Public Sector

Where do media lawyers work? 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!

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.

COURTS AND TRIBUNAL SERVICES 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.

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

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.