The Bar

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.

Cindy Huang 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.

Public Sector continued

COURTS AND TRIBUNAL SERVICES

The Bar

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.

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.

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 Path

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

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!