2021 PLC Clerkship Wellbeing Guide
CLERKSHIP SUPPORT
NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO? Crisis Support and Suicide Prevention
13 11 14 24/7 Created by Arafat Uddin from the Noun Project
In Australia? Call afterhours UNSW Mental Health Support Line
1300 787 026 5pm - 9am Created by Arafat Uddin from the Noun Project
Outside Australia? Call afterhours 24-hour Medibank Hotline
+61 (2) 8905 0307 Created by icon 54 from the Noun Project
CONTEMPLATING AN OFFER? WORRIED ABOUT T3? UNSW Law Faculty advises that if any student receives a clerkship offer – the faculty advises that they should accept the offer and contact s.ryan@unsw.edu.au if they need enrolment into a clerkship compatible course – that is, a course that has a take home exam or is an intensive. Students should note that course selection is determined by availability and class sizes. Students do not have the option to nominate a course preference.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE? Upcoming UNSW Law Careers pathway presentations occurring in the coming weeks: • ODPP & AFP 28 September, 5.30-6.30pm • Legal Aid NSW PLT (paid) fellowships 2022 5 October, 1-2pm. • Legal Aid NSW 7 October, 5.30-6.30pm More information will be released soon on the UNSW Law Society Social Media Channels.
ONLINE HEALTH RESOURCES Mental Health Connect | Telehealth student.unsw.edu.au/counselling Created by Luis Prado from the Noun Project
Mind Hub | Online Self-Help Resources student.unsw.edu.au/mind-hub Created by Gregor Cresnar from the Noun Project
WORDS FROM ARC @ U
Setbacks are normal. Whether it be around university work, careers, your mental health or even that New Year’s Resolution to exercise for 30 minutes every day, the path to achieving a goal is usually not straightforward – and that is okay! My name is Marie, I am a 3rd and final year Actuarial Studies student, and one of the Wellness Coordinators at Arc @ UNSW this year. Arc is UNSW’s student life organisation and within Arc you can find volunteering opportunities including the Wellness Warriors. The Wellness Warriors are a community of student volunteers passionate about student mental health and wellbeing. We work towards challenging the stigma that surrounds mental health and provide you with tools to de-stress and reach out if you need to support. We are not trained professionals, but we are a group of passionate students who want to make a positive impact on the wellbeing of the UNSW community! Throughout the year, our volunteers and coordinators talk to thousands of students – some for 10 seconds on Main Walkway, others for 1 hour at an online event. We get to meet a broad range of students, and our focus on wellbeing means students sometimes feel comfortable sharing their experiences (both positive and negative) with us. People usually share the highlights of their lives and careers, especially on social media, but I think great value comes from noticing the lowlights – the hundreds of applications left with no response, the 50 first-round interviews that only brought 2 second-round interviews, or the 100 rejection emails behind the 1 job offer. Building resilience when it comes to dealing with setbacks is not a one-day process, it can be aided by taking more holistic care of the body and mind – if you are having a rough time, struggling internally and having trouble building support networks, you may have a more difficult time dealing with failure and unexpected setbacks. That being said, someone feeling like they’re in a great place in their life is also not immune! Know that you are not alone. Many people try to resolve issues on their own, but it is important to
reach out to support networks and the people around you, such as family, friends, and professionals. Headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds, and has some great blogs including some on “How to Deal with Hard Days” and “Building Your Resilience and Perspective Through Tough Times”. Headspace is one place you can access support, but UNSW students in particular may also find the following services useful: 24 Hour Support: • Lifeline: 13 11 14 • Emergency (Police/Ambulance/Fire): Ph: 000 | Ph: 112 (mobile phones with no network coverage) UNSW Specific Services • UNSW Psychology and Wellness (formerly CAPS): Ph: 9385 5418 • UNSW Security: Ph: 9385 6666 (emergency) | Ph: 9385 6000 (non-emergency) • UNSW Disability Services: Ph: 9385 4734 • UNSW Health Service: Ph: 9385 5425 Arc also has a page with more Helpful Links & Contacts, including phone numbers, websites, interactive online help and more! Arc Wellness also has a Wellness Resource booklet with a guide to help you take care of your body and mind. A key section that I find especially useful during this stressful time of internship offers and crucial career checkpoints is “5 Healthy Ways To Cope With Failure” on page 17, and outlined below. In addition to the UNSW Law Society’s resources and support, the community at Arc Wellness is here for you! We’re always happy to have a chat through email at wellness@arc.unsw.edu.au or on Instagram @arcwellnessunsw. Take care!
Marie Echevarria 2021 Wellness Coordinator
UNSW
5 HEALTHY WAYS TO COPE WITH FAILURE 1. Take a moment for yourself. This won’t be the end of your journey, but it still hurts. Allow yourself some time to acknowledge your feelings and let them out before you move on. 2. Reframe your thoughts. Whether you’ve failed once or 1000 times, you are not a failure. Take this experience as a lesson and keep moving forward. 3. Journaling. Writing down your thoughts helps to organise them and allows you to think more clearly about what happened and why it happened. Be honest with yourself about the ways that you could have changed the outcome and the circumstances that you couldn’t control. 4. Talk it out. Express your emotions, verbalise your feelings and get ideas from others on how to tackle it next time. 5. Try and try again. Failure is the first step towards success. You’ve discovered one path that doesn’t work, go at it again with a new or amended strategy.
TESTIMONIAL FROM A
"To all clerkship applicants – take the time you need but remember that when one door closes, another one opens." In 2019, I was one of many students who applied to begin my career in commercial law through a summer clerkship. I was also one of the many students who were ultimately rejected, as 4 months of applications and interviews culminated in an Offer Day which left me empty-handed and disappointed. As I celebrated my friends’ wins and watched them try to choose where to begin their future careers, I found myself questioning my own abilities and experiencing self-doubt in the face of rejection. It felt like the last few years had been leading up this moment and I had nothing to show for it. I never considered the possibility that I wouldn’t receive a clerkship and I found myself worrying about what my next steps would be. The first part of overcoming rejection was allowing myself space to feel disheartened and upset. I leaned on family and friends during this time, trying to come to terms with the reality of not receiving an offer. The next part involved planning and strategising what my next steps would be. I talked with mentors and contacted the buddies and connections I had made during the clerkship process to try and understand where I could learn from my mistakes and figure out possible alternative avenues into commercial law. I also used networking sites, such as LinkedIn, to reach out to contacts and to see what other nontraditional pathways in law looked like. The wisdom and teachings of my network gave me a context in which to appreciate that I was not alone in my rejection; clerkships are only a small fraction of the many diverse opportunities which are available to law students.
I also organised a meeting with the UNSW Law Careers Advisor to map out my strengths and interests and decide what factors were most important to me in my career. This came to be an essential part of pivoting from my prior commercial law trajectory to then forging a new path. Armed with a better understanding of my personal and professional goals, I attended careers events and fairs both within law and other disciplines seeking opportunities which aligned with my values. With a clearer idea of my future direction, I focused on upskilling and refining my relevant strengths and qualities. Over the summer and during T1 of 2020, I volunteered with a community legal organisation, participated in law society competitions and even took on an online coding course. By expanding my skill set, I became a more well-rounded and experienced applicant for the next opportunity which came along. This eventually led me to my current role where I work in-house for a tech company. I have enjoyed experiencing diverse areas of law and not knowing what I might be working on from one day to the next. It also has been a great way to balance pursuing my interests in commercial law while still enjoying a life outside of work. I am grateful to have begun my career where I did as while rejection is a difficult and challenging experience, it has also been an incredibly formative opportunity for my own growth and selfreflection.
Anonymous
STUDENT
UNSW RESOURCES
Mental Health Connect | Teleh student.unsw.edu.au/counsellin
My Feelings and Mental Health
Managing Low Mood, Unusual Feelings & Depression
Created by Luis Prado from the Noun Project
Mind Hub | Online Self-Help Re student.unsw.edu.au/mind-hub Created by Gregor Cresnar from the Noun Project
Uni and Life in Australia
Student Support
Stress, Financial, Visas, Accomodation & More Created by Siipkan Creative from the Noun Project
Reporting Sexual Assault/ Harrassment
Equity Diversity and Inclusion
Educational Adjustments
Equitable Learning Services (E
To Manage Studies and Disability/Health Condition Created by Anwar Hossain from the Noun Project
Academic and Study Skills
Academic Skills Created by icon 54 from the Noun Project
Special Consideration
Special Consideration
Because Life impacts our Studies and Exams Created by Nithinan Tatah from the Noun Project
health ng
In Australia? Call afterhours UNSW Mental Health Support Line
1300 787 026 5pm - 9am Created by Arafat Uddin from the Noun Project
esources
Outside Australia? Call afterhours 24-hour Medibank Hotline
+61 (2) 8905 0307 Created by icon 54 from the Noun Project
- student.unsw.edu.au/advisors
(EDI)
ELS)
- edi.unsw.edu.au/sexual-misconduct
- student.unsw.edu.au/els
- student.unsw.edu.au/skills
- student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration
TESTIMONIAL FROM AL
LEX
“Resilience – a quality that is arguably imperative in life, but not necessarily easy to develop.” We often hear the phrase, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger”. Although, during a difficult time, this phrase does not always offer us much solace. The past near two-years have been particularly challenging for all, seeing us distanced from friends and family, absent of our usual routines, and for many, struggling to find a healthy and workable ‘life balance’. When I did not receive a clerkship offer last year, I was extremely disappointed – but, I was not in the least surprised. My usual upbeat self, with an unwavering can-do attitude and unbreakable determination had been stifled by the pandemic, the loss of my beloved Grandfather, and, well, life. The reality that I would not be clerking in the summer of 2020/21 initially hit me extremely hard – I wondered what I had done wrong, how I could have showcased my true self better, whether my future would be detrimentally impacted, and so much more. However, upon reflection, I realised it was not yet my time to apply – this was the case for many reasons, but primarily the fact that I was not feeling my best self during the process. In fact, I can now look back and say that much growth and reflection were to come before I would feel ready to give the clerkship process, and my career choices, my absolute all. My re-applying during 2021 (the penultimate year of my studies), was without question. After reflecting on my personal and career goals, where I would like to see myself in 5-10 years, and who I am and what most matters to me, my outgoing nature and strong resolve were back. This was a challenging but rewarding process in itself. While I am yet to know the outcome of my clerkship applications this year, I am certain of one thing – there is nothing I would change in my approach, and I am proud of myself for being authentic throughout the entire process.
By not only persevering with, but actually genuinely enjoying the clerkship process, I believe I have been able to understand what makes each firm unique, and identify which teams I am passionate about and can flourish in. I truly wish everyone the very best of luck come offer day – but please remember, the clerkship process is but one of many paths you can take in kickstarting your career. What is most important, is that you continue to always be your authentic self – that will position you to best connect with your prospective employers and work teams. After all, if you cannot be yourself during the interview stage, you will likely struggle to be yourself once you are in the job. Put your best foot forward always, and back yourself. For anyone who might find themselves in a similar position to myself last year, please do not be disheartened by rejections – these are a natural part of life, they sting but they honestly help us grow if used well. Instead, take time to reflect, and move forward with greater fervour and determination than before. Finally – I firmly believe everything happens for a reason, and while it may not be apparent immediately, a purpose will undoubtedly make itself apparent to you, so be attentive. Continue to invest in your personal development, be diligent in your studies and work, and remain connected socially and with family – in essence, support yourself to do your best, and do not be afraid to try again.
Alex Zoras UNSW Law Society Co-President 2021
TESTIMONIAL FROM CA
“Just because you didn’t receive a clerkship this year doesn’t mean that you are or will be less ‘successful’ than someone who did.” Last year my clerkship journey ended without a single interview. If I was to give advice to myself a year ago this is what it would be. 1. A clerkship does not determine who you are I think it’s easy to get caught up in the belief that your WAM, achievements or career prospects determine who you are as a person. Part of being entangled in this belief, I think, comes from making comparisons between yourself and those who you believe are ‘successful’. Whether ‘success’ means receiving a clerkship offer, or something else, I have found that constantly comparing yourself to others can be detrimental to your self-esteem and belief in who you are. Personally, before this year, I constantly compared myself to other people in my classes and my life. This habit was probably a result of my childhood and school life, being constantly compared to my friends and peers by my family. A consequence of this was that during the clerkship period, I felt as if I was running a race with people who would always be ahead of me, whether it was due to their academics, experiences, or other circumstances. All this made me feel like I would never be good enough to be ‘successful’ or work at a commercial law firm. However, now one year removed, I can say that you should try to let go of comparing yourself to others. Everybody starts at different points in life and have different circumstances. Whether it be people who received clerkships or anything else, comparing yourself based simply on an achievement or result, ignores the realities of life. Without a doubt, you have experienced different hardships and have gone through experiences and setbacks which others haven’t. Just because you didn’t receive a clerkship this year doesn’t mean that you are or will be less ‘successful’ than someone who did. What’s most
important is to focus on yourself and go at your own pace. If you compare yourself now to when you started university, I am sure that every one of you will find that you have grown an enormous amount. Therefore, have the belief that you will continue to grow as a person and will eventually achieve your academic, career and personal goals. 2. It’s ok to take a break It has without a doubt been an incredibly long and gruelling clerkship process. I am sure many of you have attended various firm events, clerkship cocktail evenings and numerous rounds of interviews over the past few months. While we find ourselves at the start of a new term, this doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to take some breaks. I encourage you to take some time to reflect and let out all your emotions. I made the mistake of keeping my feelings pent up and tried to ‘soldier on’ through Terms 2 and 3 last year and Term 1 this year. Inevitably, I found myself emotionally burned out and unable to properly focus on my studies or my self-development. Please take some time, if you haven’t already, to take a breather just reflect on your emotions. 3. Focus on the things you can control Lastly, being rejected from a clerkship still sucks. I am sure that you have spent an incredible amount of effort over the past few years of university to put things on your resume and do well at university. However, it is also important to remember that after you have submitted your clerkship applications, there are a lot of factors that are outside of your control that may have affected your outcome. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of things that you can control that will help you if you want to pursue a clerkship or other opportunities next year. I revisited my previous CV and cover letters to see what I could
ALVIN
improve on. Doing so allowed me to find that I lacked work experience. Accordingly, I undertook a virtual internship in Indonesia through the ACICIS program. It was an enlightening experience and without a doubt has helped me further develop myself as a person and as a candidate. Additionally, I found it useful to participate in UNSW Law Society’s various mentoring opportunities such as the Ethnocultural and Careers Compass Mentoring programs which paired me with mentors from various commercial law firms. They have been an incredible help over the last few months helping me with various graduate applications.
Whether it be gaining more work experience, or expanding your circle of people whom you can learn from, I believe that there is always room for growth. Moving forward, I encourage you to keep on trying to improve yourself and I know that without a doubt, that you will eventually get to where you want to be. I wish you the best in all your future endeavours.
Calvin Fong UNSW Law Society