure the advice is succinct and clear for the client to understand. The reality is that CLCs are assisting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged clients who often have very little access and knowledge of the law. During my time volunteering at CCLS and ELC, I have had to assist very emotional clients, clients who weren’t proficient in English and clients who had never been in contact with the legal system before. So very often the matters you deal with can be confrontational and distressing, but you learn to be patient and sympathetic. More importantly you learn to realise that regardless of how unusual a client’s issue may seem, the effort and 188

professionalism you put into drafting their advice should not be any less than you would give to a fee-paying client at a big commercial law firm. The Humanitarian Group The Humanitarian Group focuses on empowering vulnerable people by providing migration assistance, legal advice and education to culturally diverse communities. I have been a volunteer interpreter for the organisation for almost two years, helping migrants from Chinese backgrounds during their interviews and meetings with lawyers. Being an interpreter for the Humanitarian Group is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had during my law degree. The clients I assist are often seeking protection visas from domestic violent families or family reunion visas having being separated from their families after migration to Australia. The Humanitarian Group are always looking for volunteer interpreters especially those who speak Middle Eastern and African languages at an advanced level. They also provide regular interpreter training sessions to better equip volunteers with the different circumstancesthey may come across. I highly recommend volunteering at a CLC in any capacity possible, not only if you are interested in social justice and wanting to give back to the community during your degree, but also to gain valuable practical experience and legal skills such as client communication, drafting legal advice and client letters, and being able to write in clear plain English – which seems to be one of those golden rules for law students and lawyers! Tips for Law Students: 1. Be persistent and check for volunteering opportunities regularly. CLCs usually advertise vacancies on their website and the national CLC website. Limited resources mean that CLCs don’t always have capacity to take on volunteers but make sure you stay updated on when they’re recruiting volunteers.

2. Forget about the money because while getting paid is important especially while studying, the experiences you gain from volunteering at a CLC is worth much more. And you never know where the volunteering position can lead you! After volunteering one day a week at ELC for a few months, I am now working there as a paid paralegal. 3. Any experience is good experience: even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re someone who has set their sight on working for a large corporate law firm, having done volunteering experiences can often set you apart from other candidates. Law firms now are very big on corporate social responsibility and pro bono work, so your experiences working at a CLC could show to them your interests and experiences in social justice.

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WHY VOLUNTEER?

HANNAH FLYNN “I volunteer as tribute” - Hannah, circa 2013. My experience I’ve volunteered at two specialty CLCs. Welfare Rights and Advocacy Service (a specialist social security and tenancy centre - see Rhea’s article) and the Humanitarian Group (a specialist centre for asylum seekers/migrants). Both have been incredibly rewarding and given me an insight into the way our policies affect the most vulnerable people in society. At Welfare Rights, my role is mainly administrative with the odd research task to keep things interesting. At the Humanitarian Group, I assist with Temporary Protection Visa Clinics - helping asylum seekers to fill in long complicated forms to be allowed to stay in the country. What you get out of it Volunteering at a CLC is rewarding on a number of levels. You get exposure to legal skills that you don’t otherwise get (until clerkship time when you’re thrown in the deep end). This can range from interviewing clients, to preparing research memos, to drafting or providing documents. You also get to experience the best side of law: watching and assisting passionate lawyers delivering justice to clients who desperately need it, despite getting paid next to nothing. The successes are life changing for the clients, so it’s an incredibly positive environment to be in - it gives you faith that the hours spent searching for pinpoint references might be worth it. What they get out of it The funding for CLCs is at an all time low and their client demand is at an all time high. For many CLCs, this means they are unable to meet the demand. When centres take volunteers, they put time and resources into training people with the understanding that they will allow them to do more work.

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Volunteers are an essential part of keeping the sector functional, but it’s important to be as committed as possibly - usually they ask for a minimum commitment of one day a week/fortnight for at least 6 months to a year to make sure you’re worth their trouble. Tips • Do some research into which CLCs are out there - there are generalist ones which will offer exposure to a range of legal issues and more specialist ones if you have a particular interest. • Be prepared to be frustrated a lot: with the government, the system, the limits on your ability to help people with lots of complicated problems. • Be prepared to be ruined for big corporate law firms for life - nothing will ever be as fulfilling as knowing you’ve helped a client out of a legitimately desperate situation and knowing you have potentially changed their life (or at least made it a little bit easier).

COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE LAWYER RHEA THOMAS Working at a Community Legal Centre is one of the best ways to be directly involved at the grass roots level in promoting awareness of rights and access to justice for disadvantaged people within local communities. There are around 190 CLCs across Australia and up to 28 Centres are located in Western Australia. Centres are spread across metropolitan, regional, remote and rural locations. Some centres provide a variety of legal services whilst others specialise in certain areas of the law such as immigration, tenancy, employment and mental health. There are also certain centres that provide services to particular groups in the community such as refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, young people and the homeless. In addition to providing legal advice, CLCs are also involved in policy and law reform initiatives which enable them to provide a voice to the community at large. Working at a CLC enables you to use your degree to provide assistance to some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community. As such, the clients you will work with are often in crisis situations and require clear, concise and accessible advice. It is a unique role that requires patience, empathy and a focused work ethic to provide relevant advice with limited resources. CLCs are not-for-profit organisations that rely on funding from various sources including State and Federal governments and philantrhropic organisations. CLCs continue to face ongoing funding cuts which means resources are limited. Many CLCs rely on volunteers to assist their centres in managing the large demands for service. If you are looking for an insight into what working in a CLC is like, it is a good idea to start volunteering one or two days a week to gain experience. You can find a list of the CLCs looking for volunteers on the National Association of Community Legal Centres website.

My Experience in the CLC sector During my time at university I completed a clinical unit with SCALES community legal centre. I found the experience that I gained during my time in the clinic was invaluable and I saw my legal skills grow before my eyes. I continued to volunteer at the centre after graduation and eventually completed my Practical Legal Training component within the SCALES Human Rights clinic. I am currently working as a restricted practitioner at Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service (WRAS), a CLC which provides legal advice in the areas of social security and tenancy law. I have been given an array of opportunities to expand my skills and knowledge within a passionate and caring work place. This environment is second to none for healthy development and work life balance. I provide on-going case assistance, advice and representation, liaise with various levels of government bodies and advocate on behalf of vulnerable clients. Additionally, I work with our team to provide Community Legal Education (CLE) to different groups of the community in the form of information sessions, fact sheets and various other resources. My involvement in CLE projects has been particularly rewarding as I have experienced the benefit of influencing individuals and communities to understand the law which results in a benefit across our community when vulnerable people are informed and better protected and represented in society.

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VOLUNTEERING AT A RURAL CLC

MADI HAY

Over the summer break I completed the practical component of the legal internship unit (LAWS5174) with a two week placement at the Geraldton Resource Centre (GRC). The GRC are a non-government organisation who provide free legal services to people in the Geraldton community. The GRC has one in house lawyer who checks and oversees all of the advice given by a number of employed paralegals. The best way to describe the work I did in just a few words would be ‘practical and very eye opening.’ On my first day at the GRC, I realised how disadvantaged some people in the Geraldton community are and the immense hardship some of them face. On my first morning, I assisted with appointments for people applying for emergency food relief vouchers. This just showed what an important role the GRC play in helping the Geraldton community, not just in the legal sphere. Having only ever worked in corporate law firms, my internship was a totally different working environment. What was more, the work presented a whole range of different legal issues in areas of law I had never delved into before. I learnt a lot about practical day-to-day legal matters such as family law, tenancy law and consumer law. ‘Practical’ is the best word I can think of to describe the work because everything I did, while touching on broad subjects I have studied at uni, went beyond any aspect of the Juris Doctor curriculum. In most clients’ cases the most important thing was to explain their legal rights in plain and simple terms.

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I once attended court which was a great way to see and understand some of the issues which the Geraldton community face. Another unique opportunity I was given was to observe a family law mediation. This was a particular highlight for me. Overall, the most rewarding part of the experience was having face-to-face contact with clients. I sat in on many client meetings conducted by the paralegals. I was able to see the importance of having the right legal knowledge, but also being able to convey a sense of empathy. I fully immersed myself in the experience and this, along with an inclusive working environment, helped me get the most out of my time in Geraldton. I had never been to Geraldton before, so the experience was as much an adventure as a course requirement. I had plenty of time to explore the town outside of work hours which was enjoyable as well. It was such rewarding work and I would definitely say it has been the most enjoyable part of my Juris Doctor degree so far. I would recommend the Geraldton placement to anyone considering taking legal internship as an elective this year.

VOLUNTEERING AT THE EDO

Quentin Wong

Contrary to popular belief, careers in the environmental sector don’t grow on trees. Having finished my Science degree majoring in Natural Resource Management and Town Planning, I was in the fortunate position of deciding between the JD and continuing with honours. Having worked as a cadet planner throughout my final semester I decided to put my Sim City dreams on hold for a career in Environmental Law. I am glad to report that I only regretted this decision once (after receiving my contract assignment back). Having only done one law unit in my undergraduate degree I was blissfully ignorant to what life as a lawyer would be like. In a panic, I leveraged my contacts at the Australian Youth Climate Change Coalition and was put in touch with someone at the Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO). The EDO is a not-for-profit and non-government organisation that specialises in public interest environmental law. I was there for the last half of 2015 and mainly conducted research tasks and taking down client enquiries. No two days were the same and during my time at the EDO I organised fundraising activities, attended the National Environmental Lawyers Associations state conference and even spent some time at the SAT. I recall even having to write down my surname as my instructing solicitor introduced me to Marjan Minnesma on a conference call. Minnesma led a successful civil claim that the Dutch Government had a duty of care to protect its citizens from the effects of climate change. It’s moments like this that make volunteering worth it and can affirm whether a career in environmental law is for you.

Although my time was short I ultimately left to go on exchange and to take up another position as a legislation officer for the Department of Local Government and Communities (DLGC) upon my return. The skills I had learnt from the EDO were instrumental in my new role as I was suddenly doing the same tasks but in a completely different area of law. I was researching town planning law, interstate legislation and writing a submission to the Legislative Council on town mergers. For all aspiring environmental lawyers I cannot recommend highly enough that you begin your journey at the EDO. I can honestly say that it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had during my law degree. Tips for law students: 1. Donate whether it be your time or money! Community Legal Centre’s (CLC) are incredibly underfunded so to donate to the EDO please head to www.edowa.org.au/support-us/donate 2. Working at a CLC is not a black mark against your name. I had this ridiculous idea that I would be branded as a hippie if I mentioned my time at the EDO when applying for clerkships. Regardless, interviewers often prompted me to talk about my time at the EDO noting that it was great that I had a different perspective than the ordinary law student. 3. Realise that you can still have a career in the environmental sector without strictly being an environmental lawyer. Open your mind to the possibilities of a law degree and the sustainable impact your career can have.

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HUMAN RIGHTS INTERNSHIPS

PROJECTS ABROAD For law students and graduates alike, an overseas internship can be not only a substantial point of difference but an opportunity to practice their skills in a human rights setting to the benefit of communities with no access to advice or representation. Projects Abroad arranges a number of overseas legal internship opportunities, from human rights based work to more commercial placements across the emerging and developing world. The human rights work runs in countries including Ghana, Argentina, Cambodia, Mongolia and Tanzania. In the longest established programme, based in Cape Town, South Africa, they run a dedicated Projects Abroad Human Rights Office (PAHRO) that works with vulnerable individuals and groups in the Cape Town area, through community initiatives and partnerships with local NGOs and grassroots organisations. With the guidance and supervision of practicing attorneys, interning in South Africa offers a practical and constructive way to support positive action amongst disadvantaged communities. The role of PAHRO interns is diverse - working on anything from research and education, to awareness raising and case work. The legal cases that are encountered at PAHRO are wide-ranging. From refugee status determinations to criminal matters and even family law, interns have the opportunity to gain valuable practical legal experience. University of Western Australia intern, Alyssa Buttrum-Virco reflects on her time spent directly on cases: “Overall, the level of autonomy when working on legal cases was seriously unexpected for me, as well as the calibre of task you are entrusted with. I was required to draft outlines of

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submissions and heads of arguments for refugee appeals cases, and unfair dismissal hearings. The opportunities you get at PAHRO to develop legal skills and gain exposure to practical client interactions was incredible.” PAHRO also run outreach and social justice initiatives, which aim to provide education to individuals in the community on human rights and access to justice. These initiatives allow interns to work with the male and female juvenile detention centres, as well as shelters for abused women and other community centres to run educational workshops. University of Adelaide law student Dorcas Wong remarks, “These workshops were great as not only did it offer a break from the office, but it also provided an invaluable opportunity to experience ‘the real South Africa’ and to hear the voices of the South African people themselves. Towards the end of my stay, I found that we were not merely empowering them, but were also being empowered through their responses and the stories they shared with us. It became clear that there was a sense of mutual learning and respect that flowed from each other.” Undertaking internships in South Africa, Ghana and Argentina gives students a varied workload of casework and participation in social justice and research initiatives. Students with specific interests in areas such as housing or women’s rights might choose to work on placements with a more singular focus such as in Tanzania or Cambodia.

INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS

PROJECTS ABROAD Projects Abroad, founded in 1992, organises internships and volunteer opportunities in 30 emerging countries, with commercial law internships in China and Mongolia; and human rights internships in Argentina, South Africa, Ghana, Togo, Tanzania, Cambodia and Morocco. Projects Abroad offer internships with prestigious and well established Chinese law firms in Shanghai and Chengdu. These firms largely work with western clients in areas such as taxation, mergers & acquisitions, contract law, and intellectual property law, among others. With an international outlook, the firms value the input and perspective of overseas students who often find responsible and productive roles during their stay; it is a busy and professional placement while enjoying international travel. International experience is increasingly an asset for students and an internship in China offers an opportunity to work within a different legal system and to learn through firsthand experience the culture of business relationships and legal practice in a country which will be a significant partner Australia’s future. As Lily, a student at the University of Adelaide found, insight and responsibility can start early in an internship; ‘During my first week as an intern at Jade Fountain PRC Lawyers, a solicitor asked me to amend a distribution agreement between a German firm and a Chinese company. One clause stated that if a dispute arose between the parties, then the matter would be settled in a German court. The solicitor pointed at this clause and cried, “No, no, no. In China, we arbitrate!” This means that rather than waste time and money in court, the Chinese prefer to find a resolution to a dispute by ‘coming to the table’’.

About the internships Interns have many roles; they are useful to the firm through their knowledge of western legal systems and culture, this means the interns will be given responsibility and asked for advice. The firms are keen to have western interns and for those willing to create good relationships, numerous valuable experiences will follow. Students will prove they are adaptable, resourceful and can operate in a cross-cultural context; a reference from a partner of an international firm is a fantastic recommendation. The internships last for a minimum of one month and can be taken at any time throughout the year and there are no closing dates for applications. Projects Abroad work with around 30 firms in Shanghai and Chengdu, giving a broad spread of opportunity for interns. There are always other students on the placements, from across Europe and North America meaning that Australian students not only gain an insight into Chinese practice but do it alongside peers from around the world with whom they live and explore the city and further afield. These internships have a minimum duration of four weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks. The start dates are very flexible and whenever students participate there will be other students on nearby placements.The cost for placements starts at $4605. Accommodation is in apartments shared with other students and full time Projects Abroad staff are always on hand to ensure the placements are working well and that students are comfortable.

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ABORIGINAL FAMILY LAW SERVICE

890 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park WA 6101

What is the focus of the CLC? To provide legal and community support for victims’ of family violence for Indigenous women, children and men.

CONTACT

What does the work at the CLC involve? Criminal injuries compensation; child protection and family support; violence restraining orders, family law (children’s issues).

ADDRESS

(08) 9355 1502 Jasmine Taylor, Human Resources Manager www.afls.org.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Legal and community support for Indigenous women, children and men

Does the CLC hire volunteer paralegals? Yes What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? Understanding the impact of family violence within the Indigenous community. How do students apply? Call or email our Human Resources Manager. How many positions are there available? This depends upon the location and workload of the Principal Legal Officer.

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What attributes do you look for in an applicant? • Honesty • Dedication • Commitment to assist victims of family violence. Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? Yes What does the CLC look for in potential employees? • Excellent experience • Good support • Friendly team

PERSONAL PROFILE

LAWYER

I started working at AFLS in 2015 and it was my first job as a lawyer. I was placed in Kununurra and I have no doubt it was the best place I could start my legal career! Being such a small and remote community everyone, from the other lawyers to Court staff, were so helpful and welcoming. At AFLS we assist people affected by family and domestic violence and so we go to Court for a variety of reasons, sometimes in some of the most remote corners of WA. As some communities cannot be accessed by road at certain times of the year I have attended Court by tiny charter planes, a challenge in itself! I have also had the privilege of

”

SHONA

visiting some of the most amazing Aboriginal communities to provide community legal education. I love working with, and for, Aboriginal people. I am in our Geraldton office now and have adapted to practicing law in a regional centre, which is a different experience again! Instead of high heels on the terrace, my style is boots covered in red dust and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Instead of high heels on the terrace, my style is boots covered in red dust and I wouldn’t have it any other way

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CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU ADDRESS Level 1, 25 Barack Street, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9325 4217 cab@cabwa.com.au www.cabwa.com. au/

AREAS OF FOCUS

What is the focus of the CLC? Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation connecting people all over Western Australia with information and services so they can make independent and informed decisions. We provide information and referral, a low-cost legal advice service on a wide range of issues, and a mediation service. What does the work at the CLC involve? A typical day in the life of one of our volunteers includes time on the phone, answering queries from our clients and booking appointments for our legal team. They also spend time talking to clients face to face on our reception desk, handling cash and providing information and referrals.

Family law, consumer law, contracts, criminal law, debt, dividing fences, employment law, housing and tenancy, insurance law, land sales, property law, traffic accidents, workers compensation

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What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? Volunteering with CAB is an interesting and rewarding way to ‘give back’ to the Western Australian community. Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds – but the thing they have in common is their strong desire to help others, their ability to communicate clearly and concisely, their great customer service skills and their computer skills.

CONSUMER CREDIT LEGAL SERVICE ADDRESS Level 1, 231 Adelaide Terrace, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9221 7066 Gemma Mitchell, Principal Solicitor hr@cclswa.org.au www.cclswa.org.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Consumer Credit, Banking and Finance, Australian Consumer Law

What is the focus of the CLC? We provide advice and representation to members of the WA community in the areas of consumer credit, banking and finance, and Australian Consumer Law. What does the work at the CLC involve? Volunteer paralegals operate the telephone advice line. They take instructions, draft advice and deliver advice; under the close supervision of the supervising solicitor. Volunteer paralegals also assist solicitors with case file work, in the delivery of community legal education and in drafting law reform submissions. Does the CLC hire volunteer paralegals? Yes What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? Volunteer paralegals get direct client contact by providing front-line legal services. They also receive close supervision, mentoring and ongoing training throughout their time at CCLSWA.

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How do students apply? By completing the online form on our website: www.cclswa.org.au/ about-us/volunteers/ How many positions are there available? We recruit all year round and have approximately 20 volunteer paralegals on our roster at any one time. What attributes do you look for in an applicant? Penultimate or final year students with at least a credit average. Some legal or clerical work experience is helpful, but not essential. Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? Yes, although we are limited to the number of graduates we can supervise at any one time. What advice do you have for students looking to apply? Re-read your application before you submit it for spelling mistakes and bad grammar.

PERSONAL PROFILE

MITCHELL COLES SOLICITOR

Mitchell Coles started at CCLSWA in January 2016 by completing his practical legal training as a volunteer paralegal through the inaugural Piddington Justice Project. Mitch graduated with a Juris Doctor from Murdoch University in 2015. He also holds a Bachelor of Forensics, majoring in Forensic Biology and Toxicology, and a Bachelor of Criminology.

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At the completion of his practical legal training, Mitch was then employed by CCLSWA as a legal administrative assistant from June to October 2016. Mitch was admitted to practice in October 2016 and has been employed as a full-time solicitor at CCLSWA since his admission.

EMPLOYMENT LAW CENTRE WA ADDRESS PO Box 272, Leederville WA 6007

CONTACT (08) 9227 0111 enquiries@elcwa. org.au www.elcwa.org.au/

AREAS OF FOCUS Employment law

What is the focus of the CLC? We are a community legal centre that provides free, employment law advice, education, advocacy, representation, information and referrals to vulnerable, non-unionised employees in Western Australia (WA). We assist with issues such as unfair dismissal, adverse action, unlawful termination, underpayment of entitlements, breach of contract, bullying, equal opportunity and occupational safety and health. We also work on law reform and educating the WA community to promote a better understanding of this complex area of law. Our law reform and community legal education are informed by our clients and their experiences. Does the CLC hire volunteer paralegals? Yes What does the work at the CLC involve? Typically, our volunteers work on specific projects such as research on employment law issues for a law reform submission or preparing materials for a community legal education seminar or conference. What attributes do you look for in an applicant? ELC will sometimes recruit volunteers who have a demonstrated interest in social justice issues and are able to make a regular commitment each week. In general, we prefer volunteers who have some

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legal experience â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example, paralegals or students who are at least in the second year of a law degree. We put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that our volunteers gain tangible legal and practical skills from their experience with us. For this reason, we also prefer if you are able to commit to volunteering at ELC for at least 18 months. How do students apply? If you meet these criteria, we encourage you to email us at enquiries@elcwa.org.au with your curriculum vitae, academic transcript and a cover letter telling us about why you want to volunteer at ELC

FREMANTLE COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE ADDRESS 10 William Street, Fremantle WA 6160

CONTACT (08) 9432 9790 Judy Mclean www.fremantle. wa.gov.au/fclc

AREAS OF FOCUS Family Law, Restraining Orders, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Equal Opportunity Law, Tenancy Law, Civil, Criminal (Traffic Offences), Welfare Rights

What is the focus of the CLC? FCLC offers a range of services to disadvantaged, disempowered and vulnerable clients. Disadvantaged people are not only more likely to experience large numbers of legal problems, but they are also more likely to experience a wide range of often substantial legal problems. A variety of measures indicate that people with a disability, single parents, unemployed people, people subject to family violence and abuse, people living in disadvantaged housing and/or homeless and Indigenous people constitute the disadvantaged group that is most vulnerable to legal problems. FCLC offers a comprehensive set of services to effectively meet the needs of its target group. What does the work at the CLC involve? Legal assistance to the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and CaLD clients. Does the CLC hire volunteer paralegals? Yes What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? Gain hands on experience in an empathetic, supportive learning environment.

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How do students apply? Send CV and cover letter to fclc@ fremantle.wa.gov.au How many positions are there available? Between 8 and 12 depending on the number of active internships being supervised. What attributes do you look for in an applicant? Great people skills, strong research skills, ability to adjust to different areas of practice, and definitely a strong commitment to justice and equality for all people before the law. Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? Yes, we have placements through the ANU College of Law programme in conjunction with the Piddington Justice Project, but have also offer placements where the student shows dedication to our clients and the law. What advice do you have for students looking to apply? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than just law, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peoples lives so you need to be prepared to be challenged and rewarded.

THE HUMANITARIAN GROUP ADDRESS 16B Sunbury Road, Victoria Park WA 6100

CONTACT (08) 9227 7311 admin@thehumantarian group.org.au www.thehumanitarian group.org.au/

AREAS OF FOCUS Migration assistance (specifically protection and family reunion) and general legal assistance (with a focus on family violence and specialist immigration issues)

What is the focus of the CLC? The Humanitarian Group is focused on empowering vulnerable people by providing professional and accessible migration assistance, legal advice and education. We help people new to Australia from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including humanitarian visa holders, asylum seekers, refugees and people who are otherwise disadvantaged in their access to legal services. What does the work at the CLC involve? The work at The Humanitarian Group involves providing migration and legal assistance. Volunteers assist with both legal work and administrative support. We also have a number of bilingual volunteers. Does the CLC hire volunteer paralegals? Yes What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? At The Humanitarian Group, you will develop invaluable legal skills in an environment where you are well supported and supervised, but also have the opportunity to work independently with clients. You will also have the satisfaction of using your skills and knowledge to assist vulnerable people. How do students apply? Students should apply for volunteer positions via the online form on our website: www.thehumanitariangroup.org. au/page/volunteer

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How many positions are there available? The number of positions available depend on organisational needs at the time. What attributes do you look for in an applicant? • Legal knowledge • Strong written and oral communication skills including demonstrated ability to communicate with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds • Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment • High level of computer literacy generally, and specifically in Microsoft products • Experience in working with CaLD people and interpreters • Interest in social justice Also desirable: • Bilingual or multilingual skills • Knowledge of services available in WA for CaLD people Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? Yes. We accept people at the start of the year through the Piddington Justice Project. People who are interested in starting their Practical Legal Training mid year should email kathy@thehumanitariangroup.org.au What advice do you have for students looking to apply? Make sure you tailor your application to the selection criteria and proofread your application.

MENTAL HEALTH LAW CENTRE ADDRESS 96-98 Parry Street, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9328 8012 Faith Cheok office@mhlcwa.org. au www.mhlcwa.org.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Mental Health Act 2014 & Mental Health and the Law

What is the focus of the CLC? Legal representation of people who have mental health issues in the following areas: • Criminal law • Guardianship & administration • All matters under the Mental Health Act 2014 (WA) • Criminal injuries compensation What does the work at the CLC involve? • Managing the Telephone Advice Line where we provide short legal advice for clients with mental health issues • Assisting the lawyers with case files & preparation for Mental Health Tribunal hearings • Legal research & drafting documents Does the CLC hire volunteer paralegals? No What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? Volunteering at MHLC provides: • Practical experience in applying the law to people’s situations & legal problems; • Developing communication skills in speaking to people who have complex needs; • Developing legal skills necessary for a successful career in the law; and • Volunteering also enhances your career opportunities.

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How do students apply? Email your current resume and academic transcript to office@mhlcwa. org.au What attributes do you look for in an applicant? An applicant must: • Be in their last or second last year of a law degree; • Be able to commit to one day/ week for a period of 6 months; • Have strong written and verbal communication skills; and • Have strong legal research skills. Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? Yes

STREET LAW CENTRE WA

PO Box 6236, East Perth WA 6892

What is the focus of the CLC? Legal assistance to the homeless or those at risk of homelessness and legal education to the community on issues affecting people who are homeless.

How do students apply? In writing or by email.

CONTACT

What does the work at the CLC involve? Provision of free outreach legal services that provides information, referrals, advice and advocacy support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

What attributes do you look for in an applicant? A demonstrated interest in social justice. Attention to detail in written and verbal communication skills.

ADDRESS

(08) 9221 7661 Ann-Margaret Walsh www.streetlawcentre. org.au

AREAS OF FOCUS

What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? Opportunity to work in diverse areas of law. Do you hire volunteer paralegals? Yes

Legal assistance to the homeless or those at risk of homelessness

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How many positions are there available? Positions arise from time to time.

Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? Yes

TENANCY WA ADDRESS 2/18 Plain Street, East Perth WA 6004

CONTACT (08) 6263 8556 Kate Davis admin@tenancywa. org.au www.tenancywa. org.au AREAS OF FOCUS Residential tenancy law

What is the focus of the CLC? Tenancy WA is a not for profit specialist community legal centre that provides quality legal services to residential tenants anywhere in Western Australia. We are the central resource unit for the Network of Tenant Advocates across Western Australia, and we provide the state-wide telephone advice line for tenants. The Tenancy WA team is made up of lawyers, tenant advocates, support staff and volunteers, all of whodm are committed to supporting the fundamental human right to safe, secure and affordable housing. Our mission is to protect the right to housing for all tenants through advocacy, advice and education. We advise a wide range of tenants across Western Australia, with issues ranging from return of bond and maintenance to inquiries about eviction and homelessness. We also provide a Duty Advocacy Program to the Perth Magistrates Court. Do you hire volunteer paralegals? Yes What does the work at the CLC involve? We offer advice to residential tenants on our advice line, in person and on our website to improve their capability to maintain successful tenancies and resolve their own tenancy issues. We also provide community education activities for tenants and professional development for community service workers and tenant

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advocates. Tenancy WA relies on volunteer students and graduates to assist our tenant advocates and solicitors with administrative and research tasks in the delivery of our tenant advisory services, community legal education programs and law reform work. What are the benefits of taking a position at the CLC? The clients of Tenancy WA are those who are facing injustice, whose legal problem is not profitable, and whose life circumstances are affected entirely by this problem. We also work with communities to initiate community legal education and law reform projects that are preventative in outcome and that strengthen the community. How do students apply? If you are a law student or recent graduate, and are after information, you are welcome to contact us at admin@tenancywa.org.au What attributes do you look for in an applicant? • Commitment to social justice • Ability to relate to and work with clients in a positive manner • Willingness to undergo training • Ability to accept and seek supervision • Commitment to completion of agreed tasks • Willingness to work in a team

â&#x20AC;?

Are there any opportunities for graduates looking to do their Practical Legal Training? The Piddington Justice Project matches law graduates with community legal centres for Practical Legal Training (PLT) placements. If you are looking for a placement with us please apply directly through the Piddington Society. We do not have the capacity to supervise PLT outside of the Piddington Justice Project.

Tenancy WA relies on volunteer students and graduates to assist our tenant advocates and solicitors with administrative and research tasks in the delivery of our tenant advisory services, community legal education programs and law reform work.

â&#x20AC;?

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WOMEN'S LEGAL CENTRE

ADDRESS 445 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

CONTACT (08) 9272 8800 admin@womenslegalact.org www.wlcwa.org.au

AREAS OF FOCUS

What is the focus of the CLC? The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legal Centre (WLC) is a community legal centre that provides legal assistance to women who would otherwise go without. We also refer women to sympathetic lawyers and other support services, run community legal education sessions, and do research, law reform and lobbying activities regarding womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interests. What does the work at the CLC involve? The WLC has a number of volunteer students who work at the Centre each week day during business hours. Volunteer students undertake a range of administrative functions including answering the phones, filing, assisting with publications, photocopying, and assisting the solicitors with their work.

Family law, victims of crime, employment law and discrimination

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Do you hire volunteer paralegals? Yes How do students apply? If you are interested in assisting the Centre please complete the Volunteer expression of interset form (found online) and email the completed form and your CV to the Centre at: admin@womenslegalact.org

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MANAGEMENT CONSULTING Graduating with a law degree opens doors to a wide range of careers. An increasing career pathway that law graduates are pursuing is management consulting. As a management consultant, you work with clients to resolve their business issues. This is an increasing career path as many of the skills developed through law school can be transferred and reflected in a career in management consulting. The following section includes articles from professionals and students reflecting on their experiences in management consulting and how a background in law has assisted them in this career pathway. We have also included a directory of a number of management consulting firms which we hope assist if you are interested in applying for management consulting.

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WHY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING? mark bosnich - AZURE CONSULTING - partner Management consulting is a fascinating, stimulating and challenging career, and one that I encourage law students to consider as an alternative to a legal career. Why Management Consulting? Management consultants work with clients to resolve their most important business issues. This may be through the provision of analytically driven insight and advice, or working alongside management to drive change in their organisations. I pursued a consulting career out of university, and have never regretted my choice. Simply put, a consulting career has a number of advantages over other career choices: • The work is enormously varied: Over the course of a career, your projects may range from setting strategic priorities, identifying the most feasible growth options, improving operating and financial performance, or delivering a more effective and efficient organisation. • The work is inherently interesting: Consulting engagements involve solving complex problems – if the underlying problem was trivial, it is unlikely the client would be seeking external advice - and problem solving is inherently challenging and interesting. • You gain insight into a variety of business issues, and industry issues: You gain real insight into what drives value across a variety of companies and industries. • Broad skill development: Effective consultants develop a toolkit of both “soft skills” (such as how to engage and influence clients) and “hard skills” (such as how to interrogate complex data sets). Additionally, the basic “building blocks” of consulting - clarifying the underlying problem, deconstructing it into its various components, robustly solving each component, and then communicating the options and recommendations in a coherent manner – are useful skills in any corporate environment.

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Law Graduates and Management Consulting Consulting firms generally look for four attributes in their applicants: intellectual smarts, curiosity, motivation and passion. Accordingly, the application screening process biases towards applicants with strong academic results, a history of work experience, and extra-curricular interests. The desired applicant attributes – smart, curious, motivated and passionate – are degree agnostic. As a result, consulting firms recruit across a wide variety of degree disciplines; for example, within our firm, we have staff with law, engineering, commerce, economics, computer science and arts backgrounds. That said, I believe that law graduates demonstrate many attributes that are particularly useful in consulting, and that applicants should seek to highlight in their applications: • Confident verbal communications: Law graduates often are strong and confident speakers, honed through debating, mooting, trial advocacy or negotiation experiences. • Strong written communications: Law students have years of essay writing, and are well practiced in using simple language to communicate complex issues efficiently. • Ability to present a structured point of view: Law graduates are taught to prosecute a strong and structured point of view, in both their written and verbal communications

A WEEK IN CONSULTING HECTOR WILLIAMSON - ASSOCIATE - THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP Graduates of law thrive at The Boston Consulting Group. A career in consulting offers real intellectual challenges and you will use many of the skills you honed in your law degree including concise communication and reasoning skills, structured, logical thinking and the ability to extract and synthesize facts and insights from a variety of sources of information. From day one, you will have access to clients and be responsible for delivering tangible modules of work. You will experience a huge variety of projects across a range of different industries. Because of the diversity of our project work, there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ week at BCG, and here is a taste of what you can expect. Monday Early wake up to catch the 7am flight to Sydney, and taxi to the client’s office — a packaged foods retailer. We have been asked to review and simplify their portfolio of products and have a critical meeting on Wednesday with senior executives to share the initial recommendations. I meet the project team at the office and we go through the plan for the week identifying outstanding data necessary for Wednesday. We also run through PTO (Predictability, Teaming, Open Communication), our tool for establishing working norms and agreeing time-on time-off goals for each team member. We spend the rest of the day working to put together the slides for the presentation on Wednesday. Tuesday Early run to start the day, before heading to the client site. We have analysed each of the products against quantitative (sales, cost of goods, profit) and qualitative (“niche” appeal, growth prospects) measures. Overnight, our project leader spoke with an FMCG expert in the BCG office in Rome, which prompts a slight rethink of our approach. I run the changes past a client analyst to make sure they make sense. We have a working dinner, and put the finishing touches on the slides.

Wednesday The project leader has asked me to present some of the recommendations to the executives (including the CEO), so I spend the half hour before the meeting preparing for any likely questions. In 2 years as a lawyer I barely spoke at client meetings, but 3 weeks into the job and I’ve been thrown into the deep end! The executives are happy with our progress so at 6.00pm we head to a local pizzeria to celebrate. Thursday I fit in a quick surf at Bronte (no wetsuit required) before heading to the client. We spend the morning brainstorming potential approaches to implementaton, particularly which products the client should stop selling and operational improvements they could make. We discuss prioritisation of the recommended changes and the investment required. The project leader asks me to prepare a few different options for discussion on Monday. It’s 4.00pm and time to head to the airport; if I’m lucky I’ll be home in time for a pub meal with my housemates. Friday Fridays are often pretty relaxed and are typically reserved for training and catching up with everyone in the office. I chat with a Principal I have worked with previously to see what projects are coming up, and a former colleague who is thinking of making the switch from law to consulting. I tell her it’s like cherry picking the best bits of law - helping key people making decisions but based on opportunity, not just risk. She says she’ll give it a crack. I spend most of the morning developing prioritisation recommendations. After lunch, we have a presentation on tech disruption, including a BCG alumnus who now works at Uber. He gives some interesting insights into how traditional industries are being shaken up; with a few valuable lessons for some of our bigger clients. Before long, the drinks trolley is making the rounds and it’s the end of another week!

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LIFE AS A CONSULTANT GARRETT BRAY - MCKINSEY - Partner McKinsey is a top tier global management consultancy serving leading businesses, governments, NGOs and not-for-profits. Part of McKinsey’s stated core mission is to create an unrivalled environment for their staff, and since joining in 2014 my experience would support this claim.

In my role, I work closely with members of executive leadership teams and their senior managers, even presenting to their CEOs. Our internal team rooms make for a dynamic environment; highly accomplished individuals from all corners of the world coming together to crack challenging problems.

An extremely diverse group of people work at McKinsey. My colleagues range from lawyers, to doctors, to musicians, to mathematicians, to political scientists and economists. My own background is engineering—I was a UWA undergrad before spending 6 years designing bridges, buildings and infrastructure at a specialised consultancy. I had not heard of McKinsey until I went back to study my MBA part time, when I started to learn about the possibilities involved in working at a top tier management consultancy.

I have heard McKinsey described as a rollercoaster and a leadership factory, and I think this is accurate. It is certainly a high-pressure job and with that comes highs and lows, however the development opportunity is truly remarkable. Apprenticeship and learning by doing are central, however the structured learning through week long, world-class executive training courses around the globe demonstrate the priority investment that is your professional development. As for beyond consulting, the countless executives, members of parliament and successful entrepreneurs that make up McKinsey’s alumni are a shining example of where these opportunities can take you.

I had three reasons for wanting to work for McKinsey. First, I wanted to experience a broader range of industries and functions; I enjoyed being an engineer but I wanted to know more about what I don’t know. Second, I wanted to be involved in high-level decisions, the ones that executives and boards have to make. Third, I wanted to work alongside the exceptional level of talent that McKinsey attracts. If I reflect on my original criteria, I consider all three have been met. In the space of 18 months I have worked across industries as diverse as mining, healthcare, utilities, infrastructure and agriculture in different parts of Australia and New Zealand, and even automotive in Germany. Functionally, I have gained experience across strategy development, service operations, industrial relations, organisational design and transformational change, with billions of dollars of bottom line impact for our clients.

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For those finishing their course, it is hard to go past McKinsey as the ultimate graduate destination. However, it also presents an exciting career option for those who, like me, first want to apply their primary profession.

BEING A STUDENT CONSULTANT sharon ho - 180 DEGREES CONSULTING Many people go into the Juris Doctor knowing that at the end of the degree they are going to be a lawyer. Others, including myself, had absolutely no idea if law was the profession they wanted to end up in. Therefore, it was important for me to keep an open mind and steer away from the common misconception that law is the only available path. Management consulting was always something you heard of and the lack of available information within the law school made it all the more intriguing. When the opportunity arose to join 180 Degrees Consulting, a student run organisation supporting non-forprofits, I immediately jumped at the chance to get first-hand experience on what consulting was like. During my time as a Consultant at 180 Degrees, it was my teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; role to work with a non-forprofit in order to resolve important operational issues facing the organisation. In particular, it was my role to determine how a non-for-profit could use their funds more efficiently and create a long-term plan to raise money in a consistent manner. Under the guidance of many management consultancy firms in Perth, our teams received real world experience on the approach consultants take to solve a difficult issue. Beginning with breaking down the issues to hypothesising possible solutions and testing these hypotheses, we were given real responsibilities to solve the problem. Over the course of a semester, my tasks included interviewing CEO and board members of other charities, researching financial performance of comparable non-for-profits and analysing financial data. This culminated in the presentation of our final recommendations to the board of esteemed professionals.

Consulting provides a great variety of work with no two projects being the same. It allows individuals to develop a range of soft and hard skills, from learning how to engage with clients to analysing complex data and transforming such data into simple, easy-to-understand solutions. Many law students go on to a career in management consulting, aided by the fact that many skills developed in law school are utilised in consulting. Similar to law, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always one correct answer in consulting but rather a structured thought process when approaching a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issue. Therefore, it requires the ability to research, gather information and think creatively. Secondly, much like law, consulting relies on strong communication skills and the ability to present a persuasive case to the client. For those wanting to get a taste of management consulting, the UWA Consulting Society provides some great information as well as tips to tackle case studies and interviews. For those looking for hands on experience, 180 Degrees Consulting and Western Australia University Consultants are both run by students to assist non-for-profits by redeveloping their operations and driving transformative change.

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Interested in a career in

Management Consulting? Azure Consulting works with some of Perthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent businesses to solve their most important business problems. We recruit from a variety of academic backgrounds and we are always interested in high quality candidates.

For more information, go to www.azure-consulting.com.au or www.facebook.com/azureconsultingwa

AZURE CONSULTING

Azure Consulting

AZURE CONSULTING ADDRESS Level 34 Exchange Tower 2 The Esplanade, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 1

CONTACT (08) 6263 0870 Mark Bosnich, Partner careers@azureconsulting.com.au www.azure-con sulting.com.au

AREAS OF FOCUS Management consulting: strategy development, performance improvement, organisation effectiveness, market diligence

How does the firm differentiate itself? Azure Consulting is a Perth-based management consulting firm. We advise and support senior executives, working collaboratively with them to maximise the potential of their organisation. We work across a wide variety of industries and deliver results in strategy definition, performance improvement, organisation effectiveness and transactional support. We are led by experienced consultants that have worked in the world’s most respected consulting firms such as Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, LEK and McKinsey & Company. Our consulting approach is differentiated through: • Data driven insight: We believe that superior insight drives informed decision making, which creates competitive advantage. • Real impact with lasting results: We solve complex issues with a relentless focus on developing pragmatic and sustainable solutions. • Active senior team involvement: Our senior staff are actively involved in our engagements. We intentionally run a low leverage model to ensure that our clients gain the benefit of senior team insight and solution development. • Flexible engagement models: Every problem is unique, therefore our approach to solving that problem is tailored to that problem. Our approach can range from high impact teams or thinner support models 217

What does the firm look for in potential employees? Our staff work with clients to diagnose problems, identify opportunities, develop sustainable strategies and validate initiatives and programs to embed change within an organization. The work is hypothesis-based, highly analytical, often ambiguous and intense. Our staff demonstrate exceptional analytical and interpersonal skills, and a demonstrable ability to generate insight from data. We look for the following characteristics in our applicants: • Academic track record: An outstanding academic track record, typically with a distinction average, from a leading university. We do not discriminate on degrees but we typically hire from the fields of finance, economics, engineering, law, business and science. • Analytical and problem solving skills: Strong analytical and problem solving skills are the essence of why clients’ engage us. These skills are rigorously tested during our selection process in a series of case study interviews. • Curiosity: We value curiosity. The most successful management consultants possess a deep curiosity that sees them always pursue expert status on the issues important to the issue or industry within which they are working. • Commitment to creating results: We value those who want to create real change and deliver sustainable results. We seek pragmatic value adding solutions as opposed to academic approaches.

â&#x20AC;˘ Team and communication skills: The ability to work within a team and communicate clearly is essential. We do not believe in a competitive culture and value those who help their team members succeed. â&#x20AC;˘ Leadership skills: Leadership is important to us and we look for evidence of leadership skills and abilities. We recognize that people seek to lead in different ways and we value the difference in styles as well as the areas where people seek to lead.

3. Unspecified projects and organisations that fit with the philosophy outlined above. Preference is given to projects and organisations that are of particular relevance to either Azure Capital staff and/or the community at the time

Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? We are actively involved with Social Ventures Australia and provide pro bono support to one of their enterprises. In addition we provide support for selected staff members to travel to Cambodia on house building programs. In addition, the shareholders of Azure Capital and Azure Consulting donate 2% of the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-tax profits to the Foundation each year. The Foundation allocates funding in the following three areas: 1. Organisations using education to break cycles of poverty and disadvantage for underprivileged children; 2. Community projects and organisations in which Azure Capital staff have a significant time or personal investment;

When is the application period? Applications close 8 March 2017; however, we continually seek quality candidates and review applications throughout the year.

GRADUATE POSITIONS Number of graduates hired in 2016 3

How do students apply for a graduate position? Email your covering letter, CV and statement of academic record to careers@azure-consulting.com.au What is the typical progression path of graduates in their early years at the firm? Our firm has five levels - Associate Consultant, Consultant, Manager, Associate Director and Partner. Our graduates start as Associate Consultants, where they work under experienced Consultants, Managers or Associate Directors on client engagements.

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Consultants work on more complex issues, work more independently, own their own workstream, and may have an Associate Consultant working alongside them. Managers have full accountability for the engagement: they structure the workplan, manage the case teams, and manage the client interactions. Associate Directors are outstanding engagement managers, who manage complex engagements, or provide their experience and expertise across numerous projects simultaneously.

BAIN & COMPANY ADDRESS Level 40 Exchange Tower 2 The Esplanade, Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 53 globally

CONTACT (08) 6211 3500 Kate McGuinness, Human Resources australia.recruiting@ bain.com www.bain.com/careers AREAS OF FOCUS Management consulting

How does the firm differentiate itself? Bain & Company is one of the world’s leading management consulting firms. We help the world’s top companies solve their toughest challenges in strategy, operations, technology, organisation, private equity and M&A. Bain was founded on the principle that consultants should deliver sustainable and measurable results – not just reports – to our clients. At Bain you will grow through impact by developing strong client relationships and creating real change for influential organisations. You will thrive with support from day one, working with extraordinary teams on challenging problems, gaining high-profile client exposure and building a practical skill-set through real-world leadership and development. Bain will set you up to achieve your long-term career goals, offering a flexible tailor-made career, a general business mindset and a powerful alumni network. What does the firm look for in potential employees? Our “product” is our ideas, the solutions to many of the world’s most complex challenges. We’re looking for all-rounders — independent thinkers who thrive as part of a team. We recognise that everyone is different and everyone will bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to the team. The essential skills we’ll be looking for are a demonstration of exceptional academic performance and strong analytical, interpersonal and leadership skills. 219

Does the firm engage in pro bono, volunteering or other community activities? Bain is committed to redefining social impact globally, locally and individually. Our global social impact offering is driven by the passions of our people and commitment of our leadership team. We offer formal social impact opportunities, such as pro bono, public sector and sustainability case work and externships.

GRADUATE POSITIONS When is the application period? Applications for the Associate Consultant class of 2018 will close on Wednesday 1st March 2017. Applications for the True North Scholarship for Women will open in May 2017. For further information please visit our website www.bain. com/scholarship. How do students apply for a graduate position? All applications need to be made online – please note applications for the class of 2018 close on Wednesday 1st March 2017. Please go to www.bain.com/careers to submit your cover letter, CV and academic transcript.

ANNIE SENIOR ASSOCIATE CONSULTANT Annie joined Bain in 2014 as an Associate Consultant after completing Bachelors in Law and Commerce from UWA. I chose Bain for three main reasons. Firstly, I was attracted to the international and travel opportunities with a career at Bain. Secondly, I felt that Bain could provide one of the best foundations into business as an undergraduate student, being able to work across industries and across capabilities. Lastly, I chose Bain because of my very positive experience at my interviews. Everyone who I interviewed with at Bain made me feel unique, special and irreplaceable.

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THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP ADDRESS 108 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

NUMBER OF OFFICES 88 globally

CONTACT Mary Katergaris, Human Resources katergaris.mary@ bcg.com www.bcg.com.au

What is the main focus of the firm? The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy to major corporations, government bodies and not-forprofits. What does the firm look for in potential employees? Our Associates come from fields as diverse as music, philosophy and medicine, as well as traditional fields such as law, engineering and commerce. You should have demonstrated exceptional ability in the following areas: • Academic performance: In the top 10% of your class • Leadership: A leader who thrives in a team environment • Critical thinking: A critical thinker who loves solving challenging problems • Communication: A great communicator, in person and in writing

AREAS OF FOCUS Management consulting

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What does work at the firm involve? Every day, we partner with our clients to help them: • Break down a problem: what does the competitive landscape look like? Who are the key players? • Formulate some hypotheses about possible answers: is it about fixing part of the business or creating something new? • Test those ideas with lots of different evidence: focus groups, analysis, best practice • Find the right answer: then put the solution in place. At BCG, your potential is limited only by your talents and ambitions. You will work daily with the world’s leading businesses to tackle their biggest strategic challenges. The knowledge, experience and skills you gain will provide you with a springboard to excel in any field you choose within BCG or beyond.

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