Careers Guide 2017 by UTS Law Students' Society

CAREERS GUIDE 2017

UTS LAW STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; SOCIETY

2017 UTS LSS CAREERS GUIDE Editor & UTS LSS Careers (Publications) Director -- Hanna Aili Subcommittee -- Kasia Czarnota, Renata Cvetkovska, Lex Chung, Sejuti Kundu, Sheenae Lecornu, Michael Tangonan Designer -- Megan Wong Dean Of Law -- Professor Lesley Hitchens UTS LSS President -- Christina Knezevich UTS LSS Vice President (Sponsorship) -- Christian Bablanian With Thanks To Print Portal Factory Unit 4, 102-112 Edinburgh Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204  www.printportal.com.au UTS LAW STUDENTS’ SOCIETY C/-FACULTY OF LAW UTS PO BOX 123 Broadway NSW, 2007 Australia P: +61 2 9514 3448

Copyright & Disclaimer © 2017 UTS Law Students’ Society This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copy- right Act, no part of this publication may in any form or by any means (electronic or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any process, without specific written consent of the UTS Law Students’ Society. Enquiries are to be addressed to the publishers. Disclaimer: The articles and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Law Students’ Society, the editor, or the UTS Faculty of Law. Although the editor and authors have taken every care in preparing and writing the guide, they expressly disclaim and accept no liability for any errors, omissions, misuse or misunderstandings on the part of any person who uses or replies upon it. The editor, authors and UTS Law Students’ Society accept no responsibility for any damage, injury or loss occasioned to any person or entity, whether law student or otherwise, as a result of a person relying, wholly or in part, on any material included, omitted or implied in this publication. The user of this guide acknowledges that he or she will take responsibility for his or her actions and will under no circumstances hold the editor, authors or UTS Law Students’ Society responsible for any damage resulting to the user or anyone else from use of this publication.

CONTENTS Editor’s Foreword President’s Welcome Dean’s Welcome

02 03 04

Section One:

Beyond Corporate Careers

Part One: Careers In Government Law & Public Interest Law

Section Two:

Overview Of The Government Sector

State Government NSW

Criminal Law

Public Interest Law

Part Two: Other Legal Practice Areas

Corporate Careers Internship At Choice

Life As An Inhouse Lawyer

Life As A Paralegal

My Experience As A Cadet: Investment Banking

My Experience As A Cadet: Accountancy

Working As A Graduate Lawyer

Life As A Paralegal At A Commercial Law Firm

Practising In Australia

The College Of Law

A Day In The Life At The Administrative

Appeals Tribunal

Accc Graduate Program

Section Three:

Ato Graduate Program

Life At The Nsw Crown Solicitor’s Office

International Careers

Life As A Tipstaff To The Acting Judges Of Appeal In The Nsw Supreme Court

Part Three: Alternate Legal Careers

International Careers

Volunteering Overseas

Interning Overseas

Life As An International Paralegal

Life As An International Legal Intern

Bridging The Divide Between Corporate And International Law

60 62

Life In Academia

My Unconventional Journey To Academia

Life As A Tipstaff

Life At A Not For Profit Legal Centre

My Journey To Becoming An International Prosecutor

Life As A Graduate At NSW State Government

Volunteering Overseas

Life At The United Nations

EDITOR’S FOREWORD Hanna Aili

Whether you have just started your law degree and are eagerly exploring future career options, or nearing completion, I’m sure you are realising the diverse career options available to you; and the amount of possibilities can seem overwhelming to say the least! This is where we step in to provide you with the UTS Law Students’ Society Careers Guide for 2017. The wealth of options for your career after law school has led us to present this year’s guide as a massive jam packed publication; with opportunities from all areas of law and beyond. This guide aims to be your go-to for information on the different areas of practice within the field of commercial law, experiences from both current students and graduates, and the corporate opportunities that can be unlocked by a law degree; as well as contributions from the international, academia non-corporate and government sectors. I give special thanks to Christian Bablanian, UTS LSS Vice President (Sponsorship & Careers), and Yuan, UTS LSS Careers (Activities) Director, for their continual support and assistance. As well as the UTS LSS Careers (Publications) Subcommittee; Michael Tangonan, Renata Cvetkovska, Sheenae LeCornu, Sejuti Kundu and Kasia Czarnota for their tireless efforts in making this Guide a reality. We hope that once you are equipped with the information in this guide, you are able to discover your dream, and work diligently at achieving it, despite any challenges you may face along the way. Best wishes, Hanna Aili

UTS LSS

CAREERS GUIDE 2017

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

We’re constantly inundated with a barrage of article considering your career choices. First years – consider in our newsfeeds about the oversupply of lawyers, and this an introduction to the legal profession. Senior stualthough the NSW Law Society has debunked these dents – we’ve done the hard work for you, examine the inflated figures, many of us are still overcome with the following pages and start planning. However, while fear that our career prospects are limited and that if we this Guide is a good starting point, it is by no means miss out on that illustrious clerkship, then it’s all over. exhaustive. You can always go off-road and pave your That’s where this Guide comes in! own path. The Careers Guide is an annual publication and the Lastly, whilst job opportunities are undeniably com2017 Edition continues to be an invaluable companion petitive, my personal advice is to put yourself in the best to your law degree. In creating this guide, the UTS Law position possible. Study hard, work hard, do extracurricuStudents’ Society endeavours to provide you with a road lar activities, and apply - it is never too early or too late map of where your degree can take you, from every high- to start. Make the most of the privileged opportunity way, road, avenue and street in all different directions. that is your law degree. Your career paths are broader than ever! I extend an enormous thank you to the amazing Equipped with a law degree, and imbued with a set Careers (Publications), Hanna Aili, and sensational of rigorous, analytical skills, you will understand the Careers Subcommittee, Kasia Czarnota, Renata work differently and more critically. From research and Cvetkovska, Lex Chung, Sejuti Kundu, Sheenae Lecornu, communication skills, logical reasoning and critical Michael Tangonan, without whom this publication thinking, creative and solutions-focused approached would not have been possible. They have worked tireto problem-solving, collaborative and self-motivated lessly and demonstrated an unbelievable passion and work management, lifelong learning, social and cultural support for your futures! I would also like to thank the awareness, to a deep consciousness of ethics and the Vice-President (Careers), Christian Bablanian, each pursuit of justice. These bespoke skills are sought after and every contributor, and our phenomenal sponsors in a range of sectors and industries. By the time you - you are all responsible for an incredibly worthwhile graduate from UTS:Law, this expertise will light your publication. path with green lights. Whatever route your career takes, I hope you that it After reading this Guide, I hope you are no longer is challenging, rewarding and worthwhile. I hope you use overcome by the misconception that there is only one way. your law degree in the way that is right for you. Instead, I hope you are overcome by the understanding there are so many ways – and that choice in itself is the Christina Knezevich greatest challenge. President Fortunately, it is never too early, or too late, to start

DEANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WELCOME

The UTS LSS Careers Guide provides a valuable insight into the range of careers available to a law graduate. There is no comprehensive data on career paths pursued by law graduates and employment outcomes. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that there are only a few ways to use your law degree. Because some career paths have an obvious recruitment pathway like the clerkship rounds, you might be concerned that employment opportunities are limited. But, you would be wise to remember this statistic: in NSW, firms with more than 20 partners account for only 0.5% of all firms (as at October 2015). Understanding career and employment prospects is not helped by superficial media reporting about employment in the legal sector that frequently fails to give the full picture about available career paths. However, you should be encouraged by the knowledge that law graduates have one of the highest employment outcomes for all graduates. The Guide with its coverage of private and corporate and non-commercial careers will be valuable in making you aware of some of the variety of opportunities available. The most recent National Profile of Solicitors Report 2016 (June 2017) indicates that the number of practising solicitors has grown between 2011 and 2016 by 24%. Whilst the majority continue to work in private practice (69%), there has been a significant shift in other sectors: the number of solicitors working in the corporate sector has increased by 59% and 34% in the government sector. These increases outstrip the increase of 17% in the private sector. There are currently 2324 practising barristers.

However, these figures donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t capture the careers of law graduates who are not practising as solictors or barristers. We know from other statistics that many of you will decide not to practise as a solicitor or barrister, or will move out of practice after a few years. You will be using your law degree in a wide variety of positions. A law degree can be a good foundation for these other career paths, whether you are based locally or internationally. The LSS Careers Guide will be an important source of information here also. I regularly receive very positive feedback from law firms, lawyers, judges, and alumni about the quality of UTS:Law graduates. Work-ready; practically-oriented; commercially-focused; articulate; and good team-players are common descriptions. This feedback indicates the value of a UTS:Law degree which focuses on rigorous legal knowledge and professional skills. Not all graduate employment will be found through a clerkship round; you may have to actively seek out the opportunities but the resilience and initiative you demonstrate in that process will be valued by future employers. So review the options and think carefully about how you might want to use your law degree, and know that you will be well-equipped for your chosen career path. Lesley Hitchens

SECTION ONE:

Beyond Corporate Careers

SECTION ONE PART ONE:

Careers In Government Law & Public Interest Law

Overview Of The Government Sector ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL (AAT) Michael Levingston Former Intern, AAT

The AAT was established by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 and commenced operations on 1 July 1976. The AAT falls within the portfolio of the Attorney-General. The AAT conducts independent merits review of administrative decisions made under more than 400 Commonwealth Acts and legislative instruments. AAT review decisions made by Australian Government ministers, departments and agencies and, in limited circumstances, decisions made by state government and non-government bodies.

and support services to Members. The AAT has offices in all states of Australia and in the Australian Capital Territory. More Information The AAT does not have a graduate program. However current job opportunities at the AAT can be found at http://www.aat.gov.au/about-the-aat/workingat-the-aat.

Commonly, AAT’s reviews decisions regarding the following matters: • Child support • Commonwealth workers’ compensation • Family assistance, paid parental leave, social security and student assistance • Migration and refugee visas and visa-related decisions • Taxation • Veterans’ entitlements What jobs are available at the AAT? The AAT employs statutory office holders appointed by the Governor-General and Commonwealth public servants under the Public Service Act 1999. Staff are employed to manage the AAT’s Registries, conducting conferences, legal research, provision of client services

Overview of the Government Sector

ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT The breadth of interesting work available, ranging from countering violent extremism to managing Australia’s response to natural disasters, to capacity building in the Asia-Pacific. Meeting so many great people and establishing an immediate network across the entire department. Insight from Tom - Graduate 2016 at the Attorney-General’s Department

The Attorney-General’s Department delivers programs and policies to maintain and improve Australia’s law and justice framework, and national security and emergency management. The Attorney-General’s Department also provides legal advice and representation to the Commonwealth. What jobs are available at the Attorney-General’s Department? Summer Intern Program The Attorney-General’s Department Summer Intern Program is currently under review. There is no 2017/18 Summer Intern Program. For more information, email HR.Assist@ag.gov.au. Graduate Programs The Attorney-General’s Department offers a 12-month graduate program across the policy and program stream and the legal practice stream. Both graduate programs offer a structured learning and development program including mentoring, access to learning and development activities. Policy and Program Stream The policy and program stream has three work rotations in policy areas such as human rights, administrative law, civil law, family law, criminal justice, national security. Graduates will have the opportunity to assist with administering programs and providing support access to justice such as emergency management through national disaster recovery.

Graduates from all university disciplines including arts, commerce, communications, economics, humanities, international studies, law and science are encouraged to apply. However, graduates require a credit average result or above at university. Legal Stream The legal practice stream offers a client placement and a pro bono placement. Graduates will have an opportunity to provide legal advice to government through legislative development and interpretation, managing disputes, and projects. The Attorney General’s Department support the government in defence, major infrastructure projects, initiatives associated with major economic, regulatory and social reforms. The legal practice stream is open to graduates who have completed a Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor, completed no more than four years before the program starts, and are eligible to enrol in a practical legal training course that leads to admission in Australia; eligible for admission in Australia; or admitted to practice in Australia. Graduates require a credit average result or above in their law degree. Applications for the 2018 Attorney-General’s Department Graduate Program closed on 29 March 2017. More Information Visit https://www.ag.gov.au/About/Careers/Graduate program/Pages/How-to-apply.aspx

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CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION (ACCC) Pravin Menon Former Graduate at the ACCC

The ACCC is an independent statutory body that enforces the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and promoting competition, fair trading and regulating national infrastructure to benefit consumers, businesses, and the community. What jobs are available at the ACCC? Summer Intern Program The ACCC and Australian Energy Regulator (AER) provide opportunities for final-year university students to undertake paid summer internships for up to six weeks inclusive of training and seminar events. Applicants should be have achieved strong academic results in their degree and an interest to work at the ACCC/AER. Below are the key dates for the summer 2017/18 placements. Applications open Â

mid-September 2017

Interviews

mid-October 2017

Offers made

late October, early November 2017

Internships commence

Monday 8 January 2018

Graduate Program ACCC offers a structured graduate program where graduates taking part in three, 14-week rotations. Graduate work could involve analysing key market sectors as part of assessing applications for collective bargaining, authorisations and notifications, the economic regulation

of network infrastructure and investigating complaints from business or consumers about possible breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. There may be an opportunity to also undertake an interstate rotation. ACCC provides on-the-job learning, training events and other learning and development activities. ACCC accepts graduates who have completed a three-year degree by the time the graduate program commences. Graduate areas of study include law, public policy, financial modelling, industrial economics and econometrics. Applications have closed for ACCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 graduate program. Below are the key dates which are likely to be similar in subsequent years. Applications close

2 April 2017

Sydney Assessment Centre

10-12 May 2017

Formal Offers made

June - July 2017

Graduates commence

5 February 2018

More Information Visit https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/careers/ graduate-opportunities

Overview of the Government Sector

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE The Australian Defence Force aim is to defend Australia and its national interests. It carries out the Government’s defence policy and remains accountable to the Commonwealth Parliament. PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING

Department of Defence’s key responsibilities include: • international defence relations and defence co-operation • defence scientific research and development • defence procurement and purchasing • defence industry development and co-operation What jobs are available at the Department of Defence? Graduate Program The Department of Defence offers a structured graduate program where graduates taking part in three, 6-month rotations.

18 months – 3 x 6 month rotations (one in Canberra) • Managing contracts and negotiating with consultants • Preparing Statements of Work for procurement activities • Reviewing contract progress reports • Assisting with the evaluation of major tender documentation

The streams that would likely be the most applicable to law graduates include:

THE DEFENCE POLICY AND INTELLIGENCE

ESTATE & INFRASTRUCTURE

12 months – 3 x 4 month rotations

• Decision making on international policy • Source or analyse intelligence to counter terrorism • Develop innovate solutions to mitigate the cyber threats

• Manage the development, strategic management, sustainment and disposal of the Defence estate • The Defence estate consists of approximately 394 properties and millions of hectares of land including five world heritage areas.

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CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

To be eligible for the Department of Defence’s Graduate Program, a student is required to meet the following criteria:

Must be Australian citizens

at the time of application, or have applied for citizenship

Achieved a credit average at the time of application

Meet security clearance requirements

Completed as a minimum a three-year Bachelor degree recognised in Australia

Applicants for the Research and

Prepared to undergo a medical

obtained Bachelor Honours

Medical Officer;

Innovation stream must have Degree within the last two

clearance by a Commonwealth

years or be completed prior to program commencement

Prepared to relocate to

Canberra, capital city or regional area of Australia

for development or final placement (Defence will

provide assistance with domestic relocation costs and arrangements)

Applications have closed for the Department of Defence’s 2018 graduate program. Applicants who are found to be competitive on the basis on their online testing and written application will be invited to attend further screening and assessment processes. Position offers to be made progressively during July - September 2017. Applications for the next available intake of the Department of Defence’s Graduate Program will open in February 2018. More Information Visit http://www.defence.gov.au/graduates/.

Overview of the Government Sector

AUSTRALIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION (ALRC) ALRC is a federal agency operating under the Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996 (Cth), and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). It conducts inquiries at the request of the Attorney-General of Australia. The ALRC makes recommendations to government about legal reform in Australia particularly bringing the law into line with current conditions, removing defects in the law, simplifying the law and improving access to justice. What jobs are available at ALRC? Internship Program The ALRC offers unpaid voluntary internship opportunities for law students. Internships provide an opportunity for students to increase their awareness of law reform issues. ALRC often works on two to three inquiries at any particular time, ranging from technical aspects of the law to questions of broad social policy. The ALRC accepts students who are in their penultimate or final year of their law degree at the time of the internship. As there is strong demand for internships, ALRC will only consider applications that address the following selection criteria: • strong research skills; • ability to analyse and communicate complex information; • excellent written communication skills • ability to work independently with professional guidance • work experience or interest in law reform and/or social policy development. The streams that would likely be the most applicable to law graduates include:

Internship opportunities Semester

Intern period

Semester 1

13 March –

(part time)

2 June (1 day

Closing date

for applications 6 February

a week) Semester 2

7 August –

(part time)

20 October

3 July

(1 day a week) Summer

8 Jan – 26 Jan

2018

(full time)

29 Jan – 16 Feb

23 October 2017

2018 (5 days for 3 weeks)

More Information Visit http://www.alrc.gov.au/about/legal-internshipprogram

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CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE (ANAO) The ANAO seeks to improve public sector performance and accountability through independent reporting on the government’s administration to the parliament and the Australian public. The ANAO offers an independent view of the financial management of Australian Government entities through the performance of financial audits, performance audits and assurance reviews. What jobs are available at ANAO? Graduate Program The ANAO Graduate Program is a one-year program where graduates will have the opportunity to work on audits across a range of federal government agencies and entities. The ANAO plays an important role in improving financial reporting, program management and information systems across the Australian Public Service. ANAO accepts graduates from a diverse range of disciplines however key skills required are outlined below: • Strong communication skills including the ability to write clearly and concisely • Business acumen • Self-starter • Well-developed conceptual and analytical abilities • Achiever with a strong sense of purpose To be eligible for the ANAO Graduate Program, you must: • Completed a qualification equivalent to a three-year Australian undergraduate degree or higher • Be a current Australian citizen • Prepared to undertake an appropriate security clearance • Willing to relocate to Canberra More Information Visit https://www.anao.gov.au/careers

Overview of the Government Sector

AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY (APRA) APRA is the prudential regulator of the financial services industry. It oversees financial institutions including banks, building societies, general insurance, private health insurance companies and members of the superannuation industry. APRA establishes and enforces prudential standards to ensure financial promises are supported by an appropriate system.

SPECIALISED INSTITUTIONS DIVISION

What jobs are available at APRA? Graduate Program APRA offers a 12-month Graduate Program with the opportunity to work in the following divisions:

DIVERSIFIED INSTITUTIONS DIVISION

Training and development will be provided throughout the program. Applications have closed for APRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2018 graduate program. Below are the key dates which are likely to be similar in subsequent years.

Supervision of 500 licensed entities including regional banks, credit unions, building societies, friendly societies, insurers and superannuation funds.

Prudential supervision of more than 250 functionally diversified financial institutions including large financial conglomerates, banks, insurance companies and superannuation firms.

POLICY & ADVICE DIVISION General Counsel, Policy Development,

Applications open Â

27 February 2017

Applications close

2 April 2017

Applications screening

April - May 2017

and online testing Assessment centres

15 May, 18 May,

(held in Sydney)

19 May 2017

Second stage interviews

June 2017

Offers made

July 2017

Advice & Approvals, Resolution & Enforcement and Licensing.

RISK & DATA ANALYTICS DIVISION Credit & Market Risk, Governance, Insurance and Operational Risk and Data Analytics functions

CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION People & Culture, Information Technology,

More Information Visit http://www.apra.gov.au/AboutAPRA/Working AtAPRA/Pages/graduate-program.aspx

Media & Communications and Finance

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CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN, AFFAIRS AND TRADE (DFAT) DFAT promotes and protects Australia’s international interests and supporting economic growth and global stability. DFAT provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the government. It works other government agencies to ensure that Australia’s global, regional and bilateral interests are coordinated. What jobs are available at DFAT? The Policy Graduate Program is a two-year development program open to applicants from all academic backgrounds. Policy graduates will undertake five placements of 5-6 months. Work placements and training are based in Canberra. Policy graduates have exposure to a variety of work relating to: • Bilateral economic and political relations • International trade negotiations and investment • Humanitarian development and aid management • International security and public diplomacy, • Representing Australia overseas. Applications for the 2018 DFAT Graduate Programs have closed. The next intake is likely to be open in February 2018. More Information Visit http://dfat.gov.au/careers/graduate-recruitment/ Pages/graduate-recruitment.aspxb

Overview of the Government Sector

THE DEPARTMENT OF PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET (DPMC)

DPMC advises the Prime Minister on Government policies and activities and ensures the implementation of Cabinet decisions. DPMC works with different government agencies to develop social and economic policies and decisions such as Indigenous Affairs and national security. What jobs are available at the DPMC? Graduate Program DPMC Graduates will undertake rotations across various areas of the Department including the Regional Network and external partner organisations in the notfor-profit, non-government or private sector. Graduates will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the Government’s priorities, and experience the development and implementation of government policy. The Graduate Program offers a range of on-the-job training, networking and mentoring opportunities.

recognised in Australia • Maintained a credit average throughout your degree • Obtain an Australian Government security clearance • Be an Australian citizen or will be an Australian citizen by 30 June 2017 Applications for the 2018 DPMC Graduate Programs have closed. The next intake is likely to be open in March 2018. More Information Visit https://www.pmc.gov.au/work-for-us/graduatecareers

Preferred Attributes of DPMC Graduates • Motivation and interest in government • Communication skills • Relationship management skills and respect • Analytical ability • Innovative thinking and commitment to learning • Agility and resilience Requirements • Completed a minimum 3 year undergraduate bachelor degree in the last 5 years. All degrees must be complete by 31 December 2017 and the degree must be

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CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES & INVESTMENT COMMISSION (ASIC)

ASIC is Australia’s corporate, markets and financial services regulator. Its role is to maintain Australia’s financial markets are fair and transparent to ensure confident and informed investors and consumers. ASIC administers the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 and carries out most of its work under the Corporations Act 2001.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills • A creative approach to problem solving • Think critically when interpreting information • Adapt quickly and effectively to new situations • Work collaboratively • Alignment with ASIC’s values of accountability, professionalism and teamwork

What jobs are available at the ASIC? Graduate Program ASIC graduates undertake four 4-month rotations and a 3-day induction program in the Sydney office. Law graduates will undertake a variety of work during the program including:

Applications for the 2018 ASIC Graduate Programs have closed. The next intake is likely to be open in March 2018.

• Collecting and analysing evidence, interviewing a person of interest, or preparing court documents • Involvement in high-profile criminal and civil matters • Implementing law reform initiatives • Assessing complaints and reports of misconduct relating to insider trading, continuous disclosure and market manipulation • Liaising with relevant stakeholders including the CDPP, legal counsel and other agencies • Contributing to the development and implementation of policy on financial services, corporate finance and corporate governance • Reviewing corporate finance transactions

More Information Visit http://www.asic.gov.au/about-asic/careers-at-asic/ asic-graduate-program/

Attributes • Australian citizenship

Crown Solicitor’s Office

What does the Crown Solicitor’s Office do? Principal areas of practice: Child protection, Commercial law, Community law, Constitutional & Administrative law, Criminal law, Employment law & Industrial relations, Government law, Inquiries, Property & native title, Torts (Justice/Enforcement Agencies) and Torts (Service/Regulatory Agencies) Description of firm: The Crown Solicitors Office (CSO) is the largest provider of legal services to the NSW Government and its agencies. We employ approximately 200 solicitors and 50 paralegals in full-time or part-time work and over 110 business and legal support staff. We are the primary legal services provider to the NSW Government, and we are committed to being a legal services employer of choice by offering new lawyers exposure to a wide range of legal matters of great public significance. Not only do we offer flexible working hours, we also encourage a healthy work/life balance with a targeted training program that meets the individual needs and aspirations of our lawyers and staff. The CSO works with over 500 government clients on a commercial basis in the conduct of litigation, provision of legal advice, representation in courts and tribunals and drafting of legal documents and agreements. Employment opportunities: 1. Graduate programs 2. How/when to apply for the position 3. Eligibility criteria We offer a two-year program for graduates consisting of four, six-monthly rotations across various legal practice groups that will provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills in advice writing, litigation and transactional work. You will be provided with targeted training activities and on-the-job training to ensure that by the end of the program you have the capability levels of a well-rounded and competent solicitor.

leave loading and superannuation). Employment is on a temporary basis for a period of up to three years and ongoing employment may be offered to those who have satisfactorily completed the program, subject to work and funds being available. This program is limited to those who have completed their law degree and have less than two years’ legal experience before the commencement of the program. Admission is not required, however, it is expected that admission is obtained by the end of the program. Application Process: Graduate roles are advertised every two years on the iworkfor.nsw.gov.au website. Applications open in July. Recruitment is aimed to be completed in October and the program commences in February. What do our graduate solicitors say? As a graduate at the CSO, I have conducted research on a diverse range of topics to assist senior solicitors with the preparation of advices. I have also assisted solicitors involved in the conduct of litigation in the Land and Environment Court by drafting affidavits and preparing annexures. I have also had the opportunity to attend court and strategy meetings with senior counsel. Anna Lark, CSO graduate solicitor As a graduate solicitor at the CSO, I have been given the opportunity to conduct and assist with a wide range of government litigation and provide advice on statutory interpretation issues and legal questions to NSW government agencies. Working in the public law sector is both intellectually challenging and rewarding on a day-to-day basis, and CSO graduates are offered unparalleled opportunities to develop skills. Uzma Sherieff, CSO graduate solicitor

You are provided with: • expert supervision • leadership and advice • access to professional training and development • access to study leave.

As a graduate solicitor at the CSO I enjoy guided autonomy to work on numerous matters allocated to me. For my matters I have prepared advices and attended mediations. I have greatly benefited from the mentoring program set up specifically for the graduate program and the training that the CSO has to offer. Tom Holcombe, CSO graduate solicitor

Remuneration: Salary ranges between $72,039 and $81,888 (total remuneration package up to $90,764, inclusive annual

Working at the CSO as a graduate solicitor has been a great way to jump start my legal career in a fun and supportive

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environment. As part of the graduate program, I have had the fantastic opportunity to learn and engage in diverse and unique areas of government law, some of which I had little to no knowledge about coming straight out of university. A typical day in the office might involve a range of tasks from advice writing to attending and preparing for court hearings in complex and interesting matters (which you may even come across in the media!). There are also plenty of training and development programs which have been helpful in building my legal and business skills going forward in my career. Haeran Chung, CSO graduate solicitor You can find more information about the Crown Solicitor’s Office by visiting www.cso.nsw.gov.au.

NSW Department of Justice

What does the NSW Department of Justice do? The NSW Department of Justice offers opportunities within the courts, juvenile detention, correctional and rehabilitation centres, community centres, victim support services, volunteering organisations, corporate legal services, and Office of the Sheriff. For students, there are a range of law clerk positions, junior receptionist positions, paralegal, admin, personal assistant and office positions in general, being advertised on the website from time to time. Summer Clerkship The Summer Clerkship is run for penultimate students, offering 1-2 positions per year. The summer clerkship is offered with the Justice Strategy and Policy Department, which deals with law reform, parliamentary policy and practice and formulating government policy, ranging from criminal to civil law. You may be expected to: • Prepare briefing notes for the Attorney General and other Justice ministers • Conduct analysis on proposed bills and policy reform • Write speeches, attend meetings, liaise with stakeholders, and work with other government departments in general Applications You must include in your application: • Cover letter • Curriculum Vitae • Academic Record • Contact details of two referees

CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

The application should be submitted to policy@justice.nsw. gov.au. Applications for the 2018 - 2019 Program will be open in June 2018. For more information, please visit http://www. justice.nsw.gov.au/justicepolicy/Pages/lpclrd/lpclrd_clerkship. html,c=y.aspx

The NSW Law Reform Commission

What does the NSW Law Reform Commission do? The NSW Law Reform Commission (NSWLRC) is an independent statutory body that provides law reform advice to the government on matters referred to them by the AttorneyGeneral. The commission prepares reports that analyse key legal issues, by undertaking intensive research in academic literature, engaging with stakeholders and asking for public comment. When a report is finalised, it is tabled for parliament and made publicly available. Winter Internship Program The NSWLRC runs a Winter Internship Program for graduates who are interested in law reform and policy development. Interns volunteer on a full-time basis for at least four weeks. The internship allows students to work closely with the Commissioners and staff and contribute directly to law reform proposals, with their contribution credited in the published paper. The internships are targeted towards final year students, or those recently graduated, but students from any year are eligible to apply. Applications The NSWLRC not only seeks applicants who have a strong academic record, but also those who are proficient at conducting legal research and who have strong written and verbal communication skills. When applying applicants should: • Address the selection criteria • Include a curriculum vitae • nclude an academic record • List their availabilities For more information, visit http://www.lawreform.justice.nsw. gov.au/Pages/lrc/lrc_internship/About-the-Internship-Program. aspx. Alternatively, you can contact Erin Gough on (02) 8346 1263 or Erin.Gough@justice.nsw.gov.au.

CRIMINAL LAW

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

What does the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions do? The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is New South Walesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; independent prosecutorial body. It is a government agency, which is comprised of approximately 600 solicitors and administrative officers from the Solicitors Office and Crown Prosecutors. Each year, the ODPP handles approximately 18,000 matters, which it tries to solve efficiently, fairly, and justly. These matters include trials, committal proceedings, appeals and summary hearings in various jurisdictions such as the Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court and the High Court. Legal Development Program The ODPP offers a Legal Development Program for graduates. The program offers paid practical legal experience in criminal prosecutions, flexible work practices and working alongside senior lawyers and Crown Prosecutors. The program is for a period of 12 months in Sydney and Sydney West locations on a full-time basis. To be eligible for the program, graduates need to have completed the College of Law coursework component, or be currently undertaking or have not yet started the work experience component of the Professional Program. Applications Positions are advertised on an ad hoc basis and are advertised via www.iworkfor.nsw.gov.au. Applications are only accepted for advertised positions. To find out more information contact HumanResources@odpp.nsw.gov.au. Alternatively, you can access http://www.odpp.nsw.gov.au/careers.

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

What does the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions do? The Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) is an independent prosecution service established by Parliament to effectively and efficiently prosecute alleged offences against Commonwealth law so that justice can be served, and potential offenders can be deterred from committing crimes. Crimes that the CDPP prosecutes include fraud, serious drugs, commercial, counter- terrorism, money laundering, human trafficking and slavery, people smuggling, child exploitation, environment, safety, cybercrime and other general prosecutions such as copyright and failing to vote. It

aspires to create to a fairer and safer Australia. The CDPP is also responsible for the conduct of prosecutions against the laws of Commonwealth in all Australian jurisdictions and provides feedback on legislative proposals, and submissions to committees in relation to law reform. It is also involved in two main categories of international work, extradition and mutual assistance. As international systems, Australia cooperates with other governments in investigating and prosecuting criminal matters. Graduate opportunities The CDPP employs approximately 450 staff in offices located in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne. While no formal graduate program is in place, graduates are encouraged to apply to vacancies as they become advertised. Applications More information about eligibility requirements, the application process and current vacancies can be found on https://www. cdpp.gov.au/careers

NSW Public Defenders Office

What does the NSW Public Defenders Office do? NSW Public Defenders are salaried barristers appointed under the Public Defenders Act 1995 to provide representation to legally aided people charged with serious criminal offences. They are the only independent statutory office in Australia who provides this service and are highly regarded for their expertise in appearing in serious criminal cases. NSW Public Defenders only represent clients who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Unpaid Work experience Generally Public Defenders do not provide paid employment to law students or graduates, however, sometimes they assist Universities with student placements for work experience by providing unpaid work experience to selected student volunteers. Exceptional student may also be given the opportunity to complete the work experience component of their practical legal training with Public Defenders. Applications All applications are made to the Chambers Manager and should include a brief letter with CV and recent academic transcript.

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Inquiries should be directed to ruth.heazlewood@justice.nsw. gov.au. Paid Work Experience This is limited to successful candidates for the Aboriginal Law Graduates Program. This program aims to help Aboriginal law students satisfy the professional practical training requirements so that they can practice as lawyers. Candidates for the program are nominated in two ways: • By their law lecturer via the Dean of Law at their University • Under the NSW Bar Association’s Equal Opportunity program in consultation with the Dean of Law at the relevant University

NSW Ombudsman

What does the NSW Ombudsman do? The NSW Ombudsman independently and impartially ensures that agencies properly fulfil their obligations. It helps agencies improve their performance by addressing complaints that have been made about them. It recommends ways in which the agencies can act responsibly and lawfully. Career Opportunities While the NSW Ombudsman does not have a graduate program, employment opportunities are advertised on www.jobs.nsw.gov. au and www.indigenousjobsaustralia.com.au

CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

Currently, the NSWCCL is involved in work concerning: • Asylum seekers • Refugees • National security • Counter-terrorism • Free speech • Censorship • Privacy • Data retention • Criminal justice • Police powers • Mental health Student placements and internships The NSWCCL provides unpaid student placements and internships. Generally, they last anywhere between 20 days and 6 months. Successful students conduct research, write submissions to government inquiries, assist with media releases, and address complaints about breaches of civil liberties by drafting responses. They also attend meetings and conferences. Applications If you are interested, please send your CV and a cover letter explaining your interest in civil liberties and human rights to office@nswccl.org.au. For more information, please access http://www.nswccl.org.au/internships.

Applications Generally, applicants are required to include a brief covering letter, a resume, a statement of claim for the position and a completed employment application and reference nomination form. More information about the selection process can be found by accessing the guides on https://www.ombo.nsw.gov. au/what-we-do/our-office/working-for-us.

NSW Council for Civil Liberties

What does the NSW Council for Civil Liberties do? The NSWCCL aims to protect the human rights of all citizens by challenging laws and policies that infringe on civil liberties. The NSWCCL prepares submissions to government, conducts court cases, engages in public debates, and produces publications.

Aboriginal Legal Service

What does the Aboriginal Legal Service do? The Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) is a community organisation which gives free legal advice and representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across NSW and the ACT. The ALS is concerned with criminal law, children’s care and protection law, and family law. The organisation also assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children through the court process by providing legal advice, representation and referral to further support services. The ALS runs a 24-hour Custody Notification Service for Aboriginal people taken into police custody. The ALS assists people accessing Civil Law advice, those applying for Work and Development Orders and provide referrals and support for matters if they cannot assist.

Internships The program is funded by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. An Aurora Project internship is available to both ATSI or non-Indigenous students and graduates, in full-time unpaid 4-6 week internships, at over 120 organisations across Australia. There are organisations within Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. They are Indigenous focused, working on issues of native title, land rights, advocacy, social welfare, human rights and environmental policy. Candidates should have a keen interest in Indigenous issues and social justice. Interns should expect challenging and interesting tasks, as well as administrative requirements. In previous years, UTS has offered funding to interns in the Aurora project.

Student Volunteer Program Students who are interested in the Student Volunteer Program are encouraged to apply online. If successful, students will gain valuable experience in legal matters relating to the Aboriginal community, the opportunity to work closely with ALS solicitors and staff. Students will also receive hands-on training in the following areas:

Applications Applications for the summer 2017/18 round will be open from 9am AEST Monday 31st July 2017 through to 9am AEST Friday 25th August 2017.

• Drafting submissions • Drafting letters and court documents • Attending court with solicitors • Preparing briefs for Counsel • Instructing in trials • Administrative tasks • Paralegal tasks Job vacancies are offered on the ALS website http://www. alsnswact.org.au/. Applications For more information please visit http://www.alsnswact.org. au/pages/volunteer.

The Aurora Project

What is the Aurora Project? The Aurora Project was established in 2006 to provide assistance for Native Title Representative Bodies (NTRBs), by recruiting lawyers to work with the cases. Aurora provides internships, training, professional development and scholarships to support lawyers working in the native title sector. As well as legal internships, the project also provides anthropology and sociology students to the NTRBs.

Community Legal Centres

What are Community Legal Centres? A Community Legal Centre (CLC) is a not-for-profit, communitybased organisation providing free legal advice, information and casework to local communities. They receive funding from federal and state governments, and philanthropic organisations. As well as this, they work in partnership with legal aid, pro bono contributors and the private legal profession. There are around 190 across Australia. From 2014-15, CLCs helped over 216,000 vulnerable and disadvantaged people across Australia. Each CLC has a distinct focus, with some advocating for law reform or conducting test cases. Some CLCs, such as the Redfern Legal Centre and the Marrickville Legal Centre, offer generalist services in a geographic location. Meanwhile, others offer specialist services in areas of child support, credit, welfare rights, disability discrimination and immigration, among others. These legal centres include but are not limited to the Welfare Rights Centre and the Financial Rights Legal Centre. There are also some CLCs that target specific demographic groups, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children, women, refugees, prisoners and the homeless. Examples include the Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre, the Aged-Care Rights Service and the Women’s Legal Service NSW. Graduate Opportunities CLCs are ideal for law graduates interested in social justice,

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active community engagement, and responding to the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. There is a database on the National Association of Community Legal Centres which lists available jobs nationwide: http://www.clc.net.au/JobAds/. Volunteer Opportunities Some CLCs receive no funding at all, and are reliant on volunteers. There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities, listed on a separate database: http://goo.gl/M5a21J. Practical Legal Training There are also opportunities to do your Practical Legal Training (PLT) with a CLC, if you are committed to going to a rural or regional location, and can self fund. Information can be found at http://placements.naclc.org.au/index.php

The NSW Bar Association

What does the NSW Bar Association do? The NSW Bar Association is the association that allows practicing lawyers to become qualified barristers. Barristers are the advocates who represent clients or work for the prosecution and appear before the court. They do not work for law firms, but rather often work independently, or group within chambers. To practise at the bar, a person must have admission as lawyer in an Australian jurisdiction, must pass the NSW Bar examination, complete the application for an Australian Practising Certificate, and complete the reading program. Once a lawyer is admitted to the Bar, the Association provides support, information and events for its members. Graduate opportunities The Bar Association does not recommend graduates attempt the Bar exam immediately upon finishing their degree â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is advisable to have several years experience in general practice as a solicitor prior. If you want to gain insight into the role of a barrister, you can contact individual barristers to see if they are seeking a research assistant, through the website http://finda-barrister.nswbar.asn.au/.

The NSW Office of Environment & Heritage

What does the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage do? The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is a government agency concerned with protecting the environment, Aboriginal country, culture and heritage. They provide services and support to various park trusts, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

Within the OEH is a legal services sector, which provides advice on legislation administered by OEH and the EPA relating to environmental conservation and protection. The Legal Services sector also represents the OEH and the EPA in any litigation they undertake. Career opportunities While the OEH does not have a specific graduate program, job vacancies are listed on the Jobs NSW site: https:// jobsnsw.taleo.net/careersection/env_heritage/jobsearch. ftl?lang=en&organization=1010360143997

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre

What does the Public Interest Advocacy Centre do? The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is an independent, non-for-profit law and policy organisation, which provides legal assistance to disadvantaged community members. It also conducts legal research, engages in policy work, and provides community education. Their projects include providing access to justice for disadvantaged societal groups, homeless legal assistance, freedom of information assistance, Indigenous justice, work with prisoners and detainees. Funding for the PIAC comes primarily from government funding and the NSW Public Purpose Fund. The organisation also receives income from training and consultancy fees and donations from firms such as Allens, King & Wood Mallesons, Minter Ellison, and Henry Davis York. Public Training Workshops Graduates are able to attend the public training workshops, with specific programs including advocacy skill training, or advanced negotiation skills. More information is available at http://www.piac.asn.au/training/public-training-workshops/ public-training-workshops. Practical Legal Training PLT Placements are unpaid. Applicants are required to commit to at least 3 days per week for at least 60 days. Successful applicants are required to answer telephone calls, assist with casework under the supervision of solicitors by conducting legal research, drafting correspondence and preparing documents. Applications Recruitments for Practical Legal Training (PLT) placements will be in October 2017. For more information, please contact Senior Solicitor Julia Mansour by email on jmansour@piac. asn.au.

Public Interest Law

Other Career Opportunities Any vacancies are listed on their website. More information can be found on https://www.piac.asn.au/about-us/careers/.

Refugee Advice and Casework Service

What is the Refugee Advice and Casework Service? Refugee Advice and Casework Service (R ACS) is one of Australia’s leading refugee legal centres. It provides free, specialist legal advice to asylum seekers and refugees looking to reunite with their family. Its lawyers are experienced in human rights and migration law. They come from a range of cultural backgrounds. Several of these lawyers are refugees themselves. RACS aim to ensure that people at risk of persecution gain access to fair representation before the law, and are granted fair protection by Australia. Volunteer Opportunities There are plenty of opportunities for students to volunteer while still doing their degree. Volunteers provide research and legal preparation work, and they assist with office and administrative duties. Students are asked to commit at least one day per week for a 3-12 month period. Students who volunteer have the opportunity to participate in RACS’ training courses in refugee law. For more information, please visit http://www. racs.org.au/volunteer/ Applications Applicants are required to email a cover letter and CV to Reeve Koelmeyer at racsvolunteer@racs.org.au with “Volunteer Application” as the subject line. They are also required to include their availability, state when they are available to start, and note whether they can speak a second language. For more information please phone (02) 8317 6500. Other Career Opportunities RACS also hosts solicitors from private firms to do casework. More information can be found on http://www.racs.org.au/ contactracs/working-at-racs/.

Salvos Legal

What does Salvos Legal do? Salvos Legal is a revolutionary not-for-profit law firm. All of the profits generated by the commercial/property teams are used to fund the work of their humanitarian team which is provided free of charge to the disadvantaged and marginalised in the community. Both firms are wholly owned by The Salvation Army. Volunteer opportunities

Salvos Legal offers unpaid internships for graduates and admitted solicitors through their commercial and humanitarian teams. Internships are typically full-time and last for four months. In addition they also welcome volunteer administrative assistants, paralegals, migration agents, interpreters and solicitors at both of their offices (Sydney and Goodna) and advice bureaus. Applications If you are interested in joining Salvos Legal in a voluntary capacity as a Solicitor, Migration Agent, Paralegal, Interpreter or Administrative Assistant, please complete the Volunteer Expression of Interest Form found on the website and email it, together with your CV and cover letter, to: volunteercoordinator @salvoslegal.com.au.

Tipstaff Positions

What do Tipstaves do? Legal tipstaves provide a high level of legal research and administrative support to judges in the Equity and Common Law Division, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Generally, they are employed as part of the personal chambers staff of a particular judge for a period of one year. Law graduates applying for tipstaff or researcher positions are expected to have strong academic results, along with highly developed legal research skills. Involvement in extracurricular activities and involvement in voluntary legal work is also expected of applicants. Tipstaves are required to work in an environment that is fast-paced and demanding. They are expected to proficiently use technology, and to display strong communication and interpersonal skills. As well as this, they are required to act in a tactful and confident manner when interacting with court users, practitioners, the judiciary and other court staff. They must also maintain confidentiality. Tipstaff to the Chief Justice of NSW The Chief Justice seeks applications for research positions in the Chief Justice’s chambers in October each year for the next following year. This means that in October 2015, applications are sought for the commencement of Law Term 2017. When a Chief Justice seeks applications, they place advertisements on the Court’s website and write to the Deans of all Law Schools across Australia to request that students be informed that applications are being sought. Applications Currently, applications are open for a Judicial Clerk (Tipstaff ) to the Chief Justice of New South Wales. Applicants are required to submit, in hard copy, a covering letter, full curriculum vitae and original or certified academic transcript. They are also required to submit two written references relevant to the

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position. Applications will close on Wednesday 30 November 2016. For more details, please view the advertisement on http:// www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/sco2_aboutus/ sco2_careers.aspx#tipstaff_roles Tipstaff to a Supreme Court judge In most cases, judges do not advertise tipstaff positions. Instead they directly select tipstaves. Generally, tipstaves are employed at the Supreme Court on a non-ongoing, contract basis for up to 12 months. Employment usually commences at the beginning of the law term. However, sometimes they are engaged at other times throughout the year. Applications Since each judgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chambers operates individually, applicants are strongly recommended to contact the chambers of individual judges for specific information relating to applying for the tipstaff position with that judge. Applications should be made at the beginning of the year before the appointment is to take effect. Judicial Officer contact details can be found on http:// www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/sco2_contactus/ judicialcontacts/judicialcontacts.aspx General positions If you wish to apply for a position as a tipstaff or researcher generally, rather than to any particular chambers, please forward a covering letter accompanied by your Curriculum Vitae and academic results to supremecourt.supportservices@courts. nsw.gov.au (Attn: Judicial Staff Coordinator). Applications will remain with the Supreme Court for a period of 12 months only.

Associateships

What do associates do? The associate position provides broadly based executive support to enable the judge to meet obligations both within the court and to external stakeholders, including legal practitioners, litigants in person and members of the public. Career opportunities Generally, judges directly select their associate. In most cases, associates are employed at the Supreme Court on a 12 month contract, renewable on an annual basis. Opportunities for these positions can present at any time throughout the year.

CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT LAW & PUBLIC INTEREST LAW

Legal Aid NSW

What does Legal Aid NSW do? Legal Aid NSW delivers legal services to socio-economically disadvantaged people who need assistance with matters related to criminal, family and civil law. It provides free confidential legal advice, legal representation, family dispute resolution services to parties in a family law dispute, free workshops and webinars, free legal information and specialist services for particular demographics. Legal Aid NSW also aims to bring about law and policy reform by writing submissions and policy papers. Graduate Program Legal Aid NSW offers a Graduate Program which is structured over two years. It provides successful applicants with the opportunity to work alongside experienced solicitors. Applicants are required to have good communication skills and to display initiative, adaptability and problem solving skills. They must also be interested in social justice issues and Legal Aid NSWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practice areas. Applications Interested applicants must submit transcripts, a resume and a cover letter. Recruitment for the 2018 Graduate Program will commence late 2017. More information can be found on http:// www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/about-us/working-at-legal-aid/ graduate-program.

Justice action

What does Justice Action do? Justice action is a not-for-profit community organisation that targets abuses of authority in both the Australian criminal justice system and mental health system. It provides representation to people who have been victims of abuses of authority. It brings attention to human rights abuses, and engage in policy work development. Internship Program Justice Action has an internship program. More information can be found on http://www.justiceaction.org.au/index. php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&Itemid=986

Applications If you wish to apply for a position as an associate, please forward a covering letter accompanied by your Curriculum Vitae to supremecourt.supportservices@courts.nsw.gov.au (Attn: Judicial Staff Coordinator). Applications will remain with the Supreme Court for a period of 12 months only.

SECTION ONE PART TWO:

Other Legal Practice Areas

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OTHER LEGAL PRACTICE AREAS

PRACTISING IN AUSTRALIA: What are the academic and practical legal training (PLT) requirements?â&#x20AC;¨

The first step in applying for admission is the completion of a course prescribed by the Legal Profession Admission Board. Upon completing your law degree, you must complete your practical legal training (PLT). e PLT can be undertaken through a variety of providers, such as UTS, ANU or the College of Law, and cannot be started until you are eligible to graduate. Once you have completed your PLT you will be eligible to apply directly for admission. To practise in New South Wales, a practising certificate must be held from the NSW Law Society. ere is also a requirement to complete two years of supervised practise. You will be required to complete a number of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) hours each year. e hours may be attained through attending seminars, giving lectures, and publishing journal articles, just to name a few.

THE COLLEGE OF LAW

Choosing your PLT provider should be given considered thought. You need to know exactly what you’re paying for. And you want maximum return on your investment. Introducing PLT Plus from The College of Law – the most flexible, convenient and engaging PLT program in Australia. Our aim is to ensure you transition successfully into your chosen workplace, equipped to contribute immediately. We achieve this goal through the integration of three essential program components: 1. Coursework 2. Work Experience 3. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Practical, task-based learning PLT Plus is widely known for its highly practical and relevant task-based coursework. You will develop skills in key areas of competence through everyday scenarios that parallel real-life practice. With no assessable academic essay writing, you will solve everyday legal problems and complete hands-on tasks. You can complete your coursework in one of three study modes. Choose the mode that suits your goals, timeframe and lifestyle. • Online full-time • Online part-time • Online part-time evening • On-campus full-time If you choose one of our online options, more than 90% of your coursework will be delivered online with just 5 days’ face-to-face training. Gain insight into a real legal environment Our work experience component is designed to give you insight into what it’s like to work in a legal environment,

this is your first opportunity to apply your skills to reallife legal problems. PLT Plus offers two formats for the work experience of your PLT program. • Short Format – 25 days of approved work experience + Clinical Experience Module (CEM) • Standard Format – 75 days of approved work experience We also work with employers to source PLT placement opportunities for our students. Discover the importance of professional career development The Continuing Profession Education component of PLT Plus introduces you to the importance of ongoing professional education and career development. The CPE is comprised of two series: 1. Legal Business Skills Series: a program only offered by The College of Law which focuses on the business of law 2. Legal Series: a range of seminars that cover technical legal topics You can choose units from both series – or you can select units from just one. However, if you choose to complete all 10 units from the Legal Business Skills Series, you will be awarded the Certificate of Legal Business Skills in addition to your GDLP. Discover more For course dates or more information about our PLT Plus program visit The College of Law website collaw. edu.au/pltplus or contact our Student Services Team on 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au

JOIN THOUSANDS OF S AT I S F I E D L A W S T U D E N T S ACROSS AUSTRALIA

UTS LSS

CAREERS GUIDE 2017

PLT Plus – today’s most in-demand Practical Legal Training (PLT) program, delivered by The College of Law. Now in its second year, our new and improved program puts you first. With a renewed focus on flexibility, convenience and practical relevant training, it’s no wonder more students are choosing PLT Plus over any other program. Now it’s your turn to discover what the fuss is all about.

5 Reasons to choose PLT Plus YOU’LL BE MORE ‘PRACTICE-READY’ PLT Plus places greater emphasis on task-based, hands-on learning. It’s also the only program that offers a Legal Business Skills Series – equipping you with vital workplace skills such as time management, leadership and communication.

Y O U ’ L L S T U D Y H O W A N D W H E N Y O U WA N T With only 5 days of face-to-face attendance plus full-time, part-time, onsite and offsite study options, PLT Plus is truly flexible. We also offer more than 10 courses a – not us. year in Sydney, allowing you to study at a time that suits

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Y O U ’ L L B E M O R E AT T R A C T I V E T O E M P L O Y E R S As Australasia’s largest provider of PLT, The College of Law has a global reputation for excellence. We are also the preferred provider to 9 of the top 10 law firms in Australia.

YOU’LL GET MORE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE With one-to-one lecturer support and comprehensive Practice Papers to take into the workplace, our goal is to help you succeed the moment you enter the professional workforce.

YOU’LL ENJOY BENEFITS TO LAST A LIFETIME As a PLT Plus graduate, you receive lifelong discounts on all our short programs – plus ongoing invitations to our alumni and networking events. What’s more, you’ll receive two subjects of credit towards the College LLM program.

For course dates or more information about our PLT Plus program visit The College of Law website www.collaw.edu.au/pltplus or contact our Student Services Team on 1300 856 111 or enrolments@collaw.edu.au The College of Law is Australasia’s largest provider of Practical Legal Training (PLT), with campuses in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. We also conduct programs in Adelaide, Canberra and regional Queensland, as well as onsite sessions in London. The College of Law’s PLT program leads to the award of a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) which makes you eligible to apply for direct admission to your state or territory.

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A DAY IN THE LIFE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL Michael Levingston

What is the Administrative Appeals Tribunal? The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) is a tribunal set up for reviewing decisions made by select government agencies, and includes areas such as Commonwealth worker’s compensation, social security, migration, taxation and the recently established National Disability Insurance Scheme. It has a broad jurisdiction, and even broader issues of law and fact in each case that comes before it. What was the AAT like? The AAT was an exciting experience that helped dispel the ‘boring’ aspects of administrative law for me. With such a wide array of experienced people, an extensive jurisdiction and unique applicants, each day was rather unique. Conciliations, mediations, and hearings allowed extensive issues to be put forward in different ways, with varying amounts of technicality. The AAT really gave me an insight into a wide range of different human experiences, something I appreciate deeply.

What was the most interesting? I was fortunate enough to be an associate for a day, wrote directions, and shadowed some very intelligent and experienced legal professionals. What is the most difficult part about working in the AAT? It was really daunting doing work and research in a tribunal with such a broad jurisdiction, and often doing work in areas that I’ve never studied before. However, the experience was well worth it, and I’d recommend it to anyone.

Describe the average day. I’d start around 9 am, get a basic briefing on what was happening on the day, decide on what matters I wanted to attend, and write briefs on the issues in each matter before attending the relevant conference/conciliation or hearing. At the end, I’d summarise the substance of what occurred, speak to the registrars or member about the matter, and conduct some research for them.

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OTHER LEGAL PRACTICE AREAS

ACCC GRADUATE PROGRAM Pravin Menon Former ACCC Graduate

What rotations did you undertake? My three rotations in order were the Communications Branch (3 months), Mergers & Acquisitions Branch (3 months) and Enforcement Branch (3 months), all based in Sydney. What training was provided? The ACCC Graduate Programme included the following training: • Orientation Week – an introduction to the ACCC and its activities, competition law and economics and opportunity to meet and socialise with other graduates • Basic Investigations Skills Course – 1 week training course • Writing and Presentation Skills Course – 1 week training course • Career Development Training – 1 day training course

Did you experience any challenges with the graduate program? The ACCC Graduate Program was really well structured and hard to fault. It provides great opportunities to learn and develop strategic and analytical skills and build your professional network. The only challenge occurs at the end of the Graduate Program as getting a placement in your preferred area can be competitive. What happened after the program finished? At the completion of the Graduate Program I was offered a role as an Investigator in the Enforcement Group. I thoroughly enjoyed Enforcement and stayed in Enforcement for another four years.

The Communications Branch also offered] its own bespoke training which included learning about communications infrastructure and visiting a Telecommunications Exchange. What was a highlight of the graduate program? The highlight of the ACCC Graduate Program was giving a presentation to the Enforcement Committee towards the end of my third rotation. The Program provided a collegiate and supportive environment to develop professionally, including interstate travel, formal training and the opportunity to make great friends in the process.

ATO GRADUATE PROGRAM Jana Culibao Former ATO Graduate

What rotations did you undertake? I had two rotations (6 months each) – working in a GST Large Market Compliance Team and then a Public Groups and International Operations Team. Both teams exposed me to larger corporations, which was exciting! The workload was varied – I got to attend workshops, assist with presentations, do company profiling and research on issues like transfer pricing What training was provided? We had one day a week dedicated to training for the whole year of the graduate program. This included training on topics like GST, Income Tax, and Project Management etc. and involved tests, group work, presentations etc. At the end of it we even got a Cert IV in Project Management. What was a highlight of the graduate program? There were a lot of activities that brought all the graduates (40 graduates in Sydney) together – such as the training mentioned above. It was a good way to be fresh out of uni but slowly getting used to office and 9-5pm life. I also had a really nice Graduate Manager who was so easy to talk to and always supportive. Lastly, but most importantly, the ATO Graduate Program definitely gave me some life-long friends! Even though I’ve now left I still see a few of my fellow graduate mates quite regularly.

Did you experience any challenges with the graduate program? As I did an Arts/Law degree at university both rotations did test my knowledge a little bit – there were times where I had no idea what I was doing! In both rotations, however, I was provided with an official mentor from that area who I could speak to at any time. This definitely made it easier - both of them were more than happy to take time out of their day to talk to me about anything and everything. The weekly training helped as well. What happened after the program finished? After the graduate program ends, everyone is given a permanent final placement in a particular team and area of the office. I had told my Graduate Manager that I had an interest in criminal law so when I found out there was a position open in the Criminal Investigation area of the ATO I asked and was able to be placed there. I stayed in this section for 1.5 years as a Criminal Investigator and got to do exciting things like a two week investigation course in Melbourne, numerous search warrants and even a secondment to the AFP! Working in this section then ultimately helped me to get my dream job at the CDPP as a Federal Prosecutor.

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OTHER LEGAL PRACTICE AREAS

LIFE AT THE NSW CROWN SOLICITOR’S OFFICE Jonathan Vasiliou

I began my legal career as a paralegal at the Crown Solicitor’s Office about eight years ago. Since then, I have had the opportunity to be responsible for a wide range of fascinating matters, many of which have involved novel or finely-balanced questions of law, or have attracted significant public interest. These have included prosecuting defendants for offences as diverse as cheating in the casino, fraudulently obtaining the first home owner’s benefit, and exceeding abalone fisheries quotas. I have acted in matters where the Crown Solicitor represented the Commissioner for Corrective Services as an interested person in inquests into deaths of inmates in custody, appeared before the Mental Health Review Tribunal in relation to high-risk forensic patients, and applied on behalf of the Commissioner of Police for destruction of seized counterfeit luxury goods. A career highlight was having conduct of the representation of the Attorney General in a landmark appeal against the leniency of a sentence imposed on an intra-familial sex offender: Attorney General for New South Wales v CMB [2014] NSWCCA 5; [2015] NSWCCA 166 (the latter judgment following the decision of the High Court in CMB v Attorney General for New South Wales [2015] HCA 9). That case resolved important questions of principle in relation to sentencing appeals by the Crown. The supervisory model at the Crown Solicitor’s Office allows young lawyers to quickly learn the skills necessary for independently managing a busy legal practice. I enjoy meeting new challenges in my practice

autonomously, with the support of some of the finest legal minds in the State. An impressive academic transcript is, of course, a great advantage in your first few years of practice, but there is really no substitute for the experience gained in the course of challenging yourself every day at work. Paralegal, clerk and tip-staff roles provide opportunities for you to distinguish yourself from other graduates, refine relevant professional skills, and gain exposure to different practice areas, all of which will make easier the task of deciding upon your future career direction. If you have already succeeded in obtaining a graduate role, try to find yourself mentors where you can, as the wisdom of those who have come before us is really invaluable.

LIFE AS A TIPSTAFF TO THE ACTING JUDGES OF APPEAL IN THE NSW SUPREME COURT Samuel Murray

Where did your interest in this area of law or law in general begin? I was always interested in commercial litigation, so the opportunity to get involved in the work that occurs behind the scenes in trials and hearings, and be so closely connected to the judicial decision-making process was too invaluable to be ignored. How did you find out about this opportunity? I had friends who had gone through a similar process, so I was aware of the general opportunity to be a tipstaff. More specifically, I determined which judges I had an interest in and contacted their associates by email to find out whether there was an opportunity available. What was involved in the application process? I contacted the associate of the judges I was interested in to find out what the judge wanted for the application. Generally, a cover letter, CV and transcript were sufficient, and would be followed by a single interview by the judge. I would recommend applying as early as possible. What past experience do you have? I had been a research assistant to some commercial barristers for two years, and had been a summer clerk at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. What do believe was the most compelling part of your application which enabled you to be selected for the position? My strong grades and heavy involvement with

extra-curricular that showed comprehensive research and editing capabilities, like mooting. What sort of work did you complete during the year? I sat in on cases being heard by the NSW Court of Appeal, I wrote research memoranda for my judges, and I edited and proofread judgments once written. I also assisted with the administration and day-to-day running of the judgesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; chambers. What is the best advice that you have for students wishing to enter into similar roles? Be selective about which judges and courts you apply for. Different judges have different focuses and do different sorts of work, so being aware of which judges do what is critical, both for getting the most out of the year, and for ensuring your application rings true with the judge. For example, the sort of work one would do for a judge in the Corporations List of the Supreme Court is quite different to that for a judge of appeal, a judge in the Common Law Division, a federal court judge, or a district court judge. Know what sort of experience you want to get (commercial or criminal, trial or appellate, private or public) and make your choice accordingly. What would you say is one of the most important things you have taken from your experience? It substantially improved my understanding of law in inestimable ways and it allowed me to get an understanding of court procedure and what occurs in the background and decision-making process of judgments.

SECTION ONE PART THREE:

Alternate Legal Careers

LIFE IN ACADEMIA Anita Stuhmcke

Where did your interest in this area of law begin? My path to becoming an academic was unintentional. I stumbled into this career. My family background is non-university. I came from what was then a small coastal town with very limited contact with any tertiary institution. My first and only real contact with universities and academia was upon commencement of my BA/LLB at Macquarie University. I followed the path of many law students in their fourth year and applied for, and gained, a summer clerkship in a commercial law firm. I then applied through the graduate program and became a commercial lawyer in a large law firm. As part of my continuing professional legal education obligations and as my employer supported further study I commenced a Masters of Jurisprudence. This is perhaps the point at I recognised that I felt at home in a university, that I enjoyed the process of researching and writing. How did you find out about the opportunity? Halfway through that degree, close to my two year anniversary as a commercial lawyer, I was sitting in my office in a tall building in the CBD and saw a job advertised for a law academic. I can still picture this moment. It was random. I was not looking for another job - however I knew that I needed to do something different. It was one of those instances when something clicked. I had not thought about being an academic as a career before then. What was involved in the application process? Formally, I had to contact the university; address the selection criteria; garner the support of two referees and then be interviewed. Informally, before applying I spoke to a friend who was an academic (non-law) and a partner at the firm who had previously been an academic. I trusted their advice and insights. I also gained some tips on putting the application together. I was very careful with this informal

part of the process as this was a big step for me, indeed I believed then that academics were creatures of a higher order (in my defence remember what I said earlier – first in family to go to university…) What past experience do you have When I applied I had no past experience as an academic. I had done some limited research work for an academic staff member at Macquarie University. I had achieved Honours in my law degree. I had started my Masters. What do believe was the most attractive feature of your CV that allowed you to obtain the position? The great thing about being an academic is that you are many things: an educator and a researcher and an administrator and you can engage and be engaged with industry and the community. It really is a varied and wonderful job. I think looking back that I had evidence in my CV of the capacity to do all these things and that my background was a good fit with the people who interviewed me. I also think my LLB marks helped and I “looked” committed to an academic career as I was studying a masters degree. What is the best advice that you have for students wishing to enter into similar fields? Talk to academics about the process. Take opportunities on offer. A university is a huge organisation with many opportunities available – such as exchange programs and an honours degree. The Honours degree may not seem immediately obvious or desirable but at least consider seeing if you qualify for it! An honours degree may be useful to show you are committed to legal education. It is also often necessary as a PhD is generally a requirement for employment as a law academic today. There are excellent opportunities here at UTS such as the Quentin Bryce Law Doctoral Scholarship which gives successful applicants the ability to gain a PhD while teaching.

01/03:

ALTERNATE LEGAL CAREERS

MY UNCONVENTIONAL JOURNEY TO ACADEMIA Dr Pip Ryan UTS Faculty of Law

I am a full time academic in the Faculty of Law at UTS. I have been in this role for three and a half years. This is exactly where I want to be right now. But this job would not have suited me 20 years ago. This is the great thing about a career in law – it can change with the times. When I undertook my law degree, I was working full-time as a paralegal at Freehill Hollingdale and Page (now Herbert Smith Freehills). I had returned home from a stint working for Esso in London, looking for a new direction and a professional career. Studying law at UTS was an excellent decision. It was also a lot of work. I loved working as a paralegal and the pay was terrific, but the hours and interstate travel did not sit well with my responsibilities as a single parent and trying to study law. So I sought out and secured a position as a judge’s associate. This worked really well. It was a bit tougher financially, but the 12 weeks’ annual leave meant that for three years I actually had fun playing with my son during his school holidays. When I finished my law degree, I joined Allen Allen and Hemsley (now Allens), as a solicitor in commercial litigation. This was a really amazing experience and very rewarding. I learned a lot working with very experienced, professional, commercial lawyers. The hours were crazy. These were the days before webmail, laptops, USB sticks and the Cloud. Working meant being at work. At least once a week I would work back at the office until it was time to go home and start the day all over again. I was chronically sleep-deprived for two years. If it were not for my mother’s assistance with babysitting, I could not have held down that job and afforded my son’s school fees. In 2002, I made the decision to go to the Bar and take back control of my life. This was a great move. I loved everything about the Bar. Well, almost everything. It is the lament of every barrister that we wish all of our instructing solicitors would make sure we get paid in a timely manner and we all wish that every courtroom could be a constructive workplace. It is a constant

theme in the Courts that judges want us all to reduce our submissions to as few words as possible and time limits are imposed ruthlessly. It can be quite frustrating and ultimately disappointing. To make up for the lack of intellectual rigour that I experienced most of the time at the Bar, I started a PhD. While undertaking my research I was offered some teaching. I loved it. It was very convenient as the Sydney University Law School was still holding classes in Phillip St, next door to my chambers. I soon looked forward to teaching more than appearing in court. This informed my next decision. As soon as my doctorate was conferred, I stopped taking new briefs and started looking for academic positions. When a position became available at UTS Law, I jumped at it. I had been teaching casually at UTS and I had made some very good friends among the academic and professional staff. UTS Law has a wonderful, inclusive and supportive culture. The university is aspirational and dynamic. It is a friendly place and (unlike some of the day to day work we do at the Bar) it promotes scholarship and deep-thinking. For now, I cannot imagine any other career path that could have brought me here and I do not want to be anywhere else.

LIFE AS A TIPSTAFF Robert Size

Describe your position: I am a Tipstaff in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. I wanted to be a Tipstaff because I want to be a barrister and I wanted to have the opportunity to watch litigation and learn how things work in a court behind the scenes. An average day my position revolves around whatever we happen to be hearing that day. Most days I get into work between 8 and 8.30. Between 8.30 and 9.30 I collect the mail and prepare what we will need in court that day. Most days we have directions scheduled at 930. This is where parties come to court and procedural arrangements are made in respect of their upcoming or in some cases concluded proceedings. The directions are normally over before 10, which is when most hearings are scheduled to start. Between the end of the directions and the beginning of the hearing the Judge will adjourn to robe. I have to wear what I guess resembles a long black overcoat that we all refer to as the “tippy coat”. During the hearing I assist the Judge and also act as our Court Officer (because the Supreme Court does not have many Court Officers available). This means that I swear in the witnesses, call parties outside of the court when they fail to make an appearance, and hand up documents to the judge. After the hearing my work involves proofreading, research and other administrative jobs. Most of the real work has to be done around the time spent in court, although sometimes matters settle and there are some allocated days off for judgment writing. How much work there is to do really comes down to luck. If parties settle there is time to catch up but if nobody settles it is easy to fall behind. What are the biggest challenges in your job? The biggest challenge in my job is proofreading judgments. Whilst I always had to check my work whilst studying and when I worked as a solicitor, it was never as difficult as proof reading a long and complicated judgment. I proof every judgment at least twice. In the first proof, I go through every reference to the evidence, and every reference to a case or a section of an Act, and check that every reference is accurate. I sit at my desk with

folders upon folders and bits and pieces of paper everywhere and lean across and type citations into Westlaw and LexisNexis making corrections in red pen as I go. Sometimes the hardest part is adding in all the typos and grammatical mistakes contained in the evidence itself. Along the way I also look for any errors and sometimes suggest changes but my focus is upon getting the references right. When I am finished I mark up the changes using Word and give the draft back to the Judge. The Judge then accepts or rejects the changes and makes some changes of his own before giving the draft back to me. Then I do the second proof. This one is the worst one. It’s the one where I start already having read the material so much that I no longer trust myself to pick up mistakes. Without the task of going through the evidence and checking citations to provide some variety, all I can do is try and invent ways to make myself concentrate. This is why proofreading is the biggest challenge in my job. It is just really hard to concentrate. What advice do you have for law graduates wanting to work in your position? Get good marks. Lots of people apply to work for judges and the easiest way to cull applications is to look at the marks. Know what kind of cases the Judge hears. This is easy enough to figure out by searching their judgments online. Apply early and do not hesitate to call the chambers to ask if the position you want is already been filled. Some Judges appoint more than a year in advance whilst others may appoint with only a few months to spare. After that I really have no idea. All of the Judges are different and all of them look for different things in the people with whom they wish to work. Personally, I think having a good answer to the question “why do you want this job?” is important. What is one of the unexpected bonuses to your work? There have not been any truly unexpected bonuses. Having the opportunity to learn from someone with so much knowledge and experience has been amazing. I have enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends. I said why I wanted the job when I answered the first question and it has more than lived up to my expectations.

01/03:

ALTERNATE LEGAL CAREERS

LIFE AT A NOT FOR PROFIT LEGAL CENTRE Sarah Dale Principal Solicitor at Refugee Advice Casework Services (‘RACS’)

How did you find out about the role at RACS? I was volunteering at a Community Legal Centre (‘CLC’), which shared the building with RACS. I had some experience in providing legal advice to people seeking asylum and refugees, although it was not the focus of the CLC. I enjoyed meeting people from RACS, I was inspired by their work. In 2013, I commenced as a solicitor at RACS. I started as casework solicitor and then progressed to a Senior Solicitor. Today, I am the Principal Solicitor at RACS. What do you find interesting about your role? The clients. It is interesting to hear their stories of survival and perseverance. RACS also has a great team of human rights lawyers who challenge me everyday. It’s a special place to work. What challenges have you experienced in your role? There are approximately 9,000 asylum seekers in NSW who mostly cannot afford private legal assistance. RACS seeks to continue to provide expert and professional legal services despite not being funded by the government. What skills are relevant for your role? Skills that you don’t necessary learn at university, but are essential are patience, compassion and humour. The work at times can make you feel low or sad. However, RACS has a great team where we support one another. We also seek fundamentally skilled lawyers, as our clients are dealing with life and death situations. For interested students, it is recommended to undertake electives in human rights law, international law and migration law as a foundation. However, the law changes rapidly, so lawyers need to be proactive in self-learning to remain up to date.

we have capacity for approximately 20 PLT students across all our programs. PLT students have the opportunity to work in our main office in Randwick, with our judicial review team in Auburn, our outreach clinics in Auburn and Parramatta and the Asylum Seeker Centre (ASC) in Newtown. PLT students are the frontline of RACS. They will undertake a diverse range of activities such as speaking to clients, ascertaining their problems, providing summaries to lawyers, drafting letters and advice, sending documents and researching information about different countries. The PLT program offers significant client contact and exposure to diverse and complex parts of the law. Unfortunately, RACS does not have a graduate program due to unpredictability in funding. However, there have been instances where a PLT student became a lawyer within the team. Any advice for law students? I would recommend volunteering at a CLC. It’s a great experience. You learn and develop skills as a legal practitioner. For many people, it has become a launch pad for paid work in a CLC.

What opportunities do you have for law students or graduates? We accept PLT students throughout the year. Currently,

LIFE AS A GRADUATE AT NSW STATE GOVERNMENT Seppy Jamali Pour

Where did your interest in this area of law begin? I would say that my interest in the lawmaking and policy side of things began as early as the practice of law itself. By the age of 11 or 12 I had begun investigating the efficacy of the death penalty and discovered the insurmountable body of evidence which showed it had no discernible effect on crime rates. Regardless, dozens of countries around the world utilised the practice. The realisation of this fallacious lawmaking instigated my interest in what we refer to as evidence-based decision making. How did you find out about the opportunity? NSW Government revived their Graduate Program in 2016. I was lucky enough to be recruited during their 2017 intake. I can’t recall how I heard of the program, but nowadays the program is advertised by the NSW Public Service Commission, Gradconnect, Gradrecruit, and various other job discussion websites. What was involved in the application process? The application process has changed slightly since I applied, but for the better. Following the initial application, applicants are invited directly to the assessment centre. After receiving an AC invite, invitees are asked to complete a video interview which assesses your personality. Don’t worry! The video interview is only to supplement your AC. For example, if you were to tell us in your video interview that you’re not too confident in group scenarios, we won’t put too much weight on your group interview in the AC. As the video interview invites go out once AC invites are out, the video interview won’t cull anyone. Following the AC, offers will go out around November. The program starts in February. What past experience do you have? I had roughly 12 months of practical legal experience in a few different areas of practice (mainly criminal and estate litigation) as well as six or seven years of hospitality and retail experience (not all of which was on my resume). I also had several years of policy experience through my own legal research and writing, but I can’t recall if this was on my application form. While my publications were definitely listed on resume, it was not listed on my application form.

What do believe was the most attractive feature of your CV that allowed you to obtain the position? My guess would be the diversity of experience I had. In terms of my legal experience, I had a strong background in criminal law and estate litigation, with some success in taxation law and employment law. In policy, I had been published or consulted in criminal law, corrections, civil rights and liberties, workplace relations, anti-discrimination, and privacy law. What sort of work will you be completing during the Graduate Program? The program involves three 6-month rotations through different state Government departments. My first was at Revenue NSW (formerly Officer of State Revenue) and my second was in the Department of Education. I am yet to begin my third rotation. Both rotations involved a considerable level of legal advisory and policy work. Given the smaller size of the policy team at Revenue NSW, I regularly advised the Commissioner directly in legal matters which he needed solving quickly. At Education, I have been involved in a greater level of policy making, collaborating with differing groups of experts to design programs from scratch. What is the best advice that you have for students wishing to enter into similar fields? During my time at uni, it truly astounded me how few law students had an interest in policy. It was unthinkable to me that something could be interested in, for example, criminal law, but not criminal justice. Even if only to improve your abstract thinking capabilities, I would advise all law students to involve themselves in the policy side of things. Parliamentary inquiries, Law Reform inquiries, and academic journals are all good ways to get involved. If you plan on doing an Honours thesis, this is the ideal first step in preparing yourself to undertake a 10,000-word thesis on a novel area of law. Abstract thinking is always desired by employers, particularly in government. In my opinion, law schools should really be doing more to push this aspect of the legal practice, but unfortunately it doesn’t reflect as well on them than a student scoring a clerkship at a corporate giant.

SECTION TWO:

Corporate Careers

INTERNSHIP AT

CHOICE Christina Knezevich

This year I commenced an internship with CHOICE, a not-for- profit organisation serving as the leading consumer research and advocacy body. The organisation regularly lobbies industry stakeholders, statutory authorities as well as state and federal government on behalf of consumers with the purpose of providing independent product and service information, protecting consumers’ rights, and promoting access to justice for consumers. As a Policy and Campaigns Intern, my role is to produce a report about the car hire industry, giving a better understanding of the issues facing Australian consumer in the car hire industry and ensure that initiatives from government, industry and the consumer movement directly addressed identified consumer needs. On the surface, it may sounds a bit dull, but the practices of car hire companies are rife with issues around unfair contract terms and misleading and deceptive conduct. As a well-established and reputable organisation, CHOICE has great resources to draw on as well, such as an analytics team with ongoing and comparable data, an in-house product testing team, and an over 160,000 membership to draw on for case studies. As part of the internship, I have had the opportunity to: 1. Researched the car hire industry and its interactions with customers in Australia and identify the challenges experienced by consumers; 2. Worked with industry stakeholders to understand the issue and encourage stakeholder engagement on this issue; 3. Prepared a report highlighting the key issues within the car hire service industry; 4. Analysed quantitative, statistical evidence of consumer experiences’ with care hire services; and 5. Produced policy recommendations based on the research advocating for appropriate change on behalf of consumers. I developed an interest in consumer affairs and issues after completing the Commercial Law subject as part

of my law degree and followed on from the subject by competing in the UTS LSS Commercial Law Moot. This was a passion I never would have anticipated if you had spoken to me in first year. I did have an interest in policy prior to this opportunity though, and that interest was my main reason I pursued the combined Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Social Inquiry). This is now the Bachelor of Communications (Social and Political Science), but the essence of this degree is it still the same. I was fortunate enough that the Bachelor of Communications (Social and Political Science) has a compulsory professional placement component. The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences organises the opportunity with relevant organisations and, although you’re able to organise your own placement, CHOICE was one of the options organised by the Faculty! I had heard they were well regarded in the industry, both in the legal and policy spheres, so chose to conduct my placement with them. They regularly host interns so if you’re interested it definitely doesn’t hurt to reach out and ask. Having a law background has been a huge advantage to understanding the legal frameworks underpinning their work. It’s also been such great exposure seeing policy issues and campaigns at different stages, from working on the car hire project from scratch and designing the project to seeing reports launched and television campaigns kick off. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with so many different part of the organisation, like collaborating with their consumer help service and the data and analytics team. Liaising with external stakeholders has been an invaluable opportunity unique to CHOICE because existing relationships with statutory bodies (ACCC, ASIC), representative bodies (AFTA), and companies (Qantas, Europcar). Moreover, I’ve had an incredible opportunity to work in very collaborative and dynamic workplace with a very talented, passionate and diverse group of people.

02:

ABOUT US

WHAT WE LOOK FOR

If you want to make the most of your career in law, our global network is the perfect place to start. Our worldwide capabilities give us access to the most interesting markets, the most exciting clients and the most significant and complex transactions. For you, this means the chance to work on market-leading deals with some of the most experienced and talented lawyers in our industry, together with access to international secondment opportunities from early in your career.

Initiative

CORPORATE CAREERS

A curious mind is vital, as is plenty of initiative. The more adaptable you’re prepared to be and the more energy you bring, the more you’ll get out of your career here. You’ll be able to steer a path that turns possibilities into realities.

Excellence

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

Excellence is essential; it’s a guarantee we give our clients. Intellectually rigorous, driven and eager to learn, you’ll set the highest standards for yourself and strive to be the best you can be.

It begins with our people

Commerciality

It’s our people who make us great. It is our priority to ensure they are constantly challenged, recognised, rewarded and empowered throughout their careers.

Successful lawyers understand that law is more than an academic pursuit. It’s about understanding the client – their objectives and the challenges they face – as well as the wider commercial environment in which we operate.

Our unique way of working

Resilience

We adopt a flexible approach to the way we work, which builds strong and diverse teams, and is one of the reasons our lawyers tell us a career here is so rewarding. You won’t be limited to working with a particular partner or group. Instead, you will have the opportunity to drive your career by working with a range of lawyers and partners.

Positive people thrive in our environment. We look for people who can build sustainable careers with us; people who successfully juggle a busy life and varying commitments while maintaining their wellbeing. Like us, you’ll believe that leading a full, active life outside the law can make you a better person to work with.

We make the complex simple

Well-rounded

We are known for the quality of our legal minds. That’s why we attract some of the most complex legal work, and why our lawyers are recognised as the best in the profession.

Our clients often tell us we have ‘great people’. And it’s true. We look for diversity – people who bring a fresh perspective and energy to everything they do, with the ability to create strong relationships with each other and with clients.

Life-long learning

Teamwork

As a graduate, we’re committed to giving you the best professional and personal development opportunities. Our training programs provide graduates with practical legal education of the highest professional standard. You’ll build your knowledge of the law and business and find an area of law that inspires you. We will support you with leading learning and development programs to round out your skills and put you on the path to becoming a market-leading lawyer.

The ability to work collaboratively and efficiently with others is of fundamental importance to working successfully at a commercial law firm. Negotiations involve work with multi-disciplinary teams across borders and successful lawyers work to reach the best possible outcome in transactions, mediations and arbitrations.

CLERKSHIP PROGRAM Come and explore a career with us by applying for one of our clerkships. Our clerkships offer ambitious penultimate-year law students an insight into the workings of a large corporate law firm, and offer an exceptional opportunity to experience our work, people and culture. Anything is possible with us – provided you are willing to work hard and are committed to achieve whatever you put your mind to. Allens is an independent partnership operating in alliance with Linklaters LLP.

Attention to detail Lawyers are expected to have an accurate and meticulous approach to their work. You need a good eye for detail to be able to communicate effectively on paper with both colleagues and clients. Attention to detail is part of providing a quality service to our clients.

HOW TO APPLY www.allens.com.au/careers ww.linklaters.com/ukgrads www.linklaters.com/hkcareers

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LIFE AS AN INHOUSE LAWYER Michelle Smerdon Cancer Council

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The Cancer Council Pro Bono Program connects people affected by cancer, who are unable to afford to pay for the cost of advice, with professionals in their local community who provide advice on a free basis. We assist clients with legal, financial and workplace issues. Clients are commonly referred through the program for legal issues including wills, POA/EG, insurance disputes, employment law matters and credit/debt matters. My role as Pro Bono Case Manager involves overseeing the referral process, ensuring clients gain appropriate assistance, and working to promote and expand the program across Australia. I manage a team of 22 wonderful volunteer law students who call clients to assess their eligibility for free assistance, and unpack their legal issues with the client over the phone.

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Where did your interest in this area of law begin? I always wanted to be involved in a program that provides meaningful advice and assistance to people who would otherwise be unable to afford to pay for professional assistance. I am lucky that our program assists with a range of different legal issues so I have been able to hone my knowledge of different areas of law. How did you find out about the opportunity? I had a few friends who volunteered with the Cancer Council Pro Bono Program who let me know about the great work that the Program does. What was involved in the application process? I completed a cover letter and resume. I then underwent a telephone screen and face-to-face interview. What past experience do you have? Throughout my degree I worked as a Paralegal at the Crown Solicitor’s Office NSW in child protection law.

Following university, I worked as a solicitor at the Crown Solicitor’s Office before transitioning to Cancer Council NSW. What do you believe made you suitable for this role? I had worked to assist vulnerable individuals in the past and I could draw upon this experience during my interview and show how I could apply this knowledge to a new role. I was very passionate about social justice and had done a lot of research into Cancer Council NSW as an organisation, as well as into the Pro Bono Program specifically. I also shared my passion for innovation and new ways of thinking which could be applied to a program which was looking to expand and work more efficiently and effectively. What sort of work do you do on a daily basis? I am lucky enough to work with a passionate and motivated team who are all working to assist as many people as possible. I manage key stakeholder relationships, constantly working with hospital-based referrers who refer clients to the program, as well as with professionals in the community who provide pro bono assistance. I oversee the clients who are referred through the program and work with volunteer law students to troubleshoot legal and financial issues and connect clients with appropriate professionals. I often work to promote and expand the program, including getting involved in media opportunities, presentations and travelling regionally to educate people about the program. What is the best advice that you have for students wishing to enter into similar fields? You won’t know if you love a job until you try it, so my advice is to go out and get some volunteer experience! There are actually a lot of opportunities in the social justice space and it’s important to find out what you’re passionate about.

02:

CORPORATE CAREERS

LIFE AS A PARALEGAL Lehana De Silva Juris Doctor final year

Where did your interest in this area of law begin? I have always been involved and interested in human rights and social justice causes throughout my school, university and working life. As a paralegal in the Cancer Council Pro Bono Program, I am fortunate enough to be part of a program that provides meaningful and tangible assistance to its clients. As the program assists individuals and families with a range of legal, financial, workplace and small business issues I have the opportunity to work across a number of different of areas of law. How did you find out about the opportunity? I initially discovered the opportunity to become a volunteer legal intern in the Pro Bono Program as it was advertised on the UTS Careers Hub and I began volunteering in August 2015. In February 2017, I was fortunate enough to be offered a paralegal position in the program.

provides excellent training, support and supervision while also offering the opportunity to engage in work that is challenging and rewarding. I have developed important legal skills in client communication, legal drafting, research and problem solving. It is also a privilege to be part of such a passionate, supportive team and to work at an integral organisation that continues to provide invaluable help and support to those affected by cancer. What is the best advice that you have for students wishing to enter into similar fields? For those interested in the social justice space, I would strongly encourage you to apply widely and to gain as much practical experience as possible while studying. I would recommend volunteering for community organisations and legal centres as they do such important work and require your help. The knowledge and skills gained from such practical experience is invaluable.

What sort of work do you do on a daily basis? Paralegal roles generally involve undertaking a high volume of administrative and research tasks however I am lucky that my role within the program provides me with the unique opportunity to engage in substantive, client focused work. My job involves speaking with clients over the phone, to take instructions and to accurately convey these instructions to external lawyers, financial planners and other professionals. I am involved in supporting the Pro Bono Case Managers in the dayto-day operation of the case management aspects of the Pro Bono Program, including following up with medical professionals who refer to the program and professional services providers who provide pro bono assistance. I also have the opportunity to assist in the training and recruitment of volunteer legal interns For volunteers and paralegals, the Pro Bono program

Get connected to the rest of the world

Be part of something exciting

allenovery.com

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UTS LSS

CAREERS GUIDE 2017

Allen & Overy Summer Clerks 2016/2017 Eric, Isobel and I were fortunate enough to join Allen & Overy as Summer Clerks in November 2016. During our time at A&O we each completed two rotations, attended at least three Christmas parties, lost 7 games at the inter-firm sports competition and had one unforgettable summer. Everything else aside, the one thing that made our summer so outstanding was the quality of the people that we were working with. Everyone at A&O, no matter what their role, is extremely intelligent, commercially minded, approachable, friendly and light-hearted. Don’t take our word for it though, put in an application and come and meet the team at one of A&O’s summer clerk functions! Allen & Overy is a member of the elite, London-based international law firms known as the Magic Circle. A&O’s 44 offices in 31 countries form one global partnership, of which its Sydney office is an integral part. As a firm that creates change, A&O was the first heavyweight international law firm to arrive in the Australian market, forcing the consolidation between international and domestic operations seen today.

governments across jurisdictions from Brunei Darussalam to Indonesia and the US. That said, A&O’s international dominance shouldn’t be conflated with a lack of depth in the Australian market. All three of us got stuck into headline matters involving state governments as well as some of Australia’s most successful companies, such as international mining and resources corporations, and domestic retail and commercial banks.

Focusing on high-value, cross-border work, the Sydney office has developed unrivalled expertise in its three core practice areas: Banking, Corporate and Litigation. As Summer Clerks we each sat in two of these practice areas, and experienced the inner workings of each of their respective subgroups, such as project finance, competition, M&A, and corruption and anti-bribery.

A&O takes the training of its lawyers seriously and, as a result, regular seminars were organised to explain exactly what each team does all day. These seminars saved us a lot of time using Investopedia to decipher financial jargon. In a further effort to show us what life as a lawyer is really like, we were each asked to pitch to a panel of partners acting as clients to win appointment as their legal advisors; having each been ‘appointed’, we went head-to-head in negotiating a sale and purchase agreement and relevant loan documentation for a mock acquisition. Guided by Senior Associates and the dedicated business development team we quickly learned to swim, rather than sink.

A&O has 530 partners globally, with currently 21 based out of the Sydney and Perth offices. This setup gave us the best of both worlds: we were able to connect on a meaningful level with almost everyone in the office, whether that be support staff or partners, whilst having access to the resources, training and support of a global law firm. A&O’s international network is a key part of its offering to clients. During our short time there we saw secondees to the Bangkok office return, Associates from the Tokyo office work remotely out of Sydney and Associates from the Sydney office get sent to London for week long training courses. Best of all, however, we each spent a week working in one of A&O’s Asian offices; from Shanghai to Tokyo to Hong Kong we were thrown in the deep end of jurisdictions that we had only ever dreamt about. The international nature of A&O as a firm drives the international nature of its client base. Whilst Summer Clerks we worked on matters for multinational financial institutions, global consumer goods companies and foreign

Since its arrival down under, A&O has cemented itself as a youthful brand, unafraid to challenge the status quo. On the final day of our clerkship we organised a ‘Back to University’ themed party as equal parts a thank you to the firm and a send off to us.

– Alex, Isobel & Eric Careers at Allen & Overy Visit us at allenovery.com/careers Join us on LinkedIn

Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings

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MY EXPERIENCE AS A CADET: INVESTMENT BANKING Jenevieve Zhang

The UBS Cadetship is typically a 4-year industry placement offered to newly graduated high school students. As the sole financial services institution in Australia to facilitate such a unique program, and with a stellar reputation as a leading international investment bank, wealth manager and asset manager, UBS should be on the radar of any student interested in pursuing a career in finance. Divided into two core business pillars in Australia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UBS Investment Bank and UBS Asset Management â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with numerous support functions like Group Operations, Finance and Technology, there are many areas within UBS which open its doors to cadets. Across the existing cadet cohorts (high school graduates from 2011-2015), there are twenty situated in the Equities franchise under the Investment Bank umbrella, four in Asset Management, eight in Group Operations, and others situated in Fixed Income, Corporate Communications, Finance and Group Technology. 2016 marks my third year at UBS in the Global Equity Derivatives business within the Investment Bank. Having rotated from the business and risk management function of this division to the structuring function, I have worked under and with very senior personnel such as Managing Directors, as well as more junior level employees. Contrary to common misperception that coffee-buying and document-scanning is the essence of internships, the work undertaken as a cadet is legitimate, value-adding and stimulating. At the onset, tasks are vanilla enough to ease you into the rhythms of the business, but over time become more dynamic, though-provoking and integral to business functionality, but not beyond the ability of university students. You may be asked to liaise with senior management on presentations, resolve problems for clients, discuss operational issues and procedures with the ASX, and so much more. With that in mind, it is important in this high-intensity, fast-paced environment to consistently demonstrate an aptitude for learning and a readiness

to solve problems and tackle challenges. Recruiters are looking for motivated individuals who are resilient, responsible, adaptable, and also possess a strong capacity for teamwork. If you have had experience working in teams inside or outside school, and demonstrate strong communication skills and leadership ability, you are a strong contender for the cadetship. The wealth of industry and product knowledge and technical and soft skills gained from this cadetship is truly unparalleled. Partnering with tertiary study, the reciprocity between theory learnt in university and practical, day-to-day activities at work fosters an ideal springboard for a career in the financial services industry. This makes the UBS cadetship a salient option for students considering a work/study arrangement, and an outstanding opportunity to experience finance while learning its foundations.

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MY EXPERIENCE AS A CADET: ACCOUNTANCY Danny McGowen

My experience at PwC was as an accountant in the exter- “What do you actually do though?” nal assurance line of service for two years. As part of the This is probably one of the most frequently asked cadetship program, I developed a balanced learning of questions I get, and I seem to give a slightly different both academic and practical skills, whilst exposed myself answer every time I am asked – not because I have a split to a great variety of industries and quality clientele in personality – but probably because when I get asked the the business space. question I’ll be doing different tasks. This is part of the career development a large firm can offer you – because How to get in? throughout my experience I would have had exposure For the most part, people join professional service firms to auditing every FSLI at some point, across a portfolio in their penultimate year of university either applying of approximately 20 clients in 2 years. In my client base, as a grad, or undergoing a vacationer program in the I wanted diversity – so I had everything from Westpac summer prior to their last year, to prepare for a grad offer. and DEXUS, to a local paper company in my local area. For anyone interested in getting into a job at PwC or Colleagues worked on big banks, local councils, not-forequivalent firms after university, I cannot stress enough profits and charities and everything in-between. This the importance of doing a vacationer at the firm of your breadth of choice and flexibility in my resourcing was choice, or similar work experience. This is based on the definitely beneficial because how are you supposed to fact a high percentage of hired grads come from vaca- know what industry or clients you like if you’ve never tioner programs, and real life on the job experience ends worked on them? up speaking more than your marks in the real world. Skills (before and after) Is this right for me? Prior to working at PwC, I honestly had no relevant In answering these types of questions it will always come experience. This isn’t a big problem however; as perdown to the individual and their interests. However, I sonality traits and work ethic will overcome this and always advise you undertake research on the job you’re the recruiters know that the majority of specific skills applying for and see if that is of interest to you (sort come through the day-to-day hands on learning. Having of like choosing a degree). Once you have an idea of completed my two years at PwC, I now have developed what works for you, the company culture and the over- business acumen, increased confidence in client interall career opportunities are probably your next biggest actions, as well as experience working under pressure considerations. For these answers – make sure to check as part of a team. the firm’s website, ask friends and family, and see if you know any current workers who could share some insight Conclusion with you. For me, the biggest thing about PwC is that it Overall, the experience I have gained at such a young age boasted a very diverse workforce, with a wide variety of has allowed me to broaden my career horizons, and gain professional services not just nationally but globally too. a greater understanding of my interests. Furthermore, This meant potential; the potential to internally transfer, working with high caliber clients and colleagues has or the chance to do a secondment overseas – opportuni- exposed me to market leading business skills and that ties that are limited to large-scale firms. is something money can’t buy.

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CORPORATE CAREERS

WORKING AS A GRADUATE LAWYER Katherine Agapitos

How did I get the job? In 2015, I was directly offered a graduate lawyer role in the Workplace practice group at Sparke Helmore following my experience as a paralegal in this team for over three years. From my personal experience in obtaining a graduate lawyer position, having undertaken relevant paralegal experience was key. What areas of law do I practice in? The Workplace practice group at Sparke Helmore includes an employment team and a safety team, as well as a small practice in building and construction law. The safety team provides advice in the construction, agribusiness, energy and transport industries and Commonwealth, state and local government sectors on WHS compliance, incident investigations, prosecutions and coronial inquests. The employment team provides advice across a number of areas in the employment law space. This includes adverse actions, bullying, harassment & discrimination, employment contracts & disputes, executive liability, governance & compliance, independent contractors, industrial relations & disputes, privacy, remuneration, restructuring and terminations & unfair dismissal. What experiences have I had so far? I am fortunate enough to have had a diverse range of experiences across all areas of the practice group. Some of the highlights of my experience as a graduate lawyer have included: 1. Being an instructing solicitor in a NSW Criminal Court of Appeal matter in front of Chief Justice Bathurst of the NSW Supreme Court. 2. Being placed on a secondment to an agency of the NSW Government. 3. Assisting with the preparation for a variety of litigated matters in civil and criminal jurisdictions. 4. Assisting with the preparation for coronial

inquests and inquiries as well as matters involving the Independent Commission Against Corruption. 5. Mentoring university students through the Lucy Mentoring Program. Why work in commercial law? Commercial law firms in the mid-tier and top-tier space provide you with opportunities to gain experience across a multitude of areas of law, particularly if your graduate position allows you to undertake rotations in different areas across the firm. From my experience, the majority of students following the completion of their degrees do not know what area of law they wish to practice in which is completely understandable. This is why these sorts of firms can assist in helping you find your pathway, even if it is not in commercial law. The best way to work this out is to give it a go, you have nothing to lose! Graduate lawyer top five tips (when you get there): 1. Give everything a go, be enthusiastic and ask the questions you need to. 2. Have attention to detail. If you do not have it, train yourself to have it. It is a fundamental skill of junior lawyers. 3. Keep your networks strong, whether they are from university, school or other social activities you participate in. It is amazing how the people you meet in these capacities will influence your career and the opportunities you are presented with. 4. Trust yourself and be confident. You have worked hard. You got the job because you deserved it. Trust that you have given it your best; you have backed yourself and back yourself. If you get it wrong, that is ok. 5. Be receptive of feedback. As a junior lawyer, you do not know everything nor are you expected to. When you receive feedback, it generally is not personal; it is a method of development. Take it all on board because that is how you learn, develop and ultimately become a better lawyer.

LIFE AS A PARALEGAL AT A COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM Emily Paterson

Where did your interest in Commercial Law begin? My interest in Commercial Law probably emerged when I started studying subjects such as Contracts, Equity & Trusts, and when I started to understand a little more about how the law is used in a business context to create relationships and form structure around commercial projects. That is when I realised how constructive the law can be, and my curiosity was piqued because I enjoyed using the law to solve commercial problems. Then, I think since working at LegalVision and gaining exposure to commercial law in practice, my appreciation of the fundamental role the law plays in commerce has only increased. How did you find out about the opportunity? I subscribe to SEEK, so whenever new jobs come up I get an email sent to my inbox. Around the beginning of 2017 I was really eager to gain practical experience so I was going on SEEK all the time and just perusing what was available. When I saw the ad for LegalVision I was really intrigued because it sounded like a really interesting place to work. What was involved in the application process? Around the time, I was applying to a number of firms and they all had different interview processes, for LegalVision, I was required to submit my CV and cover letter (standard) and then, they let me know that I had progressed to the next round. The next round consisted of a Skype interview with a member from the operations team. We had a casual chat and she asked me some behavioural type scenario-based questions. Following

that, I was informed that I had again progressed to the next round, which was an interview at the office. The interview went for close to an hour and was with the same member of the operations team from the Skype interview, and the head of human resources. The interview was not too formal, I was asked a lot of questions about what I knew about LegalVision, my interests and what I thought about commercial law. I was very eager so I had done my research and had plenty of questions for them. A week after the interview I got a call and was offered a paralegal position. What past experience do you have? Before working at LegalVision my experience has been mostly in hospitality. I have worked since I was 14 in various places, doing party hosting for kids, after school care and working in pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any legal or office experience. What do believe was the most attractive feature of your CV that allowed you to obtain the position? For me, it was probably the number of extracurricular activities I was involved in, I think at LegalVision in the paralegal role it is really important that you are able to manage competing deadlines and the fact that I could demonstrate that I was proficient in time management was really helpful. What sort of work did you complete during your time there? As a paralegal at LegalVision, my role is a bit of a mixed bag, as I do a lot of research for the legal team, a lot of

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proof-reading, and on occasion some drafting of different legal documents and drafting advisory work. I also do a lot of admin type work for the office such as filing receipts and sorting and filing mail. I have enjoyed the variety because you do not get stuck doing the same thing every day. The only consistent think at LegalVision is that everything needs to be done quickly. The pace is really fast which is exciting but can be very challenging. What is the best advice that you have for students wishing to enter into similar fields or obtain similar roles? Personally, I think a good attitude; eagerness to learn and generally being proactive will take you far. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really important to get involved in as much as you can at university where there is so much opportunity. The benefits of getting involved are not only in what you learn during that activity, but it is also really helpful to be able to demonstrate on your CV that you are a self-motivated student who thrives on challenging themself. All employers want to be able to see that you are a hard worker and I think your marks are only one element of proving that. In saying that, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important not to take on too much so that you do compromise your academic performance, because it is definitely important to maintain high grades.

SECTION THREE:

International Careers

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INTERNATIONAL CAREERS

In this globalised world, everyone’s talking about international experience. Whether it’s your dream to work for the United Nations, or for a firm with offices on every continent – this section is for you. Experience is hard enough to get while you’re at university in Australia – let alone in a foreign country, where there are cultural, linguistic and financial barriers as well as a foreign legal system! The contributions in this section feature experiences from students and alumni who have managed to get experience across different legal practice areas, all beyond the Land Down Under. We’ve also got you covered on the practical tips on finding opportunities overseas – whether it’s a volunteer position, internship or the coveted, salary position O/S. Of course, it’s not all intsa-perfect – we also address the struggles, challenges and ethical dilemmas you’ve got to think about and face when entering the international legal sphere. Grab your passport and your plane ticket, and buckle your seat belts – we’re taking off into international career opportunities!

VOLUNTEERING OVERSEAS Kasia Czarnota

‘Voluntourism’ – travelling to a foreign country to volunteer in developing communities – has been all over the news lately. We’ve all heard of well-intentioned young Australians going to volunteer in an orphanage, or rebuild a community hit by disaster in a third world country. But do we sometimes do more harm than help? Some organisations are now calling for an end to stop well-meaning young people from rich countries like Australia from participating in programs that are both unethical and detrimental to the people they hope to help. Volunteering in orphanages by students with no formal qualifications in early childhood development is just one example of this. Many programs are also costly for the volunteers themselves, and provide little practical experience or skills after their completion. However, there is a way to get both international experience – and benefit the community you’re volunteering with. By engaging with transparent organisations who look for volunteers with professional skills and knowledge, you can expand your experience whilst helping to build capacity and empower a local community to later meet its own needs. AVID – Australian Volunteers for International Development – is a program run under the umbrella of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which links volunteers based on professional skills and qualifications with local governments and Australian partner organisations, on a needs basis. Assignment times vary, but can range from a few months to two years. For law students, opportunities are available in the ‘Law and Justice’ sector and in the past, having included

assignments such as legal mentor, Family Protection Unit of the Solomon Islands’ Public Solicitors’ Office; and Office of the Peoples’ Lawyer, Kiribati. While on assignment, volunteers are provided with return airfares; pre-departure health assessments and vaccinations; an allowance; 24-hr emergency support arrangements; and leave. There’s also support for returned volunteers, with the program offering debriefings, an opportunity to stay connected with other volunteers through the Returned Australian Volunteer Network, and partner organisations offering numerous professional opportunities. Government’s not the only way to go. There are numerous organisations around the world looking for skilled volunteers with knowledge and passion and a desire to pass these on. The trick is to ensure that you are able to benefit a community while gaining international experience – and the key to doing this is research. Look for organisations that are transparent about their funding; goals; structure; employ locals; and are good with communication. Reach out to organisations directly and find out what type of help they need – as contributor Carrie Hou did. You can assess organisations through www.givewell.org to find out how transparent they are – the onus is on you, going to a foreign country and foreign legal system, to ensure that you’ll help, and not harm. Find out more about AVID: www.dfat.gov.au/avid

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INTERNING OVERSEAS

As students, we’ve got a limited amount of time in semester or during holidays to spend doing internships – especially when trying to save up for something like exchange or travelling abroad. Why not combine the two, especially when it can mean academic credit towards your degree, international experience and even a grant? UTS offers a number of international opportunities – beyond exchange or holiday volunteering programs, you can also participate in international internships. The subject 70698 International Legal Internship gives students the chance to participate in a short to medium length (minimum 20 day) internship in a partner organisation – or organise your own – and obtain academic credit for your work and reflections. Some past internship locations have included: • King & Wood Mallesons – Shanghai, China • Reprieve Australia • Zhicheng Public Interest Law – Beijing, China Interning through the university, or with UTS oversight has multiple additional perks. Apart from obtaining academic credit for your hard work, you may eligible for additional funding, including through UTS BUiLD. Students who intern in Asia may be eligible for a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant – which also gives students membership of the New Colombo Plan Alumni Group. If you’re low on elective credit points, or closer to the end of your degree, a self-organised internship may be the thing for you. These can range from interning with the Australian Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva

or New York, or other international organisations such as International Courts or international law conferences. Just one example is the Nygh Internship, offered by the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA). This awards graduate, or postgraduate students the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of The Hague Conference on Private International Law, which aims to work towards ‘progressive unification of state private international law rules’. Interns work for 5-6 months under the direction of the Conference Secretariat, researching, translating and preparing meetings. Students who are successful in applying will receive financial support to cover the costs of travel to the Netherlands, and help towards covering living expenses. For more information and to apply, visit: http://www. internationalaffairs.org.au/youth-and-community/ nygh-internship/ The number of opportunities out there is unquantifiable, and the right position will depend on your interests, stage of your degree and language skills. Many organisations operate in English – but it’s always helpful to speak a foreign language, not only to get around your new location and bond with future colleagues but to stand out in your application! For in-depth information regarding international internships, see the NSW Young Lawyers’ International Law Committee’s International Law Internship Guide: https://lawsociety.cld.bz/ ILC-Internship-Guide-SecondEdition

LIFE AS AN INTERNATIONAL PARALEGAL Tracy Yeung

Describe your position – what initially attracted you to it? I interned at Allen & Overy’s Hong Kong office in July 2016, as part of their summer vacation scheme. I spent four weeks at the firm, and I was given an introduction to everyday life in international commercial legal practice in a Magic Circle firm. This involved spending two weeks in each of two different departments, working closely with the firm’s partners, associates and trainees. I was attracted to this program because in addition to full involvement with everyday aspects of work in the particular practice area, interns were exposed to a variety of social activities and networking opportunities, as well as organized trips to the courts and pro bono activities. We were also given in-house training on Allen & Overy’s computer and know-how systems and were also given training in practical and technical skills that would be valuable at any law practice. I also grew up in Hong Kong, so it was appealing for me to find out what it would be like to work there! What was the application process like for this position? There was an initial online process that involved submitting a resume and answering questions about my motivation behind pursuing a career in commercial law, my interest in the firm and what experience I can bring as a potential intern. After progressing on from that stage, there was then a group interview in the Sydney office, where the Hong Kong recruitment partner as well as a member of HR flew in to interview us. We were put in groups of four or five, and were given a ‘commercial problem’ to solve, where we were provided with ‘client instructions’, as well as mock due diligence reports, correspondence and various other sources of information in relation to a fictional deal – and we were given an hour to analyse this information, and provide advice to the client according to the instructions given. The structure

was pretty rigid – half an hour reading time, half an hour to plan our presentation and half an hour to present to the partner. What growth opportunities do you see arising from your position? I think I gained a lot of transferable skills during my vacation scheme that would be valuable in any corporate law practice, whether it be in Australia or Hong Kong, or anywhere else. An internship with a Magic Circle firm gives you a real insight into the operation of law firms at the forefront of the industry. It also opens you to making valuable professional connections and gives you a clearer insight what working in corporate law in a large commercial firm involves on a day-to-day basis, and whether or not that is right for you and the lifestyle that you ultimately want (as well as your professional and personal goals). What is one of the unexpected bonuses to your work? During my vacation scheme, one of the associates on my floor had a hoverboard! We interns all took turns playing with when things weren’t so busy – that was pretty great. Also, we were very close to some of Hong Kong’s best cafes and restaurants, so there was a lot of trips out for icecream/coffee/lunch with the lawyers, which was definitely an unexpected perk. I was also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to accompany one of the firm’s litigation partners to court on one occasion, which was very unexpected and a great learning experience.

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LIFE AS AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INTERN Kasia Czarnota

Describe your position – what initially attracted you to it? I was a legal research intern at Zhicheng Public Interest Law – the largest non-government provider of legal aid services in China. During my internship I was part of a larger research project, compiling a database of international law, Chinese domestic law and NGO-best practices for protecting children’s rights, but I also did a number of ad hoc tasks, like translation work; organising and chairing a conference in English and Mandarin; and editing academic papers written by the lawyers at the organisation. Zhicheng’s central offices are located in Beijing, where I was completing my BA International Studies In-country Study year, and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to supplement my language and cultural studies with practical insight into the Chinese legal system. What was the application process like for this position? The internship was accredited to my LLB, as part of the International Legal Internship Subject. This meant that I applied through the faculty of Law. Being on location in Beijing, a lot of the application – and the briefing process once I was shortlisted - was inversed for me – I had to skype the subject coordinator back in Sydney, instead of attending the briefing with all the other students and met with my would-be supervisor in Zhicheng’s office in Beijing, rather than What are the biggest challenges in your job – how do they differ from other positions or areas of law? The most obvious challenge was the language. Even though I’d been studying Mandarin for a 2.5 years, I didn’t have a comprehensive grasp of legalese, which made translation work (luckily Mandarin to English) tricky. However, I still had an advantage over many of

the other international interns, some of whom spoke no Chinese. This meant that I was given extra tasks and opportunities, which although challenging, were really interesting and gave me better insight into the Chinese legal system. This might differ from the work done in a suburban law firm, but more and more top and mid-tier firms now work with international clients, especially from China, so I think both the cultural knowledge and linguistic skills Some of the other challenges were unique to the internship, like flooding and China’s slow and censored internet. However, these turned out to be great lessons in adversity and resilience. I realised that the luxuries enjoyed by Australia’s legal profession aren’t shared in every country. In many countries, the law is not a highly regarded profession, and there are additional structural, or institutional challenges that are associated with doing one’s job. These challenges taught me to think on my feet, to value the privilege we have as members of the legal profession in Australia and also to respect the work of lawyers in other countries, whose jobs are far more dangerous than ours ever will be. What is one of the unexpected bonuses to your work? It’s cliché, but the people I met over the course of the internship really made it for me. It was incredible getting to know interns from all over the world, including others who had studied in China, with whom I could share insights and China tips with. We were also lucky to have a very friendly and heavily involved supervisor, with whom I became good friends and would regularly hang out and explore Beijing with after the internship finished. I was also asked to do a few other research projects for Zhicheng after my internship finished, and I was lucky to get a great reference from her.

BRIDGING THE DIVIDE BETWEEN CORPORATE AND INTERNATIONAL LAW Lucinda Caro

As law students, we all wait and hope for that light bulb moment when our ‘niche’ reveals itself - that particular area of enquiry that is broad enough to engage and sustain our curiosity, but specific enough to allow for rewarding specialisation. In the fifth (yes, fifth) year of my Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts in International Studies degree, I finally discovered my ‘niche’ – business and human rights. Throughout university, I was interested in the fastpaced, high-performance world of commercial litigation, and from November 2015 – February 2016, was fortunate enough to undertake a summer clerkship with Herbert Smith Freehills. I was always drawn, however, to subjects such as Public International Law, which matured my passion for international humanitarian affairs and deepened my longstanding desire to work for the United Nations. In Spring 2015, I took International Human Rights Law with visiting professor Alex Newton, a consultant lawyer in business and human rights. This topic immediately piqued my interest, as I hadn’t previously considered the legal implications for companies involved in human rights abuses, and recognized its potential alignment with my corporate governance work at HSF. From that moment onwards, I learnt as much as possible about it, and seized every opportunity for further exposure. Having graduated in October 2016 and deferred my graduate job at HSF until March next year, I am now in New York undertaking a six-month internship with the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative working to mobilise private sector action in support of human and labour rights, the environment, and anti-corruption. My main role is to develop programmes, projects, and initiatives to engage the private sector in humanitarian causes and raise awareness of its impact on global conflict. At the

moment, my team is exploring the ways companies can integrate into core business strategies support for those caught up in the current refugee crisis. When applying for jobs, it is important to both articulate transferable skills, and be strategic about how your academic, professional, and extra-curricular time is spent. Several aspects of my experience to date assisted me in gaining this internship. In 2015, I volunteered with Anti-Slavery Australia to raise awareness of forced labour. In 2016, I wrote my Honours thesis on the UN Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights that “corporate law does not constrain but enables business respect for human rights” – specifically examining the legal ramifications for directors of companies implicated in human rights abuses. I also prepared a pro bono report on supply chain concerns experienced by companies that source materials in conflict zones, supervised by Alex Newton who happened to be consulting at HSF whilst I worked as a paralegal there. More generally, the UN Global Compact valued the communication, client-orientation, and problem-solving skills that I developed through the LSS client interview and mooting competitions, as well as the international mindset, appreciation of multicultural environments, and fluency in French gained during my ICS year in France. The application process was straightforward – some screening questions, a cover letter, an online platform to list academic and professional experience, and an informal over-the-phone interview that, thanks to the Sydney/New York time difference, took place at 11:30pm! It is essential to dedicate maximum time and effort to your cover letter: subtly reflect language used in the job description and ensure all required competencies are addressed; show it to people who have your best interests at heart and take their suggestions seriously. Of course

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put your best foot forward during the interview, but I do believe early decisions are often made by employers where candidates have clearly and passionately explained why they are the best person for the job in their cover letter. It took the UN Global Compact six weeks to get in touch regarding an interview, which was apparently a relatively short time. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel short, though, and I had all but given up when I eventually received the offer. For this reason, I recommend having a back-up plan! That being said, the best piece of advice I can give is to have faith in yourself. Where you are resolutely determined to follow a certain path, have worked your absolute hardest to achieve your goal, and believe in your capacity to succeed, things really do have a funny way of working out. Good luck in your endeavours, and please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like to chat.

MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL PROSECUTOR Tarik Abdulhak

In 2004, after two years working as a solicitor in a large Sydney law firm, I decided to put my money where my mouth was and move overseas to pursue a career in international criminal law. I had a small budget and big dreams. My contacts in international institutions were very limited and, predictably, my job applications to various UN tribunals had been unsuccessful. Nevertheless, I had previously worked in the refugee resettlement field in Sydney and had befriended a senior lawyer who worked for the UNHCR – the United Nations refugee agency. Over a kebab lunch in Geneva in July 2004, my UNHCR-lawyer friend told me about a project to establish an internationalised war crimes court in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was being seconded to this project and suggested I travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he could introduce me to the other people involved. Within a couple of months, I met, and offered my services to, the Director of the war crimes project in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia Herzegovina. The Director asked what experience I had in court management. I said: “None, but I’m a fast learner and a hard worker.” I was given an initial three-month contract. This was the start of my 11-year stint in international criminal law. I was part of a team which set up the new war crimes chambers in the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I was then appointed an advisor to the President (Chief Judge) of that Court. My role involved conducting research and providing policy and legal advice to the President. I spent four wonderful, rewarding and challenging years in Bosnia. In 2008, I moved to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a UN-backed tribunal which focuses on atrocities committed during the 1975 – 1979 Khmer Rouge regime. Here, I again first worked as an advisor. After a year, I was appointed a UN prosecutor - my “dream job.” I was part of a mixed

Cambodian / UN team investigating and prosecuting cases involving atrocities which had affected millions of civilians. In a trial of the surviving senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime, I had primary responsibility for the case against Khieu Samphan, Cambodia’s former Head of State. The trial lasted two years. In August 2014, the ECCC Trial Chamber found Khieu and his co-accused guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to life imprisonment. In late 2014, I moved to Belgium where I worked for an international commission investigating atrocities committed in Syria. I also had opportunities to do other interesting work, such as advising on transitional justice aspects of peace negotiations in Colombia. In 2015, I returned to Australia where I started work as a private barrister. I also continued to advise on international atrocity investigations overseas. In 2017, I was appointed a NSW Crown Prosecutor. I still teach international criminal law from time to time as a visiting lecturer. It will come as no surprise to any law graduate that jobs in the international criminal law and human rights fields are hard to get. But if you are interested, there are many opportunities out there. You need to keep an open mind and be flexible. You first job may not be your dream job, but you should play the long game. I suggest you research the work of international institutions (the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, various ad hoc tribunals and mechanisms) and nongovernmental organisations (such as the International Centre for Transitional Justice, the Open Society Justice Initiative, Amnesty International etc). You may wish to consider an internship with one of these organisations - it is an excellent way of gaining experience and expanding your professional networks. Additionally, postgraduate research and study in public international law would expand your knowledge and improve your international career prospects. You should also contact Australian practitioners with international experience. Many of them will be happy to offer practical guidance. Some final words of advice: When you do embark on your international journey, in whatever position you find yourself, make yourself indispensable. Work hard. Conduct yourself with integrity, commitment and humility, and doors will open for you.

03:

INTERNATIONAL CAREERS

VOLUNTEERING OVERSEAS

– voluntourism and effective overseas volunteering. I think there are two effective forms of overseas volunteering – long term capacity building, and assistance with crises. Kasia Czarnota For the former, you need to have real skills and knowlIn conversation with Carrie Hou edge that you can pass on to the local community. This involves a long term stay with the community, where Please describe your volunteering experience? you can connect with people through their language and I volunteered at two different refugee camps in 2015 culture – not a one month stint that’s more like a holiday. during the Refugee Crisis in Turkey and Greece. I was It’s also important to make sure you aren’t just taking a also reporting on the crisis at the same time, so apart local’s job, because many organisations will prefer free from whatever my daily assignments were, I spent most labour, even if it’s unsustainable. of my time learning about the problems that Syrian Assistance during crises provides the opportunity for refugees experienced including through their interactions short term work, but it’s also important to have a cultural with local organisations dealing with the crisis and learn- understanding of the community you’re working with. In ing Arabic. the camps that I worked with, the interpreters were the most highly valued of all volunteers, because they could Which organisation did you do this with? actually understand refugees’ real needs. In Lesbos, I volunteered with Light House Relief, and in It’s also important to be realistic about your capacity Turkey I volunteered with Revo. Both were local grass- to help another community. Many voluntourism organroots NGO’s. isations pitch themselves as saving a local community – and that you too can save them within a few short How did you know they the right organisation? What weeks. I don’t recommend them at all. You can’t expect research did you do? to have made a significant difference to peoples’ lives Literally by sending a Facebook message. I got in touch after a short-term program, especially when you’re faced with both organisations directly, and asked them if I with poor organisational structure, lack of language or could come volunteer with them and report on their cultural understanding or even a lack of funds. I find it work. The best way to get involved is to find organisa- really unethical that some people crowdfund to pay for tions through social media or even Googling for local what they treat as an overseas holiday, especially when groups – but it’s also important to check that they’re they lack the skills to assist the community they’re going effective and legit. to volunteer for. If you don’t have skills to contribute The organisation that I volunteered with in Turkey to a cause, you’re better off supporting them through was just starting up when I first got their contact details fundraising back in Australia. and got in touch – so they told me that they’d have capacity if I came back in 6 months’ time. I did as they How has your volunteering experience shaped you? asked, and came back to Turkey, also carrying donations I’ve learnt what makes an effective organisation and made by friends back in Australia. how to effectively connect with media, fundraise and Because I organised my own volunteering experience, campaign. I’ve also made great friends and connections I knew where my money was going, including how much overseas. My experience taught me a lot about how was going into overheads – if you do this through an organisations, and the law, operates in times of crises. Australian partnership, they will take a part of your This has given me real insight into the limits of volun‘program fees’ into their own overhead costs. I found teering overseas, especially what can be achieved by one that working in a crisis, the most effective organisations person in a short amount of time. were small grassroots ones, which would ally themselves I’m now applying all of these skills and knowledge in and pool resources– although it also created a bit of Australia, in my work campaigning for Marriage Equality, organisational chaos too. and I’ve found that everything I learnt overseas is transferrable to life and work in Australia. What are the most important ethical considerations You can find Carrie’s writings about the refugee in volunteering abroad? crisis and her experiences in the middle of it here: http:// Volunteering overseas is divided into two groups junkee.com/author/carrie-hou

LIFE AT THE UNITED NATIONS Jack Fogl

Describe your position â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what initially attracted you to it? I was a legal intern at the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). This special Cambodian Court, with the assistance of the United Nations, has been charged with ascertaining the truth behind the alleged crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. I worked in the Defence Support Section, specifically on Case 002. Our client was Nuon Chea (otherwise known as Brother Number Two) who is on trial for genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and violations of the 1956 Cambodian Penal Code. I was attracted to this role because I believe it offered a unique opportunity to work on a trial whose impact will play a fundamental role in facilitating transitional justice in Cambodia. What was the application process like for this position? I had previously interned at the ECCC over the summer of 2014-2015 and I returned earlier this year on the request of my team. This meant that there was no application process involved. How does this position fit in to your dream career path? The experience gave me invaluable insight into the workings of an international war crimes tribunal. I worked with some of the sharpest minds in international criminal law and developed crucial drafting and evidentiary analysis skills. Describe an average day in your position I was one of two interns in a team of 9 national and international staff. My duties were primarily focused on legal research and drafting. As the trial hearing had ended our team was working purely on our Closing Brief. This 550 page Brief contained the entirety of our case, and I was fortunate enough to work on the section of the Brief that dealt with the segment of the trial I had monitored when I first worked at the Court in 2014-15.

What are the biggest challenges in your job â&#x20AC;&#x201C; how do they differ from other positions or areas of law? One of the biggest challenge of this role was the emotional toll of working on a trial which dealt with gruesome alleged crimes. The evidence that we dealt in was often challenging to read. This was a product of working in a war crimes tribunal, and is fairly unique to this field. What advice do you have for law graduates wanting to work in your position? The most important piece of advice I would have to any graduate wanting to get into international criminal law is that you need to be passionate about the work. . I know this may seem trite, but this zeal is absolutely essential as the hours can be intense, the bureaucracy can be tedious and the lifestyle transient. Secondly, and this feeds off my first point, you need to be a fairly independent person. In a workplace that relies heavily on interns, there is a high turnover of both work and workmates. This is not an exclusive feature of international criminal law, but is something you must be prepared for. Whilst you do become well versed in farewell speeches, you will also have the amazing opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Finally, a grasp of another language aside from English never hurts. At the ECCC there were three official languages (English, French and Khmer). Whilst the Interpretation Unit translated the proceedings, and most evidence was also translated, I found that it was really helpful to understand French. It allowed me to analyse translations, communicate with others in the court and access evidence that had yet to be translated. What is one of the unexpected bonuses to your work? All the incredible people that I met through the process. Both interns and lawyers at the Court came from all around the world and through my experience living and working in Cambodia I have made friendships that I will cherish for years to come.