Careers Guide 2022

Page 27

The Careers Guide

Acknowledgements

CAREERS (Publications) DIRECTOR

SUBCOMMITTEE DESIGNER PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT (Careers)

DEAN OF UTS FACULTY OF LAW

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Alexandra Haggerty

Aaliyah James, Mia Rakhit, Natasha Slims, Nathan Politis, Nikki Saini, Sarah McNaughton

Tahlia Kho

Erika Serrano

Melanie Najdovski

Professor Anita Stuhmcke

The UTS LSS acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation upon whose ancestral lands our university now stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these places.

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of Introduction

Welcome Addresses

3 Contents Table
Legal Practice Areas Non-Legal Practice Areas Admission to Practice / PLT....................9 Job Searching..................................9 Resume Building...............................10 Networking....................................16 Dean of UTS Law................................4 President of UTS LSS...........................5 Careers (Publications) Director................6 Corporate Law.................................18 In-House......................................19 ‘NewLaw’......................................20 Criminal Law..................................20 Family Law....................................24 Nonprofits and Startups.......................24 Environmental Law.............................25 International Law.............................27 Migration Law.................................28 Media Law.....................................28 Public Sector.................................31 The Bar.......................................33 Preface.......................................37 Academia......................................38 Policy........................................38 Consulting....................................39 Finance.......................................40 Journalism....................................40

Welcomes

Anita Stuhmcke

DEAN OF UTS LAW

Welcome to the UTS LSS Careers Guide 2022. It is my pleasure to write an introduction to this guide. I regularly receive very positive feedback from law firms, judges, NGOs and alumni about the quality of UTS Law graduates. Articulate, work ready, industry focused and good team players are just some of the positive attributes listed. The feedback confirms what we know to be true of the UTS Law degree –that it is high quality legal education, intellectually rigorous with an emphasis upon skills.

The value of your legal qualification is both tangible and intangible. Indeed the value of the UTS Law degree is as both a legal qualification and a legal education. A legal qualification offers you the possibility of a career in the law or a related field. This is the most tangible outcome of your legal studies. Yet, the ‘intangible’ benefits that your legal education will yield is equally significant. A legal education provides life-long skills that will be immensely beneficial throughout your professional and personal life. So, it is with pleasure I invite you to read this guide from cover to cover. It is full of opportunity and ideas as to how you may apply both your legal qualification and your legal education. It offers many traditional and non-traditional career pathways for you to explore, addressing the wide range of professional possibilities open to you through your study of law at UTS Faculty of Law. My congratulations to the UTS LSS for once again putting together such an important and interesting Guide.

You may choose not to practice law – or you may begin to practice and move onto something different. The skills of UTS Law graduates are trans ferable and valuable across many professions, industries and diverse careers trajectories. So, please take the time to consider the options in this guide and

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Erika Serrano

PRESIDENT OF UTS LSS

CAREERS GUIDE

never be afraid to deviate or try something new. UTS Law has the highest percentage of graduate employment of any Sydney based law school. I encourage you to be confident in your skills, the knowledge you have gained through your studies at UTS and to make the most of the opportunities available to you due to your UTS legal education.

Welcome to the UTS LSS Careers Guide for 2022!

This year the UTS LSS has made a conscious effort to embrace diversity across the career opportunities offered to our members, as we know that our members are unique and have a passion for a multitude of legal careers and pathways. We also recognise that a UTS Law degree provides students with access to so many opportunities and that there is no one size fits all approach to navigating our careers during and after university. In this same spirit, the UTS LSS Careers Team has worked extremely hard to provide you with this guide, which offers a wealth of information that is useful at any stage of your degree.

I would like to acknowledge and extend my thanks to all of the people who have worked tirelessly to piece together this guide, in particular, Careers (Publications) Director, Alexandra Haggerty, Vice-President (Careers) Melanie Najdovski, designer Tahlia Kho, and the amazing members of our Careers (Publications) Subcommittee. Thank you to our contributors who shared their wisdom and advice through this guide. Finally, I would like to extend a warm thank you to our sponsors, many of whom have been included in this guide, for their ongoing support of our publications and initiatives. Without their support, the work of the UTS LSS would not be possible.

Whether this guide provides you with exposure to a potential new area of interest for your career, or simply gives you tips on how to build your career, I trust that you will find something interesting and new to consider. Enjoy the read and I wish you all the best of luck with your future careers!

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Alexandra Haggerty

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 2022 Careers Guide. Our team has worked hard this semester to provide you with a rich publication to help you better understand and inform your choices for your future career.

Your UTS law degree will prove a valuable asset to you in your career, whatever that path may be. It was our aim, in this publication, to help demonstrate what legal and non-legal opportunities you may pursue or even to open your eyes to the diversity of options available to you.

Thank you to our dedicated subcommittee members and our talented designer for all your efforts in putting together this publication. Without them, this publication would not have been possible. Together, we have been able to produce a Guide that puts its readers at the forefront, and is an accessible tool for them to utilise when it comes to the daunting task of planning out their career. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their valuable contributions, and for the insights they have been able to provide.

Wishing you the best of luck in your endeavours, and happy reading!

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Welcomes01

Great change is here. Shape the future with Allens

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

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

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

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

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

Our teams are open, inclusive and encouraging , giving you the opportunity to learn and grow while feeling supported. You’ll have the flexibility to drive your own career, and we’ll recognise your achievements and hard work as you progress through the firm. Are you ready to begin?

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Find out more at graduates.allens.com.au Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP. 19306D
Another fantastic initiative from Allens to engage future talent! As a candidate, I am excited at the prospect of joining such a fantastic and innovative firm.
ALLENS MEET AND ENGAGE meetandengage.com/allens LINKEDIN linkedin.com/company/allenslawfirm FACEBOOK facebook.com/allenscareers/ ALLENS CONFIDENTIAL PODCAST graduates.allens.com.au/allens-confidential-podcast STUDENT NEWSLETTER graduates.allens.com.au/life-at-allens

Two. Introduction

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Admission to Practice / PLT

There are several criteria to meet in order to be admitted into practice as a Solicitor in NSW. These include:

1. A Law degree

2. Be a ‘fit and proper’ person

� The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board, will determine whether you are ‘fit and proper’ to practice law. You are obliged to disclose matters to them which may affect this assessment.

3. Complete your Practical Legal Training (PLT) program

� You have the option of completing this through an internal UTS program or through the College of Law.

� The PLT requires the completion of course work and work experience.

� You will be expected to engage with Continuing Professional Education on an ongoing basis.

Job Searching

It’s never too early to start looking into building up your legal experience. There are plenty of opportunities that you can explore throughout your studies, which will not only foster your legal skills, but also develop your interests. When searching for a job, as a student or beyond, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on job advertising sites such as the following for new and exciting opportunities:

These opporunities include working as a paralegal, legal clerk, research assistant or legal Secretary. Opportunities can arise in firms of any size or practice area, or even in Chambers. All of which are immensely valuable learning opportunities for a student.

Where to look?

UTS CAREERS

UTS Careers has a new setion dedicated to ‘Law job alerts’ through Career Hub, jobs are posted daily. Opportunities include graduate positions, clerkships, PLT positions, as well as casual roles.

It is also worth noting that the UTS Law Student’s Society has a ‘Job Opportunities’ page, which is updated regularly.

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CAREERS
GUIDE

Job Searching continued

SEEK LINKEDIN

Seek has a great variety of opportunities from all disciplines and practice areas. They recommend refining your job search by key words and location to best optimise your results. Seek can be a powerful tool if used effectively!

Additionally, they have a handy ‘company reviews’ feature, where you can read reviews by current or previous employees of the company you’re looking to apply to! This can help you ascertain an idea of the company culture, career development prospects, benefits or perks and salaries.

LEGAL VITAE

Specifically designed for law students and graduates by the Law Society, Legal Vitae showcases a diverse range of opportunities available in one central location. Legal Vitae works in partnership with companies and with universities to deliver up to date information for students, especially for clerkships and graduate opportunities.

Featured employee partners of Legal Vitae include Deloitte, Herbert Smith Freehills, Grad Connection, BCG, First Sentier Investors, KPMG, ANZ and the NSW government.

Another great resource for job searchers is LinkedIn. LinkedIn functions as both a social media platform for professionals and as a job advertisement platform. If you’ve made a profile, make sure to keep it up to date and to engage at least semi-frequently. Highlight your recent experience or transferable skills relevant to the job you’re looking for. If you’re in a position to advertise that you’re seeking work, feel free to use the ‘open to work’ feature on your profile. Finally, it’s important that your profile is a reflection of you, don’t forget to be authentic!

A handy way to keep on top of all the traffic is to set job alerts for they types of roles you may be interested in. You should be able to control the frequency of these notifications too, so it doesn’t get too overwhelming!

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Introduction02

CAREERS GUIDE

Resume Building

We all know what a resume is and how it should look. But how do we populate it? And how do you make yourself look like an outstanding candidate for any role you apply for?

There are plenty of opportunities both at University and beyond which can assist:

Volunteering

A useful way to broaden your professional network and polish your professional skills, there is no shortage of opportunities to engage with as a volunteer. These opportunities are often provided by social-justice oriented organisations, such as Amnesty International, LegalAid, Arts Law Centre of Australia, Pro Bono Centre, RACS, UNICEF, Voiceless, World Food Programme, Community Legal Centres and the United National Young Professionals Program.

An added benefit of volunteering is that hours spent volunteering can contribute to Leadership through Service (‘LTS’) hours for an award with the UTSBrennan Justice and Leadership Program. Volunteering may be fone in either a legal or non-legal context. Requisite hours will vary depending on the length of your degree, see the table below for reference:

5 year Degree 4 year Degree 3 year Degree Minimum

200 hours 160 hours 120 hours 120 hours

Make sure to claim your hours through the online Brennan CareerHub Portal!

Work Experience

Perhaps the most obvious way to build your resume, work experience is a crucial tool for building skills and relationships. All forms of work experience will be relevant, whether legal or nonlegal!

In a legal context you’re able to see your university coursework in practice, and further develop skills that will assist you both in your studies and in your career. It can also help you determine which areas of law you are or aren’t interested in. In this regard, all experience is valuable experience! There’s no time like the present to give different practice areas or fields a go.

Non-legal work will also be highly valuable, as it can give you a strong foundation of transferrable skills which a prospective

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Work Experience (cont.)

Extra Curriculars

employer may find appealing. These are solid skills, such as communication, leadership, problem solving, technical literacy or organisation. Jobs in hospitality, retail, or in other fields such as communications or business are all great starting points.

Don’t be afraid to get involved at university! There is a great range of clubs, societies and other opportunities open to you at UTS. Join a sport that you’re passionate about with social competitions, or be part of a cause you’re passionate about such as the UTS Red Cross society. A full list of the 180 clubs and societies available can be found here: https://www.activateuts.com.au/ clubs/?orderby=featured

As a law student, you have free membership to the UTS Law Students Society. This is a great opportunity to meet other law students and participate in law specific events such as Law Ball, competitions and programs.

UTS LSS Competitions

The UTS Law Students Society has two portfolios dedicated to competions: being the mooting portfolio and the competitions portfolio. It therefore has a vast array of competitions availibile to engage in.

If you’re a first or second year who has never competed befire, strongly consider competing in the ‘Junior’ moots and competitions, as these are a great introduction to the skills necessary to be successful.

Mooting — is a competition where two teams are provided a factual scenario from which they must research and present legal arguments in favour of their client. Teams will consist of a Senior Counsel, a Junior Counsel and sometimes also an instructing solicitor. The LSS offers a range of Intervarsity Moots, Open Moots and Junior moots. Keep an eye out to see if any pique your interest!

Witness Examination — involves competitors acting as counsel in court. The aim is to construct a plausible and convincing case whilst discrediting the case of your opposition. Each counsel will conduct an examination-in-chief of their own witness, a cross-examination of your opponent’s witness, raise objections to the court, and present opening and closing statements. The LSS offers a Junior Witness Examination competion as well as an Open Witness Examination competition.

12 Introduction02

MEET OUR GRADUATE

CHANEL SORIAL

UTS AND COLLEGE OF LAW PLT GRADUATE

Working and studying Practical Legal Training full-time was a challenge, but it was a challenge Chanel Sorial was up for. Chanel completed her PLT studies whilst working as a frontline worker in the State Health Emergency Operations Centre during the peak of COVID-19.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE?

I am currently a Senior Project Officer in the NSW Ministry of Health.

WHAT DOES A DAY IN THE LIFE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU AT WORK?

A day in the life for me is a day that is forever changing. Working in the State Health Emergency Operations Centre and the System Management Branch within the NSW Ministry of Health is one of the most fast paced, time critical and rewarding environments I have ever worked in. A typical workday for me involves managing high level cases and projects for the NSW Ministry of Health.

ANY TIPS FOR LAW GRADS NAVIGATING ADMISSION?

The admission process is fun and enjoyable so enjoy the process and soak up every minute of it. Always reach out to your colleagues and peers for advice.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR LAW STUDENTS?

Firstly, congratulations on all your achievements and success thus far. Being a law student is not only an amazing achievement, but it is one step closer to following your dreams and achieving your goals. You are only a law student once in your lifetime so enjoy every minute of it, enjoy the lows and the highs because it is all worth it. Always be honest, transparent, professional and communicate well. Never underestimate your worth because you are amazing at anything you put your mind to.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK AND PLT STUDIES?

Working fulltime and studying PLT full-time was a challenge, but it was a challenge I will always cherish. I completed my PLT studies whilst working fulltime as a frontline worker in the State Health Emergency Operations Centre

during the peak of COVID-19. It was my duty to protect the people of NSW whilst completing my studies to become a practising lawyer. As I have a passion and love for the community, I never found working fulltime and doing PLT fulltime a struggle, I enjoyed every second of it knowing that I was working towards becoming a lawyer and keeping the people of NSW safe. Whilst the work hours and study hours were extremely long, and majority of the time it felt as if I had no social life, I was selfless and committed to completing the tasks ahead of me. It was this motivation and passion that made the balance easy. Whilst some people may believe that working full-time and doing PLT fulltime is impossible, I can with confidence say it is in fact possible and I am an example. Always believe in yourself because you are capable of anything when you are committed and passionate about what you are doing.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR STUDENTS STARTING THEIR PLT?

As a law student you only get to complete your PLT once in your lifetime, so enjoy every minute of it. Stay committed, stay focused and driven and you will complete every task with confidence. Nothing is too hard.

DO YOU HAVE A COLLEGE OF LAW LECTURER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT?

After completing 6 years of study, I can with confidence say that I had the most amazing lecturer of all time… Asheeth Kalmath. A massive shout out to Ash. Not only did Ash act as my lecturer, but he also acted as my mentor which I feel extremely grateful for. Ash always motivated me and taught me incredible skills that I will have with me forever. Ash’s golden knowledge and advice is something I was lucky enough to experience and I hope you get to experience to. I will be forever grateful that I now have Ash as not only a mentor but a learned colleague.

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Learn more at collaw.edu.au/PLT

RESUME CHECKLIST

Use this list to check that you have completed a professional resume and have tailored it to the position/role. Remember you can move areas of your resume around to highlight the most relevant information for the position.

Have you captured the employer’s attention on the first page with your most relevant experience and skills?

Does the resume look tailored and not based on a standard template? Is the information relevant to the hiring manager’s needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all document?

Did you include relevant keywords and appropriate industry terms?

Is the resume without any careless typos, spelling, grammar or syntax errors?

Did you avoid writing the resume in an implied first-person voice with personal pronouns (I, me, and my)?

Does the resume provide a visually pleasing, professional presentation? Is the resume inviting to read, with clear sections and ample white space?

Is a career summary included so the reader immediately knows your value proposition (recommended for later lawyers, career changers)?

If this is a resume for a career change, does it include supporting details that show how your past experience is relevant to the new job?

Is the resume’s length and overall appearance appropriate given your career level and summary (2-3 pages as a guideline)?

Are there design elements (bullets, bolding, lines, margins) to guide the readers’ eyes through the document and highlight important content?

Does your resume contain key headings? Is the page break formatted correctly so it doesn’t break up sentences?

Is your career history listed in reverse chronological order (most recent job first), with your legal experience first?

Are your achievements distinguished from your responsibilities? Remember achievements are outcome focused and over and above your day-to-day responsibilities

Are achievements quantified by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts, or other concrete measures of success?

Do achievement statements begin with strong, varied action verbs? eg. developed, delivered, managed?

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COVER LETTER CHECKLIST

this list to check that you have completed a professional cover letter and have tailored it to the position/role. Remember to always address the selection criteria required for the position.

Does your letter show your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the job / organisation?

Does your letter look tailored to the role / organisation and not based on a standard template?

Does your letter try to build a connection with the reader? Does it differentiate you enough?

Does your letter show your research and knowledge of the organisation beyond a quick google search?

Does your letter present you in a positive light and as a good fit for the organisation and role?

Is your letter one A4 page long with no more than 4 paragraphs?

Does your letter have the right tone? (read out loud to check)

Have you taken out any information about yourself that might highlight any gaps / weaknesses?

Have you included your contact phone number and professional email address?

Is the cover letter addressed to the correct person with their title, address?

Have you commenced with the correct greeting? eg. Dear Ms Slater

Have you included the title and reference number of the job?

Does the employer know why you are applying for the position and where you saw the position?

Have you included your education, qualifications and current study?

Have you provided specific evidence of your skills for this specific job and written about them without exaggerating?

Have you highlighted your most relevant work experience first, ie. legal?

Have you included the most relevant and recent achievements that promote you well?

Have you addressed any other requirements of the job? eg. global relocation, etc

Is your letter grammatically correct with no spelling or typing errors?

Have you had someone proof read it just in case?

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Use

Resume Building continued

Client Interview — is a simulation of a conference in which teams of two interview a potential client for the first time. The aim is to clearly ascertain the legal problem or problems arising from what their prospective client tells them, and work with them in order to achieve an appropriate outcome.

Negotation — involves resolution of a hypothetical legal dispute or transaction. Prior to each round, each of the two teams are given a common statement of facts, in addition to confidential information pertinent to their client’s circumstances. From these, competitors are to prepare a negotiation strategy to aid them in reaching an outcome serving the best interests of their client.

The LSS offers an Open Negotiation competition and a Junior Negotitation competition, as well as an opportunity to participate in an Intervarsity Negotiation Competition.

Advice Writing — individuals submit a legal advice in response to a client’s legal problem. This is a highly practical competition, replicating skills needed by lawyers in practice, and by students throughout their degree in problem questions.

It is worth noting that these shouldn’t be hollow, resume bolstering exercises. Pursue opportunities that interest and excite you. These will be the activities that will contribute to feelings of selffulfilment, as well as being beneficial for your resume.

Networking

Network is widely acknowledged to be a daunting experience, however, it doesn’t have to be!

It’s important to have the correct approach to networking. Fundamentally, it is about connections. Not about walking up to a stranger at a function or networking event and expecting a job offer. Attend events with the intention of showing a genuine interest in other people, and working towards establishing common interests. Connections made may serve as valuable resources to gain a better understanding of the industry you’re looking to pursue, or alternatively just be great coffee buddies.

You don’t have to think too big to start building connections, your network can include a range of people, from older students, to lecturers and current and former coworkers. Of course, the people you network with can also include current legal practitioners or people working in fields you’re interested in.

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Introduction02

Networking continued

Networking has so many added benefits including:

� Increasing your confidence

� Bolstering your communication skills

� Inspiring new ideas for ways of working

� Keeping you in the loop with what’s happening in different practice areas and firms of interest

When attending an event, know what you’re looking to get out of it. Do some research beforehand on who may be attending to familiarise yourself with their firms or companies and to stop yourself from asking easily googleable questions. If you’re attending a firm specific networking event, tailor your research to the firm. It is also good practice to have some familiarity with legal trends, industry-wide issues which may impact or relate to these firms.

The UTS Law Student’s Society offers a host of networking opportunities that we strongly urge you to utilise. These include the Clerkship Networking Evening, the Speaker Series, and other panels and activities. Be sure to go to events in which you have a genuine interest, this will make socialising and networking that much less daunting, and gives you a great common ground to discuss. However, networking can take place just about anywhere! Don’t limit yourself just to networking-specific events.

Networking will be valuable to you not only at these early stages of your career, but also throughout! Make the most of the networking opportunities offered to you and get comfortable networking early on and it’ll pay off in the long run.

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CAREERS GUIDE

Three.

Legal Practice Areas

Corporate Law

A corporate lawyer’s fundamental role is to support business clients through periods of conflict or change. These businesses vary greatly in nature, and so practitioners will gain exposure to a variety of different fields and products. Often a fast paced

environment, corporate law offers a collaborative environment for individuals, with plenty of leadership potential. This popular area of law requires a great attention to detail, as well as good written and oral communication skills.

Practice in corporate law extends beyond merely the regulation of corporations. It extends to many exciting areas of law including:

� Administrative law

Banking and financial services

Bankruptcy and insolvency

� Building and construction

Commercial and business law

� Company management and compliance

Intellectual property

Mergers and acquisitions

� Technology and privacy

Most corporate lawyers will work in large or mid-size law firms, but can also work inhouse. Consider this area of law if you are ambitious, love a challenge and are motivated to chase your goals.

In-House

‘In House’ lawyers are solicitors employed by a corporation who can only represent and serve the legal interest of their employer. This is different than those who are employed in a traditional law firm that represent a multitude of clients. Often this position is made up of many lawyers who make up the ‘In House Counsel.’

As an in-house lawyer, you will provide advice on a large spectrum of matters. These will apply to how the corporation navigates the economy and interacts with its consumers, partners, competitors and shareholders. While focused on business and corporation law working in this sector involves having an understanding of project management, corporate trusts, human resources, accounting and financial auditing. Often this knowledge is gained from experience. This position also offers great career progression in both a legal sense and non-legal as many in-house counsel go onto managerial positions.

Jobs of an In-House Lawyer:

� Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various commercial contracts and agreements.

� Managing and mitigating legal risks by designing and implementing company policies and procedures.

� Providing advice to teams within the company e.g. trademark law with marketing

� Communicating with and managing any third-party bodies such as external counsel or auditors.

� Assisting with transactions and acquisitions by staying up to date with changes to legislation, particularly relevant rules and regulations

� Liaising with senior members, staff and HR.

CAREERS GUIDE
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Legal Practice Areas

‘NewLaw’

NewLaw offers a market disruption to the traditional workings of a law firm. This sector encapsulates lawyers who aim to change the delivery of their services.These changes focus on more affordable,transparent and streamlined legal services to their clients by ushering in new processes through technologies. This usually extends to the whole firm in general but could also refer to specific practice groups. Currently most NewLaw is intertwined with commerical practice however, due to it’s increasing popularity it is likely that it will evolve into and supplement other sectors.

For employees, NewLaw presents a direct contrast to Big Law firms, making them ideal for students seeking a more flexible arrangement. Additionally, as NewLaw is often closely connected with Start-Ups it often offers employment opportunities outside of legal roles. This including sales, marketing and business growth, perfect for those with interests extending beyond the legal realm.

Some of the unique features of the practice area are:

� Innovative technologies, including document automation, cloud computing and even AI in some places

� Greater flexibility, allowing for work-life balance

� Greater client focus

This sector is great for students who want to utilise the skills they have gained during their law degree but who might not want to work in a traditional law setting.

Criminal Law

Criminal law involves the regulation of conduct in society to protect the community and imposes sanctions on those who commit crimes. Practice in this area can be broken up into two categories: defence and prosecution.

Both will be intellectually and emotionally challenging, but will also be immensely rewarding. You will become an integral part of the criminal justice system. This area of law is great for students who are keen on issues of justice in society - what better way to get involved than by exploring the criminal justice system?

Some of the unique features of the practice area are:

Murder and Manslaughter

Assault

Sexual assault

Larceny

Drug supply or possession

Traffic violations

Bail applications

Sentencing

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03

Criminal Law continued

DEFENSE

Criminal defence lawyers represent defendants, persons charged with the commission of an alleged offence. Moreover, they are key to helping charged persons understand their rights and options for their defence. They can be employed by private firms, usually specialising in Criminal Law, or by the state, in organisations such as the Legal Aid Commission or the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Defence work involves a flurry of activity both in and out of the courtroom. A crucial part of their role is engaging in negotiations with the prosecution and preparation of submissions on their client’s behalf.

A further crucial element of their role is ensuring that their client receives a fair hearing where a matter does proceed to trial. Often, a criminal defence lawyer will be the only protection a client will have from violations of their rights or the admission of inadmissible material into evidence. They test the evidence presented by police for its admissibility and reliability, and may choose to present a case in defence of their client.

PROSECUTION

Prosecutors have the difficult role of proving an alleged offence ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ and securing a finding of guilty against an accused. To do so, they establish close working relationships with law enforcement officials and investigators, experts, victims and witnesses in order to present a solid prosecution case.

Prosecutors can be employed with various government agencies, including the NSW Police Commission, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, and the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office. Whilst Prosecutors work with victims and witnesses, they do not work for them, instead they appear on behalf of the state of the jurisdiction they are employed within.

A prosecutor’s job isn’t to seek the harshest punishments for offences but to weigh up factors relevant to sentencing such as retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation and restoration. Crucial to their role is the idea of fairness and just and equitable outcomes.

To conclude, criminal law is an extremely popular practice area among law students. If you’re inquisitive and studious with a keen eye for detail and a passion for justice, criminal law might just be for you.

21 CAREERS GUIDE

Our significant work

We let our work speak for itself. We’re proud to work with some of the biggest organisations in the world on their most important matters.

Our clients include more than half of the top 50 ASX-listed companies, some of the largest privately owned companies in Australia and a number of global Fortune 500 companies.

We work with well-known organisations like AGL, BP, Blackstone, CBA, Coles, eBay, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Medibank, NAB, PayPal, TPG Telecom and Wesfarmers.

We also work with Federal and State governments, as well as on high profile and market-leading transactions.

Our Lawyer Development Program

The Lawyer Development Program is designed for lawyers in the formative stage of their career. It aims to build the capabilities and relationships that will drive career progression and underpin future successes, as rapidly as possible. Unique features of the program include:

• Mentor partner – Each lawyer is allocated a mentor partner (in most cases their supervising partner in their first rotation) who remains in this role throughout the program and potentially beyond. This will build a personal and enduring relationship that transcends everyday transactional work. Lawyers will also be supported in each rotation by a supervising partner and SA/SC who will source meaningful and challenging work.

• 12 x 6 x 6 rotation structure – The first practice group rotation is 12 months to ensure graduates have time to learn on the job and build strong capabilities and relationships in their first year. In the second year, when graduates have an increased level of experience and confidence, they will complete two six-month rotations in order to gain exposure and build relationships across different groups.

• Formal learning – The program incorporates comprehensive formal learning opportunities including our national Graduate Academy, local Graduate Orientation, practical legal training with the College of Law, practice group induction sessions, and the national Legal Excellence program.

Diversity and inclusion

We strongly believe that diversity in all its forms should be embraced and celebrated. This benefits our people, our clients, our firm and the industry at large.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion includes gender equality, cultural diversity, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, First Nations inclusion, flexible working, carers support and disability inclusion and accessibility.

Corrs was recently named a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the fourteenth year in a row and was named Outstanding Firm for Diversity and Inclusion at the 2021 Chambers Asia-Pacific Awards.

Pro bono and community

We think it’s important to contribute to the community and to facilitate access to justice. We perform over 20,000 hours of pro bono and volunteer work each year, helping those who need it most. We feel that it is our responsibility to ensure legal services are available not only to those who can afford it, but to those who cannot, to those who are disenfranchised and to those who have genuine legal issues of public interest that need to be pursued.

We strongly encourage all staff to contribute to our community and volunteer through our community engagement program supporting organisations such as Hagar, Movember, RSPCA and Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

Wellbeing

We recognise the importance of health and wellbeing and are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace through a range of programs and policies.

Our wellbeing program provides a range of initiatives to assist people in maintaining good overall health. Some of our activities include mixed netball, pilates and yoga, touch football, cricket day, Friday night drinks, family days, trivia nights, End of Financial Year party and End of Year party.

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Corrs Chambers Westgarth is Australia’s leading independent Australian law firm. We’re known for delivering legal excellence, exceptional client service and outstanding results.

International opportunities

We invest in international experiences that help our lawyers grow their skills, cultural understanding and relationships worldwide.

Through our long-term relationships with leading law firms across the world, we advise on the most significant global matters and connect with the best lawyers internationally to provide our clients with the right team for every engagement. Our international program allows you to gain experience, skills and relationships that will provide enduring benefits throughout your career. In addition to our roles advising on significant global matters, connecting with the best law firms and lawyers internationally, we offer:

• Scholarships for the completion of postgraduate study at leading institutions including Oxford and Cambridge.

• International secondment opportunities to premium independent firms in locations such as New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.

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Contact us Cassandra Galea People & Performance Consultant +61 2 9260 6314 cassandra.galea@corrs.com.au Connect with us Corrs Chambers Westgarth @CorrsLaw @Corrslawyers corrs.com.au @corrslawyers Australia Law Firm of the Year 2022 Chambers Asia-Pacific & Greater China Region Awards

Areas

Family Law

Practice in family law involves advising clients on resolution of issues arising from the breakdown of their relationships and supporting them though various dispute resolution and court processes.

This practice area requires a unique balance of empathy and objectivity. Your role will involve providing counsel to people at their most vulnerable. With emotionally charged matters such as these, there is a risk of becoming emotionally involved with your clients and their issues.

As a family law practitioner, you will predominantly assist clients navigate financial agreements (or ‘prenups’), divorces, property settlement, and parenting and child support arrangements. To a lesser degree, you may also become involved in adoptions and surrogacy agreements.

Although family law might sound a little gloomy, the benefit of studying and practising in family law is that you will be able to facilitate the process for your clients to be as easy and manageable as possible. As a family lawyer, you will be able to answer questions, be the voice of reason, and help simplify dramatic problems while navigating a complex and interesting area of law.

Nonprofits and Startups

Nonprofits seek to benefit a cause and service the community at large. They are a growing sector in Australia, currently providing an estimated 600,000 jobs, rendering it one of the largest sectors in the country. Jobs in nonprofits are well suited to those open to providing specific services outside of legal advice, including fundraising, accounting and marketing opportunities.

The key features offered to those working in nonprofits are:

� Valuable experience and varied responsibilities, allowing for further career advancements

� A contagious sense of passion amongst peers

� Community focused work

� A sense of connection with the cause

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Legal Practice
03

Startups provide a disruption of industry through catering to untapped market appeals. They work to bring new products or services, with aims of creating an irreplaceable service for customers. UTS has its own startups community offering collaborative spaces, community and connections in the area for those wanting to try their hand.

The key features offered in the startup area are:

� The ability to work with young companies, meaning a greater ability to mould a new template for the business

� Aims of speed and growth

� Career progression as the startup grows, allowing for increased responsibility and opportunities

� Job satisfaction through making a real contribution

Environmental Law

A legal career in Environmental law is a unique pathway that discovers the notion of sustainable development that strives for greater recognition of significant issues such as pollution to soil, air or water.

Students who decide to pursue a career in environmental law would establish the specialisation of ecological legislation and case law to advocate for protecting communities and the environment, whether by advising clients by taking matters to court, working to reform the law, or developing legal strategies to achieve change. In the wide stance, students interested in environmental law would need a committed drive to protect the environment for the benefit of clients and the broader community.

If the student decides to become an environmental solicitor, significant roles and responsibilities are in place to succeed and uplift the goal of protecting the ecosystem. You may be expected to draw on innovative ways to challenge government decision-making or government intervention points, find legal opportunities for clients and work on developing strategic solutions to environmental issues.

Due to the number of environmental issues, solicitors may be employed in various industries.

This can include:

� Professional, scientific and technical services

� Public administration and safety

� Government sector

� General planning and development

� Waste management

� Natural resources

25 CAREERS GUIDE

Graduate program

Enjoy a one year structured program with extensive on-the-job training and support in completing Practical Legal Training.

Elevate Program provides regular learning opportunities designed to develop graduates by providing skills and expertise to excel.

A comprehensive national induction program which lays the foundation for the year ahead.

Multiple rotations gives you the opportunity to gain experience in several of the firm’s practice areas.

A strong support network including a buddy, mentor and supervising partner to provide guidance throughout the year.

Opportunities to participate in pro bono and Smarter Law initiatives.

Life at Hall & Wilcox offers a range of benefits and initiatives to support the holistic well-being all of our people.

HW Evolve is a hybrid workplace where our people are encouraged and empowered to work flexibly both remotely and in the office.

Grads on Tour is a Smarter Law event that allows graduates to experience the innovation journey by taking an idea to reality.

Scan the QR code to visit our Careers page

Environmental Law continued

In order to be successful, students would have extensive abilities to critically analyse different varieties of information and have good communication skills in order to liaise with the client. Although this may seem daunting and hard work, the career pathways that come with environmental law are endless, which can help benefit one’s understanding of the environment.

International Law

Pursuing a career in international human rights law involves protecting the inherited rights of individuals across the world. The practice of international human rights involves advocating for victims of abuse and persecution as well as human rights violations.

Students that have a passion for human rights or would like to take their studies global may be confronted with the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time abroad. Although this may sound exciting, others may find this a challenge. Nonetheless, students that choose to study International Law can choose to practise on many pathways of law that involve human rights. But human rights law is just one part of international law.

More significantly, most practitioners will find themselves working in one of the three branches of international law, which include:

� Public International Law; � Private International Law; � Supranational Law;

A main focus of public international law is understanding the treaty obligations obligations that a country has between different nations and individuals.

Students who wish to discover a career within private international law will find themselves dealing with issues of jurisdiction. For example, which jurisdiction’s laws are to apply in transnational cases.

Finally, supranational law illustrates the functioning of bodies with international jurisdiction, such as the European Court of Justice, the International Court of

Justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Embodied within these three branches are internationalised versions of many specialities with which you will already be familiar, such as banking and finance law and environmental law.

Practising international Law at UTS has allowed students to develop careers outside of Australia within well-established nations such as the United States, United Kingdom and France. Although this may sound intriguing, most countries have a more sophisticated process to practise, such as obtaining a permanent residency. It should also be noted that this area of law is competitive, so it is recommended that both legal and non-legal skills are established profoundly in order to secure yourself in a desirable role. However, a role dealing with the security of Human Rights is niche and competitive, so obtaining a position in this specific area would be a great experience for those actively pursuing protection for others in need.

CAREERS GUIDE
27

Legal Practice Areas

Migration Law

Migration law is a sophisticated yet intriguing practice involving people’s movement across boundaries to establish a new or semi-permanent residence. This particular practice of law provides the opportunity to communicate to clients that need assistance with VISA applications and handle complicated legal matters.

Within Australia, more than one hundred different types of visas require different sets of skills. As a practising migration solicitor, selecting what to specialise in can depend on the abilities that can be provided. Some of these visas are:

Some of these visas are:

� Visitor visas;

� Studying and training visas;

� Family and partner visas;

� Working and skilled visas;

� Refugee and humanitarian visas; and

� Repealed visas

Although this is a niche area of law, migration is excellent for those who would like to commit to giving back to the community and assisting with humanitarian clients.

Media Law

What is Media Law?

Media Law is the area of legal practise governing issues related to mass media. This includes newspapers, film, television, radio, marketing and the many other areas of media we are exposed to today. As media continues to proliferate this legal field is constantly expanding and has become increasingly important in contemporary society. Whilst previously media law was limited to the printed world and live performances, the internet has rapidly expanded this industry. This has provided many interesting career opportunities for those who want to explore a less traditional legal pathway that engages with the technological age and the legal issues arising out of modern media.

What does a media lawyer do?

Broadly, media law can be separated into three areas of practise; 01.Print 02.Telecommunication 03.Internet

Print relates to the more traditional forms of media such as newspapers, magazines and print advertising, telecommunication includes radio and television broadcasting, and internet refers the online realm such as social media, blogs and YouTube. Beyond this media law can take other forms, for example many music studios have an in-house lawyer to work on copy-right or intellectual property issues, however these three categories are the most significant in Australia.

28
03

EXPAND YOUR CAREER

A career with Lander & Rogers is more than an occupation - it’s a chance to expand and deliver a meaningful and lasting impact.

Establish a career with a leading firm where you will work alongside some of Australia’s leading legal experts and most well-known brands.

Gain support to develop the realworld skills demanded of the very best lawyers, while discovering a genuine, collaborative and flexible place that recognises and celebrates your individual contribution - a team where you, and your career, matter.

Kick

your law career

by visiting

29
landers.com.au
start
Learn more
landers.com.au/careers

Media Law continued

Most of the major issues that are dealt with by media lawyers relate to intellectual property. With the inundation of content in the modern world, this mostly takes the form of copyright concerns as many creators want the rights to their original work. However, media lawyers can also specialise in other areas of intellectual property such as patents and trademarks. Intellectual property lawyers have many responsibilities however their main role revolves around counselling their clients on establishing and protecting intellectual capital

Defamation is another important area of media law. Like intellectual property issues, defamation can occur through print, telecommunications, the internet and even through spoken word meaning it is a very broad area of concern. However, with the accessibility of the internet and the ability to post online at our fingertips, most defamation cases are in relation to written statements, or libel. Lawyers who specialise in defamation will help their clients organise a settlement to ensure the spread of the defamatory material is stopped and their reputation is repaired if any damage was caused.

Most of the major issues that are dealt with by media lawyers relate to intellectual property. With the inundation of content in the modern world, this mostly takes the form of copyright concerns as many creators want the rights to their original work. However, media lawyers can also specialise in other areas of intellectual property such as patents and trademarks. Intellectual property lawyers have many responsibilities however their main role revolves around counselling their clients on establishing and protecting intellectual capital

Defamation is another important area of media law. Like intellectual property issues, defamation can occur through print, telecommunications, the internet and even through spoken word meaning it is a very broad area of concern. However, with the accessibility of the internet and the ability to post online at our fingertips, most defamation cases are in relation to written

30 Legal Practice Areas03
What does a media lawyer do?

Where do media lawyers work?

CAREERS

The explosion of digital media and the rapid expansion of online social platforms has created a huge job market for law graduates interested in media and technology. As such, the scope of potential career paths for media lawyers is very diverse ranging from law firms to digital content agencies. Additionally, most media outlets also have their own in-house legal teams. This includes social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, telecommunications companies like the ABC and an array of other companies that deal with media law issues such as record labels, production studios, marketing agencies, and the list goes on!

Public Sector

The Public sector offers a variety of opportunities for graduates, in ways that either require a legal background or require you to draw upon the legal skills acquired throughout your degree. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll be focusing on legal practice in the public sector, as well as roles in courts and tribunal services.

PRACTICE

As a practitioner in the public sector you will act on behalf of or give legal advice to government ministers and agencies. Within this area there are opportunities to work either in-house for a specific department such as the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or take such agencies on as clients such is the case with the Australian Government Solicitor or NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office.

The responsibilities of a lawyer in these agencies will depend largely on the department or agency in which they work. However, practice areas can range from criminal law, to administrative law, to commercial law. All of which present unique opportunities for development, as well as access to important legal issues early on in your career.

This would be a great avenue for students committed to serving the community and with a great sense of civic responsibility.

COURTS AND TRIBUNAL SERVICES

In these highly sought after positions, graduates with strong academic records may wish to take up work in a judge’s chambers in courts such as the District Court, Supreme Court, Federal Court or High Court. Each role differs in nature depending on the jurisdiction and the allotted role title, however they offer invaluable experience for a future practitioner.

These roles provide valuable insight into the workings of the judge’s chambers, as well as the court system and courtroom procedures. Further, these roles often feature heavily legal research

31
GUIDE

Sparke your career with us…

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

Why choose Sparke Helmore?

Sparke Helmore offers its lawyers a challenging and rewarding environment.

Working at Sparke Helmore provides all employees with a unique range of opportunities to expand their knowledge, with access to:

• Market-leading expertise—we are a full service national law firm. This means you will have the opportunity to gain experience in each of our Insurance, Government, Workplace and Corporate & Commercial practice groups.

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

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

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

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

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

Sparke Helmore lawyers are:

• all-rounders, who are engaged in extra-curricular pursuits as well as their studies

• team players

• clear and concise writers, and

• confident and articulate communicators.

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

Sparke Helmore’s Graduate Program: become part of our family

The Sparke Helmore Graduate Program is a rewarding way to kick-start your legal career, joining a firm that make it all about you.

The first year of practising law can be daunting. Our Graduate Program is designed to guide you through the experience, providing you with comprehensive training and mentoring as well as networking opportunities. You will benefit from specialised soft skills training, equipping you with the tools and knowledge you need to become a capable practitioner and strong all-rounder. You will also have access to the firm’s mentoring program, which pairs you with a senior lawyer in another practice group to give you a broader understanding of the firm and its other areas of law.

We operate in a way that puts our clients and our people at the heard of everything we do—we’re proud to be described as down to earth, practical and easy to deal with. When you join our Program, you will interact every day with our loyal and exceptional client base and quickly become involved in matters that will engage and challenge you, giving you unparalleled opportunity to grow and experience what the law is really like.

Our culture provides the foundations of a welcoming and inclusive environment and we encourage people from all backgrounds to join us. Hear from Cindy, one of our recent graduates, about a day in her life as part of the Sparke Helmore family.

8:00 am | I’ve arrived at the office a little bit earlier than usual today to help prepare for a hearing. The hearing was originally scheduled to be conducted over Microsoft Teams, but after some frantic 4:30pm emails between the parties the day before, the hearing is now in person at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Having prepared the brief a couple of days ago, I quickly compile all the documents needed for the hearing

9:20 am | It’s time to head off to the Tribunal. I’m excited to physically see the action happen in real time—rather than on Microsoft Teams!”

The team—a Special Counsel, Barrister and myself—meet to discuss our strategy before heading into the hearing room. It’s eye-popping to hear the issues that had previously only existed on paper (for me anyway) being argued out by both sides right in front of me. Year 11 “Suits”obsessed Cindy would be proud!

1:30 pm | It’s time for a break and we chat through the morning’s events over lunch, before heading back into the hearing room.

3:30 pm | The hearing has adjourned for the day, and we walk back to the office. My afternoon to-do-list includes compiling tribunal documents, finalising a litigation strategy and also drafting a brief to counsel.

6:00 pm | I had made decent headway with the brief and am ready to head home.

If you want to know more, why not take a moment to visit our website and learn more about Sparke Helmore’s Graduate Program.

adelaide | brisbane | canberra | darwin | melbourne | newcastle | perth | sydney | upper hunter

www.sparke.com.au/join-us/graduate-program/
Cindy Huang

Practice Areas

Public Sector continued

COURTS AND TRIBUNAL SERVICES

and thus present a unique opportunity to refine these skills whilst expanding your professional network.

Final or penultimate year students will often apply directly to a judge or through the court they wish to work in. Students should consider whether the jurisdiction of the court or judge you are applying to coincides with your interests and career plans.

The Bar

Skilled in oral and argument and presentations before the court, Barristers are lawyers specialised in advocacy, dispute resolution and advice. Often, they are responsible for cases in higher level courts (district and above) but may also offer objective advice for clients, solicitors, business’, and governments. It is also common for Barristers to act as mediators and arbitrators outside of their more traditional court-based role.

The Path

To become a barrister, you must first be admitted to practice in an Australian jurisdiction. While it is possible to go straight to the bar, many barristers first gain experience and contacts working as a solicitor.

Then you must sit and pass the Bar exam. This has four components including, ethics, evidence and civil and criminal practice and procedure. These areas are considered basic knowledge required of a barrister. If you achieve 75% or above (a pass), you will then be eligible to register and participate in the Bar Practice Course.

The Bar practice course teaches advanced skills in advocacy and mediation while providing practical insights into practice. Beginner Barristers will complete this along with one year of readership. ‘Reading’ is the historic practice of a senior barrister (a ‘tutor) mentoring the reader (the new barrister). This process lasts for a minimum of 12 months and must include at least 10 days of civil and criminal reading.

Type of work a barrister might carry out:

� In-depth legal research, drawing together legal arguments

� Preparing and writing legal documents including written submissions

� Drafting oral arguments for court proceedings

� Examining and Cross-examining evidence given in proceedings

� Liaising with other legal professionals such as solicitors

� Negotiating settlements between the client and other parties

Legal
03 34

CAREERS GUIDE

Remember Unlike solicitors who work for a firm, barristers are sole practitioners. This means that as a barrister you must seek and manage your own work. Therefore, ability to network and manage relationships with solicitors and clients is an essential part of the job. However, the bar does have a long standing history of collaboration and camaraderie in which busy senior barrister in the same chambers will often offer hand of excess cases especially when junior barristers are still establishing themselves.

Becoming a barrister can be an immensely rewarding experience. If you have a passion for public speaking, a flair for the dramatics or simply, you are interested in working in court, becoming a barrister might just be the job for you!

35

make a

Together

Graduate careers in law

36
we
mark
Working at White & Case opens doors to experiences and relationships around the world that will help you build your career, wherever it takes you. If you’re a team player with a global mindset, apply for our graduate opportunities in Australia. whitecase.com/australiagrad 44 offices across 30 countries 110 nationalities represented across the Firm 2 Australian offices in Melbourne and Sydney Tier 1 by The Legal 500 for Project Development and Project Finance 87 languages spoken across the Firm 1 of the only law firms to offer a guaranteed overseas seat

Together we make a mark

New York associate - and former clerk, graduate and associate in our Sydney office - Adam Conwell talks us through his career to date.

Being a deals lawyer wasn’t always the plan

Growing up, I was inspired by the TV shows and movies where the lawyer gets up to deliver the great closing speech. Yet as a deals lawyer, I will probably never see the inside of a courtroom. It’s the adrenaline I get from being on a complex, fast-moving deal closing that gets me out of bed every morning. I love the practicality of the law and how it always calls for the application of logic to different scenarios.

You learn the most when you get out of your comfort zone

The biggest challenge that I have faced at White & Case was helping to close a capital markets deal while on secondment at the White & Case Singapore office. I had to step up and assist the senior associate with closing out several items. Once the deal was closed, it was a very rewarding feeling knowing that I had been an integral part of getting the deal over the line. You’re trusted to take on real responsibility

The most satisfying thing about working at White & Case is being, even from an early stage, entrusted with working on and closing out important parts of complex and large deals. From my experience, the exposure offered to junior lawyers is something that really sets White & Case apart.

Secondments and overseas assignments are a great learning c urve

I have been lucky enough to have gone on two client secondments in Australia and an international secondment to the White & Case Singapore office working in the Capital Markets team. I have now permanently transferred to the White & Case office in New York. Much of my second client secondment was done virtually. While this was challenging in its own way, the teams I worked with were resilient during that time, made me feel welcome, and worked together as a team to get the job done

I’m part of a truly international team

One of the partners here in the New York office calls our floor the UN, as we have so many people from different backgrounds and countries. Our team also joked that there may be more Australians in the New York EIPAF team than A mericans, but when we thought about it, there actually are.

How I make my mark

Personally, “making your mark” means being someone whom everyone in the Firm wants to work with because you’re not only reliable, but you’re also willing to find ways to take the initiative in the way you help your team. Hand in hand with that, it also means being someone who works at bringing your team together, not only socially but also by being supportive.

The secret to success at White & Case: Resilience

The people who succeed at White & Case are resilient and able to deal with the

pressure that comes from having to perform at a high-quality level. At the same time, it’s important to utilise the team and support around you, prioritising your well-being and recognising the capacity of your peers.

Get to know our Firm before you apply

Talk to as many people in the team at the White & Case office you’re looking at joining, especially at your level, and ask as many questions of these people as you can so you can ensure that the team you’re looking at joining is the best fit for you. Also, take a look on Inside White & Case at the many resources and videos on offer so you can really get a feel for the culture at White & Case.

Always say “Yes”

As a clerk and subsequently as a paralegal, what I did well was to get on as many deals as possible early on. This really set me up for when I started as a graduate, as I was able to hit the ground running. From then on, as a graduate, I always took the early advice of the partner who originally hired me to basically always say “Yes” —it keeps you busy but always first in line for new opportunities.

37

Four.

Non-Legal Practice Areas

Preface

Whilst many law students will graduate and flourish in a legal career many people who finish law school choose to take a different path. Studies have shown that only 56% of law student enter legal careers after graduation leaving a huge quota of students choosing a different direction.

Though a legal career seems the obvious path, a law degree actually lends itself to a number of different disciplines. Among other things, a law degree teaches you to think critically, solve problems,

communicate, and research which are valuable skills desirable in many workplaces. Beyond this many people who enter a legal field move on to successful careers outside of the law as there are many doors open to them.

Discussed below are a few of the non-legal career options available for law graduates. However, this list is not exhaustive and there are many other options available if a non-legal career is something that interests you!

38

Academia

An academic is a law professor who is a part of the Australasian Law Academics Association (ALAA). It is a wide ranging, fascinating career path that will be the perfect fit for those who love research and teaching. To be an academic, an honours degree is first needed, then a PHD must be obtained.

Getting a PHD can be difficult if the requisite honours class is not achieved, however, there are other pathways to obtaining one.

First, you can get into a PhD program through providing research ex perience, such as publishing academic articles in peer-reviewed journals, preparing research reports for industry, business or government. Additionally, you can show your prior legal work experience where you can demonstrate an ability to plan and execute a project with a high level of independence.

Key Features of Academia

RESEARCH NETWORKING PUBLICITY

As an academic you will be able to write articles for journals and perform a deeper analysis on the law.

Becoming an academic brings you further into the legal network, allowing you to make connections with other scholars. These connections will further your ability to thrive in your career.

Having articles published under your name will provide you with an excellent reputation and allow you to become widely known in the legal profession, as well as making you an expert in your field.

Policy

A career in policy will enable you to create policy reforms through working in various organisations such as federal or state government, non-profits, companies and advocacy groups. You could also enter public policy roles such as, political analyst, political consultant or be a lobbyist. Alternatively, you could work in a think-tank, where you can work to influence government policy. Such a role would entail foreign policy, security, public policy, and economics. Pathway into a career in policy is best formed through experience. Gaining experience in the

CAREERS GUIDE

39

Non-Legal Practice Areas

industry of interest through internships, political volunteering positions, or non-profit roles. Studying law gives you the tools to create a splendid career in policy. Throughout your degree you have developed critical thinking capabilities, problem solving, writing and communication skills, along with an understanding of the intertwining relationship of policy and legislation.

Key Features of Policy

� Chance to make change

� A career in policy gives you the chance to affect real change through reform. � Politics

Having experience in creating policy and policy reforms, will help you build a solid understanding and connections within the industry. This gives you an opportunity to potentially create a career in politics.

Policy Continued Consulting

If you’re looking for a profession that utilises the problem solving skills you’ve learned in your degree, but aren’t too keen on a traditional ‘legal’ career, consultancy may be the perfect alternative. Consultants provide professional advice in a particular field to either an organisation or individual. They’re effectively fixers, serving as trouble-shooters to provide strategies to prevent problems and improve outcomes.

A career in consultancy offers more international opportunities and variety than a traditional legal career contains. Consultants can work for public or private sector bodies and will cover a wide array of business areas, including finance, human resources, strategy, information technology, marketing and logistics. This type of work exposes professions to a multitude of several different businesses and often involves collaboration within a team. This careers favours those with creative thinking skills and an ability to build rapport with their clients.

Work that a consultant might carry out includes:

� Analysis of an entities’ operations,

� Identifying problems

� Make recommendations or come up with creative solutions

� Provide practical strategies to implement these solutions

Everyday is different when you’re working as a consultant, making it a great job for those who wish to help revive, grow or support businesses in moving in a different direction.

40
04

Finance

The skills developed in a law degree allows graduates endless opportunities of potential sectors to work in. This includes finance. The finance sector consists of auditing, investment banking, financial planning, tax, insolvency. The written and oral skills developed throughout your time at UTS makes a transition into this sector much more seamless as your degree will provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills upon which you can build your financial career.

Key Features of Finance:

� Limitless opportunity in experiences, career prospects and earning potential.

� Applicability

Being in the finance sector opens you up to a wide range of career paths and opportunities. There’s great career prospects in earning potential and with the ability to move quickly up the ranks. The skills and knowledge you will develop while working in the financial sector will have great applicability to your dayto-day life and can provide you with the understanding to improve your personal finances.

Furthermore, there are great international opportunities in Finance particularly in the US, Dubai and in Europe.

This sector is great for students who want to work in the commercial sector but might not want to be a lawyer.

Journalism

Journalism is one of the more creative pathways that law graduates can take. With great attention to detail, excellent writing skills and knowledge of Australia’s complex political and legal systems, law students can make great journalists and go on to have a flourishing career in the industry.

The skills you develop in your law degree will equip you well for a career in this field. Furthermore, journalism can be a more relevant and intellectually stimu lating profession for those who want more creative freedom in their job. Beyond this, there are no prerequisites for journalism so it is also an industry that one can establish themselves in whilst studying.

Overall, journalism is a great non-legal career option for those law students who may not feel like a legal pathway is for you. So, if you are curious and interested in a job that is socially relevant and rewarding this may be an option to explore!

CAREERS GUIDE
41

CONTACT US

We would be delighted to connect with you in relation to any queries you may have

William Roberts Lawyers is different in a good way

Dispute resolution is what we do.

Many firms say that the client is at the centre of everything that they do, but in reality that's far from accurate. As a disrupter within the traditional insurance law market, we continually think about how to add value to our clients and how we can help our client on their journey to resolve their dispute. Our clients recognise this difference too.

As a boutique insurance law firm with a practice specialty in dispute resolution, our clients benefit from our depth of practice and our team benefits from the opportunity to hone their specialist skills. In the last year, we handled more than 200 disputed insurance matters.

This quantity of matters, and almost constant engagement with insurers, gives our team the experience to approach every dispute with innovative thinking around efficiency, cost and strategic advantage.

William Roberts is a market leader

Results are a given in this market, that is the price of entry, and our success rate is 95%.

We have led the market in pioneering alternative pricing for litigation matters for a decade. 85% of our matters contain some form of alternative pricing which delivers cost savings as certainty to our clients, and has challenged our peers in the market to do the same.

We are renowned for our innovative thinking. That is why well regarded private individuals such as former NSW Deputy Commissioner of Police, Nick Kaldas APM, came to us for legal representation at the recent Parliamentary Inquiry into Operation Prospect and former High Court Judge the Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG asked us to act for him in his personal matters.

Dispute resolution is what we do, all day, every day and we are passionate about embracing challenges as opportunities

Robert Ishak, Principal

Telephone: +61 2 9552 2111 Email: robert.ishak@williamroberts.com.au

Carlos Jaramillo, Principal

Telephone: +61 2 9552 2111

Email: carlos.jaramillo@williamroberts.com.au

SYDNEY

22, 66 Goulburn Street, SYDNEY NSW

21, 535 Bourke Street, MELBOURNE

William Roberts Lawyers Pte Ltd,

Raffles Place SINGAPORE

19, Singapore Land Tower,

© William Roberts Lawyers
William Roberts is a dynamic and innovative law firm with a focus on dispute resolution and litigation.
Level
2000 MELBOURNE Level
VIC 3000 BRISBANE SINGAPORE
Level
50
048623 williamrobertslawyers.com.au

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