GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY
GRADUATE GUIDE AUGUST 2020
CONTENTS Contents..................................................................................................................Page 2 Getting LinkedIn to your Dream Career..................................................Page 3-4 Acknowledgements | Contact Information...........................................Page 5 Our Sponsors.........................................................................................................Page 6 Have you got your L Card yet?......................................................................Page 7 Queensland Law Society Graduate Position Dates............................Page 8 Firm Profiles...........................................................................................................Page 9 K&L Gates...................................................................................................Pages 10-11 PLT Providers..........................................................................................................Page 12 College of Law..........................................................................................Pages 13-17 Leo Cussen..................................................................................................Pages 18-21 Queensland University of Technology PLT.................................Pages 22-23 Industry Graduate Opportunities.................................................................Pages 24 Thank you.................................................................................................................Page 25
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ASSISTED IN THE PRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION OF THE 2020 GRADUATE GUIDE.
EDITOR
SAMUEL WHITELAW
CONTACT DETAILS
GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY N61 -2.07 179 KESSELS ROAD NATHAN, QLD 4111
DIRECTOR OF CAREERS
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R U O
O P S
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S R O
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HAVE YOU GOT YOUR
L CARD YET? Buy your L Card now at: gulslcard.getqpay.com or from the GULS Office during office hours
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QUEENSLAND LAW SOCIETY GRADUATE POSITION DEADLINES The QLS Legal Graduate Employment and Vacation Clerkship Guidelines have been established to assist you in obtaining a graduate or vacation clerkship placement within a firm. Firms collaborate with QLS and agree to the guidelines voluntarily to foster fairness by providing set dates for the recruitment process. We know making decisions around graduate or vacation clerkship placements can be overwhelming. This structured process allows you to simultaneously consider offers received and make an informed decision that is right for you.
Graduate Dates 2020 APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATE POSITIONS OPEN GRADUATE POSITION APPLICATION CLOSE DATE
MONDAY 3 AUGUST 2020 MONDAY 17 AUGUST 2020
OFFERS FOR GRADUATE POSITIONS CAN BE MADE BY PARTICIPATING FIRMS
MONDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2020
OFFERS FOR GRADUATE POSITIONS MUST BE ACCEPTED OR DECLINED BY 5PM AEST
TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2020
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FIRM PROFILES
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Griffith University Law Society
Contact Details JESSICA FISHER HR Business Partner
E: Jessica.Fisher@klgates.com
Practice Areas
Finance Real Estate Corporate Labour, Employment and Workplace Health and Safety Litigation and Dispute Resolution Intellectual Property Energy, Infrastructure and Resources
Firm Location
Level 16, 66 E Street Brisbane QLD 4000
Key Dates
Clerkship Applications Open – Monday 2 March 2020 Clerkship Applications Close – Friday 27 March 2020 Offers Made – 18 May 2020
About Us K&L Gates is one of the largest firms in the world, but it did not start out that way. Over the course of the firm’s strategic growth, we have remained mindful of what matters most—serving our clients and treating our people with respect, dignity and care. Here you will find a place where you can shine while being part of a team of highly respected professionals, where you will have access to the tools and resources to help you do your best work, where you will expand your horizons professionally and geographically, and where you will be inspired to make a positive difference for the common good. While we steadfastly maintain the values of our humble roots, our aspirations to be a leading, global law firm are no less important. As our economic world becomes more closely connected, our size and footprint affords us the ability to provide the utmost value in counsel and representation to our clients
Find out more at www.klgates.com/careers
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PLT PROVIDERS
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Griffith University Law Society
Contact Details STUDENT SERVICES T: 1300 856 111 E: enrolments@collaw.edu.au W: www.collaw.edu.au/PLT Location Level 5 Wesley House 140 Ann Street Brisbane QLD 4000
2020 Graduate Guide
Activate your career. Leading, and in tune with your profession, The College of Law offers the largest range of flexible Practical Legal Training programs, all purpose-driven to put your hard-earned degree seamlessly into practice. Study freedom With study options including 15 week full-time and 30 part-time online, you can select a program that will fit your work and personal commitments. You can also choose from more than 40 courses a year in Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Toowoomba, so you can complete your Practical Legal Training at a time and location that suits you. Lecturer support Passionate and experienced Queensland legal practitioners will support you throughout the program. You will have regular one-onone contact with your lecturers who will provide advice and feedback via email, phone or our online learning portal. Hands-on learning Practical, task-based and hands-on, our program ensures that you will transition into the workforce successfully. You will learn through everyday scenarios that parallel real-life practice such as drafting an affidavit or preparing a statement of claim. Aligned with the legal industry Developed in close consultation with employers, our program includes the communication, leadership, time management and client relationship skills that will ensure you have the profile that is more attractive to employers. Nine of Australia’s top ten law firms have chosen The College of Law to prepare their graduates to enter the profession. What our students say “It’s tough to know how to get from graduate to admission. The College of Law has made it easy with the step-by-step process and supportive framework.” “I have already recommended The College of Law to friends and colleagues for its flexible course structure, the fantastic lecturers and administrative staff and the challenging but incredibly interesting coursework.”
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Griffith University Law Society
Contact Details PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT) T: 1300 039 031 E: pltadmin@leocussen.edu.au W: www.leocussen.edu.au
About the Program Leo Cussen has been delivering the PLT since 1972, and is recognised in every Australian jurisdiction. When you complete your legal training with Leo Cussen you are investing in your future with one of the best career preparation courses in Australia. By simulating a law firm environment, our course is designed to give you more preparation and practice so you are confident to begin your legal career. Program Length, Delivery Method, Class Times, etc Our course delivery has been adapted to accommodate your unique needs during this current climate, including the option for 100% online completion in 2021. For students based in QLD, the 100% online course is available. It is self-paced, but also includes 13 days of interactive face-to-face training via video -conferencing. This keeps you connected with lawyers and other students. It also allows you to ask lots of questions, get guidance, and practise the skills you’re learning along the way. The PLT course at Leo Cussen is unique as it gets trainees to put themselves in the shoes of a first-year lawyer running client files as part of a simulated law firm, with an emphasis on ‘learning by doing’. As such, you will carry out the kind of work that lawyers do in real practice. This means that trainees can expect to run files from start to end, while writing letters of advice, drafting court documents, interviewing clients and delivering arguments before a judge. Ultimately, this makes you job-ready. For students based in Victoria, the ACT, or Western Australia, there are additional delivery methods available, including onsite training options. How Assessments Are Conducted There are no tests or exams at Leo Cussen. All trainees are assessed on the work they produce as part of running their simulated law firm files. For example, you will be assessed on the letters you draft, the client interviews you conduct, and the arguments you deliver in court. This makes the training and assessment as similar as possible to the work of practising lawyers. How do Placements Work? As part of the Leo Cussen course, you are required to complete 15 days (3 weeks) of work experience. Leo Cussen has a dedicated Placement Advisor to assist with this. Complete your placement online Due to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and the increased need to work remotely at this time, Leo Cussen PLT students currently have permission to complete an online module instead of a placement. The module is entirely online and includes a simulated work placement which gives you the skills to be an exceptional lawyer, whilst keeping the flexibility to be at home or working. It doesn’t cost any extra and is a great way to ensure you can complete the PLT without any disruption or delay to your admission. Here’s how Leo Cussen’s online placement module compares to other PLTs:
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Griffith University Law Society
Here’s how Leo Cussen’s online placement module compares to other PLTs:
Longer Placement v More Electives? How to Choose? Leo Cussen has the shortest placement requirement in the country; you are only required to carry out 3 weeks (15 days) of placement in order to complete that component of the course. Unlike other PLTs, students do not need to do extra course work or pay extra fees in order to reduce their placement days. Students can also currently choose to do an online module instead of a placement, at no extra cost. Is Entry Competitive or Practically Guaranteed Upon Application? All individuals who hold an eligible legal qualification are entitled to enrol in our PLT, and Leo Cussen does not apply any additional selection criteria. For the online course, Leo Cussen does not currently have any quotas. What Makes Your Program Special – Why Should Students Choose You Over Others? Leo Cussen is one of the only PLTs in Australia to train students through a simulated law firm program. You’ll get more face-to-face training (even online), and more opportunities to network with lawyers. By the end of the course, you’ll be job-ready. Here are some features that make the Leo Cussen course unique:
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Griffith University Law Society
Contact Details QUT PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING T: 07 3138 2707 E: law_enquiries@qut.edu.au W: www.qut.edu.au/legalpractice Practice Areas Practical Legal Training Location QUT Gardens Point Campus 2 George Street Brisbane City QLD 4000
QUT has the real world Practical Legal Training (PLT) you need for admission to the legal profession. Our course provides you with: Real-World Experience In our PLT you’ll complete the types of tasks that real-life lawyers do. You’ll build a portfolio of real-world know-how and skills, including interviewing and negotiating, drafting legal documents and executing property, litigation, and commercial transactions and proceedings. Firm Connections QUT has established connections with over 350 placement providers. This means you’ll get the experience and the connections you need. Four Week Placements Gain hands-on experience with a placement in a law office that we can source for you. Some of our students secure full time work from the connections made during these placements. If you are already working in a law office, you may be eligible to claim credit for your real-life legal work. Flexible Study We have four intakes per year – in January, February, July and August. Choose to study full time on campus, or full time or part time off campus (external). Each intake has a compulsory five-day attendance school on campus.
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INDUSTRY GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES NAME:
CLOSURE:
MORE INFO:
Microsoft 2021 Graduate Roles
16 August 2020
careers.microsoft.com /students
EY Graduate Program
14 August 2020
www.ey.com/en_au/c areers/
23 August 2020
www.bdo.com.au/enau/studentrecruitment
31 August 2020
www.thiess.com/en/p eople-andcareers/investing-inour-people/vacationstudents
17 August 2020
https://www.qls.com. au/About_QLS/Career s_at_QLS/Graduate_Pr ogram
Varies depending on program
www.qld.gov.au/jobs /finding/graduates/gr aduateopportunities/progra ms
BDO 2020/2021 Vacation Program
Theiss Summer Vacation Program
Queensland Law Society Graduate Program 2021 Queensland Government Graduate Programs
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THANK YOU THE 2020 GULS GRADUATE GUIDE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF ITS SPONSORS, CONTRIBUTORS AND DEDICATED COMMITTEE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR.
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GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY N61 -2.07 Griffith Law Building 170 Kessels Road Nathan QLD 4111
www.guls.org
@GriffithUniversityLawSociety
www.facebook.com/GriffithUniversityLS
www.linkedin.com/company/griffith-university-law-society/
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