Career FAQs - Law (NSW and ACT) PDF

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Law
By Peter Jordan
NSW/ACT
Published by Career FAQs Pty Ltd

Copyright Career FAQs Pty Ltd 2005
First published in 2005
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study,
research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part
of this publication may be reproduced by any process or by any means, electronic,
photocopied, recorded or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright
owner. Inquiries for reproduction should be addressed to the publisher.
Published by
Career FAQs Pty Ltd
Suite 76, The Hub
89–97 Jones Street
Ultimo NSW 2007
www.careerfaqs.com.au
National Library of Australia

Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:
Jordan, Peter
Law: NSW/ACT
ISBN No. 1 921106 06 9
1. Law – Vocational guidance – New South Wales. 2. Law – Vocational guidance

– Australian Capital Territory. 3. Lawyers – Employment – New South Wales.
4. Lawyers – Employment – Australian Capital Territory. I. Title. (Series : Career FAQs).
340.023944
Publisher: Sue Stevens

Author: Peter Jordan
Editor: Rob Davis, Independent Editorial Pty Ltd
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Career FAQs acknowledges the following copyright owners for permission to

reproduce their work:
Graduate Careers Council of Australia
Law Society of New South Wales
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Every effort has been made to contact copyright owners and obtain permission.
However, should an infringement have occurred, Career FAQs apologise for the
omission and request that the copyright owner contact them.
Disclaimer
The opinions and statements made by people who contributed to this book from the
Law profession are their own and are not those of Career FAQs. The publishers do
not claim to represent the entire extent of the law profession and career choices. The
aim has always been to provide a broad overview of the possibilities available. As
such Career FAQs Law NSW/ACT does not purport to be a true and accurate record of
the law profession, relying on the voices of those working in the industry to tell their
stories. Inaccuracies may arise as a result of the nature of this book. Users should
follow the links to actual websites of organisations to ascertain current law practice.
Foreword
I have been a judge for more than thirty years. High and low.
Federal and State. I started as a judge by statutory designation.
Now I serve as one of the seven Justices in Australia’s final
national court. So I have seen many aspects of the judiciary. I
know what a fulfilling career it is to be a judge.
In our system, lawyers cannot sign up for a judicial career straight

out of law school, as happens in most countries. Judicial officers,
by and large, are appointed in middle years after they have served
for some time as advocates, practising lawyers, academics or
government counsel. Appointments depend on talent, but also Michael Kirby
to some degree on luck. The secret in life is to make the most Justice of the High Court of Australia
of opportunities. Those who aspire to be judges should follow Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG is one
that star. It leads to a life of great responsibility but also human of the seven Justices of the High
Court of Australia, Australia’s highest
fulfilment. There is power – but not for your own sake, for doing court. He has held that post since
good, just and wise things for the sake of others. 1996. Before that, he was President of
the NSW Court of Appeal (1984–96),
The fact that our judges are mainly chosen from the practising Judge of the Federal Court (1983–84)
legal profession adds an element of variety and opportunity to life and Chairman of the Australian Law
Reform Commission (1975–84).
in the law as it is practised in Australia. It also tends to reinforce
the independence of mind that is so essential to the work of a He has held many international posts
including President of the International
good judge.
Commission of Jurists and Special UN
I always hoped that I would be a judge; and it turned out that Representative for Human Rights in
Cambodia. At present he serves on
way. The work is demanding – but the opportunity to serve the the UNESCO International Bioethics
community, to struggle for neutrality and justice, to solve complex Committee and on the UNAIDS Panel
human problems and to uphold the rule of law represents the on Human Rights.
ultimate accolade of a life in our profession. If you dream of that

life, work hard and achieve respect of your peers. And the dream
may become reality.
Contents
About Career FAQS ix
How to use this book xi
The big picture

Why the legal profession? 1
What do lawyers do? 2
What’s happening right now? 5
Current size of the profession 5
What are the job opportunities? 6
New South Wales 6
ACT 7
Women and the law 7
How much can I earn? 9
Who are the main employers? 14
Private firms 15
Corporate sector 16
Public sector 16
What are employers looking for? 17
Meet some employers 18
Roger – National HR manager 18
David – Partner 20
Andrew – Partner 21
Antony Townsden – Senior solicitor 23
Snapshot – what employers are looking for 26
What support organisations exist? 26
New South Wales organisations 26
Law Society of New South Wales 26
NSW Young Lawyers 27
New South Wales Bar Association 27
ACT organisations 27
Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory 27
Australian Capital Territory Bar Association 27
National and other associations 27

Law
Law Council of Australia 27

Australian Women Lawyers 28
Women Lawyers Association of NSW 28
Australian Law Students’ Association 28
Insider Info
What jobs could I do? 33
What do real people say about their jobs? 34
Julia – Summer clerk 34
Snapshot – clerkships 37
Frank – Paralegal 37
Kim – Paralegal 40
Nicole – Conveyancing paralegal 41
Jeff – Judge’s associate (Tipstaff ) 42
Zoe – Graduate lawyer 46
Louise – Lawyer 49
Elizabeth – Senior associate 52
Josh – Partner 55
Hugh – Barrister 58
Felix – Barrister 61
Nicholas – Sole practitioner 63
Craig – Sole practitioner 65
Isabel – Legal aid lawyer 67
Chris – Environmental lawyer 69
William – Business affairs manager 71
Katherine – Legal counsel 73
Rachel – Corporate counsel 74
Lara – Head of policy 77
Ready, set, go for it!

What qualifications do I need? 85
University courses 85
What do I need to get into a law degree? 86
What can I expect to learn? 87
vi
How difficult is a law degree to complete? 89
How much does it cost? 90
Can I study without going on campus? 91
Graduate law 91
Study with the Legal Profession Admission Board 92
About the LPAB 92
Entry requirements of the LPAB 93
Final comments about the LPAB course 93
Practical legal training 94
The final step 95
How do I get that job? 96
How are people recruited? 97
Graduate programs 97
Private practice 97
Tips: Graduate recruitment 98
Corporate sector 98
Public sector 98
Recruitment agencies 99
What recruiters are looking for 100
Jane Bishop – Hudson legal division 100
Lisa Gazis – Managing director, Mahlab 101
Margaret Heath – Director, Law Staff Australia 101
Hot jobs now 102
Hot jobs in five years 103
Stand out from the crowd 103
Create an outstanding application 104
The résumé 104
Seven steps to success 106
Tips: Résumé writing 107
The cover letter 107
Selection criteria 109
Tips: Responding to selection criteria 110
How can I stand out at the interview? 111
Preparing for the interview 111
vii
Law
Making an impact at the interview 112

Key Points 114
Tips: General recruitment 115
What can I do right now? 115
Buzz words 121
Appendix 1 124
Salary scales 2005 124
Appendix 2 125
Top 25 Australian law firms by number of partners 125
Appendix 3 126
Comparative starting salaries of lawyers to other professions 126
Appendix 4 127
FAQs answered by an academic 127
Appendix 5 130
Sample job ads 130
Appendix 6 133
Sample résumé 133
Appendix 7 136
Sample cover letter 136
viii
About Career FAQs
Want to choose your ideal career but don’t
know where to start?
Will Santow, Managing Director, Career FAQs
Career FAQs publishes a diverse range of career books that focus on Career FAQs
different professions, industries and lifestyles to make the search for n real jobs
your perfect career that much easier. n real people
n real experiences
Each book profiles real people doing
Don’t end up in
real jobs and talking about their real
someone else’s life, experiences – the good and the bad
a career choice is as – from the day-to-day routine of working
much a life choice as a life through to the more dynamic
vocational decision. aspects of a job. In addition to this,
Career FAQs’ books feature practical
information about qualification requirements, the key educational and
training institutions, industry bodies and support organisations, earning
capacity and job-hunting tips.
With all of the above covered in each book, it is easy to see why
Career FAQs provides a dynamic new approach to finding the
right career.
Career FAQs was conceived in 2004 as a result of my own quest

to settle on a particular career path through my 20s and early
30s. At times of career angst or just indecision about where I
should go for my next move, I would try to get my hands on
empowering, high-quality, up-to-date career information that
related specifically to the market in which I wanted to work. I
could find nothing. When I asked around, the only thing I found
was a shared frustration amongst many of my contemporaries.
The Career FAQs books will address this critical information and
educational gap and so reduce the future mismatches between
career–lifestyle aspirations and career–lifestyle realities.
ix
Law
The range of Career FAQs titles is constantly expanding as we

continue to talk to people who have carved out interesting and
dynamic careers and to hear their stories in their own words.
For a list of current titles, please visit our website,
www.careerfaqs.com.au.
Best of luck with finding the right career for you!
Will Santow
Managing Director
Career FAQs
Thank you!
A special thanks from the team at Career FAQs to the many
people who have contributed their time and shared their
experiences and insights to help make this book possible.
It is always inspirational to find people who are willing

to give of themselves, particularly their time – a scarce
commodity for most people today – in order to help make a
difference to others.
That you all gave so willingly and provided such compelling

insights into your working lives so that others can make
better informed career choices, is truly appreciated.

How to use this book
fyi
All Career FAQs books are structured with a similar layout, so if you are
familiar with one book, you will be able to navigate easily through all Career FAQs books that
are grouped by theme
the others and find the information you need quickly and easily. and focus on a particular
lifestyle choice or personality
Our books profile real jobs and the people doing them to provide a type, such as Xtreme,
broad overview of possibilities. It is not a definitive list but is intended have the three sections
to provide some insights into what it can mean to work in these covered for each of the
extreme jobs listed.
particular roles.
Career FAQs books are divided into three main sections.
‘The big picture’ provides an overview of the industry, employment

opportunities and salary scales. It provides information about the main
employers and the variety of support organisations that exist.
‘Insider info’ profiles the personal experiences of people who are

currently working within the profession.
It allows you to discover what people working within the industry say
you should expect from working in different jobs at various levels of
seniority.
‘Ready, set, go for it!’ tells you how you can get the appropriate training
and experience to ultimately get that job you want and guides you
through the process of gaining employment.
Style elements are used in Career FAQs books to help you navigate
through the information.
cv is a snapshot of a person’s career pathway –

it shows some of the key job stepping stones
along an individual’s career path that led to the
current position
indicates that another Career FAQs title has more

detour jobs of this type
gives you directions to find out more about a

find out
more particular topic or organisation
xi
Law
provides additional information or an interesting

fyi
fact and provides directions to relevant appendixes
provides a brief definition of a term that appears in

glossary
bold within the main text
are jobs in the industry or profession that, at the

hotjobs
time of writing, are in demand
in is a short profile of a specific job, with

brief characteristics such as salary, qualifications,
number of hours worked, the ability to balance
personal and work commitments and the flexibility
afforded by the employer
MYTH explodes popular myths surrounding a particular

career choice
fact
myweek is a day-by-day overview of the typical work-

specific activities required of an individual in a
particular job
jobs that have an unconventional, interesting

or out of the ordinary focus
q&a tells the story of real experiences of people working

in the industry
highlight some of the issues associated with a

tradeoffs particular career – such as difficulties or obstacles
that you might face in the featured industry
xii
The big picture
Why the legal profession?
Forget your idea of legal practice gained from Law & Order and
Legally Blonde. The reality is a world away from those often dramatic
and glamorous images.
Nonetheless, the law is one of the most interesting and rewarding

professions. It is also one of the most challenging – intellectually and in
terms of the commitment needed to succeed.
As a lawyer you’ll find there is a wide range of career opportunities,

from work in city law firms, large companies and the Bar to suburban
practices and government and community sectors.
If you have an interest in the business world, a passion for social justice
or simply enjoy solving problems, the legal profession has a career to
suit your ambition. Increasingly, legal qualifications and experience
also provide a useful springboard for careers in other areas, including
politics, management and policy work.
Lawyers are well paid by community standards and are generally

respected for the work they do. But you need to be aware of the
disadvantages: long hours, high pressure and the fact you’re often
involved in conflict situations.
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Law
The profession also offers interesting careers for paralegals – people

who have some knowledge of the law but aren’t necessarily qualified
as legal practitioners – and in office administration. There is always a
demand for qualified and skilled legal secretaries, personal assistants
and office managers. Experience in a legal environment translates well
into other work areas where high levels of professionalism are required.
What do lawyers do?

Lawyers – solicitors and barristers – do many things depending on their
field of expertise. They may:
n interview clients and recommend legal action or other options
n facilitate negotiations between two parties
n draw up contracts, lease agreements, wills and other

legal documents
n act for one party in a dispute
n appear on behalf of clients in court or at a tribunal hearing
n advise clients of the latest changes to statutes and court decisions.

The big picture
Solicitors work in many different fields of the law and may specialise
in areas such as property, probate, family law matters, commercial and
corporate law, worker’s compensation, personal injuries, legal aid, and
criminal law.
The table below shows the four most common areas of practice in
each of the key sectors in which solicitors work – private practice,
government and the corporate sector.
Private Government Corporate
Conveyancing/
Criminal Law Commercial Law
Property
Commercial Law Administrative Law Corporations Law
Civil Litigation Civil Litigation Banking/Finance
Wills and Estates Advocacy Intellectual Property
Common areas of practice

Source: 2
004 Profile of Solicitors in NSW, Law Society of New South Wales. Prepared by
Urbis Keys Young
Many solicitors ‘practise’ in partnerships in legal firms. Others may be

employed by companies, in federal, state, territory or local government
departments, not-for-profit organisations and with international
authorities such as the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Barristers work on many matters and are generally ‘briefed’ by a

solicitor on behalf of the client. Their work includes:
n providing advice and drafting legal documents
n conducting negotiations and appearing in courts on behalf of clients.
A barrister may well have worked as solicitor before moving to the Bar.
Barristers are self-employed but often practise in ‘chambers’ with other
barristers. When appearing in some courts, they wear wigs and gowns.
Other legal positions include senior counsels, magistrates

and judges.

Law
What does it take to be a good lawyer? To find out, we went straight

to the source – lawyers themselves. Here’s a compilation of their
comments. Lawyers need:
n a good academic record
n a genuine interest in the law
n the ability to interact with people
n to be quick thinking
n to be a logical thinker
n to be a continual learner
n to be well-rounded
n to have good people skills
n the ability to manage difficult and/or stressful situations
n to have integrity and good character
n to have experience outside the law.

The big picture
These attributes by no means make up what it takes to be a good

lawyer, they are personal qualities that people working in the industry
identify as important.
As with most industries and professions, change in the legal profession

is ongoing and inevitable so it is helpful to understand the current state
of affairs.
What’s happening right now?

The legal profession is dynamic. Some areas of private legal practice are
booming; others are contracting. But whether you work at the big end of
town or in a small firm, competition for work has never been fiercer and
the business of the law has become more important. Indeed, in many
areas of practice, commercial acumen has become almost as important
as technical legal skills. In the public sector, competition for jobs is keen
as law graduates attempt to get their foot in the door, happy to trade off
the higher salaries of the private sector for a better work–life balance.
Current size of the profession

There are nearly 20 000 solicitors registered in New South Wales and around
2100 barristers. The great majority of solicitors work in private practice
– this includes city firms of all sizes as well as small suburban and country
practices (see table below). The corporate sector, made up of lawyers who
work in-house for private and public companies, is the next most common
workplace. And this area is expected to increase in importance over the
next decade. By 2015, the Law Society of NSW estimates that 20 per cent of
solicitors will work in-house in the corporate sphere.
Public sector 72%

Government 11%
Corporate 14%
Other 3%
What sectors do solicitors work in?

Source: Law Society of New South Wales, March 2005

Law
What are the job opportunities?

Typically, the legal In general terms, the job outlook for
profession has continued legal professionals across Australia is
to expand. So has the positive, with employment growth to
need for support staff. 2011 expected to be strong, according
Experienced, well- to career research conducted by the
qualified, proven Australian Government.
support staff are Demand is hottest for lawyers with at

always in demand. least two to three years’ experience in
corporate and commercial areas. But
the Australian Association of Graduate Employers also expects graduate
employment to rise by more than 16 per cent in 2005.
A strong domestic economy and an exodus of Australian lawyers to other

countries, particularly the UK, are key reasons for the positive outlook.
But if demand is strong, there is no shortage of supply – at least in

terms of graduate lawyers. BRW magazine says that the number of
students enrolled in a law degree in Australia had increased from
around 16 000 in the early 90s to more than 28 000 in 2003.
While not everyone who studies law intends to practise – it is

increasingly seen as a useful general degree – competition for the best
positions is still intense. And if the economy slows markedly in the next
few years it may be harder to get your foot in the door.
If law firms are booming, the demand for administrative staff will
be correspondingly strong. The director of the legal recruiting firm
Law Staff, Margaret Heath, says, ‘Typically, the legal profession has
continued to expand. So has the need for support staff. Experienced,
well-qualified, proven support staff are always in demand.’
The opportunities for employment in the ACT differ from those available
in New South Wales.
New South Wales

Most of the work opportunities in the legal profession in New South
Wales are in Sydney. Indeed, more than 80 per cent of solicitors
registered in the state practise in Australia’s largest city. Nonetheless,
if you’re prepared to move to the country there are likely to be job
opportunities. In a competitive market this is one way of getting
valuable experience in your first years after graduation.

Public sector 72%
Government 11%
Corporate 14%
Other 3%
The big picture
Angela works as a lawyer in a regional centre of New South Wales and

has practised in both the private and government sectors. She says
employers are keen to take on new solicitors as long as they don’t
disappear too quickly. ‘I think young solicitors are in a good negotiating
position at the moment as positions are hard to fill,’ she says.
Public sector 72%

Government 11%
City 53%
Corporate 14%
Other 3%
Suburbs 29%
Country 13.5%
Interstate 2.3%
Overseas 2.2%
City versus country

ACT
With approximately 1300 solicitors andCity
40 53%
barristers, the legal
Suburbs 29% find out
profession in the ACT is much smaller than in New South Wales. Private
Country 13.5%
practice accounts for three-quarters ofInterstate
the solicitors
2.3% while the other
more
quarter is employed in the governmentOverseas
sector. 2.2% About job opportunities
Male Solicitors 59%
www.mahlab.com.au
Female Solicitors 41%
Women and the law www.lawstaff.com.au
www.hudsonresourcing.
The law may once have been a male-dominated profession, but the com.au
influx of women in recent years means this is no longer true. The www.totallylegal.com
current gender gap of NSW solicitors is narrowing.
Male Solicitors 59%

Female Solicitors 41%
Solicitors by gender in NSW


Law
Currently, more than half of all graduates and senior associates in

the top law firms are women, according to BRW magazine’s survey of
the top 25 firms. More broadly, the Law Society of New South Wales
estimates that by 2015 the proportion of female lawyers in the state
will reach 52 per cent.
Meanwhile, at the Bar, there are approximately 300 female

barristers in New South Wales, which is about 14 per cent of
the total.
However, it’s worth pointing out that while women are entering the
profession in large numbers they are having a harder time attaining
the most senior levels. BRW says only 17 per cent of partners in the
top firms are women and even fewer are full equity partners.
The reasons for this disparity are the subject of much debate. But
there is general agreement that most workplaces currently aren’t
flexible enough to allow women to meet the demands of work and
family, an issue that typically affects women in their thirties.
Elizabeth, a senior associate at a big city law firm, says it can be

difficult to combine children with a legal career at the top level. ‘I
cannot imagine performing the full role of a partner in a large law
firm and being a mother at the same time ... The challenge this
presents women in law should not be underestimated.’
For many women, the public sector offers a more sympathetic

environment in which to combine a career and family. Isabel works
for the NSW Legal Aid Commission and hasn’t found her family
commitments an impediment to advancement. ‘I have been able to
have children and take maternity leave and work part-time while in
the job. I have gained promotions despite being obviously pregnant
and wanting to work part-time.’
The big firms now recognise that to retain their talented female staff
they have to do much more than pay lip-service to the demand for a
better balance between work and family.

The big picture
Each year, the most women-friendly law firms receive an Employer of

Choice for Women citation. In 2005, the winners were:
n Allens Arthur Robinson
n Blake Dawson Waldron
n Henry Davis York
n Maddocks
n Minter Ellison
n Sparke Helmore.
The pressure for change is on and many lawyers – men as well as

women – hope that more flexible workplaces will be the norm in
coming years.
How much can I earn? MYTH

all lawyers are
The first thing to say about salaries in the legal profession is that, well paid
on average, they are not as high as you might expect. Yes, solicitors Most lawyers are
working for large city firms and corporations and some barristers fact paid no better than
professionals in IT
earn a lot of money, but salaries in small firms and in the government and accounting.
and community sectors are far more modest. So a job in law does not
necessarily guarantee a huge pay packet.
To illustrate the point, the Law Society of New South Wales, which
collects data on legal salaries, found that the most common income
range nominated in its annual survey of solicitors was between $50 000
and $75 000 a year. The next most common band was between $75 000
and $100 000. That’s a long way from the seven-figure salaries paid to
some partners in the most profitable firms.
And a word of caution: many of the lawyers we have spoken to

emphasise that pursuing a legal career for the money alone is unlikely
to lead to career satisfaction.
As one high achiever warned: ‘Big money comes at a price.’ Another,

who worked for one of the large firms, commented that, ‘If you want
the money and prestige, be prepared to put in years of long hours and
enormous demands on your time and energy.’

Law
Graduates can expect to earn around $40 000 a year, according to the
Graduate Careers Council of Australia’s 2004 survey. This is similar to
the salaries of engineering and education graduates, but less than the
amount earned by those in dentistry and medicine.
Field of study Graduate median salary
Dentistry $60 000
Medicine $45 300
Engineering – Mechanical $42 500
Engineering – Electronic/computer $41 000
Education $40 000
Engineering – Civil $40 000
Law $40 000
Psychology $37 000
Veterinary Science $36 000
Accounting $35 000
Architecture $31 300
Comparative graduate incomes

Source: Graduate Careers Council of Australia, www.graduatecareers.edu.au
find out
more While starting salaries for graduate lawyers fall within the mid-range
See Appendix 3 for a of professions, they can increase rapidly in the private and corporate
more extensive list of sectors. Remuneration for lawyers in the public and community sectors,
comparisons between
and those working in suburban practices, will increase more slowly.
Bachelor degree graduates.

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The big picture
Approx. Salary
No. of years No. of years
fyi
Age group Position title range as of
in job in profession Australian-trained lawyers
July 2005
need to sit a standardised
$18–$23 law exam in February or
20–25 Paralegal 1 1
per hr July to qualify for practice
in the US. Most candidates
$30 000 – undertake a Bar review
20–25 Paralegal 2 1
$40 000 course either here or in the
US before they sit the exam.
Graduate $50 000 –
25–30 1 1
lawyer $60 000
25–30 Lawyer $92 000 3 3
Senior $150 000 –

35–40 3 13
associate $200 000
$350 000 –
40–45 Partner 1 20
$400 000
$250 000 –
40–45 Barrister 5 20
$300 000
Sole $60 000 –

45–50 12 25
practitioner $100 000
Legal
40–45 $100 000+ 5 15
counsel
Legal
40–45 $100 000+ 12 20
manager
Public sector $60 000 –

35–40 2 13
lawyer $70 000
Public sector $90 000 –

40–45 4 14
lawyer $100 000
Community $50 000 –

25–30 2 3
sector lawyer $60 000
Careers FAQs salary survey, 2005
The first thing that probably jumps out at you looking at the figures
in this salary survey is the wide range of salaries being earned in the
profession. While they represent only a small sample, they nonetheless
provide a representative snapshot of the industry today.
The partners of law firms at the big end of town earn hundreds of
thousands of dollars, but lawyers with a similar number of years of
experience may earn a fraction of that kind of money, particularly those
in the public sector.
11
Law
For sole practitioners, income is dependent on whether the person has

a good year or not. For these professionals a good year may yield an
income of up to $100 000, while a bad year may result in total earnings
of only $60 000 – about the same amount as a lawyer with one or two
years’ experience in a city firm.
The next three tables show the salary ranges of solicitors working in
large- and medium-sized firms, as well as lawyers working in-house in
the corporate sector.
Years since admission $’000 per annum

top tier
Graduate lawyer 50–60
1 Year post-qualification experience (PQE) 58–74
2 Years PQE 65–81
3 Years PQE 75–105
Senior associate 110–200+
Special counsel 160+
mid tier
Graduate lawyer 45–56
1 Year post-qualification experience (PQE) 52–65
2 Years PQE 60–78
3 Years PQE 72–85
Senior associate 100–160+
Special counsel 140+
Private practice salary table – NSW

Source: Michael Page International Legal salary survey, 2005
Note:
n Senior associates are salaried lawyers with considerable experience. Many eventually
become partners.
n Special counsel are skilled senior lawyers who, for whatever reason, aren’t heading
towards partnership.
12
The big picture
$’000 per annum

small–medium top 200
General counsel
IT/Telcos 140–220 250–350
Retail/distribution 175–250 250–350
Commercial services 140–180 200–275
Manufacturing 130–170 180–300
Energy/resources 175–225 240–350
Property/construction 180–200 250–350
Public sector 125–150 160–200
Commerce, industry and public sector

Source: Michael Page International Legal salary survey 2005
Note: General counsel are the senior lawyers within an organisation and often provide
business and strategic advice as well as legal expertise.
$’000 per annum
Years of experience
0–2 3–5 6–10 10+
Corporate counsel
IT/Telcos 55–78 65–137 120–200 160+
Retail/distribution 50–60 70–125 120–200 140+
Commercial services 52–70 65–110 105–170 140+
Manufacturing 50–62 60–110 100–150 140+
Energy/resources 50–70 70–135 120–180 160+
Property/construction 50–60 70–120 110–180 170+
Public sector 36–43 42–60 60–100 80+
Commerce, industry and public sector

Note: Corporate counsel are also known as legal counsel or in-house lawyers. Confusingly,
the term is used in some organisations for the most senior legal officer, but for the purposes
of this salary survey it designates in-house lawyers. \
You can see that the salaries for those working in-house in the fyi
corporate sector are on par with or, in some cases, better than solicitors
As many lawyers also work
working in large and medium-sized legal firms. Indeed, at some levels of in finance and banking,
experience the salaries are considerably higher. Appendix 1 lists salary
details in the banking sector.
Australian lawyers are also in demand overseas. The primary destination
has traditionally been London. However, New York has become one of
the places where Australian lawyers are making their mark. An article in
The Australian points out that New York is fast becoming the new place
to be and be seen.
13
Law
The increasing acceptance of young Australian lawyers by New

York firms, and the fact that Australians are willing to cross the
Pacific to capitalise on opportunities, has led to an increase in
Australians working in the biggest city in the US.
Vanda Carson, The Australian, 1 July 2005, p. 27.
And the feeling is mutual, with US recruitment firms reporting an

increased interest from top US legal firms in Australian candidates who
have the advantage of studying and working in the common law system
rather than in the civil law system (such as France and Germany).
Starting salaries for lawyers working in the Big Apple are US$125 000. An
Australian lawyer with five years’ experience earning between A$90 000
and A$120 000 in Sydney can earn up to US$175 000 (A$230 000). On
top of high salaries, bonus systems can reward lawyers with up to half a
year’s salary. Over 1250 Australian lawyers are at the New York Bar.
Who are the main employers?

The main employers of lawyers can be divided into three broad sectors:
n Private: large, medium and boutique city law firms, and suburban
and country practices
n Corporate: private and public companies
14
The big picture
n Public: state, territory and federal governments, and publicly funded

but independent organisations.
Note that barristers usually work as sole practitioners and so are not
covered in this discussion. See profile of Felix in ‘Insider info’ for details
on working as a barrister.
Private firms
The biggest firms compete for work among the country’s largest
corporate entities, such as BHP, Telstra and Westpac, servicing legal
needs not dealt with by their in-house legal departments. They are often
called ‘full service firms’ because they have expertise in most relevant
areas of the law.
Medium-sized firms operate according to similar principles but usually

attract smaller clients or obtain a portion of legal work from the larger
corporations. So-called boutique firms specialise in legal matters such as
media and communications law or patents and trademarks.
Suburban practices, often run by one solicitor, provide services to small

business and individuals. Property settlements (conveyancing), wills, fyi
lease agreements and dispute resolution are some of the legal areas Some law firms are
such firms might handle. defined as first tier firms
and second tier firms.
Some of the leading private firms in Australia are:
n Mallesons Stephen Jaques
n Minter Ellison
n Freehills
n Allens Arthur Robinson
n Clayton Utz
n Blake Dawson Waldron
Phillips Fox
n
find out
n Corrs Chambers Westgarth more
See Appendix 2 for the
n Deacons top 25 Law firms by
numbers of partners.
n Baker & McKenzie.
15
Law
Corporate sector
Most large and medium-sized companies, from AMP to Woolworths,
employ solicitors known as in-house lawyers or corporate counsel.
They provide legal services such as the drafting of contracts. The most
senior lawyers – general counsel – will also provide advice on broader
commercial and strategic issues, drawing on their expertise in the
regulatory regimes under which particular businesses operate.
For example, the complicated laws that govern how telecommunications

companies can operate often require lawyers to advise senior managers
in these matters and how legal regulations affect the business.
Public sector
You would no doubt find legal people working in every government
department (state and federal) who would be employed to deal with
legal issues that arise from the business of the particular department.
There are also government departments that focus on the legal issues of
the legal system of the state/country. These departments employ large
numbers of lawyers. You may remember, that a quarter of lawyers in the
ACT work in the government sector.
Key Australia-wide public sector employers of lawyers include:
n Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
n Australian Government Solicitor
Australian Securities and Investment Commission

find out
n
more n Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

www.fed.gov.au
NSW public sector employers of lawyers include:
www.nsw.gov.au
www.act.gov.au
n NSW Attorney-General’s Department
www.nswclc.org.au n NSW Legal Aid Commission
www.actu.asn.au
n NSW Law Reform Commission
www.communitybuilders.
nsw.gov.au n Public Trustee of New South Wales.
These are only a few of the government departments that employ

lawyers. Other public sector employers include the community sector,
universities, trade unions and not-for-profit organisations.
16
The big picture
What are employers looking for?

Despite the different contexts in which lawyers find work, employers in all
areas are essentially looking for a similar set of characteristics and skills.
Josh is a partner in a large city firm. His view on the selection of

graduate lawyers is typical of many employers in major commercial
practices. He says applications are first culled ‘rather brutally’ by the
human resources department based on academic record.
That’s not the only criterion, but given the large numbers of
applications they tend to filter on that basis. If you haven’t got
a good academic record there would have to be some interesting
feature about you that gets you through. Maybe someone didn’t
get exceptional marks but they speak Mandarin – we’re always
looking for people with language skills for our Asian offices.
By the time I look at people I take a number of things into

consideration in addition to academic record. I don’t want to
sound too American about this but we’re looking for well-rounded
individuals; it’s comforting to know that people have diverse
interests, whether it’s drama or sport or whatever. Also, we need
people who can get out there and interact with people, who can
socialise with clients and who, as their career develops, can be a
principal contact person for clients.
Josh, Partner, large city firm
As you can see from Josh’s comments, academic achievement and

intellectual capacity are the foundations of the selection process. These
are not the only attributes employers look for but they are the key to
getting short-listed when there are many other applicants.
Having a specialist interest or an understanding of a particular

environment can be important in some areas. Working with
disadvantaged people in criminal matters means you confront drug,
alcohol and mental health problems as well. Antony Townsden, senior
solicitor with the NSW Legal Aid Commission says, ‘You have to be
the type of person who can not only deal with it but perhaps even
empathise as well.’
17
Law
Meet some employers

fyi Let’s have a closer look at what senior lawyers and HR managers look
Roger, David and for when recruiting. What types of people do they think best suit the
Andrew are pseudonyms law? And what are the things you should consider before embarking on
as they requested to a legal career?
remain anonymous.
n Roger, human resources manager for a major city firm
n David, a partner in a firm which specialises in workplace relations
n Andrew, Partner in a medium-sized city firm
n Antony Townsden, Senior solicitor, NSW Legal Aid Commission
Roger – National HR manager

As the national HR manager for a large commercial firm, Roger is very
involved in the recruitment of summer clerks and lawyers.
q&a
What do you look for when you are recruiting summer clerks or
graduate lawyers?
We have four key performance areas when we assess people internally,
so we look for qualities which relate to those in people we’re
assessing for summer clerk or graduate positions. They include things
like technical legal skills or legal ability; areas around what we call
clients and markets, which is people’s understanding of what different
industries are about. Then there’s people and teams, which is about
how people interact with others and how they work in teams or work
alone, or work when they’re being supervised or not. The last area is
management how people manage themselves, their time and priorities.
Is academic achievement the most important thing?
Academics are one pretty useful tool but one of a number. If you have
strong academics in your degree, that is generally a good predictor for
your technical ability going forward.
What type of person do you think is best suited to working in a big
commercial law firm?
I think it’s too hard to pin it down and say there’s a type of person
that suits. A diverse range of people work at the firm; we don’t have a
mould. But what we try to do is get the right motivational fit. One of
the things we look for is people who are keen to work in a commercial
law firm, and that’s not always black and white. We try to identify if
there are signals there that someone really isn’t that interested.
18
The big picture
What should people consider before applying for a job in a large

commercial firm?
I think it comes down to where your interests lie. But in your early 20s
you don’t necessarily know where you want to end up. So we wouldn’t
expect everyone who is joining to have a passionate view about the
commercial world and be really interested in business. But you do
need to be clear about what our firm does.
People have written to us saying they have a passion for criminal law
and that’s why they want to work for the firm. And we say we don’t
practise criminal law; we’re a commercial law firm. Likewise, if your
real passion is to defend workers’ rights or something like that then
you’re not going to work for a commercial law firm. So you have to
have an idea about what you want and go where that leads you.
Is technical ability alone sufficient?
Technical ability alone is not going to guarantee that someone will be
a success. The ability to work in teams is important, so we look for
people who can demonstrate they can work with others and interact
with different people. Someone who is brilliantly academic may not
have the capacity to work well with clients so, yes, we’re always
looking for some well-roundedness in the individual.
Is most of your graduate intake via the clerkship program?
Yes. But we do still recruit others on top of the clerkship program. I’d
certainly be encouraging people to pursue a summer clerkship if they
want to end up in a law firm. It’s a very good avenue in because a lot
of the people who work for us as summer clerks do end up working
for us when they graduate.
How many summer clerkships do you offer?
We generally go for between 25 to 30 summer clerks in Sydney.
There is a lot of discussion about work–life balance. Is that an issue
at your firm?
We are certainly conscious of it and understand that people are
looking for more flexibility. And we’re trying to address the issue
whenever we can. But I still don’t think it takes away from the fact
that there are plenty of people who say to themselves, ‘I am starting
my career as a professional and I’ve got to work as hard as I have to,
to be successful’.
Can you explain how paralegal work fits into the picture?
We’ve probably got three different types of paralegals. One category
is career paralegals who have a specialist skill and plan to do that
type of role long term. So they may have anything from specialist
conveyancing skills through to being well trained in document
management processes.
19
Law
Then you have uni students who work with us a couple of days a
week while they’re studying, and beyond that would be looking for
graduate roles. We fill those roles primarily with people who have
been summer clerks with us. So they’ve been a summer clerk after
their fourth year at university and during their fifth year we invite a
large number back to work as paralegals.
The third category is a mix of other university students, perhaps
qualified lawyers from the United Kingdom who are here on a working
holiday and other types of people who are ultimately pursuing careers
as lawyers but are currently working as paralegals.
Do you offer paralegal work to law students who are in their junior
years of study?
Second-year law students often ask me for paralegal work and I
generally say no on the basis that most of our paralegal needs are
filled by the people who have been summer clerks.
Is it advantageous to work as a paralegal if you ultimately want to be
employed as a lawyer?
The experience is obviously going to be very positive. However
anyone who is working as a paralegal and wants to be included in
the graduate intake is going to be assessed by the same criteria as
everyone else. We don’t cut corners; they have to jump through the
same hoops.
cv bottle shop
David – Partner
attendant >> summer David works in a mid-sized firm with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.
clerkship >> travelled OS He was one of the firm’s founders and did much of the hiring as he and
>> solicitor >> senior his colleagues built up the practice. He has 14 years’ post-admission
associate >> legal officer experience and specialises in workplace relations.
>> partner
q&a
What do you look for when you are recruiting graduate lawyers?
The key things are good academic results, an interest in our specialist
areas of practice, experience outside of the law, an interest in business,
an ability to articulate themselves simply, a managed ego, a desire to
work as part of a team, and a sense they will fit into our firm.
What type of person do you think best suits the legal profession?
Someone who enjoys arguing a position without needing to believe
in the position they are supporting, and can explain complex ideas
simply. Also, someone who enjoys interacting with different people and
has a good eye for detail and, of course, who can work long hours.
20
The big picture
What are the best aspects of working in the profession?

The variety of subject matter, even within a specialist practice area. For
instance, in any one day I will deal with people from a broad range of
industries and backgrounds. Managing people.
What about disadvantages?
Long hours, participating in an adversarial system and the requirement
not to make errors.
What are the key things you believe young people interested in the
profession need to know before making a commitment to it?
That they can be detached from their arguments, yet still make their
arguments with passion. That remuneration will be better than average,
but for most practitioners working as a lawyer will not make them rich.
Being a good administrator and salesperson is often as important as
– and sometimes more important than – being a good technical lawyer.
In your experience, what are the most common reasons young lawyers
become dissatisfied with their work?
Lack of advancement and/or challenges (especially in large law
firms where much of the interesting work is done by more senior
practitioners) and long hours.
What are some of the growth areas in law at the moment?
Workplace law, intellectual property and trade practices.
What are some of the areas that are likely to be big in five years?
Workplace law, trade law, communications law.
How has the industry changed in the time you’ve been in it?
Specialisation has become nearly universal. When I commenced there
were a number of senior practitioners acting at the highest levels
across a range of specialities. That is now quite rare.
Andrew – Partner
cv clerk >> pulling
Andrew is a partner in a rapidly expanding medium-sized city firm. He beers >> solicitor (in
has worked in the law for 21 years and is a former president of NSW country) >> suburban
Young Lawyers. practice >> solicitor (city)
>> full equity partner
q&a
What do you look for when you are recruiting graduate or junior lawyers?
Good academic record, good people skills and commitment.
What type of person do you think best suits this industry?
Hard working, with a genuine interest in the law – not just doing it for
the money. You also need a thick skin.
21
Law
They will need to work hard, long hours if they want to get to
partnership and they will need to build a practice if they are going to
be a partner in most legal firms. The big firms are a bit different in that
a person can make it to partnership by being an exceptionally good
lawyer without a practice but this is becoming rarer and rarer. The
advantage these days is that firms are recognising that people can stay
at senior associate level rather than the old ‘up or out’ mentality. That
is, if you weren’t destined to become a partner they didn’t want you.
What are some of the growth areas in law at the moment? What are
some of the areas which are likely to be big in, say, five years?
It’s very difficult to say, as a lot of areas touted as being big in the past have
been flops, like information technology law. I would say general corporate
compliance law. The myriad laws that companies have to comply with mean
that corporate governance is a big area, along with industrial law.
What is the best thing you think you can do for your career?
Get involved with clients, their industry bodies and be genuinely
interested and informed about their businesses.
What are some of the growth areas in law at the moment? What are
some of the areas which are likely to be big in, say, five years?
It’s very difficult to say, as a lot of areas touted as being big in the past have
been flops, like information technology law. I would say general corporate
compliance law. The myriad laws that companies have to comply with mean
that corporate governance is a big area, along with industrial law.
It has gone from being a civilised profession to being a dog-eat-dog
business in a very competitive market. It is now client-driven, which
means there is incredible pressure to tell clients what they want to
hear rather than what they should hear.
In your experience, what are the most common reasons young lawyers
become dissatisfied with their work?
Long hours, overly demanding clients and partners, and the difficulty
with getting a partnership position because Australia is over-lawyered.
22
The big picture
Antony Townsden – Senior solicitor

cv instructing counsel
Antony is a senior solicitor with the NSW Legal Aid Commission. He manages in the District and Supreme
the 19 legal aid lawyers and nine support staff who work in Sydney’s inner- Courts >> local courts >>
city courts. He also handles appeals to the Supreme Court from the Local senior solicitor (regional
Court on questions of law, and does District Court appeals once or twice
office) >> senior solicitor
a week to keep up his advocacy skills. Antony has worked at the Legal Aid
(head office)
Commission for 14 years, joining after he completed his studies.
q&a
What are the key responsibilities of criminal lawyers working in
legal aid?
About two-thirds of the work done by the Legal Aid Commission relates
to criminal matters and lawyers who do this work specialise in the
area. In brief, the lawyers represent people who have been charged
with criminal offences. They spend a lot of time in court doing bail and
sentencing work as well as preparing for, and running, hearings.
What are the advantages of being a criminal lawyer in the Legal Aid
Commission in contrast with private practice?
Most law firms that specialise in criminal law are small; you’re usually
by yourself or with one other person. So it’s much harder to learn the
job. In contrast, we have a broad knowledge base, a large team and
a lot of senior solicitors. They’re all talking – it’s a very oral culture
– and all your questions can be answered immediately. The learning
path is much quicker.
We’re also involved in policy. If there’s a law reform issue involving
crime, the Attorney-General’s Department will often seek the views of
the Legal Aid Commission. And that sort of involvement with other
government agencies has increased. If you’re in private practice you’re
not going to get that role at all unless it’s through the Law Society.
There is also a lot of flexibility in terms of working arrangements. We
have lawyers – including men – working part time because they want
to look after their kids. Also, because it is a large organisation, there
is a greater capacity to take leave at your choosing.
What are the disadvantages?
Let’s be blunt – crime is difficult and you have to be aware of the
practical reality of doing the work.
You’re dealing with clients who have a lot of personal problems. Many
come from dysfunctional environments and a lot have drug, alcohol
and mental health problems. You have to be the type of person who
can not only deal with it but perhaps even empathise as well. You
have to be able to show these people respect and understanding. If
you’re not that type of person you shouldn’t do the job.
23
Law
You’re going to have to visit clients in jail; that’s a regular part of

the job. And you might have situations where you visit clients in
the police cells and they abuse the hell out of you because they are
hanging out for drugs or alcohol. But when you see them again the
following week they’ll have dried out and will apologise, and you can
see their personalities come through. So you have to be a fairly strong
character to deal with that; it’s not for the faint-hearted.
It can be quite stressful running cases. The clients look at you as their
last avenue of hope and it’s your job to put as many holes as you can
in the prosecution’s case.
The Legal Aid Commission doesn’t have a clear structure by which
people are rotated through the different areas of crime. So you can
find yourself in one area and not get an opportunity to do something
else unless you get a promotion.
Also, you’re dealing with a large organisation and have to follow the
general rules of the broader public service and that can have
MYTH its frustrations.
legal aid lawyers
represent their clients What do you look for when you are employing junior lawyers?
You have to be a good lawyer – or have the potential to become one.
poorly because they
You’re likely to be more competitive in the selection process if you
do everything on the
have volunteered in a legal centre or for a barrister, or in some other
run with little time
way demonstrated a real interest in crime or at least an interest in the
for preparation
sort of people we deal with and their problems. We also see people
Legal aid lawyers applying who have worked for a small legal practice assisting with a
provide high-quality six- or 12-month trial. This separates them from people who have just
representation and
done their studies and not shown any interest in the area.
prepare for their cases
fact
in much the same way The other important thing is you have to be someone who not only
as a lawyer working
understands the theory of social injustice but also understands its
in private practice.
impact on people’s lives. You’re not going to get fresh-faced people
coming to you saying, ‘I was wrongly accused of a crime’. You’re going
to have someone, probably with a drug-induced problem, who may
have schizophrenia and a problem taking their medication, who has
been charged with assaulting someone in Kings Cross who has also
got issues.
Is it difficult to get a job in the Legal Aid Commission?
It’s now very hard to get into Legal Aid; there is a lot of competition.
Fifteen or 20 years ago we might have been struggling to fill
positions; now we’re employing people with honours degrees.
Are there any other ways into the organisation?
We have paralegal positions, which are advertised, and these are a
good starting point. The jobs are mainly filled by people who have
finished their legal studies and are doing their practical legal training.
There’s a perception that public sector salaries are well below what’s
24
The big picture
on offer in private practice. What’s the reality?

It’s true that crime doesn’t pay. Once you take your overheads into
account, there’s probably not a lot of difference between working in a
small private practice and having a relatively senior job in the public
sector. Also, working in a small practice often means it’s hard to take
holidays – there’s no one to fill in for you. I know solicitors who
haven’t had a holiday in five years.
Much the same applies to barristers working in the criminal area. The
independence is great and the remuneration is better, but not much
better, and you’d be working longer hours. I work about 50 hours a
week and a barrister would be doing about 70 hours. That said, if
your ambition is to get a judicial appointment you’re probably better
off going to the Bar.
How does career progression work?
There are six grades. Progression from Grade 1 to Grade 3 happens
as a matter of course unless there are performance issues. Grade 4
positions and above are advertised externally and selection is based
on merit.
A Grade 4 would generally be supervising junior solicitors. A Grade
5 would also supervise solicitors and may even be in charge of a
regional office. I’m a Grade 6.
What are some career options after working with the
Legal Aid Commission?
The primary career path is to the Bar; a significant proportion of
barristers doing criminal work came from the Commission. And a
number of judges started their careers in the public sector, including
working at Legal Aid.
Some lawyers go into private practice but it’s probably more to do with
having a change than with career development; it’s an opportunity to
get away from the restrictions of working in a large organisation. glossary
If you’ve done crime you shouldn’t be fearful of doing any other area of DPP means:
advocacy or prosecution, so that opens up options with the DPP. Then
– the office of the Director
there are more mainstream government jobs involving policy, such as of Public Prosecutions
work in the Premier’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Department.
25
Law
Snapshot – what employers are

looking for
n Academic achievement
n Problem-solving skills
n Legal experience – as a volunteer, paralegal or lawyer
n First-rate communication skills
n Advocacy skills, where appropriate
n An interest in the area of law being practised and/or the business
sector being serviced
n Commercial acumen
n Willingness and capacity to work very hard
n Interests in life outside the law
What support organisations exist?

There is a number of professional organisations which offer useful
information about the law in general, and the requirements for becoming
a legal practitioner in particular. The best starting point for each is the
organisation’s website. Some also have a journal or newsletter, which is
often available online. At the very least, they will give you an idea of the
key issues that are being discussed in the profession.
MYTH
travelling for work
is glamorous
New South Wales organisations
and exciting
Working away is
Law Society of New South Wales
fact
often lonely, boring

The society is the main professional body representing the interests of
and difficult.
lawyers in New South Wales. While most of its activities and services
are geared towards its members, the society is a good starting point
for information about the profession in the state. Its website offers
a lot of useful detail relating to academic and practical legal training
requirements. The society also administers a speakers’ bureau for
senior high school students and community organisations, runs mock
trials for Years 10 and 11 students and publishes a monthly magazine
– Law Society Journal – dealing with current legal news and issues.
26
The big picture
NSW Young Lawyers

Young Lawyers is the youth arm of the Law Society of NSW and
represents lawyers up to the age of 36 and lawyers in their first five
years of practice. Its main activities include running Continuing Legal
Education courses for qualified lawyers and addressing legal/social
concerns through various issue-specific committees. Young Lawyers’
website has a brief legal careers section.
New South Wales Bar Association

The Bar Association is the professional organisation representing
barristers in New South Wales. Its website offers useful detail
about preparation for, and practicing at, the Bar. It also features the
association’s monthly newsletter, Bar Brief Online, and a quarterly journal,
Bar News. The association organises information sessions about the Bar
at tertiary institutions around the state. These are aimed primarily at law
students, but you can also attend if you’re a student in another discipline.
find out
ACT organisations more
Law Society of
Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory New South Wales
www.lawsociety.com.au
The Law Society and its Young Lawyers Committee serve similar functions New South Wales
to their New South Wales counterparts but are significantly smaller in Bar Association
membership and more limited in the services they offer. The society’s website www.nswbar.asn.au
has a link to the Young Lawyers Committee newsletter, Obiter Dictum. Law Society of the
Australian Capital Territory
www.lawsocact.asn.au
Australian Capital Territory Bar Association Australian Capital Territory
Bar Association
The Australian Capital Territory Bar Association represents the interests
www.actbar.com.au
of barristers in the ACT.
National and other organisations
Law Council of Australia

The Law Council is the peak body representing the legal profession at
the national level and advises governments and courts on ways the
legal system can be improved.
There are also a number of organisations which represent different

groups involved in the law, all of which offer useful information about
entering and advancing in the profession.
27
Law
Australian Women Lawyers

The Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) is the peak body of women
lawyers’ associations in Australia. The organisation’s key objectives
are to advance equality for women in the legal profession and provide
a professional and social network for women. AWL’s website carries
speeches, articles and news. The patron is Mary Gaudron, Australia’s
first female High Court judge.
Women Lawyers Association of NSW

The Association provides support, networking opportunities and professional
development for women lawyers in New South Wales. Its activities include:
n providing speakers at girls’ high school careers days
n running sessions at Law Week in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong
n mentoring law students
n organising seminars, some of which may be of interest to aspiring

law students.
The association’s website provides details of upcoming events and

houses its newsletters.
find out Australian Law Students’ Association

more
Law Council of Australia The Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) is the peak
www.lawcouncil.asn.au representative body for law students and law student societies
Australian Women Lawyers throughout Australia. The organisation hosts the national finals
www.womenlawyers.org.au events, including mooting, client interviewing, witness examination,
Women Lawyers negotiation, paper presentation and the international humanitarian law
Association of NSW
www.womenlawyersnsw.
moot. ALSA’s key objectives are to promote careers for law students and
org.au provide representation at a national level on education issues facing
Australian Law Students’ law students, such as the quality and funding of their law degrees. ALSA
Association produces a number of publications including some of particular interest
www.alsa.asn.au
to job seekers in the legal area.
28
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Insider info
What jobs could I do?
As we’ve stressed before, the image surrounding the legal profession
can be quite different from the reality. There is also a diversity of roles
and work environments so, if you don’t like the sound of one, there may
well be another which suits your interests and talents.
n Summer clerk
n Paralegal
n Judge’s associate
n Graduate lawyer
n Lawyer
n Senior associate
n Partner
n Barrister
n Sole practitioner
n Legal aid lawyer
n Environmental lawyer
n In-house lawyer
n Out of the Box – from law to policy
33
Law
The first three job types are some of the common entry points for people
beginning their careers. The rest of the jobs give a broad overview of
legal career options in law firms, private practice, at the Bar and in the
public sector.
To highlight the fact that law is now a popular way for people to launch
themselves into other areas, we look at the experience of someone
who gave up legal practice to head a policy unit in a large public
sector organisation.
So let’s get behind the stereotypes and false assumptions by hearing

from people who actually work in the profession. We’ll find out what they
do, what they like and don’t like about their jobs, how much they earn
and what advice they can give to people considering a life in the law.
What do real people say about

fyi their jobs?
Each person interviewed for What do people working in these jobs have to say about their career/
‘Insider info’ asked to remain
anonymous so accordingly all work? Some of the people interviewed asked to remain anonymous so
names have been changed. they could talk more freely about their jobs.
cv p/t sales assistant

Julia – Summer clerk
>> summer clerk >> final- One of the most sought-after entry points into private practice is via
year law student a summer clerkship. These are offered by a number of city firms and
government agencies to law students, usually at the end of their fourth
year of study. Summer clerks spend about 12 weeks inside a law practice
learning on the job and doing basic legal tasks such as research. The
competition for places is fierce, not only because they offer invaluable
experience but also because most summer clerks are offered jobs when
they complete their studies.
Julia is in her early 20s and recently worked as a summer clerk at a large
law firm.
q&a
Could you describe your work as a summer clerk?
Performing research tasks and preparing documents from precedents.
34
Insider info
What do you like most about the job?

The opportunity to work with leading lawyers who provide support
and mentor your career.
What do you like least?
Knowing that if I want to make the legal profession a career in the
long term, I will be working very long hours. Additionally, at times
the work can be overwhelming as it is very technical and difficult to
comprehend when you are learning.
Why do you want to work in the legal profession?
I think it is a challenge and something that ultimately I will be good at.
I enjoy the nature of the work, having to advise on a moot point or put
an entire transaction together. One uses many skills and is rarely bored.
What do you wish someone had told you about the profession before
you started on this career path?
That what you learn at uni is only the tip of the iceberg. I feel as if my
degree has only taught me what I don’t know. I have a lot of learning
to go before l feel comfortable.
Does this job allow you to achieve the work–life balance that suits
you now?
At the moment, yes; perhaps in the future, no.
What type of person do you think best suits the profession?
In my view, the best lawyers are those who combine analytical and lateral
thinking with dealing with the pressures of time and client demands.
What do you think young people would like to know about
the profession?
Being a lawyer is a great starting place. Even if you decide to change
careers later, being a lawyer provides you with many skills and
exposes you to many different transactions.
What else do you feel that young people would like to know about the
job-hunting process in this industry? Any tips on what to do and what
not to do?
in
Never lie in your résumé – they ask about everything!
brief
What is the best thing you can do for your career? Summer clerk
Put your head down and work as hard as possible. $$$ $700 per week
Where do you want to be in 10 years? quals A/LLB (UTS)
B
hrs/wk 40–45
Practising law in a practice area that I enjoy with people who
life–work pretty good, there’s
encourage, support and challenge me. plenty of time for
my social life
What are your thoughts on being a woman in the profession?
flexibility o problems if I
n
I thought it would be difficult. However, most of the large firms in need to come in
Australia have a ‘women’s’ policy where they try and cater for the late or leave early
needs of women. They accommodate women by providing flexible because of an
appointment
hours, work from home options and generous maternity leave.
35
Law
myweek
monday tuesday
8.45 Check emails 8.45 Check emails
9.00 Speak to supervising partner about 9.00 Discuss work with supervising
work that is on my desk and the partner
status of more work coming in 9.30 Summer clerk practice group
9.20 Speak to mentor about my workflow session on competition; partners
9.30 Research for partner via online and lawyers present to the clerks
journals and legislation; visit library; on what work they do
prepare memo for partner 12.45 Lunch
12.45 Lunch 1.45 Receive research memo back from
1.45 Give research memo to partner and partner; make changes and further
briefly outline my work research as requested
2.00 Speak to lawyer about work 4.30 – 5.15 General admin; check emails
on a transaction; prepare draft and status of work for tomorrow
documents from precedents and
deliver them to lawyer to discuss
4.30 – 5.15 General admin work;
check emails and status of work
for tomorrow
wednesday thursday
8.45 Check emails 8.45 Check emails
9.00 Discuss status of my work 9.00 Discuss status of my work
with partner with partner
9.20 Speak to mentor about my workflow 9.20 Update lawyer about progress on
9.30 Speak to lawyer about work transaction documents
on a transaction; prepare draft 9.30 Meeting with team working on
documents from precedents and transaction
deliver them to lawyer to discuss 10.30 Update documents and deliver to
12.45 Lunch lawyer for transaction
1.45 Further work on transaction 12.45 Lunch
4.30 – 5.15 General admin; check emails 1.45 Check emails
and status of work for tomorrow 2.00 – 5.15 Attend summer clerk training
on plain English writing skills
friday weekend
8.30 Go directly to meeting room for Saturday
Practice Group Continuing Learning 9.00 Go for jog around harbour foreshore
Education session
10.30 Meet friends for brunch
10.00 Check emails
2.00 Watch younger sister play netball
10.15 Discuss status of my work
with partner 3.30 Out with the books – study time
10.30 Prepare pro bono fact sheets 7.00 Party at friend’s house
12.00 Speak to mentor about reviewing
precedent Sunday
12.30 Start research on precedent 10.00 Yoga class
moot point
11.30 Study – final exams not far away
1.00 Lunch
3.00 Take a break – meet a friend for a
2.00 Prepare revised precedent and caffeine hit
return to mentor
8.00 After a bit more work pick up the
4.00 Leave work for clerk sports cello and try to think about
afternoon other things
36
Insider info
Snapshot – clerkships
Who’s offering clerkships: About 20 city firms plus the NSW
Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Government
Solicitor (AGS).
n Duration: About three months
n Who can apply: Usually law students in their fourth year
n Competition for places: Intense
n What else: Check websites of the big firms or research options

online at cvmail.com.au
Frank – Paralegal cv retail job >>

summer clerk >> paralegal
Paralegals do basic legal work such as research, document management
and drafting. They are often law students in their fifth year at university
and some, like Frank, will have previously done a summer clerkship.
q&a
What sort of work do you do as a paralegal?
Paralegals are basically on-call clerks. You’re expected to undertake research
and provide summaries on points of law and legislative and case histories,
and then provide advice to lawyers on the points you have researched. I
also do a lot of drafting of documents such as business agreements.
Is that enjoyable?
It depends on the individual. I enjoy the more hands-on work such
as drafting, because you can see the intricacies that go into each
agreement. I prefer that to the research side because I’ve spent five
years doing research for my degree, but everyone’s different. The good
thing about being a paralegal is that there’s usually a bit of variety.
You might spend one day doing research but the next running all over
town filing documents with courts or drafting agreements.
How did you get paralegal work?
I got a summer clerkship in my fourth year, and began working at the
end of that year. It’s a good way for you to trial the firm and for the
firm to trial you. If both parties are satisfied at the end of the day
there’s usually an offer of ongoing paralegal work in your final year
37
Law
with a view to commencing graduate employment at the end of that.

I have been offered and have signed an employment agreement and
start work as a lawyer within weeks of finishing my exams.
Were all the summer clerks offered jobs?
Yes – all 10 of us. That’s not always the case though. Sometimes
there aren’t enough graduate positions; sometimes people don’t fit
the firm’s culture.
What are some of the reasons there isn’t a good fit?
A lot of the firms like to throw around buzz words like ‘culture’ and
‘work–life balance’. It all sounds like a bit of a sham but once you start
working for an organisation you can see how some people don’t fit the
mould the firm has created. I’ve seen some firms stress that they want
you to have a life outside the office and they’ll have a lot of social and
sporting activities, and really encourage a comprehensive team-based
environment. So someone who locks themselves in their office will be at
odds with others in their group. There are firms who want you to walk in
the door and get straight to your desk, put your head down and walk out
12 hours later. So if you’re that kind of person, go for that type of firm.
This means students have to do research and find a firm that fits the
type of person they are and what they want.
Did you have any flexibility about when you started work after
finishing your degree?
Our firm recognises that a lot of people have come straight from high
school and into university and haven’t had a chance to do things they
may have wanted to do, like travel. So I have the option of travelling for
up to 18 months after graduating or between my graduate rotations. The
way the firm’s graduate program works is that I’ll graduate and get to
nominate two specialty groups that I want to work for and then one that
I’ll ultimately want to stay in. So I can do one rotation for nine months
and then take time off and then come back and work for another nine
months in the other area. I believe a number of firms offer this. They
don’t want people to get itchy feet and leave soon after they start work.
From your perspective, how difficult do you think it is for students to
get jobs if they haven’t organised employment while still studying?
It’s incredibly difficult and I don’t envy them. Some top-tier firms do
offer graduate places – often to fill places where summer clerks have
taken time off before starting work. Some of my student colleagues
are busily applying for government jobs – a lot of departments are
very interested in law graduates – and there are jobs for in-house legal
counsel with a lot of the larger corporations, like banks. Then there are
smaller legal practices ranging from two to 20 practitioners.
While it’s extremely competitive, the jobs are out there. The placement
rates are very high; I can’t think of anyone last year who hasn’t found
employment, but it can be a pretty arduous task.
38
Insider info
Do most paralegals work part time?

No. There are people who work as paralegals as a full-time job. Some
people study part time and work full time. Others will work on a
casual basis and that’s what I do. Then there are people who have
been working as paralegals for 15 or 20 years who started off as legal
secretaries and have made that transition between an administrative
role and a paralegal career.
What is the best thing you can do if you’re thinking about a
legal career?
Speak to as many practitioners as you can from a variety of fields
and try to understand the work that they do to help establish the
work you want to do. What kind of hours do they work? What kind of
in
lifestyle to they live? Do they work every weekend or just occasionally?
What types of clients do they have? You can begin this process of
brief
Paralegal, first year
analysis from day one and when you ultimately do make a decision
$$$ $18–$23 per hour
you can feel comfortable in the direction you’re taking.
quals A/LLB & Diploma
B
of Legal Practice
Through my law education I have been exposed to criminal and
(Uni of Newcastle)
civil practice as well as human rights work and administrative law.
hrs/wk 2 days
Then through the summer clerkship I got experience in commercial life–work hectic with work
legal work. Based on that I was able to make a decision that the and study
commercial area was for me. I think that is preferable to getting to the flexibility very good –
opportunity to defer
end of your degree and using the shotgun approach to job hunting
and travel after study
and hoping the position you land is where you want to be in 10 years.
myweek
monday – friday weekend
n onduct research
C n he weekend starts on Friday afternoon
T
n Prepare summaries on points of law and with after-work drinks at the firm and
legislative and case histories then at the pub with some mates
n A long sleep-in on Saturday is usually
n Provide advice to lawyers on issues
researched followed by a swim in the surf – even
in winter
n Draft documents, including contracts and
n Most Saturday afternoons I join a
other agreements
game of soccer with some English
n File documents with various courts backpackers and assorted Latin
n Touch footy with a team from the office Americans – it’s supposed to be friendly
on Wednesday afternoons but often becomes quite serious
n Go to university lectures on Tuesday and n Dinner out with my girlfriend or, if she’s
Thursday busy, a few drinks at the local
n Try to do some study at home most n Sunday and another sleep-in – papers in
evenings bed and maybe a bit of guitar practice
n Study – exams not far away
n Iron shirts for the week and maybe
watch a DVD in the evening
n Try not to think too much about work
39
Law
cv p/t catering assistant Kim – Paralegal

>> paralegal
Kim is a qualified lawyer but is working as a paralegal while she looks
for a job in her chosen specialist area.
q&a
What did you do when you finished your university studies?
I moved from Perth to Sydney to do my practical legal training at the
College of Law. It was six months full time – three months of classes
and three months of work experience, which I did back in Perth.
What do you do as a paralegal?
The majority of my work relates to document management. I also
prepare briefs to counsel, so if solicitors need advice in relation to
certain documents then I prepare those for the barristers. And I do any
other ad hoc duties that come my way, including legal research and
drafting simple letters.
It sounds like specialised work?
It is, but by the same token it’s not rocket science.
How much responsibility do you have in your work?
I have a lot of responsibility. The solicitors I work with know I am
admitted as a solicitor, so they know I take my work pretty seriously
and I understand the obligations of people who work in law firms
in terms of confidentiality. So I pretty much run my own affairs and
the solicitors have a lot of faith in me. If someone came to me and
wanted to know exactly what the state of affairs was in relation to our
documents then I’d be able to brief them immediately.
Why aren’t you working as a lawyer now?
My main interest is in intellectual property and I’m waiting for an
opportunity to get into that specialty area, but there aren’t too
many opportunities.
in
brief There are two schools of thought in relation to working after
graduation. Some people think it’s best to take anything you can in
Paralegal, first year
your first two years and then go and do something you want after
$$$ $18 per hour that. But I think that whatever you start off with you are pretty much
quals achelor
B
Behavioural going to be doing that for the rest of your career. It’s very hard to
Science, LLB (Uni of break from one area and go into another.
Notre Dame)
hrs/wk 40 but longer when For example, if you start off in family law it would be almost impossible
necessary to go into commercial law. By the same token, because I’m working
life–work pretty good in commercial litigation now, if I wanted to go into another area it
flexibility lots, but I’m casual wouldn’t be hard because it is a catch-all: we do intellectual property,
so if I don’t work,
I don’t get paid we do tax, construction, workplace relations. But intellectual property is
very hard to get into, so I’m taking a gamble at the moment.
40
Insider info
Nicole – Conveyancing paralegal cv legal assistant

>> conveyancing legal
Not all paralegals have studied law. Nicole is in her early 20s and a
paralegal graduate from a private business college. She works as a secretary >> conveyancing
conveyancing paralegal for a small suburban firm in Sydney’s north- paralegal
western suburbs. She is also studying for a certificate in conveyancing

at Macquarie University.
q&a
What does your job involve?
I run files on property which has been bought and sold from exchange
to settlement, and I’m starting to prepare wills on my own.
Could you describe your day?
I work from 9 am to 5.30 pm, but I arrive before 9. I get the mail
and a coffee, open the mail, order final searches if I have purchase
settlements, and make sure settlement packets are ready for collection
by our agent. I open the mail, distribute it and attend to any work
arising. Then I complete any dictaphone tapes I have from the
principal of our firm and work on my own files. At the end of the day,
I take the office mail to the post office. Every day is so varied.
How long have you been working in your current firm?
Two years and two months.
How is it different from other types of support and professional roles
in a law firm?
I am largely unsupervised. I run my own files and if I have difficulties I
ask the lawyers for help.
Are the tasks you perform in a small firm likely to be different from
those done by a paralegal in a bigger firm?
I assume so – I have to do my own mail/photocopying etc.
The satisfaction of helping a first home buyer purchase their first
property. It makes me feel really good when they are so appreciative.
Having to answer phones and do administrative tasks as our firm
does not have an admin assistant.
What do you wish someone had told you about the job/industry
before you started on this career path?
That it’s very, very stressful!
you now?
Not at the moment as I spend on average another two hours studying
after work.
41
Law
in
brief
Are you studying law now?
Yes, I plan to do a law degree when I have finished my
Paralegal, small firm current studies.
$$$ 30K–40K Is working as a paralegal a good way into the legal profession?
quals aralegal studies
P
certificate (The I believe so as it gives you an idea of working in law before you start
Australian Careers a law degree.
Business College),
Conveyancing What’s your next career step likely to be?
Certificate Solicitor.
(Macquarie)
hrs/wk at least 40 What did you have to learn the hard way?
life–work all work and study That big firms equate with less attention and care, more competition
at the moment
and an unfriendly competitive environment.
flexibility not much
What are the best things you can do for your career?
Work hard, stay focused and move step by step to realise your dreams.
Also, don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t achieve those dreams.
cv internship (ABC Jeff – Judge’s associate (Tipstaff)

radio) >> casual hospitality
One of the most prestigious and interesting post-graduation jobs is that
work >> English teacher of a judge’s legal assistant. In the High Court, Federal Court and some
(Japan) >> paralegal >> other jurisdictions, the assistant is called an ‘associate’; in the Supreme
summer clerkship >> Court, for historical reasons, the assistant is known as a ‘tipstaff’.
judge’s associate (tipstaff) The nature of the role varies from judge to judge but often involves
everything from making the judge tea and organising lunch to note taking
and legal research. The job is usually fixed term for 12 months and,
while the position doesn’t necessarily equip you to go in any particular
direction, many associates look to the Bar as their preferred destination.
Jeff worked as a tipstaff for a NSW Supreme Court judge.
q&a
Why did you want to work for a judge as a tipstaff?
The reason I wanted to do it is because I wanted to go to the Bar, and
for the majority of people that is probably their motivation because
it gives you a backstage pass to the courts. You are in an amazing
position to observe argument in court.
How do you go about getting a position like this?
How you go about getting it is shrouded in mystery and extremely difficult
to discover. The first thing to understand is that you can do the job at the
High Court, the Federal Court or the Supreme Court. Or you could do it in
the Land and Environment Court or the Industrial Relations Commission if
you have a specific interest in one of those areas.
42
Insider info
So the first question you have to ask yourself is ‘where you think
you would like to do it?’ For example, the Federal Court deals with
particular jurisdictions like migration law, employment law and
intellectual property. So if you knew that was your area you’d want to
work in the Federal Court, not the Supreme Court.
The long and short of it is there are only a couple of judges, notably
Justice Kirby and Chief Justice Spigelman, who advertise in the manner
of a regular job. You have to approach the rest of them directly, which
is quite difficult because you need to pick a judge you think you’d like
to work for and write them a letter. And you need to do that at least a
year before you want to work for them.
In picking a judge, in the case of the Supreme Court, you should
think about whether you’d like to work for a trial judge and watch
court cases at first hand, with cross-examination of witnesses, etc.,
or whether you would prefer to work for a Court of Appeal judge, and
watch court cases which solely involve appeals on points of law. If you
decide on a trial judge, you need to then decide which particular area
of law you are interested in. If your interest is in crime you’d want to
write to a judge who does criminal work and so on. The best way to
find out who does what is to read judgments and look for judges who
are appearing in areas you find interesting. It is sometimes also useful
to look at what areas judges practised in when they were still at the
Bar, as this will tell you what their areas of interest and expertise are.
What does a judge’s associate or tipstaff do?
The job will vary completely from one judge to another in terms of the
extent to which they use you and the roles they use you for. So one
tipstaff may do enormous amounts of very in-depth substantive legal
research, while another will do almost none and just make tea, and
have the benefit of being an onlooker for a year. The only way you
find out what each judge wants is by asking around.
At what point do you apply for an associate or tipstaff role?
Some people seem to apply at birth. You ask a judge if they have
a vacancy and they reply they have people organised up until 2010.
But really you should send out letters early in the final year of your
degree. Some people send them out in their penultimate year, which
is probably wise.
You shouldn’t send out letters to 10 different judges because it’s not
seen as the done thing to say to a judge, ‘Thanks for the job offer but
I’m already going to work for another judge’. There’s an unspoken rule
of etiquette that you should only apply to one judge at time. That’s
another reason why you need a long lead time – if one judge doesn’t
give you a job, you write to another.
43
Law

The quality of the work was absolutely fantastic. I’ve done a great
deal of incredibly in-depth legal research. It was amazing because
there’d be no way I would have been working on those interesting
cases straight out of law school anywhere else. As a first-year solicitor
in a law firm you might be photocopying. Working for a judge at court
you are actually debating about the issues of cases with the judge. As
a result of that you learn an enormous amount about the law. I think I
learnt more in the time I worked in court than in my entire law degree.
It exponentially increased my legal knowledge.
If you want to go the Bar as I do, it’s fabulous watching barristers in
court all day – it’s the best way to learn advocacy other than by doing
it yourself. Even if you’re working for a judge who doesn’t involve you
that much in legal research you still get a lot out of it; you still get to
watch barristers doing their thing.
What are the worst aspects?

Some judges can be quite idiosyncratic and eccentric and difficult to work
for. So what you’re looking for is someone who is a nice person to work
for because you’re working in a really confined, isolated environment.
It’s just you, the judge and his admin person, so if you don’t get on with
your judge it can be difficult and some are notoriously difficult to get on
with. You’re a bit dependent on their mood: if they’re having a bad day,
you’re probably going to have a bad day whether you like it or not.
44
Insider info
What are judges looking for when employing an associate or tipstaff?

They’re looking for a certain basic academic standard; you probably can’t
have fails on your transcript. If you’re dealing with the High Court or the
Chief Justice you’re going to need an outstanding academic record. But
most judges are looking for a solid academic performance because they
do want to be able to get you to do legal research if necessary.
But once you get over that basic academic threshold, the judge will try
to choose someone that they like because they have to work closely
with them for a year. So they will get people in for an interview and
keep interviewing until they find someone they gel with. Conversely,
you shouldn’t be disheartened if a particular judge doesn’t select you
because you’re not going to have a pleasant year if you don’t get on
with them either.
What does a typical day involve?
You arrive at work at around 8 am. You may have to make the judge
a cup of tea or coffee or go and buy the judge breakfast. You would
spend the morning preparing for court, which involves loading all the
books the judge will need that day onto a trolley and setting up the
courtroom. You will also do other administrative chores like collect the
mail. You might use the morning to do some legal research on that
day’s case.
Court normally starts around 10 am and most trial judges are in court
all day, every day, while in the Court of Appeal you would usually be
in court until lunchtime. If you have a lot of legal research to do, you
might take your research into court with you and do some work while
you are in court. Otherwise, you sit and listen to the argument in court
and make sure your judge has everything he/she needs.
Once you come out of court, you would go and buy lunch for the
judge and then use the rest of the day for legal research. For example,
in
you may be asked to look into various issues that have been raised
in the case or to trace the history of a legislative provision or research brief
the law in other countries to see what they do about a similar Judge’s associate (Tipstaff),
NSW Supreme Court
problem. Once the judge has written his or her judgment, you will
assist in preparing the judgment for publication, by proofreading the $$$ 39K – associates
in the High Court
judgment and preparing a headnote. At some stage in the afternoon, and Federal Court
you would check the mail again. And, of course, before you leave at earn 50K approx
quals BA (Charles Sturt
the end of the day, you have to do the washing up! So it’s an unusual
Uni) , LLB (USYD)
combination of menial jobs and very interesting legal work. hrs/wk 47–50
Do you have any role in the court proceedings? life–work excellent – the
hours are good
You are basically at the judge’s beck and call. So the judge will say, ‘I and absolutely
forgot my glasses’, and you will run off and get them. Or you might be nothing like working
sent out to do research while the case is happening. The judge might in a law firm
flexibility uite flexible
q
say, ‘I don’t think what they’re saying is true. Can you run up to the
– most judges are
library for me?’ You make sure the judge has all the relevant books very reasonable
and documents he or she needs.
45
Law
myweek
n Make tea for the judge n sually meet up with a few friends
U
n Collect the mail for drinks on Friday night
n Domestic stuff and a touch
n Do research on current cases
football game on Saturday
n Escort judge to court
n Crew on a friend’s boat on Sundays
n Observe court proceedings followed by a boisterous BBQ
n More legal research n Flop out on the sofa with a book or DVD
n Proofread judgments and prepare
them for publication
n Do the washing up
n Collect the judge’s laundry
n Try to fit in yoga at least twice during
the week and catch a film with friends
cv various non-legal
Zoe – Graduate lawyer
casual jobs at uni >> clerk Your first job as a lawyer in a commercial law firm is likely to involve
with a sole practitioner a variety of tasks, including assisting senior associates and partners
>> paralegal >> graduate with research, drafting basic documents, sitting in on conferences with
lawyer barristers and attending court. At different times the work is likely to be
stimulating and monotonous. The only constant will be the demand that
you work hard and learn quickly. In large firms there will be a structured
development program where you will be rotated through different
specialist areas; in smaller firms, your on-the-job training is likely to be
more ad hoc.
Zoe works for a mid-sized city firm and has been qualified for one year.
q&a
The satisfaction at the completion of a matter after all the work has
been done, and the knowledge that I have produced something that is
important and is recognised by the law. Secondly, to formulate a legal
argument or document and speak with older and more experienced legal
professionals is rewarding. Lastly, each day I learn something new and
improve as a result. For example, when I first became a solicitor and was
working on leases it would take me days to draft a lease because it was
all so new. Now with practice I am able to look at a lease document and
know what the relevant parts are and how it will impact on my client.
Anything that comes with full-time work, like the travel in peak-hour
traffic and the fact I cannot sleep in.
46
Insider info
Why did you want to work in the legal profession?

I enjoy researching topics and formulating arguments. My strength at
school was always English. I wanted to work in an area where I was
presented with a situation or problem from the perspective of a client
then go away and research and analyse ways to solve the matter. I MYTH
also liked debating and public speaking at school, so I thought law working in the legal
was a way that I could still become involved in these things. industry involves
Does this job allow you to achieve the work–life balance that suits taking long lunches
you now?
fact
I would say that my particular job does suit my lifestyle. The firm that I haven’t had one yet.
I work for does not require that I work extra long hours and come in
on weekends. If there is something important to be done I will stay
back and work or come into the office early. I believe that this is
the work ethic that my firm promotes. The partners each have a life
outside work. They seek to have a balance themselves and that is
stressed to others in the firm.
Someone who is not afraid to speak up, who is quick thinking, who
likes to continually learn new things.
What do you feel that young people should know about the job-
hunting process in the legal profession? Any tips on what to do and
what not to do?
Try and get as much experience as possible when you are at
university, even if it is just in the mail room at a firm. At least when
you leave university to get a job you actually have legal office
experience. Otherwise you may have good marks but then you are
competing against someone else for a job who also has good marks
plus experience.
Are there advantages to working in a medium-sized firm instead of a
larger legal practice?
Yes, the partners and other solicitors are very accessible for advice or
help with any matters I am working on. They always stress the need
for me to ask questions at any time that I am in doubt. It is a different
in
experience from that of friends I have in the larger law firms in terms
of support, hours and workload. brief
Graduate lawyer, one
What are your thoughts on being a woman in the legal profession? year’s experience
All the partners in the firm are men and they treat me with a great
$$$ 50K
deal of respect. Similarly, I have dealt with other solicitors and clients quals A (USYD),
B
and appeared before judges who have been lovely. However, quite BLaws (UTS)
often when I meet people or they call me at the office, they presume hrs/wk at least 45
that I am a secretary. It was suggested to me that I always state life–work moderate–good

flexibility limited
upfront that I am a solicitor and this has proved to be good advice.
47
Law
myweek
monday tuesday
8.30 Prioritise tasks 8.00 Prepare a lease that needs to be
9.00 Attend to urgent work or problems out by midmorning
I need to discuss with the partner 10.00 Call client to come in and sign
11.30 Legal seminar documents
12.30 Lunch 12.00 Meet with client to discuss trust
deed
1.30 – 6.00 Continue working on
assigned files 1.00 Lunch
2.00 Attend barristers’ conference
4.00 – 6.00 Continue working on files
wednesday thursday
8.30 Continue ongoing work 8.00 Go through files and check
10.00 Attend Admin. Decisions which accounts have been
Tribunal to instruct counsel paid; write letters to clients
with overdue accounts
1.00 Lunch with clients and barrister
10.00 Staff meeting
2.00 Return to Tribunal
11.00 Return phone calls and emails
3.00 – 5.00 Back to office and more work
12.00 Attend to small matters and
look at what needs to go
out in afternoon post
1.00 Meet with client
2.30 Ongoing work
5.30 – 6.30 Solicitors’ meeting
with partners
friday weekend
8.30 Look at what needs to go out in 11.00 Clothes shopping and lunch
post; attend to anything urgent that with friends – earning a
cannot wait until following Monday salary is still a novelty
10.00 Meet with client to execute will 3.00 Clean flat
11.00 Attend to leases 8.00 Go to hear band at nearby pub
2.00 Meet with partner (my boss) to get 10.00 Buy Sunday papers and skim read.
advice on any issues or problem 12.30 Visit parents for lunch
2.30 Ongoing work 6.30 Meet friends for drinks
48
Insider info
Louise – Lawyer cv café waitress >>

sales assistant (uni) >>
As you gain more experience you also take on more responsibility. The
workload can be demanding and sometimes you’ll have to put in long summer job research
hours to get through it all. After a couple of years in a medium to large assistant >> research
commercial firm you are likely to have been rotated through at least assistant legal department
two specialty areas – infrastructure projects and workplace relations, uni >> solicitor
for example – and have begun to specialise in one of them. You will
also have more control of the matters you work on and have a closer
relationship with clients. The partner who leads the practice is likely to
review your work rather than direct all aspects of it. And you may also
delegate work to more junior lawyers in the group.
Louise has had three years’ post-admission experience and works for a
large city firm.
q&a
The people I’ve met while at the firm and the people who I regularly
work with, the pay, the great opportunities for working overseas.
Having to account for every minute of the day by filling in time sheets,
the hours can be long and sometimes unpredictable, the work can
sometimes be dull (especially as a junior solicitor).
I never had specific plans to work in law. I studied law at university
thinking that I would end up studying or working in a different area,
and before I knew it I ended up ‘on track’ to working in a law firm.
That once you start working it is hard to change careers.
you now?
It can often be difficult to maintain a work–life balance as hours at
work can be long; sometimes I have to work late during the week or
on weekends. My average hours are 8.30 am to 7 pm, but at the firm
they can vary depending on which area you work in, what matters you
are working on and who you work for.
Academic, analytical, self-sufficient, hard-working. You have to be
someone who is happy to work in an office.
49
Law
What do you think young people should know about the realities of
life in the profession?
Like any other job, you work with small groups of people and there
will be personality clashes. In terms of career progression, there are
not many options at the moment other than aiming for partnership.
Did your studies prepare you adequately for a life in the legal profession?
Studying law is very different from practising law. It does not prepare
you for the day-to-day practice of law but gives you a good grounding
in the skills you will need (e.g. research, analysis).
When applying for your first jobs was there anything about your
résumé – content or layout – that might have made the difference
between you and other candidates?
My résumé included many extracurricular activities, including having
lived and travelled overseas for a year. I indicated in the application
letter that I knew something about the firm I was applying for.
What else do you feel that young people should know about the job-
what not to do?
Do your research. Don’t just apply to a firm because your friends
are applying there. Don’t just apply to a firm because it may be the
biggest (the biggest is not necessarily the best for you). You should
consider what type of law you are interested in practising (litigation,
commercial, family law etc.), where you would like to work (interstate?
overseas?) and what type of firm you are interested in.
What would you say to a young person wanting to enter the legal
profession largely because it is very well paid and is regarded
as prestigious?
If money is your main concern then you should think seriously
about whether it is the right profession. You can earn more in other
professions for less work.
What did you have to learn the hard way?
You will make mistakes. Always tell someone, particularly the partner
you work for, when something goes wrong.
Many firms have become national firms. There is not such a big gap
now between big and medium firms.
in
brief What is the best thing you think you can do for your career?
Get the best grades you possibly can, work hard and endeavour to get
Lawyer, large firm
on with your colleagues.
$$$ 92K
quals A, BLaw
B What are your thoughts on being a woman in this industry?
(Hons) (ANU) No difference at all at this stage of my career (except that the majority of
hrs/wk 55 the partners you work with will be men, and you may often find yourself
life–work moderate
at meetings being the only woman in the room!). It may get harder when
flexibility limited
you get to the stage of having children; it is a very difficult career in
which to work part time or flexible hours, and impossible to job-share.
50
Insider info
myweek MYTH
all lawyers are
monday tuesday sensible and boring
8.30 Check emails and voicemails; read 9.00 Check emails and voicemails; read
newspaper headlines newspaper headlines Many lawyers are
great company and are
9.00 Revise documents; prepare 9.30 Preparation for meeting with client
fact
comments intelligent, interesting
10.30 Meeting with client and partner out
and have many different
10.30 Meet partner to discuss case of office
interests outside work.
11.00 Continue work 12.30 Meeting with partner back in office
1.00 Lunch 1.00 Lunch (provided by work)
1.30 Work on original matter 1.30 Meeting with junior solicitor to
4.00 Break delegate work; continue working on
ongoing matters
4.20 Continue work
4.00 Break
7.00 Leave for home
4.20 Send documents to client
7.00 Leave for home
wednesday thursday
8.30 Check emails and voicemails; 9.00 Check emails and voicemails;
read newspaper headlines read newspaper headlines
9.00 Review background documents 9.30 Prepare documents to be sent to
and emails on matter clients; take calls on other matters
11.30 Conference call with client 12.30 Lunch (provided by
12.30 Meeting with partner work); quick walk
1.00 Lunch with friends 1.30 Meeting with junior solicitor
to delegate work
2.00 Work on drafting documents; meet
with partner to discuss documents; 2.30 Review email from client with
take calls on other matters comments on documents
throughout afternoon and evening 4.00 Break
9.00 Leave for home 4.20 Continue working on ongoing matters
6.15 Leave for home
friday weekend
9.00 Check emails and voicemails; My time!
read newspaper headlines
9.30 Admin tasks
10.30 Meeting with partner and
continue working on matters
1.30 Lunch
2.00 Working on files; email client
with updated documents
4.00 Break
4.20 Start work on new matter
5.30 Drinks at work
7.30 Leave office
51
Law
cv sales assistant Elizabeth – Senior associate

(florist and clothes stores)
Lawyers in large firms typically become senior associates after about
>> summer clerk (NZ) >> five years. In some workplaces this progression is largely automatic; in
solicitor >> solicitor (UK) >> others, the firm requires lawyers to present a business plan and make a
associate (NZ) >> case for being promoted.
senior associate
Senior associates with a lot of experience will have a role similar to that
of a junior partner. They work with a large degree of autonomy, manage
and deal with clients with minimal supervision, delegate work and
supervise more junior lawyers. In addition, they are expected to take an
active role in business development, which could involve writing articles
and presenting seminars to clients.
Elizabeth works in the area of corporate dispute resolution for one of

the country’s largest law firms in Sydney.
q&a
What are the best aspects of your work?
As a litigator, you get to investigate and examine a very wide range
of industries and issues. For example, you might be doing a fisheries
case, a construction case, a telecommunications case, an insurance
case, a television case, and so on, and in that context you get to
learn a lot about the relevant industry. You also get to meet a lot
of different people in different jobs, often interviewing them as
witnesses. Also, the pay is not bad!
What about the worst parts of the job?
Long hours can be an issue, but the pay is very good, so my view
is that you can’t grumble too much about the hours. It can be
very stressful at times, and sometimes there is a feeling of lack of
recognition of your efforts by the partners. One frustrating aspect is
that, as the market gets more and more competitive, there is much
more pressure from clients on billing – they often expect you to drop
everything and work late to deal with their matter, yet still complain
about the bill.
Does your job allow you to achieve the work–life balance that suits
you now?
Yes, it does. I work hard and sometimes long hours, but it is rare for
me to work every night in a row for a sustained period of time, and I try
hard to not work at weekends. The job, by paying well, also allows me
to live a very comfortable lifestyle compared to many people.
52
Insider info
To work in the commercial field for a big law firm you need to have
the underlying intelligence (i.e. good grades!) but, over and above
that, a key attribute is a good sense of judgment and common sense.
You also need to be commercially aware, because the client is not
going to be interested in the ins and outs of the law, but just the
bottom line in dollar terms. Being overly intellectual and analytical
can therefore be disadvantageous if you cannot combine this with the
commercial judgment that clients will appreciate.
Any other tips?
For large commercial firms, you will not even get an interview if you
do not have top marks, so study hard; the competition is fierce!
How has the legal profession changed in the time you’ve been in it?
It is much more technologically focused – all legal research, for
instance, is now done online, at the click of a button. When I was
a junior lawyer, we still had to pore through all the dusty text and
statute books. These technological advances have made that aspect of
the job a lot easier and faster, but the flip side is that your boss, and
the client, will be expecting a much faster turnaround as a result.
The second major change is that the industry has become much more
competitive, and clients less loyal to particular law firms; they will shop
around. Pressure on fees is therefore now huge. As a result, a big part
of your job will be business development – trying to secure new work,
attract new clients and assist your firm to stand out from the pack.
Enjoy your work. If you do not enjoy your work, stop doing it and
change jobs. Life is too short. Your career is unlikely to advance if you
hate what you do, given your heart will not be in it.
What are your thoughts on being a woman in a large law firm?
As a woman (and a blonde at that), I have been lucky – I have never
in
actively felt discriminated against or subject to a ‘glass ceiling’. This is
in part, I think, due to my attitude on this: I do not want to be treated brief
any differently. The best thing is simply to put your head down and Senior associate,
large firm, Sydney
do good work, and get respected for doing that. I do know of friends,
however, who have still found it a ‘blokey’ industry. I must say that I $$$ 110K–200K
(industry average)
have found this to be more so in Australia than in the other countries quals Law (Victoria
B
in which I have worked (NZ, UK and US). University of
Wellington, NZ)
I also believe that it is extremely hard to mix children/motherhood hrs/wk at least 55
with a full career in the law. I cannot imagine performing the full role life–work flat out during the
of a partner in a large law firm and a mother at the same time – at week, but I try to
keep weekends free
least with children under school age. Some women manage it, but
flexibility there are some
this is usually with a lot of help from an understanding husband, and quiet moments
an extremely good nanny. Without that, I think that it’s simply very when I can stay
difficult, given clients often demand your attention 24/7. The challenge at home and wait
for the plumber
this presents women in law should not be underestimated.
53
Law
myweek
monday tuesday
7.30 Sort through emails/ 7.30 General admin/prep for day
phone messages; deal 9.00 Team meeting on large
with personal admin media dispute
8.30 – 12.30 Prepare draft submissions 11.00 Prepare draft letter of demand/legal
on supply agreement dispute position on JV termination dispute
2.00 Court appearance on nervous 2.30 Meeting with co-defendants
shock claim case on large media dispute
3.00 General work on various files 3.00 Review of detailed financial
6.30 Work on draft article for documents in preparation
legal magazine for briefing witness
7.30 Home 4.30 Meeting at barrister’s chambers
on nervous shock claim case
7.00 Home
wednesday thursday
7:30 Review emails/general 7:30 Review emails/prepare for day
admin/personal admin 10:00 Meeting with clients in preparation
9:00 Teleconference with witness; of settlement meeting
commence preparation 11:00 Settlement meeting on
of witness statement JV termination case
11:30 Chair internal Free Trade 1:00 Prepare report to board of
Agreements group meeting client re: settlement meeting
1:00 Chair lunchtime team meeting 2:00 Attend to bills for last month’s work
2:00 Continue work on witness statement 4:00 Document review for large
4:00 Prepare legal submissions/ media case – review documents
legal research on JV termination on online database
case; instruct junior lawyers. 6:30 Home
MYTH 7:00 Home
appearing in court
friday weekend
is glamorous
– just like LA Law 7:30 Review emails and prepare for day Saturday
or Ally McBeal 8:00 Conference call with potential new AM Brunch with friends
witness on nervous shock claim PM Shopping and cleaning
Unlike on television, 9:00 Prepare draft witness statement Read papers
preparing for court 10:00 Prepare legal letters of demand Dinner party at colleague’s house
is very involved, and on trust dispute file
takes a tremendous Or watch rugby union test in
12:00 Lunch with client pub with friends
number of hours. There 2:00 Meeting with colleagues to
is no striding about, review draft evidence on
shouting ‘Objection’ nervous shock claim case Sunday
every few minutes. 4:00 Meeting with witness and prepare Read papers
Generally they are very draft witness statement Visit friend and her new baby
sombre affairs, where 5:00 Work drinks Stay for lunch
the documents and
Collect dry cleaning
fact
evidence are pored over

Go over documents relating to a new case
in minute detail, and the
law debated at length. Look for something to watch on Foxtel
54
Insider info
Josh – Partner cv petrol station

attendant >> cinema
Partners are the owners of a law firm. They are collectively responsible
usher >> study (US) >>
for the success or failure of the practice and share the profits, which are
divided according to seniority, or revenue achievements, or a mixture Ford Foundation research
of both. Achieving partnership is the pinnacle of a career and typically project (Indonesia) >>
takes about nine or 10 years to achieve. Partners are responsible for lawyer >> uni lecturer >>
bringing work to the firm and managing client relationships. So in solicitor >> partner
addition to doing actual legal work, partners handle the business side
of the firm.
Josh is a partner in a large city law firm. He has 15 years’ post-admission

experience and has worked as an academic as well as a lawyer in private
practice. A commercial solicitor, his specialty is energy, infrastructure
and resources projects.
q&a
What does your job involve?
In broad terms, my job has two types of work. Within my area we
have big clients, such as Energy Australia and the Sydney Catchment
Authority, for whom we do a range of work, particularly contracts.
But then I also work on large deals, developing power and resources
projects with a specific emphasis on renewable energy sources like wind
farms. Every firm has its unique features and the one I work for has
a large Asian network, which tends to influence the type of work we
do. And over the past two years, more than half my work has involved
projects outside Australia. For example, I did a project for the World
Bank in Vietnam, advising on the restructuring of the country’s water
sector. Specifically, I recommended changes to the regulatory system
and advised on the types of contracts the Vietnamese government
should use to get the best deal from international companies investing
in water developments. And I recently completed a large project
advising on energy trading between the ASEAN countries.
What are some of the pressures of being a partner in a big firm?
Performance is a big issue in large firms. You’re constantly monitored
in terms of your budgets. You have budgets for your personal time,
which is how much of your own time you bill to clients. Then you have
supervised time, which is how much work the people you look after
do, and then your client billings: you may not be actually supervising a
matter but you’re nonetheless the main client-relationship partner. So all
these figures, which are reported on a monthly basis, attempt to capture
all the levels on which a partner operates. The reality – and you can’t get
around it – is that people are under constant pressure to achieve.
55
Law
Is that stressful?
It’s not for everyone. You have to work reasonably long hours and you
have to be able to run a business; it has to be something you want
to do. I think there’s a hell of a lot of people who could do it if they
wanted to but they make the choice that they’d rather do other things.
Why do lawyers leave big firms?
I think that the great majority of the lawyers who leave law firms do
so because they have decided it’s not what they want to do. It’s rarely
because they are pushed out due to performance issues.
What are the advantages of working in a big firm?
I don’t think you join a big firm just because you want to become
a partner. I think you join a big firm because you can get good
experience for a few years and it can lead you in interesting directions,
including work in-house for companies and in government. The people
who operate best have a flexible approach to the reason why they are
there and where they might end up. They come in knowing that they’re
going to be working solidly for a few years and will have exposure to
leading commercial clients; they’ll be well supervised and get to rotate
through two or even three specialty areas.
What are the disadvantages?
You do have to work solid hours and, in addition, you may be called
upon to work difficult hours, which may stretch you. If it happens
to be booming in a certain area and you’re in that group, or you’re
in financial services and it’s the end of the financial year, you’ll be
working under conditions that may stress you. But you have to be
flexible; law firms are essentially service organisations and need to
look after their clients.
There is always a lot of talk about professional development in big
firms. What’s the reality?
The big firms know they have to market themselves to graduates
and professional development is one means of doing that. The firms
have institutionalised the function and so it is not ad hoc. You go to
any big firm and they have full-time professionals running organised
education programs, so there is a high degree of certainty: you will be
subjected to a certain level of compulsory professional development
and a large array of optional stuff. It seems that almost every day
there’s a seminar at lunchtime.
But it should be stressed that professional development happens on
an ongoing basis in the course of your work, especially when you’re
new. Every time you do something you’ve got someone to look at it
for you. That’s what’s going on from when you arrive in the morning
until when you leave.
56
Insider info

You can’t do everything. If you want to move ahead and be
particularly good in some area you have to give away an awful lot of
other things you might have otherwise wanted to do. I’ve worked for
the UN, I’ve worked in academia and there a lot of other great things I
would have liked to have done.
What is the best thing you think you can do for your career? in
I think a lot of people get into work environments and just react brief
to what goes on around them. And some want to move ahead in a Partner, large Sydney firm
particular job just because it’s the environment they’re in. I think one $$$ 500K+
of the best things you can do is almost force yourself to periodically quals A (Hons), LLB
B
reflect on your options and what you really want to do, especially in (Macquarie),
LLM (Harvard
your early years. Law School)
How has the industry changed in the time you’ve been in it? hrs/wk 60+ when weekend
work and overseas
I think the profession has become more competitive. I think the travel is factored in
hours lawyers work have gone up slightly. On the positive side, it has life–work pretty reasonable
become much more international, both in terms of working overseas given the high
remuneration
from Australia and moving to London, say, or even New York, where
flexibility there can be a fair
Australian lawyers with large firm experience have relatively easy degree of flexibility
passage. Also, the law has also become even more specialised now. but it’s not always
predictable
myweek
n anage solicitors working in the
M n riday – dinner at home with partner
F
group – allocate and check work and the two boys (nine and six)
n Draft complex contract for a major project n Saturday – take the kids to the
n Maintain contact with local and park and perhaps a film
overseas clients by phone and email n The babysitter arrives early
n Lunch with a major client to Saturday evening and it’s out for
discuss upcoming work dinner with friends or a concert
n Social tennis on Sunday
n Meet officials from a government
authority to talk through details mornings followed by lunch
of a development proposal n There’s usually some work to
n Check billings from solicitors in the be done on Sunday afternoons
group and other administrative tasks – in the office or from home
n Dinner out if the babysitter is
n Interview prospective junior lawyers
for a position within the team available and a stroll around
the Paddo bookshops
n Prepare to fly to Bangkok – out of
the country at least twice a month
for two or three days at a time
n Another Sydney Theatre
Company play – I subscribe
n Monday evenings – tennis comp
57
Law
Hugh – Barrister
cv market researcher,
taxi driver, waiter (uni) >> Barristers are lawyers whose main work involves presenting cases in
summer clerk >> solicitor court and appearing at other formal tribunals and hearings. They are
>> public sector lawyer >> usually specialists in one or more areas of law and, in addition to their
to the Bar
work as advocates, give advice and written opinions.
Barristers do some of the most intellectually challenging work in the

legal profession, so, if you’re very bright, hard-working, flexible and
enjoy thinking on your feet, you have some of the key characteristics
necessary to succeed.
While barristers are situated together in offices known as chambers, they

operate as individuals. This makes it particularly difficult for newcomers.
Like establishing any small business, it takes time to generate work
and receive payment. The NSW Bar Association recommends that new
barristers assume that they won’t have an income for six months.
Most barristers begin their careers as solicitors, establishing a practice

and building a network before moving to the Bar. They hope that their
contacts in the legal profession will ensure they get sufficient work to
establish a viable practice.
58
Insider info
Barristers sometimes charge an hourly rate for work they do in chambers,

such as writing legal opinion, but a daily rate for appearing in court – even
if the case doesn’t last a full day. While these amounts can seem high,
they have high fixed costs. Barristers have to pay for their chambers,
clerk and library – outgoings which can easily total $80 000 a year. So the
pressure is always on to make sure work is coming through the door.
In addition to sole practitioners, who make up the majority of the Bar,

some barristers work for the government full time, including crown
prosecutors and public defenders.
Hugh is a barrister with 20 years’ experience in the law. He works out of

one of Sydney’s oldest chambers.
Hugh specialised in criminal law as a prosecutor before joining the Bar

but had to broaden his areas of expertise to ensure a constant flow of
well-paid work.
q&a
Could you briefly describe your job?
I work as an advocate in court. This involves preparing for
appearances in my office (chambers). I also provide advice, which
doesn’t involve court appearances.
Could you describe the work culture?
Start as early as you like; finish as late as you like. Sunday is a
working day at the Bar.
The work is highly stimulating and challenging. I am constantly using my
mind. Advocacy – that is, working in court – is a real buzz at its best.
Very long hours. The high levels of responsibility can be very stressful – the
buck stops with the barrister. I never, ever, stop thinking about work.
That litigation is legitimised gambling. There is a very high price to
pay for the high income, so don’t do it for the money!
Someone with a strong sense of right and wrong; a strong service
mentality. And someone who is neither lazy nor stupid.
It is a hard slog. Not so much hard to do, but hard to do well. But
when it goes well, it is brilliant.
59
Law
Did your studies prepare you adequately for a life in the legal profession?
Not really – but nothing can.
as prestigious?
It is an illusion once the income is divided by the hours, and the
in
brief prestige is measured against the hard work and unrecognised slog.
Barrister, Sydney What do you wish you had learnt much earlier?
That everyone gets overwhelmed and doubts their ability from time
$$$ 300K+
quals Ec, LLB
B to time.
(Macquarie),
LLM (USYD) How has the profession changed in the time you’ve been in it?
hrs/wk 55–60 It has got better in terms of technology and access to information, but
life–work skewed far too tougher in terms of expectations and demands.
much towards work
flexibility ood, but if you
g
don’t work, you If you don’t take time out, your productivity keeps falling. So make
don’t earn sure you set aside adequate personal time.
myweek
monday tuesday
8.00 Send off work completed on 8.00 Dictate advice and submissions
Sunday and prepare for court 10.00 Read brief
hearing
1.00 Lunch
10.00 Attend court all day
1.30 Research cases
4.00 In chambers conducting
conferences or other preparation 4.00 Revise and finalise advice and
submissions
7.00 Take work home
7.00 Take work home
wednesday thursday
8.00 Prepare for hearing 8.00 Dictate submissions
10.00 Attend and conduct hearing 10.00 Read brief
1.00 Lunchtime conference with solicitor 1.00 Lunch
2.00 Return to hearing 1.30 Work on brief and email comments
4.00 Phone conferences to solicitor
6.00 Home to kids 7.00 Home and night off
friday weekend
8.00 Prepare for hearing Saturday
MYTH 10.00 Conduct hearing

12.30 Lunch
n Ferry kids to music and sport activities
n Mega food shopping expedition
being a barrister 1.00 Prepare for afternoon hearing n Friends for dinner
is glamorous 2.15 Conduct hearing Sunday
and exciting 5.00 Get the hell out of chambers! n Give partner time out from young baby
Night off n Work on unfinished tasks and prepare
for coming week, esp. court cases
fact
It is 90% hard work – this often takes half a day, but can be
done all on your own. a full day’s work
n A glass of something to help unwind
60
Insider info
Felix – Barrister cv waiter (uni) >>

articled clerk >> solicitor >>
Felix is a barrister in his early 40s and specialises in discrimination law
adviser to a federal minister
and human rights. He has advised Aboriginal communities in the Torres
>> consultant >> barrister
Strait about their Native Title rights, taken cases to the Human Rights
Commission in Geneva and often represents employees who believe
they have been discriminated against in the workplace.
q&a
What does a typical week involve?
Court, from two to three days, then preparation, advices and
conferences for the remainder.
I’m the boss. It’s flexible; high responsibility.
61
Law

Long hours, uncertainty about work, overheads, loneliness.
Is working at the Bar preferable to other sorts of legal jobs, such as
working in a private firm?
There is greater flexibility at the Bar than in a private firm – you can
determine your own hours. However, we still use time sheets; it is
results-driven and we are limited as to the work we can do because
we need to earn money.
The difficulty in determining what sort of work you get and how much
you get.
you now?
No. Bar work is very intensive in short bursts. As a result it is
unpredictable, which plays havoc with childcare arrangements.
Someone who is persuasive, decisive, a clear thinker, but there is
room for all personalities in the legal profession.
High stress and pressure go with the responsibilities (and money).
Did your studies adequately prepare you for a life in the legal
profession?
in To a degree (no pun intended). But there is a lot to learn on the job.
brief Any tips for people starting their careers?
Barrister, 8 years’ experience
Even if you are not inclined to commercial work, two to three years in
$$$ $330 per a commercial firm is a great experience for most other areas, including
hour/$2000 per day
government and community work.
quals BA, LLB (UNSW),
LLM (London)
hrs/wk 55+
life–work neither an
unmitigated as prestigious?
disaster nor ideal Work out what you want out of life first.
flexibility uite good if you’re
q
willing to give What is the best thing you think you can do for your career?
up the hours Give yourself a solid educational foundation.
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Insider info
Nicholas – Sole practitioner cv articled clerk

>> solicitor >> work
Lawyers who work on their own as sole practitioners make up a
and study (London) >>
significant proportion of solicitors in private practice (about 35 per
cent). They usually focus on matters that involve individuals and small solicitor (Sydney) >> sole
business, such as conveyancing, drawing up wills, debt recovery, family practitioner
law, and representing clients on minor criminal charges. Operating your

own business and working in a potentially broad range of areas is a
major attraction to many lawyers. It is also one of the key challenges
– keeping up to date with developments in all these areas of law can be
very difficult. Sole practitioners now work in an increasingly competitive
market and, as you’ll see from the experiences of the lawyers below, it is
becoming harder to make a good living.
Nicholas is in his early 50s and runs his own practice in the inner city of
Sydney. While he had experience in a large commercial firm, he prefers the
autonomy and flexibility of his own practice, even if it means he earns less.
q&a
What do you like most about working as a sole practitioner?
The variety and human interest. It is at a level which affects real people
doing real things – buying property or facing court for the first time.
Mostly your clients really appreciate what you do. There is also the
independence and great working hours. I usually work from 9.30 am to
5.30 pm and can always predict that I will be available to go out at night.
The unpredictable lean periods and the lack of professional support to
bounce ideas off.
What does a typical day or week involve?
My time is not divided up into large blocks of doing one thing and
then the next thing. As a sole practitioner without staff I have to
multitask at all times and be on top of every file, so I can respond
immediately when a client rings and wants to know then and there
where his matter is up to.
Most of my work involves conveyancing, leases, the sale and purchase
of businesses, wills and probates, small debt recovery, and criminal
pleas (drink-driving etc). Then there’s the business side of the
practice: getting in new clients, writing up trust accounts, banking
(sometimes!), and writing up accounts books.
Someone who is good at lateral thinking so that they can help resolve
problems in the neatest, most cost-effective manner, and attention
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Law
to sometimes tedious detail. Also, it helps if you are someone with a

good insight into people.
life in the legal profession?
It’s not the glamorous life in court as portrayed on TV. Legal life can
often be a hard slog, but the rewards, especially the personal rewards,
can be great. Overall, it can provide a good career, but it is harder
than most and the numbers of people entering the profession mean
that it is going to get harder and more competitive.
Setting up practice on my own account and getting the clients in. This
meant learning how to charge them and make money without scaring
them away.
in
brief How has the industry changed in the time you’ve been in it?
Sole practitioner, Syney Suburban general practice has become more competitive and hard-
$$$ 60K–100K edged. It is not enough just to be a good lawyer; you need to be a
(depending on real businessman to survive.
the year)
quals BA (Hons), What are your thoughts on being gay in the profession?
LLB (USYD) I felt very reticent about being open when working for an employer; I
hrs/wk 40 certainly felt that it would not advance my career for it to be known
life–work excellent
that I was gay. The best avenues for gay employment are working for
flexibility lots
yourself, and I thoroughly enjoy working in Oxford Street, although
not all my clientele is gay.
myweek
n egin most days with a swim in the
B n J oin friends for drinks on Friday night
local pool and then walk to work n Check out a new art exhibition
n Meet clients in the office to discuss on Saturday afternoon
their legal requirements n Dinner with partner at a local restaurant
n Appear in court for a client on
n A leisurely breakfast at home with
a drink driving charge the weekend papers on Sunday
n Advise client on procedures and
n An walk or swim if the weather is good
liabilities involved in buying a house
n An early evening film or casual drinks
n Commission building inspection
n Liaise with vendor’s lawyer
and client’s bank
n Draw up contract of sale for
a client selling a flat
n Do administrative tasks for the
practice – banking and accounting
n Network with local business
owners at a drinks evening
n Attend the opera or a classical concert
64
Insider info
Craig – Sole practitioner cv pulling beers

(uni) >> solicitor (country
Craig is a sole practitioner in Sydney’s western suburbs.
practice) >> solicitor
q&a (Sydney) >> sole

practitioner
What are the advantages of working for yourself?

It was a good move for me to become a sole practitioner – it’s not
everyone’s cup of tea to work in a big or medium-sized firm. In this
position you can aim to be of value to the community and be true to
yourself. You are able to be your own boss and have the firm reflect
your standards and values. There is, however, a financial cost – you
are likely to earn substantially less money. Few people include legal
fees in their annual budget, our services are required infrequently
and the best benefits we offer are often intangible. But as a sole
practitioner I have been involved in community activities. It has
brought a balance to my life, assisted my business and hopefully
benefited the local community.
What sort of work do you do in sole practice?
I have worked in many different areas – property law, business law,
contract law, criminal law, compensation law, wills and estates and
intellectual property law.
One of the rewards of being a lawyer is using your education, training
and skills to help people over time and see clients grow in their
family, financial or business lives. If you are a good lawyer, you can
sometimes make a very significant positive difference to a client’s life.
The difficulty of being a lawyer in private practice is that clients are
sensitive about fees. The costs of running matters have become
greater and the fees in the more financially rewarding areas have
dried up. You need to work hard and show your client value for MYTH
money, which is not easy as knowledge of statutory law, unwritten a lawyer’s best work
law, procedure and drafting precedents in any area takes time, which is done in court
cannot all be charged back to the client.
The best legal work is
To work to as high a standard as your education warrants is not easy often done out of court,
in a marketplace where some are still unfortunately competing by by settling a matter at
trying to offer cut-price services. Competing on price will never be a the appropriate time
or by keeping a client
successful basis on which to run a sustainable practice.
out of court by good
Many civil legal matters can be very adversarial and this makes it preventative advice or
drafting. In civil litigation
a high-pressure job. You need to assess your personality. Unless
matters, if the matter has
fact
you thrive in that atmosphere, you may find it hard to take. If your ended up in court, even
work is substantially adversarial, you should probably have an iron the winners are usually
constitution as well. losers in some ways.
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Law
What should people consider before moving into sole practice?

It is ironic that the financially least rewarding and glamorous area –
property conveyancing – is also the riskiest. There is a misconception
that it is a procedural job and therefore shouldn’t cost much. However,
it is a contentious area and many claims against lawyers relate to
conveyancing. Unless the misconceptions change, I would advise
anyone considering working in that area to think very carefully.
What have you learnt the hard way?
A mistake I made initially was not to properly consider advocacy as
a career. I would strongly advise aspiring lawyers to be prepared to
appear in court at some stage. If you can perform well in court, you
should always have some source of income; there will always be a
need for good advocacy. You won’t know if you’re going to be any
good at it unless you try and find out.
What changes have you seen in the past few years?
The ability to make a living out of many areas of law has changed.
Remuneration has diminished in traditional areas of practice such as
conveyancing and compensation work. There is also some greater
accountability, which is welcome in my view. More importantly, many
areas of private practice have been affected by the increasing number
of laws and court rules, the rate of change of those laws and rules,
cuts in legal aid and by the wide range of broad taxation measures.
Along with other factors, it has made it very hard to deliver a cost-
effective, efficient and high-standard legal service.
66
Insider info
Isabel – Legal aid lawyer cv bar work (uni) >>

summer clerk and paralegal
Legal aid lawyers represent people who have been charged with
>> commercial litigator
criminal offences but can’t afford a private solicitor.
>> solicitor (Aboriginal
Isabel is a criminal specialist with the NSW Legal Aid Commission. She
Legal Service) >> solicitor
has two children and works part time.
(criminal law practice) >>
q&a
legal aid lawyer

Didn’t really know what to do. I just studied law because I got the
marks and then when I got the degree thought I’d give it a go. I then
developed an interest in social justice issues and was drawn away
from the commercial sphere and into the criminal area.
I work as a criminal advocate in a range of jurisdictions. This involves
appearing in court for defendants charged with criminal offences in
Local Court hearings, District Court sentences, bails and appeals. I detour
appear in court on a daily basis, and manage a team of up to six
Check out other Career
junior solicitors. FAQs titles such as Save
Why is that interesting? the World and Crime
Fighters to find out about
The criminal justice system is very sophisticated and complex. It is
more jobs like this.
also always changing with the political tide and the changing nature
www.careerfaqs.com.au
of society. The practice of criminal law involves the ability to analyse
sometimes complex legislation and case law, apply them to the facts
of the case and to talk to a variety of people (from the mentally ill
client, to a supreme court judge). It also requires advocacy skills and
the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively. Each day you are
required to draw on these skills: every client is different, as are the
facts in each case and the bench before whom you appear. You are
always on the go and need to be able to think on your feet.
Could you describe the work culture? MYTH
Some people in government work very set hours and would never criminal clients
take work home. This is not criticised, and the work culture allows are frightening
for people who work like that, but it is also not rewarded. Those and unpleasant
people will not have a great reputation, nor will they gain progression to appear for
within the organisation, or in the profession at large. Other people are
Often such people
extremely dedicated and hard working. It is hard for anyone not to are quite normal,
work hard within core hours because of the volume of work. and sometimes have
become involved
What do you like most about your job? in crime simply
fact
The colleagues, the fact that you are never bored (although burnout because of their
can be a problem) and the nature of the work. It is always challenging social and economic
circumstances.
and you never feel like you are good enough.
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Law
in What do you like least about it?

brief Pay is on the low side for the profession. If you are dedicated it can
Legal aid lawyer, 14 years’ be hard work. There isn’t much administrative support.
experience as a solicitor
What do you wish someone had told you about your area of law
$$$ 80K–90K
before you started on your career path?
quals BA, LLB (UNSW),
Dip Law, specialist That it’s hard to move out of once you are in it (although I think that’s
accreditation in true for a number of legal areas).
criminal law
hrs/wk 27 hours in Does this job allow you to achieve the work–life balance that suits
the office over you now?
three days plus
Yes, and no. I have been able to have children and take maternity
preparation at home
life–work relatively good,
leave and work part time while in the job. I have gained promotions
but the work despite being obviously pregnant and wanting to work part time. You
is demanding can work less intensively if you care to. But it would be hard to do
nonetheless
more intensive trial work and live an easy life.
flexibility ption to work part
o
time and good What do you think young people should know about the realities of
maternity provisions
life in legal aid?
It can be hard work and a grind. It involves going down to cells and
gaol visits. It involves dealing with a range of people experiencing
difficulties in their lives. That can be challenging. It is not a
particularly glamorous job.
That I was not suited to the big-firm, corporate-law mentality.
myweek
monday tuesday wednesday
8.00 Make last-minute research 8.00 Arrive at work. Same 8.30 Leave home for gaol visit
searches for case law and preparation as Monday. 9.15 Arrive gaol and interview
statistics in relation to files I 9.00 Down to cells again; meet clients for appeal/sentence
looked at last night; consult witnesses
with colleagues 12.15 Travel back to office
10.00 Appear in court 1.00 Lunch
9.00 To the cells to talk to clients
about their appeals, evidence I 12.30 – 1.30 Lunch 1.45 Prepare matters for Monday;
might call, and their prospects 1.30 Return to office; read files supervise solicitors on other
on appeal and correspondence, answer matters; allocate files to other
10.00 Start in court; time in court emails, return phone calls, solicitors, answer phone calls/
depends on the client, the consult with junior solicitors respond to emails; prepare
judge, and the number of 3.00 Interview witness paper for seminar.
matters
4.00 Read applications for 5.00 Leave office, taking home files
1.00 Stop for lunch. Grab sandwich vacant positions within the that I’ll look at before Monday
and go over file organisation
4.00 Finish court; return to the 5.30 – 6.30 Draft correspondence
office; return phone calls, and prepare cases.
look at files for next day
and consult with colleagues
about management issues or
complex legal questions
5.00 Leave office
9.00 – 10.00 Look at files for next day
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Insider info
Chris – Environmental lawyer cv bar work (uni) >>

summer clerk >> paralegal
The community sector often overlaps with legal services provided
by government. Options include work in community legal centres, >> solicitor (city firm) >>
which give advice to people who cannot afford a private solicitor, solicitor (EDO)
and specialised areas, such as the Environmental Defender’s Office

(EDO) and the Arts Law Centre. Salaries are comparatively modest but
lawyers can get the opportunity to be involved in interesting cases,
some of which can have a positive social impact. Those who work in
the sector are usually less motivated by money than a desire to make a
contribution in their chosen area.
Chris is in his late 20s, has three years’ experience and works as a
litigation solicitor for the EDO, a non-profit community legal centre
specialising in public interest environmental law.
q&a
Did your studies prepare you adequately for a life in the
legal profession?
Working as a lawyer is like sitting an open-book law exam every day,
so, yes.
My primary role is to represent and advise community and
environmental groups about public interest issues which involve a real
threat to the environment.
The job involves a mixture between a lot of litigation, written advice
work, free telephone advice to members of the public on environment
and planning law and drafting letters to government decision-makers.
I also do some work presenting community education seminars on
environmental law and writing submissions to government on policy
proposals for environment and planning law reform.
Friendly and informal, but professional. It is a small office environment,
working with people who have a genuine passion for the environment.
detour
A feeling that my work helps empower the community to protect Check out Career FAQs
the environment. Save the World to find out
more about jobs that help
What do you like least? people and the environment.
Confronting the limitations of current environmental laws in actually www.careerfaqs.com.au
protecting the environment in practice.
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Law
Why is your job at the EDO preferable to working in private practice or

in other, more commercial, areas of the profession?
My work at the EDO offers me greater responsibility and more
opportunities for career-developing experiences in litigation and
advice, and additionally gives me the opportunity to do policy and
community education work which I would not have the opportunity to
do in private practice.
Appearing in court is like the tip of a big iceberg – the invisible
underwater bulk represents endless hours of careful compilation and
examination of documents, legal research, analysis and advice.
you now?
Yes. I have weekends and weeknights available to pursue my
interests, and get enough exercise and sleep, and spend time with
friends and family.
It is highly technical and complicated and you are often time-
pressured or stressed, and regularly have to deal with people who
are strained, anxious or confused. However, it can also be rewarding
and exciting, and in my job you feel like you’re working for the public
good by protecting the environment and providing the community
with access to justice.
Do you have any advice about choosing the right place to work?
Getting a job at a law firm is a personality game. Most firms interview
only those who fit their academic profile, and give jobs only to people
who fit their culture. Try to meet young lawyers and work out what
in type of people work where, and decide if you want to be one of
brief those people.
Environmental lawyer, Sydney What did you have to learn the hard way?
$$$ 50K–60K To get clear instructions you have to ask a lot of questions.
quals BA (Hons), LLB
(UNSW)
hrs/wk 50 Write and present seminars on topics which interest you. It raises your
life–work more opportunities profile and means you learn the content really well and have to get
for career-developing across all the issues.
experiences than
in private practice Is there anything else you’d like to say about your job or the legal
flexibility ood – hours are
g profession more generally?
not excessive
Exercise and laughter are antidotes to stress. Alcohol is not.
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Insider info
William – Business affairs manager cv solicitor (large city

law firm) >> study (UK)
William leads the legal team at a government agency which finances
Australian films. >> work at city law firm
(Sydney) >> business
q&a affairs manager (film-funding

agency)
How did you end up working in-house?

I was working for a large law firm where the agency was a client. I
had no experience in doing film work until a colleague taking holidays
dumped some of her files on me. Something clicked and I began
doing more work for the agency. Some time later, it advertised for its
first in-house legal manager. Despite the salary drop, I applied and got detour
the job. I have been working there for 12 years.
Check out Career FAQs
What are the best things about the job? Entertainment to find
Being at the epicentre of the Australian film industry. It’s interesting out more about jobs
because we fund around 65 new projects annually, and each has its in the film industry.
own challenge. www.careerfaqs.com.au
What about the worst aspects of the work?

Being seen as an obstruction between the film-makers and the money.
The intellectual challenge.
you now?
Working 40 to 50 hours a week is acceptable. Most of my friends do
that and more. With seniority, there is the capability to control your
workflow by delegation, if necessary. in
What type of person do you think best suits the legal profession? brief
Analytical, determined. Business affairs manager,
12 years’ experience
$$$ 100K+
life in the profession? quals A (Hons), LLB
B
It varies greatly, depending upon where you work. In city law firms, it (USYD), LLM,
is the stress, long hours, competitive environment, billing targets, time PhD (University
of London)
costing, and being very expendable.
hrs/wk 50
What do you wish you’d learnt much earlier on? life–work work-related
socialising makes
In simple and complex transactions, there are only a few things that
it about right
really matter, and the rest is negotiable. flexibility a t the mercy
of production
schedules
Achieve the best academic results that you can.
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Law
myweek
monday tuesday
8.00 Start sorting through emails 8.30 Sort emails
from the weekend 9.00 Weekly projects meeting
9.00 Go through diary and with legal managers
appointments for the week; 12.00 Return phone calls; lunch at desk
prioritise tasks with my assistant
2.00 Troubleshooting on projects
10.00 Weekly internal management with individual legal managers
meeting with CEO and
other senior managers 4.00 Work on my film projects;
miscellaneous visits from staff and
11.30 Return phone calls; deal with phone calls throughout afternoon
business arising from meeting
7.00 Screening of new film and
1.00 Lunch at desk drinks afterwards
1.20 – 6.00 Review, draft and respond
on film projects that I’m responsible
for; miscellaneous visits from legal
and investment managers and
phone calls throughout afternoon
wednesday thursday
9.00 Manage emails and diary 8.30 Usual morning admin tasks
9.30 Meetings with producers on current 9.30 Work on my projects;
and new projects; lunch at desk troubleshoot with legal managers;
2.00 Weekly meeting with investment one-on-one meetings
managers on new projects 1.00 Lunch break – out of office
5.30 – 6.30 Return calls; 2.00 – 6.00 Company secretarial
miscellaneous visits tasks; prepare papers for
audit committee meeting
friday weekend
8.00 Quick look at emails; Saturday
prepare meeting Gym, brunch with friends, read
9.30 Audit committee meeting weekend papers, continue writing legal
11.30 Business arising from meeting textbook, dinner at friend’s house
1.00 Lunch outside office
2.30 Return phone calls and visits Sunday
from staff and others Bike ride, domestic chores, practise
5.00 – 6.00 Work drinks the piano, see a film, review
documents for coming week
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Insider info
Katherine – Legal counsel cv sales assistant,

perfumery (uni) >> solicitor
Katherine works in Sydney as the legal counsel for a large computer
company. She has nine years’ experience. (accountancy firm) >>
solicitor (small legal firm) >>
q&a legal counsel
How would you describe the work culture?

Fast-paced and sales-driven.
I’m always busy, there’s some travel, and the work is interesting.
you now?
Yes, I am able to work from home two days a week, which helps me
look after my two children.
Someone who has attention to detail and can think of solutions
to problems.
What are the advantages of working in-house in comparison with
other legal environments?
No time sheets, of course. Plus getting to see your advice being
executed and how it works in practice. Understanding the business
and being a part of it.
What are the worst or most difficult aspects of your current job?
Time constraints and deadlines, as industry can be very fast paced.
what not to do?
Be enthusiastic. Don’t pretend you are an expert on everything. Say
when you are out of your depth, but be ready to learn.
I started out in taxation law. After one year, I realised I hated number
crunching and tax legislation, so moved to commercial law.
Be ready for changes and new challenges. Make sure you enjoy what
you are doing, otherwise you might not do it well.
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Law
cv waitress, tutor
Rachel – Corporate counsel
(uni) >> coordinator of a Rachel works as the corporate counsel for a broadcasting organisation.
community legal service
>> deputy director of an
arts-related legal centre >>
q&a
in-house lawyer for a media
organisation >> corporate It could include: negotiating and drafting commercial agreements;
counsel litigation; briefing external counsel on a range of legal matters;
preparing submissions on policy and law reform proposals; delivering
training on media law issues; strategy advice to the corporation’s
executive and managing the organisation’s intellectual property and
copyright strategies. Plus the unexpected.
The wide range of interesting things to think about and get involved
in; working with people who are passionately committed to their
field of endeavour; every day is different and unpredictable; the
opportunity to meet and work with people from many backgrounds.
Also, the autonomy: I control the way the organisation gets the job
done and also how I allocate my own time. And I can set working
conditions for my team so that my own personal vision of how the
workplace should operate can be achieved in a small way.
Too many issues so sometimes I can’t let one interesting area absorb
all my attention but must be much more pragmatic in terms of how I
allocate time and energy. And working with obsessive self-absorbed
maniacs. The location of the office makes commuting a real drag.
What are the key differences between working in-house for an
organisation and being part of a private legal firm?
I have never worked in a private legal firm but from my observation
I think that in-house work offers more chances to become very
knowledgeable about the business area that your employer operates
within. There seem to be many more opportunities in-house to create
humane work conditions. By selecting the ‘house’ that you are going
to work within you have far more control over the type of work you
end up doing and the kind of client you are supporting.
Wide-eyed and innocent, I thought the law was a tool useful for
overcoming oppression and unfairness throughout the world.
To work overseas early on, as the practicalities become more difficult
as the years advance. It would be great to have had an overview of
the different kinds of roles and how they suit different personality
74
Insider info
types. I think happiness in a legal career is very much a matter of

finding positions that fit your individual aspirations, strengths and
interests. And that the threat of legal action is not anything to be
intimidated by; it is simply part of life.
you now?
Yes, I am happy with the work–life balance which I achieve
partly because I am very much in control of my own hours and
arrangements. Sometimes the work side of things is all-consuming
but I am able to take advantage and devote more time to ‘life’ in
the down time. Flexible working hours which allow start times after
9 am and leaving at 5 or 6 pm are very important to my family
arrangements and have been a vital factor in my choice of employer.
Of course there are times when the demands of work mean that I
work far longer hours. Use of phones, home computers etc. helps me
maintain family-friendly hours.
I don’t think there is one type, but I think that it is very important that
you find a role that suits your particular personality and attributes. For
instance, some people are very diligent, organised, process-driven with
great attention to detail, and these attributes can be valuable in many
legal roles. Others may be more ‘big picture’, not disciplined in matters
of taking file notes and so on but with strategic insights, ability to
persuade etc. and will be brilliant in a different role. Team players can
find a place and so can competitive cut-throat individualists. In my
own personal career I have found the ability to get on and enjoy the
company of a wide range of people has proved invaluable.
Contacts are crucial – it is not what you know, it is who you know; the
big money comes at a price; and don’t take anything personally.
Did your studies prepare you adequately for a life in the
legal profession?
No, but I don’t think that is the purpose of study. I was adequately
prepared for the first days of work but there are things you can really
only learn on the job. This is why it can be crucial to ensure that one’s
initial professional choices provide a structure to learn and to be
taught professional skills.
what not to do?
Talk to as many practitioners as possible to get a feel for what is
involved in different roles and parts of the profession. Carefully
consider your own career aspirations before accepting a particular
position. Once you start working in a particular area it can be very
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Law
hard to break away and start afresh in the area that you decide really
interests you. Volunteer in organisations or businesses that offer such
opportunities in the area that interests you. Let people know you are
keen to work in a particular area. And don’t have a fixed idea about
the way a career should develop; be open to new opportunities.
Every single encounter with a person, be they a client or a colleague,
counts towards building your professional reputation with that
person. Word of mouth is crucial to building your reputation in
the professional marketplace. Even if someone seems of negligible
importance at the time (a pesky client, an annoying boss) they should
in
brief think that you take them and their concerns seriously.
Corporate counsel, Sydney What is the best thing you think you can do for your career?
$$$ 100K+
If you are in a job you do not enjoy, get out quickly.
quals A, LLB (Hons)
B What are your thoughts on being a woman in the legal profession?
(ANU)
There are significantly more women in the legal profession than there
hrs/wk 45 office hours
used to be which dilutes a lot of the potential difficulties. I think that
life–work good, but still hectic
flexibility relatively
a there are no real barriers until women start to have children and then
high degree the tyranny of workplace hours and inflexibility means that many
women make choices, which in turn often means they don’t become
the boss or the partner or whatever.
myweek
n egotiate and draft contracts
N n uiet dinner with family on Friday
Q
n Brief barristers on a variety of matters n Saturday is taken up ferrying the
n Research and prepare submissions kids to music and swimming
on policy and law reform proposals classes plus doing the shopping
n In comes the babysitter and out
n Provide media law training
we go to dinner – usually at a
n Give strategic advice to senior friend’s place or to a restaurant
members of the organisation
n Try to read the papers on Sunday
n Manage the organisation’s intellectual morning and then do a bit of
property and copyright strategies work – proofing documents or
n Manage other members of the legal team preparing a conference paper
n Open house – friends drop over for
a BBQ and a few glasses of wine
n Preview a program my organisation
has produced or watch
something silly with the kids
76
Insider info
In any profession, there are people who use their

qualifications and experience to do something different,
exceptional or unconventional. Others may combine their
passion for a cause, a sport or a special interest with
their chosen career.
Lara – Head of policy cv sales assistant (uni)

>> clerk >> paralegal >>
In a society increasingly governed by complex laws and regulations, a
solicitor >> in-house lawyer
legal background is excellent preparation for a range of other jobs in
>> solicitor >> head of
the business, public and community sectors. Many people in senior
policy
positions in politics, corporations, government departments and trade
unions began their professional lives as lawyers. As well as a knowledge
of the law, legal training and experience give you a set of highly valued
skills, including problem-solving, analysis and negotiation.
Lara is in her early 40s and heads a policy group for a large organisation.
q&a
Advising the managing director and board on policy, regulatory and
strategic issues, and providing corporate coordination.
77
Law

A professional but relaxed environment. The team I manage is smart
and self-motivated and works cooperatively to deliver high-level
practical analytical thinking. We are a small part of a large corporation
and we provide advice across the organisation. This can be demanding
as corporate issues are not always the main concern of different
departments and a lot of the work involves diplomatically extracting
information and material from other parts of the organisation.
How is it different from the legal environments in which you worked?
Rather than servicing external clients at arm’s length, the work is an
integral part of the business process. There is a greater ability to
influence the direction of the organisation and a closer relationship
with all parts of the business. The unit is not providing legal advice: it
is providing strategic, policy and planning advice.
Why did you leave legal work and move into another area?
I was more interested in policy and regulatory big-picture issues than
the detail of individual client work. Legal work often involves solving
a problem for an individual client. Policy work involves thinking more
broadly across issues and identifying options for change. Making
submissions to government on regulatory decisions gives you the
opportunity to help change the law, rather than just apply it. I was
also interested in serving the public interest and my career choices
have taken me away from private industry and into the public sector.
Why did you originally want to work in the legal profession?
It was a natural path to follow after completing a combined
economics/law degree, but I did not start with a burning desire for the
law. It grew as an interest over the course of completing my degrees.
What type of person do you think best suits the profession?
A person with an active and inquiring mind, who is an agile and
disciplined thinker.
MYTH How does your legal training and experience help you in your
current role?
that justice
The legal training gives a good structure for approaching problems
will be done
and strategies and making fact-based decisions. It also prepares you
Sometimes the law to think objectively rather than emotively.
involves parties using
tactics to get an outcome What do you think young people should know about the realities of
that isn’t fair. The court life in law?
system, while set up to Working in a law firm can be very interesting and challenging but best
be objective, is far from
suits people who like a lot of structure and detail. Though practising
infallible and is quite
expensive, so it doesn’t the law is not for everyone, studying law and having worked in it
always deliver the fairest does give a good grounding for many professions. It can be very
fact
result to those who are empowering. On the other hand, the profession can be competitive
unfortunate enough to
and aggressive and it is sometimes frustrating to see game-playing
end up in a legal dispute.
prevail over fairness and justice.
78
Insider info
What do you wish someone had told you about the legal profession
before you started on your career path?
That it is not just about the law; doing well involves having good
working relationships, creating networks with the people you deal
with and promoting your skills to the people around you. Some
people who do very well academically don’t do well in the profession,
because it involves a combination of skills – good communication,
strategy, being attuned to nuance and being a great persuader.
Does your current job allow you to achieve the work–life balance that
suits you now?
Yes. The work is demanding and sometimes tiring but the hours are
manageable and leave time to pursue other interests.
What else do you feel that people should know about the job-hunting
process in the legal profession? Any tips on what to do and what not
to do?
Your résumé and your letter of application should be absolutely
word perfect and well expressed. Get someone to proofread it for
you. When setting out your claim for the job, don’t talk about why it
would be great for you – talk about why your skills would be an asset
for the employer. Do lots of research about the organisation you are
applying to and show your interest in their business. Pursue things
you love – you will always do better in a job or industry you are
intensely interested in and your enthusiasm will be appreciated.
Your career will be distinguished not just by the jobs you do, but by
the jobs you turn down – don’t take a job just because it is there.
Think strategically about the ‘stepping stone’ jobs you can do to pick
up the skills that will position you to get to your dream job.
Find a mentor – someone who works in or around the profession – and
ask their advice on how you are going about your job hunting. Don’t be
afraid to ask for advice but make sure you are well prepared in the way
you ask for it. If you show you are enthusiastic and have done some
research on your question, most people will be happy to help you out.
in
as prestigious?
Some parts of the profession do come with money and prestige, but brief
these involve extremely hard work, developing good relationships Head of policy, Sydney
with the people you work with and being good enough for clients to $$$ 100K+
have confidence in you and hire you again and again. If you want the quals Ec, LLB (USYD)
B
money and prestige, be prepared to put in years of long hours and hrs/wk 40–50
life–work balanced
enormous demands on your time and energy.
flexibility I work a full
What did you have to learn the hard way? week, plus more
if travelling, but
That merit or intellectual rigour is 20 per cent of it; but getting ahead
still a reasonable
is 80 per cent dependent on the good relationships you have with level of flexibility
clients and colleagues.
79
Law
Show your passion for your career and take the advice of those
you respect.
What are your thoughts on being a woman in the legal profession?
I think that the profession has changed dramatically over the last 10 years
and gender issues are less important, but they still matter. Networks are
very important. Men have advanced their careers for years using their
professional networks and women need to recognise that it is not just
hard work that will help them succeed; it is about having productive
working relationships and being strategic in the choices you make.
80
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Ready, set,
go for it!
What qualifications do I need?
To practise as either a solicitor or barrister you need to satisfy the
requirements of the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB).
You need to complete:
n a recognised course of legal study
n a program of practical legal training.
Let’s now have a look at how you can get the necessary qualifications.
University courses
Most people who want to enter the legal profession study for a Bachelor
of Laws degree at a university law school. Most universities in New
South Wales and the ACT (and around Australia) offer law degrees as
the law is a qualification that is in demand.
Many students combine law with another degree, such as arts, science
or commerce. Completing both degrees usually takes five years of
full-time study.

from Career FAQs for FREE? Click here 85
Law
If you already hold a degree in another discipline, like accounting or arts

for example, you can enrol in a graduate program where you study only
law. This takes three years of full-time study and most universities offer
part-time options as well.
What do I need to get into a law degree?

Getting into a university law course usually requires a high entrance
score, a university admission index (UAI). The lowest UAI for a HECS-
funded place at a university in 2005 was 83.00 at the University of New
England; the highest was 99.60 at the University of Sydney.
If you don’t achieve the required UAI, you could begin another degree
course and re-apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
after one year. Admission requirements are often a combination of UAI
and your first-year tertiary grade-point average.
If you’re willing to pay full fees, some tertiary institutions, including the
universities of New South Wales, Newcastle and Sydney, will let you in
with a lower UAI.
2005 UAI 2005 UAI

University
(HECS) (Full fees)
Australian National University 95.00
Macquarie University 95.55
Southern Cross University 90.00
University of Canberra 94.50
University of New England 83.00
University of New South Wales 99.15 94.15
University of Newcastle 92.90 90.00
University of Sydney 99.60 98.15
University of Technology, Sydney 97.50
University of Western Sydney 90.00
University of Wollongong 91.00
Universities in NSW/ACT which offer law
86
Ready, set,
go for it!
What can I expect to learn?

All university law degrees aim to equip you with the knowledge you’ll need
to begin your career as a legal practitioner, so the basic subject matter will be
similar from institution to institution. Most courses combine specific subjects,
such as Criminal Law and Administrative Law, with more general material
which aims to put the law into context, such as Law and Social Theory.
In addition to subject-based knowledge, you’ll develop skills in legal analysis

and problem-solving – key tools for working in the profession. You’ll also have
the opportunity to develop skills in advocacy by taking part in mock trials and
other practical activities.
As you can see from the examples below, compulsory subjects dominate the
early years of study, while electives are available later on.
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Property, Equity Electives – courses

Criminal Law 1
and Trusts 1 include:
Foundations of Law Property and Equity 2 Advanced Criminal Law
Federal Constitutional
Contracts 1 Trade Practices
Law
Consumer Protection
Public Law Litigation 1
Law
Law, Lawyers and

Litigation 2 Mining Law
Society
Criminal Law 2 Business Associations 1 Human Rights Law
Advanced Legal
Torts Legal Theory
Research
Contracts 2 Legal Theory or Environmental Law
Administrative Law Law and Social Theory International Trade Law
Subjects studied as part of the University of New South Wales

Graduate Law program (full time 2005)
Source: University of New South Wales handbook 2005, www.handbook.unsw.edu.au
87
Law
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Foundations Federal Six elective
Contracts Administrative Law
of Law Constitutional Law units
Legal Law, Lawyers
Criminal Law Corporate Law
Research and Justice
Torts Equity
International Law
Litigation
Real Property
University of Sydney law subjects in a combined Arts/Law degree

(full time, 2005)
Source: University of Sydney
Approaches to learning vary. Some universities emphasise the academic

component, others incorporate more practical elements.
For example, Professor Don Rothwell says the University of Sydney

concentrates on the academic side.
glossary This is primarily because legal education in New South Wales at

the moment in nearly all instances requires students to complete
LLB means:
a period of practical legal training after they finish their degree.
– the short form of Legum So the University of Sydney, along with many of the other law
Baccalaureus which is
schools in the state, takes the view that the LLB program is
Latin for Bachelor of Laws
predominantly academically based. There are units of study
available which have a very strong practical orientation but the
actual practical training which leads to admission as a solicitor or
barrister is one undertaken through another form of study.
Professor Don Rothwell, Challis Professor in International Law and Pro-Dean (Teaching
Programs) in the Faculty of Law at the University of Sydney
More generally, Frank, who is finishing his legal studies, found that
studying law gives students insight into the way society operates.
A law degree will challenge the way that you view society while
simultaneously assisting you in understanding how it operates. As
a result, many students find that a combined law degree can assist
you to think and write critically, which are skills that are valued
in any profession. Potential students should acknowledge that not
all law students become lawyers, and law school is not necessarily
devoted to producing lawyers.
Frank, final year law student
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How difficult is a law degree to complete?

Studying law is like learning a language. It’s a completely foreign
way of thinking and speaking.
Recent law graduate
Law is a demanding course, whichever study option you choose. You

have to be prepared to devote a lot of time and energy over a number of
years to understand the concepts that underpin the law as well as the
detail of individual cases across the subject areas.
Professor Don Rothwell is Challis Professor in International Law and

Pro-Dean (Teaching Programs) in the Faculty of Law at the University
of Sydney. He says you need to be aware of what’s involved before
undertaking a law degree.
First of all, legal study inevitably requires an awful lot of reading

and analysis of legal judgments – analysis of the laws – whether it
is the Australian Constitution or a simple Act of Parliament. And
then problem-solving is an essential element in terms of legal studies
– working through fictitious problems which place individuals or
governments in various situations and scenarios, and applying the law
to assist and advise clients as to what might be the best outcome or a
possible outcome. One looks at the application of the law to the facts.
Finally, an inquiring mind is absolutely essential to being a good

law student because the law exists as it stands today but it’s
constantly under stress, it’s under strain and it’s also constantly
changing. A good law student is one who appreciates that the body
of law they’re working with will not necessarily be the same body
of law when they graduate or go out to practice or in 10 or 20
years’ time. So they need to be aware of the changing dynamic of
law and its place in society.
Professor Don Rothwell, University of Sydney Law faculty
What do students and recent graduates say about studying law?
Frank is in his final year of study at the University of Newcastle. He has

done well in his studies and has already been offered a job by a large
Sydney firm. He says successfully completing a law degree requires
constant work, but that isn’t all an uphill struggle.
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Law
In learning the law you are, in fact, equipping yourself with study
tools that make analysing cases and factual scenarios easier
as the degree progresses. Therefore, the first year can be a
baptism by fire. But many find that the latter years of study are
easier because, by this stage, you are competent in research and
identifying issues.
Frank, final year Law student
Terry is a qualified lawyer but is working as a paralegal. She says the

key to success in study is to have a passion for what you do.
I imagine if someone was doing a law degree for the sake of

their parents or under duress it would be hard. I did it as an
international student and the only thing I found onerous was
working part time as well as taking six units a semester. That just
meant that my time management skills had to be exceptional. I
had to go to uni during the day and then go to work straight after,
come home, make my meals and study. I have no regrets because I
can apply those time management skills now but that was probably
the only difficulty I found.
Terry, qualified lawyer
How much does it cost?

While the federal government covers most of the cost of your course,
you have to pay the difference. The exact amount varies from university
to university.
For example, the indicative HECS fee for full-time law at the University
of Wollongong in 2005 was $6414; the same course cost $8018 at the
University of Sydney.
If you were paying full fees, a combined Economics and Law degree at
the University of Sydney in 2005 cost $18 432 per year; a graduate law
degree at the University of Newcastle was $13 520.
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Ready, set,
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Can I study law without going on campus? find out

Yes. It is possible to do law by distance learning at the University of
more
Go online and check details
New England, Macquarie University and Southern Cross University. This
with the individual universities.
means you study at home with online assistance. But you will need to
attend on-campus workshops at the university throughout the course.
The distance learning option is usually only available to mature-age

students. Other eligibility criteria may also apply.
You can also gain your legal qualifications by doing the Legal Profession
Admission Board’s Diploma in Law.
Graduate Law
Jeff started his legal studies relatively late. He first did a Bachelor
of Arts degree and then began a traineeship at ABC Radio before
deciding that he wanted to return to university. Studying law as a
graduate, he believes, is much easier than as an undergraduate.
‘Frankly, law is pretty complicated and it can be quite dense

– it conveys a lot of issues across a lot of different areas. The law
doesn’t operate in a vacuum: it throws up a lot of different problems
– historical, social, moral and ethical. I think when you’re older you’ve
got a better intellectual framework to try and deal with those things.’
‘I think most people choose to do law as a reflex reaction because

they get a certain mark. However, many have no particular desire to
do it, or necessarily an aptitude for it. They continue along laboriously
for five years learning it, whereas most of the graduate students I
noticed just seemed to love it. They had decided later in life that it
was something they really wanted to do and had a different level of
commitment as a result.’
This is a view supported by the University of Sydney’s Professor

Don Rothwell. ‘There’s a very significant difference in the dynamics
between the students who come to us as graduates as opposed to
those who come direct from high school.’
‘Many of the graduates are more mature, they often have family
responsibilities and wider life experience, and they have already
spent a number of years acquiring a previous degree. If they are then
moving into an additional three years of law study they often have a
real purpose behind them and wish to complete the course to the very
best of their abilities and quickly move out into professional life.’
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Law
Study with the Legal Profession Admission

Board
Entry to a university law faculty is not the only way to become a lawyer
or obtain a professional legal qualification. You can get a professional
legal qualification by studying the Legal Profession Admission Board’s
(LPAB) Diploma in Law.
The diploma is administered by the LPAB which conducts the

examinations, and the teaching is done by the Law Extension
Committee (LEC) of the University of Sydney.
The LPAB’s Diploma in Law and an accredited law degree are equivalent
for the purpose of becoming a legal practitioner, and many successful
lawyers have started their careers by this route, including the High
Court Judge, Justice Michael McHugh.
The Diploma, which can be completed in four years, is run in Sydney

during the evenings on a part-time basis with lectures in the evenings
and at weekend schools. You can also study by distance learning.
Course materials, comprehensive subject guides and extensive access
to research resources are available online through the Law Extension
Committee’s website campus at www.usyd.edu.au/lec .
About the LPAB

The Board and its predecessors have been admitting lawyers to practice
in New South Wales since 1848.
The University of Sydney through its Law Extension Committee has been
providing tuition to the Board’s students since 1965.
The entry requirements are lower than required by law schools however
the substantive subjects which are encountered early in the course
tend to cull the students who lack the aptitude to study law.
The cost of completing the diploma is significantly less than the cost of
a law school degree.
Tuition is delivered in evening lectures and weekend schools and many

students have full-time employment while they study.
The course is oriented to professional practice. Approximately half of

the teachers are practitioners, the others are academics who teach in
metropolitan and regional universities.
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In 2005 the student body numbered in excess of 1450 of whom about

one third undertook the course by distance.
You need to complete 17 compulsory subjects and three electives – 20

subjects in total. It is possible to complete these in four years. However,
there is no minimum time in which to complete the course and students
often take longer.
Entry requirements of the LPAB

Entry requirements are low, but the course is academically demanding. To
get into the Diploma in Law program you need one of these qualifications:
n NSW HSC and a UAI of at least 66 or a tertiary entrance rank (TER) of

at least 50 and a good pass in English (or interstate equivalent)
n university or TAFE college diploma, advanced diploma or

associate diploma
n university degree
n successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions test; the

test assesses your ability to study at a tertiary level and is conducted
by the LPAB.
You also qualify if you have been working as a:
n paralegal or legal secretary for at least three years
n police officer or registered nurse.
Final comments about the LPAB course

The LPAB Diploma of Law is a great opportunity for many people who
choose not to undertake a university degree. However, there are some
factors to consider about the course.
n You must be self-motivated to do the work as there is no personal

supervision. If you can study and do the work on your own, if you are
motivated and disciplined, this could be the course for you.
n The failure rate in the early subjects is relatively high although the
LEC is continually enhancing its tutoring program aimed at assisting
students to cope with the early subjects.
n The assessment is 100 per cent by examinations.
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Law
n The diploma is the same as a university law school degree for

the purpose of entering the profession, i.e. graduates of both
the diploma course and a law school must undertake a course of
practical legal training if they wish to be admitted to practice. As
mentioned, many high-profile legal professionals completed their
studies through the LPAB system.
n The fees are payable up-front each semester for the subjects you
enrol in – you can’t defer fees through HECS.
find out
more Tuition and exam fees for the summer semester 2005/06 were set at
$448 per subject. This means that if you successfully passed each of the
www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
20 subjects, the diploma would cost of $9000. However, in the past the
www.usyd.edu.au/lec
tuition fees have risen by five per cent per annum and are likely to rise
over time.
Practical legal training

Once you have successfully finished your academic legal studies –
either a law degree from a university or the LPAB’s Diploma in Law – you
need to complete a program of practical legal training (PLT) in order to
be eligible for admission to practise as a lawyer. This includes 16 weeks
of practical experience in a legal environment, such as a law firm.
A number of universities and colleges offer PLT courses (see below

for details). The training can be undertaken full time, part time or by
distance learning (except the work experience component, of course).
There are usually two intakes a year and the courses can take up to the
equivalent of one year of full-time study to complete.
Some universities incorporate practical legal training into the five-year

combined degree program. This means you don’t need to do the PLT
separately.
Kim did her PLT at the College of Law. She says the experience was
valuable after her academic studies.
It was nine to five. It wasn’t hard – it was good to do things that

were more geared towards the real world of law, such as having to
draft contracts and do mock trials. It was more hands-on than my
undergraduate studies at university.
Kim, College of Law
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Universities and colleges that offer practical legal training in New South
Wales and the ACT are:
n College of Law
n University of Newcastle
n Australian National University
n University of Wollongong
n Bond University
n University of Technology, Sydney
n University of Western Sydney.
The final step

Once you have completed your degree and PLT, you are eligible to
apply for admission as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of
New South Wales.
However, you can’t immediately set yourself up in business – you’re still

on the equivalent of L plates. You need to work under the supervision
of an experienced lawyer for at least two years and complete a short
find out
practice-management course before you are eligible to apply for an
unrestricted practising certificate. This is administered by the Law
more
See ‘Becoming a Solicitor’
Society of New South Wales.
section of the NSW Law
Society’s website –
A similar system operates in the ACT. Lawyers are admitted to the roll of
www.lawsociety.com.au
the Supreme Court as ‘legal practitioners’ although some may choose
Check out ‘Membership
to practise as solicitors or barristers or both. Lawyers who practise services’ on the ACT Law
as solicitors must hold a ‘practising certificate’ as issued by the Law Society’s website –
www.lawsocact.asn.au
Society of the Australian Capital Territory
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Law
How do I get that job?

So, you’re in your last year of a law degree or doing your practical legal
training? Or maybe you’ve already qualified. What now?
As you know, the legal job market can be very competitive, so good
planning and research are important if you want to stand out from the
crowd and get a position that best suits your skills and interests.
Let’s take a closer look at the recruitment process.
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How are people recruited?

Your approach to job hunting will depend in part on the sort of job you
want. Large law firms, corporations and public sector employers all have
graduate entry programs. Some are widely advertised, but you’ll have to
search to find all the options.
Careers fairs are often good places to get more information and make
contacts. Smaller law firms and other organisations often advertise in
newspapers and online. If you have a particular employer in mind, check
their website for vacancies.
Contact recruiters – not all deal in graduate employment but some do

and they know the job market better than most.
Plug into your networks. Talk to fellow students, careers advisers,

lecturers and people you know who already work in the profession
– they might be aware of a suitable position or be able to point you in
the right direction.
Look at all avenues – interesting opportunities can often spring from the
most unexpected places.
Graduate programs
While competition is intense, a place in one of the many graduate
programs – in private practice, the corporate sector or the public sector
– is what most graduates hope to secure.
Private practice find out

All large and many medium-seized legal firms offer highly structured more
graduate entry programs. These are highly prized positions and there Graduate employment:
www.get.hobsons.co.uk
is a lot of competition. The firms aim to develop your legal skills and
Browse the list of public
expose you to the business environments within which their clients companies at the Australian
operate. Nearly all firms will rotate you through at least two or three Stock Exchange website:
practices within the organisation before you decide on one specialty area. www.asx.com.au
Check individual company
Many graduate places go to people who have already worked with a firm websites – most graduate
as a summer clerk, so if you’re interested in getting experience in a major opportunities are detailed
and the initial steps in
commercial practice it’s advisable to apply for one of these clerkships the recruitment process
in your fourth year. Alternatively, apply for paralegal work while still often take place online.
studying – many employers will want to keep you on after you graduate. Google ‘graduate
programs Australia’
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Law
Tips: Graduate recruitment

n Check the websites of individual firms for details of the
application process (see list of top 25 firms in Appendix 2).
n Check out cvmail.com.au. Many firms will accept

graduate applications only through this gateway.
n Apply for a summer clerkship or work as a paralegal

– they’re good ways to experience what a firm is like
before graduating and perhaps the best route to getting
your foot in the door.
n Contact smaller firms directly and ask them if they have

find out openings for graduate lawyers.
more n Set up alerts on the major online recruitment sites – such
Graduate employment:
www.get.hobsons.co.uk as mycareer.com.au and seek.com.au – so you can be
Browse the list of public notified when an appropriate job is advertised.
companies at the Australian
Stock Exchange website:
www.asx.com.au
Check individual company
Corporate sector
websites – most graduate
opportunities are detailed
Most large companies run graduate programs for people who have
and the initial steps in completed their studies within the last two years. Some of these
the recruitment process companies, such as those in the banking sector, have places reserved
often take place online.
specifically for law graduates. Others look for bright graduates across
Google ‘graduate
programs Australia’
a variety of disciplines, including law, who could apply their talents to
the many areas in the company. These programs usually involve rotation
through different parts of the business over two or three years.
Make sure you get in early and make initial contact with companies that
interest you in your last year of study. There may also be opportunities
find out for vacation work before graduation.
more Public sector
Australian Government’s
jobs website has a list Federal, state and territory government departments as well as publicly
of departments which
recruit graduates funded agencies also offer annual graduate recruitment programs. Like
www.jobsearch.gov.au/ large private organisations, the public sector is looking to employ law
government/gradlink.aspx
graduates as legal professionals and as part of a general graduate intake.
Check out the NSW and ACT Some areas, such as the Australian Government Solicitor, are structured
government websites for
graduate positions: much like private firms and offer summer clerkships and development
www.nsw.gov.au/ programs. Other options include: the Australian Taxation Office, Attorney-
www.act.gov.au
General’s Department and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
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Recruitment agencies
In addition to applying directly to potential employers, it is also worth
contacting relevant recruitment agencies. There are broadly two types:
the specialists, which deal only in legal jobs, and the general recruiters,
which have a dedicated legal recruitment division within a larger
organisation. In most cases, the consultants have worked as lawyers
themselves and know the industry very well.
Recruitment companies work on behalf of employers to help them fill find out
vacancies within their organisations. The recruiter will usually take more
responsibility for advertising the position, receiving applications and About specialist legal
conducting the first round of interviews. They then provide their client – the recruiters and recruiters with
dedicated legal divisions.
employer – with a shortlist of people they think are qualified to do the job
and will best fit into the firm or company. The employer will then interview Mahlab
www.mahlab.com.au
the selected candidates and usually make a selection from this group.
Law Staff
As a job applicant you will never be charged a fee for using the services www.lawstaff.co.nz
of a recruiter. Michael Page International

www.michaelpage.com.au
It is important to note that while some recruiters place graduates, Hudson
many will deal only with lawyers who have at least one or two years’ www.hudsonresourcing.
com.au
experience. That said, most will be willing to give you some general
advice about getting your first job. Also, if you have a specialty area that Hays
www.hays.com.au
makes you stand out from the crowd – maybe you have a first degree in
Legal Mind
chemical engineering or medicine – a recruiter may be able to suggest www.legalmind.com.au
potential employers.
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Law
What recruiters are looking for

Recruiters spend their working lives reading résumés, interviewing
candidates and talking to employers, so are well placed to advise on the
job-hunting process. Here’s what they have to say about the profiles of
successful candidates.
Jane Bishop – Hudson legal division

As a legal recuitment consultant, Jane has extensive experience in the
recruitment process and understands what makes a candidate stand out
from the rest.
q&a
What do you look for when you are recruiting junior lawyers?
I look for:
n strong academics (minimum of a credit average)
n well-regarded university
n academic achievements
n well-rounded individual (e.g. sports, interests etc.)
n communication skills
n analytical skills
n presentation
n energy and drive.
What are some of the key industry trends that young lawyers should
be aware of?
n It has become a lot more competitive for lawyers trying to get into
well-regarded firms.
n There’s a bigger emphasis on strong academics.
n The number of private practice lawyers looking to move into
in-house positions has increased.
n There’s also a bigger role for lawyers in-house with an increase in
their decision-making power and input in company direction.
n There’s been an increase in demand for contract/project lawyers.
n There’s also been an increase in the need for lawyers to provide
a commercial/pragmatic legal service and not just a technical
translation of the law.
If a graduate lawyer is looking to eventually take their career

in-house, they should aim to gain private practice training in the
corporate and commercial practice group. This will give them a broad
knowledge of company law and exposure to relevant legislation.
Jane Bishop, Hudson
100
Ready, set,
go for it!
Lisa Gazis – Managing director, Mahlab

As managing director of Mahlab Recruitment (NSW), Lisa is responsible
for placing legal professionals in jobs in private practice, corporations and
government. Mahlab provides services to graduates looking for their first
positions, including online advice about the application process.
q&a
From your experience, what type of person best suits the
legal profession?
The type of person who best suits the legal profession has a genuine
interest in the law, is bright, has good analytical and communication
skills, is able to build relationships with others and also has strong
research skills. They are able to apply the law in a commercial and
practical manner and enjoy finding solutions.
Before making a commitment people should be aware of a few things.
n They need to commit to work and study.
n L ifelong study is necessary to keep abreast of all the changes in the
regulatory and legislative environment.
n To work for the major law firms in Australia or overseas they need to
ensure that they apply themselves during study to ensure they have
a strong academic record as this is a prerequisite to obtaining
such positions.
n The best opportunities and rewards (financial) in law are generally
afforded to specialists.
n The legal profession can provide lawyers with an excellent training
ground. Not everyone who embarks on a career as a lawyer
continues to practise as a lawyer for their entire career. The law is
an excellent springboard into a number of other areas.
Margaret Heath – Director, Law Staff Australia

Margaret is the director of Law Staff Australia, a legal recruitment
company specialising in placing temporary and permanent support and
professional staff in law firms, corporations and government agencies.
The lawyers they place typically have a minimum of two years’ post-
admission experience.
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Law
q&a
What kind of assistance can you provide people starting out in their
legal careers?
We are happy to provide our ‘Interview Tips’ information sheet to
those starting out in their legal careers and give general advice on
the telephone.
What do you look for when you are recruiting junior lawyers?
With junior lawyers we look for paralegal experience during studies,
stable employment history, strong work ethic, ambition and
confidence, together with strong academics.
The practice areas in law are so diverse that it is impossible to
present a prototype of what constitutes a person who best suits this
profession. Basically, though, anyone who enjoys a challenge, has a
passion for the law and enjoys helping people.
Hot jobs now

These are areas within private legal practice the recruiters say are hot
right now. Changes in the economy and other factors mean that other
specialties will probably be in demand in two, three or five years.
Hudson Law Staff Mahlab Michael Page

Mergers and Mergers and
Property Financial services
acquisitions acquisitions
Funds
Construction management and Regulatory law Construction
superannuation
IT & T Construction Employment law Property
Banking and Intellectual Banking and
Corporate law
finance specialists property finance
Regulatory and
IT Property Corporate tax
compliance
Banking and
Capital markets
finance
Superannuation
102
Ready, set,
go for it!
Hot jobs in five years

Lisa Gazis at Mahlab also predicts the following areas are likely to be
hot in five years:
n wealth management
n infrastructure/projects
n health care
n corporate law
n financial services.
Stand out from the crowd

You may be heading for a career in law but before you get your first job
you need to take a temporary diversion into marketing. The product of
course is you!
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Law
In a competitive environment you’ll have to sell yourself effectively. That

doesn’t mean you misrepresent your skills and experience – ultimately,
that’s counterproductive. But you do need to use every opportunity to
present yourself in the best light.
Create an outstanding application

We’re now going look at how to do that with each element of the
recruitment process:
n preparing your résumé
n writing your cover letter
n addressing the selection criteria (relevant for all public sector and
many community sector jobs).
The résumé
Your résumé is a snapshot of who you are and what you have achieved.
In the absence of any other information, you will be judged by potential
employers on the content and the presentation of your résumé, so it is
absolutely crucial to spend time getting it right. The quality of your résumé
could make the difference between you getting an interview or not.
You don’t decide job offers based on reading résumés. Certain

things in a résumé make you think, ‘I’d like to meet this person
and interview them at least’, and other things in a résumé are
going to make you conclude, ‘I don’t think this person is right.’ The
first thing is to just make sure your résumé is well set out, that it’s
logical, clear and easy to follow. And employers can just look at it
without spending too much time and gauge what you are about.
In terms of what actually goes in it, I want to see some good

academic results, hopefully to show you’ve got a bit of intellectual
horsepower. I want to see other things to show that you’re a
well-rounded individual – that you haven’t just sat in a study your
whole life and not interacted with other people. It could be any
combination of things which gives me a sense that you get out
there, interact with others and are quite active. There is always
a degree of artistic licence in a résumé but how far you push that
can help or hinder you. If someone who is applying for a graduate
position embellishes their résumé too much in the way they use
language, then it can lose credibility pretty quickly.
Roger, HR manager, leading law firm
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Ready, set,
go for it!
Margaret Heath, director of legal recruiting firm Law Staff, says

perfect spelling and punctuation are essential. She adds: ‘A great
résumé clearly sets out personal details (name, address and contact
numbers), education and qualifications, and a descriptive, though
brief, outline of each employer and job in order of most current to least
current, including all dates of employment. A stable job history with no
unexplained gaps always stands out.’
Ms Heath also says it is important to note in your résumé the nature of

the organisations you have worked for, as not everyone will know by
their name alone. ‘So, for example, XYZ Pty Ltd, a company specialising
in the development of bionic ears.’
Review your résumé for each job application, and keep the
language used simple and to the point. There may be a need to
highlight some experience pertinent to a particular role.
Margaret Heath, Director, Law Staff Australia
Julia was recently selected to take part in the summer clerkship program
of a large firm. What did she think was in her résumé that made her
stand out from other candidates?
‘I had undertaken many leadership roles during my time at university. I

believe this demonstrates that you are someone who can handle more
than one thing at a time. For example, work, uni and volunteer positions.’
This view is echoed by Elizabeth, who now works as senior associate for find out
a major commercial firm: ‘I was told that the fact that I had worked in more
several part-time jobs during high school and university made me stand www.seek.com.au
out, and showed that I worked hard, and was able to fend for myself. I www.mycareer.com.
also had pretty good grades, and I think that assisted significantly.’ au/advice-research/
www.jobsearch.gov.au
Hugh, a barrister with 20 years’ experience as a lawyer, says ‘Brevity,
www.hays.com.au/
clarity and a focus on the information that would help the employer,’ are career/resume.asp
some of the key things to keep in mind when preparing your résumé.
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Law
Seven steps to success

1 Keep your objective brief and to the point. Strike a balance between
being too general and too specific.
2 Describe what you have gained from your various experiences in

terms that have broad application – teamwork, communication,
customer service.
3 Include one-off achievements as well as ongoing positions you might

have held.
4 Where an achievement has a direct relationship to professional skills,

such as debating, it is worth providing this extra detail.
5 Remember employers are looking for well-rounded people with

a variety of interests, so include your passions – even if they are
ballroom dancing or dirt bike riding.
6 Writing about yourself in this way can be hard. Ask your friends
what they regard as your personal qualities, but include only those
relevant to your professional life.
7 Always ask before putting someone forward as a referee. Also,

let them know when you have applied for a job and what the role
involves so that they can frame their responses accordingly.
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Click here for more FREE industry-specific

106 sample resumes and cover letters from Career FAQs
Ready, set,
go for it!
Tips: Résumé writing

n keep the résumé concise and informative
n demonstrate suitability for the role
n have a clear, easy-to-read and well-presented layout (see

Appendix 6 for an example)
n make sure the résumé is comprehensive
n provide a brief outline of each employer and job
n don’t make subjective comments
n don’t include irrelevant information
n include details of two referees
n limit the amount of personal information you include – no

need to comment on political party affiliation or number
of children
n review your résumé for each job application
Common mistakes include:
n spelling and grammatical errors – fatal!
n layout and design not consistent or easy to follow
n relevant information regarding suitability for a particular role left out
n insufficient detail
n dates for periods of employment not included.
The cover letter

You have to write a cover letter for each job you apply for. Its central
purpose is to explain why you are the right person for the position,
highlighting your work history, qualifications and personal attributes.
The best way to start is by listing all the things that the employer is
looking for as stated in the job ad. For example, legal qualifications,
experience in a law office, an interest in a particular field, good
attention to detail, first-rate communication skills and so on. Then
extract information from your résumé to demonstrate that you meet all
the requirements.
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Law
This is quite straightforward when you are describing your work

experience, but a little more complicated when you address things
like interpersonal skills and teamwork. You can’t just say, ‘I have good
communication skills’. You need to provide examples of how you
effectively used these skills in a work situation.
When applying for public and community sector jobs the role of the cover
letter is similar. Even though you will have to make a claim for the position
addressing the selection criteria (see below for details), the cover letter
should briefly outline how you meet the job requirements.
The cover letter should be no longer than two pages.
ith
Jane Sm St
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10 July
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Six important points about writing a cover letter are:
1 State what position you are applying for and where you saw the ad in
the first paragraph
2 Detail your legal experience – most recent to earliest
3 Explain succinctly what you gained from that work
4 Include voluntary work or other related experience
5 Detail other skills and personal qualities but always demonstrate

how they have been applied
6 Explain why you want to work for this particular employer – ensure
you demonstrate an understanding of their organisation.

Ready, set,
go for it!
It is important to write a tailored cover letter for each application.
Believe me, you won’t get a job with a law firm if your cover letter
says how excited you would be to work in the conference and
event industry.
Margaret Heath, Law Staff
Selection criteria
When you apply for any job in the public sector – and many positions in
the community area – you will have to make a claim for the job based on
selection criteria, in addition to preparing a cover letter and résumé.
Selection criteria describe the skills, knowledge and experience needed

to do the job.
Your claim for the position is the most important part of your
application. The people who best meet the selection criteria will make
it to the next stage of the selection process, usually an interview. And
the questions you will be asked at an interview will be based on the
selection criteria.
In addition to criteria specific to the job, the selection criteria will also
include ‘common criteria’. These are requirements that apply to all
government positions and relate to issues such as Equal Employment
Opportunity and Occupational Health and Safety. Make sure you give
these proper consideration.
Here are the selection criteria for the position of Legal Officer Grade l – lll
with the Crown Solicitor’s Office of the NSW Attorney-General’s Department:
n admitted or eligible for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW
n legal skills which enable the provision of written and oral advice and
representation in matters in areas of law in which the Crown
Solicitor specialises
n organisational skills, incorporating a commitment to competitive and

high quality client-focused services
n ability to work successfully in a competitive and commercial

environment
n communication and interpersonal skills
n knowledge of and capacity to implement alternative/early dispute

resolution techniques
n knowledge and understanding of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
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Law
n knowledge and understanding of Ethical Practice
n knowledge and understanding of Ethnic Affairs Priorities

Statement (EAPS)
n knowledge and understanding of Occupational Health and Safety

(OH&S).
Under each criterion you would need to:
n explain how your skills, experience, abilities, and personal qualities

relate to that criterion and the duties of the role
n think of examples of your major achievements which illustrate your

claims. Just saying you can do something or that you have had
experience is not enough
n include only relevant information
n make your response to each criterion comprehensive but concise.
Points to consider when responding to selection criteria:
Tips: Responding to selection criteria

n Read the job advertisement and other information
very carefully.
n Get an information kit so you have all the details

you need.
n Speak to the contact person – they can provide a real

find out sense of what the job entails and other information that
more will help you decide whether to apply for the job.
About responding to n Make sure your cover letter summarises your work
selection criteria for NSW
government jobs history and qualifications to demonstrate that you meet
www.eeo.nsw.gov.au/jobs/ the selection criteria. Ideally, no more than two pages
eeointro/eeointro.htm in length.
n Don’t leave your application until the last moment. It is likely

to take you more time than you think to complete adequately.
n If you are invited to an interview ask if there is any sort of

practical test that forms part of the selection process.
n Give due consideration to the common selection criteria.

These may include demonstrating your understanding of
EEO and OH&S policies, and how they relate to the position.
110
Ready, set,
go for it!
n Prepare for the interview by reading the material in the

information kit. Many of the questions you will be asked
will be based on the selection criteria.
n If you don’t get the job, call the selection committee
convenor to discuss why. They may be able to give you
valuable insights that will help you when you next apply
for a position.
How can I stand out at the interview?

Job interviews are a bit like going to the dentist: you’re nervous
beforehand and feel uncomfortable during the process. But, needless to
say, interviews are an inevitable part of advancing your career.
Let’s have a look at how to tackle the interview process and win that job.
Preparing for the interview

The experts all agree – good preparation is paramount. If you do your
homework, you’ll significantly increase your chances of success. You
might even learn to enjoy the experience.
It might sound like stating the obvious but knowing exactly what is in your
résumé is crucial because the document forms the basis of the interview.
The interviewer will have read your résumé and will ask you
questions about it. If someone asks you about a particular job and
you can’t recall much about it, it’s not going to be very productive.
Roger, National HR manager, large law firm
Law Staff’s Margaret Heath says there is no second chance at first

impressions. ‘Research the organisation on the Internet and learn as
much as you can about it.’
She also recommends that before the interview you make a list of the
things you can offer – all your skills and strengths. Also make note of
possible areas of improvement. ‘If you have really thought about these
things, the answers to interview questions will come to you more easily.’
Going one step further, it is important to link the information in your

résumé with the job you are applying for.
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Law
Always ask yourself what the interviewers will need to know in

order to give you the job. Think through all relevant experience,
personal qualities and work experience activities which could be of
interest and which you could discuss.
Lisa Gazis, Mahlab law recruitment firm
Frank is completing his legal studies and has already been offered a job as a
lawyer in the firm where he currently works as a paralegal. He recommends
spending between two and four hours preparing for each interview.
‘You have to research the firm and make sure you’re very clear on who
they are because that will give you an insight into the type of person
they are looking for.’
Increasingly, interviewers ask behavioural questions which deal

with real-life situations, such as how you have dealt with conflict or
competing demands on your time. Think about how you could answer
these sorts of questions in ways which highlight your strengths.
Key points to consider when preparing for an interview:
n have a good understanding of the company or firm’s business
n know the names and titles of the interviewers
n review your résumé – know exactly what you have done and when
n be fully briefed on the role and be ready to demonstrate why you are
a good fit
n think of problem situations you might have experienced at work and

how you handled them
n prepare questions to demonstrate your interest in the position and

the organisation
n practise your interview technique – get a friend to ask you

likely questions
n ensure grooming and presentation are impeccable – lawyers always

wear a suit.
Source: Hudson, Law Staff, and Mahlab
Making an impact at the interview

Job interviews can be a balancing act. On one hand you want to
demonstrate how your experiences, skills and ambitions make you ideal
for the particular job and organisation. On the other, you don’t want to
give a false impression about who you are and what you’ve done.
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Ready, set,
go for it!
The most important thing is to be yourself rather than thinking about

what the interviewer wants to hear.
At the end of the day, what interviewers are trying to ascertain is,
what is this individual about? Who is this person I’m meeting and
talking to? If you give the sense that your responses are scripted,
you’re not going to give a level of comfort to your interviewer.
Roger, HR manager, large law firm
Julia, who worked as a summer clerk for a large firm, says emphasising that
she was the right fit was a key part of her interview strategy. ‘I was very
clear about who I was and what I saw in their firm that correlated with this.’
She also suggests having three or four strong points that you would like to
make, either about yourself or about why you would like to work at the firm.
‘At the end of each answer you give, make sure you relate it back to one of
those points. That way, they will remember you after you leave the interview.’
Louise, a commercial lawyer, aimed to impress with her knowledge of

the organisation, but wasn’t afraid to express her own views. ‘I asked
questions which showed I was interested in the firm but didn’t just
agree with everything the interviewer said.’
Being up-front also paid dividends for Samir, a senior associate in

a mid-sized Sydney firm. ‘I was told I got my second job by being
‘refreshingly honest’. I told them I had stronger written rather than oral
communications skills.’
Elizabeth, a senior associate at a large city firm, says you will improve
your interview skills with practice.
Don’t have the interview for the job you want most, first. If
possible, have it later on in the round of interviews, by which time
you will be more experienced. It makes a big difference if the
interview is relaxed and there is laughter, rather than it being
stiff and formal.
Elizabeth, Senior associate, large city firm
Ultimately, Margaret Heath from Law Staff says, ‘Remind yourself that the
interviewer is just a person like you. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing
that could happen?” If you don’t get the job, there will be another one.’
113
Law
Key points
n Make sure you are on time – arriving late is unprofessional.
n When meeting the interviewers, make eye contact and shake hands.
n Let the interviewer guide the process and listen carefully to
the questions.
n Keep your answers concise and focused on issues relevant to the job.
n Don’t ask about salary or benefits – let the employer raise the issue.
n If you are unsure about the job part way through the interview, keep
positive and do not let it show – you may find out more information
that changes your mind again.
n At the end of the interview let the interviewer know you are
interested in the job and thank them for their time.
n Make eye contact and shake their hands again on leaving.
Common interview mistakes include:
n lack of knowledge about the position and/or organisation

n inability to express thoughts clearly or to recall information
regarding experience
n lack of interest and enthusiasm
n poor presentation (personal appearance and/or speech)
n lack of confidence and nervousness
n lack of career direction
n evasive or clipped answers
n not answering questions succinctly
n bad handshake – avoid both the bone cruncher and the
dead fish handshake
n bad hygiene and presentation
n bad body language – lack of eye contact and crossed arms.
Source: Hudson, Law Staff, and Mahlab
detour If a young lawyer is considering working overseas at some stage

in their career, they should avoid working in areas that are not
Check out Career
FAQs Global to find out transferable, such as litigation, taxation and property law. Some
about more OS jobs areas where skills are transferable include corporate, finance,
www.careerfaqs.com.au banking, superannuation and funds management.
Margaret Heath, Law Staff
114
Ready, set,
go for it!
Tips: General recruitment

n Study hard and get good grades – your education is the
foundation stone for your career and potential employers
will look at your academic record first.
n Get relevant work experience wherever you can.
n Volunteer in an area that interests you – community

involvement is well regarded.
n Pursue your passion, whether it’s drama, sport, music

or dirt bike racing – employers are usually looking for
well-rounded people.
n Talk to as many people in and around the profession as

you can.
n Find a mentor – someone in the profession who can guide

and advise you.
n Spend time preparing a résumé that clearly and

accurately reflects your skills and achievements.
n Practise your interview skills.
n Apply for a number of jobs in the areas that you want to

work – don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
n Don’t apply for a job if you’re not really interested – you

might get it.
What can I do right now?

n Go to court and see the law at work. All courts, including the
Supreme Court and High Court, are open to the public.
n Identify people you know in the legal profession and talk to them
about their work.
n Start networking – talk to people about your goals and make notes
on any contacts they have or ways they can help. Always follow up
– it could lead to your first job, if not immediately then at some stage
in the future.
115
Law
n Organise a lawyer to speak at your school or community group about

a current legal issue. The NSW Law Society can assist.
n Volunteer at a law-related community organisation which matches

your interests – you don’t have to be legally qualified. For example,
there are community legal centres which specialise in the arts
and the environment. Check out all the options at the National
Association of Community Legal Centres website – www.naclc.org.au.
n Read about the experiences of junior lawyers on the law student

portal www.cvmail.com.au.
n Keep up to date with the profession. BRW magazine and The Australian
Financial Review both cover the legal profession and websites such as
www.lawyersweekly.com.au provide regular updates.
n Find out when the next careers fair is on and put the date in your diary.
n Go to some of the websites mentioned in the book to get a better

idea about the various job opportunities and their requirements.
detour
If you are interested in a career in law, you ,may be interested in other
Find out about other
careers such as investment banking, accounting or engineering. For
Career FAQs titles of interest
at www.careerfaqs.com.au something really different, have a look at some adrenaline-charged
careers in Career FAQs Xtreme.
116
PAGE 117
MALLESON’S AD
(AD PAGE 9)
PAGE 118
MIDDLETONS AD
(AD PAGE 10)

PAGE 119
DEACONS AD
(AD PAGE 11)

PAGE 120
CAREER FAQS AD
(AD PAGE 12)

Buzz words
Buzz words
This list of industry buzz words includes terms and acronyms used throughout
the book.
AG Attorney-General
AGS Australian Government Solicitor
ALSA Australian Law Students’ Association
ANU Australian National University, Canberra
AWL Australian Women Lawyers
BA Bachelor of Arts
Bar the part of the legal profession that involves barristers
budget the amount of money you need to generate in fees in a

month or year
chambers a barrister’s office
committal proceeding in the local court where it is decided

whether an accused should be committed for trial
to a superior court
common law law not embodied by legislation but derived from court
decisions and interpretation by courts
conference generally refers to a meeting with counsel. You never

have a meeting with counsel – you have a ‘conference’
with them
contract a legally binding promise or agreement, which may be

informal or formal, oral or written
conveyancing the branch of legal practice concerned with the transfer

of property rights
culture the combined attitudes and practices favoured by

an organisation
damages the sum of money a party claims when it alleges another

party is in breach of an agreement
DPP the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
EAPS Ethnic Affairs Priorities Statement
121
Law
EDO Environmental Defenders Office
EEO Equal Employment Opportunity
HECS Higher Education Contribution Scheme
HSC Higher School Certificate
indictment bringing a formal charge against a party
instructions a lawyer is instructed by a client, rather than hired or

engaged; a lawyer acts on a client’s instructions
LEC the Law Extension Committee of the University of

Sydney that assits students in their preparation for the
Legal Practioners Admission Board’s examinations
litigation the practice of law that involves resolving disputes

– through court proceedings if necessary
LLB means Legum Baccalaureus which is Latin for Bachelor of

Laws – while Latin is a dead language, the term is
still used throughout the world as initials that signify
a law degree
LPAB Legal Profession Admission Board
made up promoted to the level of partner in a law firm
matter the work that you (and your firm) is engaged to do for a
client; also referred to as ‘file’
mention a short court appearance
moot subject to argument or discussion; debatable; doubtful
mooting a mock court for the conduct of hypothetical legal cases,

as for practise for students of law
OHS Occupational Health and Safety
paralegal related to the legal profession in a supplementary

capacity, often used of legal workers who are not
formally qualified
partner a senior member of a law firm, usually one who shares

in the profits of the practice. These are called equity
partners. There are also partners who receive only a
salary and they are often called general partners
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
122
PLT Practical Legal Training
pro bono is the short form of a Latin phrase, pro bono publico,
which means ‘for the public good’ – used when a lawyer
performs legal work without pay for the public good i.e.
social causes
Senior Counsel when a barrister has achieved a certain level of

competence he/she may ‘take silk’ i.e. becomes a Senior
Counsel – replaced the term, Queen’s Counsel, in 1993
standard of proof the level to which a case has to be proved: beyond

reasonable doubt or on the balance of probabilities
summer clerks the name given to legal students working in law firms
over the summer break of university to experience
firsthand what it is like to work at that firm – summer
clerkships are offered by many law firms
TER Tertiary Entrance Rank
tipstaff assistant to the judge in the Supreme Court
UAC University Admissions Centre
UAI University Admission Index
UTS University of Technology Sydney
USYD University of Sydney
vexatious usually used to describe a claim that is without merit
well rounded what law firms are looking for in their young lawyers
– people who pursue a variety of interests
123
Law
Appendix 1
Salary scales 2005
Banking and financial services

Years of experience 0–2 3–5 6–10 10+
Insurance 45–72 60–110 100–165 150–200
Funds management 65–90 80–140 125–200 180–230
Retail banking 47–78 65– 110 100–165 140–200
Investment banking 60–100 100–165 150–220 180–240
General counsel
Insurance 200
Funds management 275+
Retail banking 300+
Investment banking 275+
Compliance
Compliance analyst 60–90
Compliance manager 85–130
Senior compliance
120–180
manager
Head of compliance 160–350

124
Appendix 2
Top 25 Australian law firms by number of partners*
Firm Number of partners
Minter Ellison 280
Mallesons Stephen Jaques over 200
Freehills over 200
Allens Arthur Robinson over 200
Blake Dawson Waldron 182
Clayton Utz 190
Phillips Fox 185
Deacons 147
Corrs Chambers Westgarth Lawyers 116
Gadens Lawyers 112
Hunt & Hunt over 110
Baker & McKenzie 80
Middletons Lawyers 65
Gilbert & Tobin Lawyers approx 50
Piper Alderman Lawyers 50
Ebsworth & Ebsworth 50
Sparke Helmore Lawyers 47
Henry Davis York 45
Maddocks 43
Dibbs Abbott Stillman 35
Holding Redlich 35
TressCox Lawyers 35
Abbott Tout approx 30
McCullough Robertson (Brisbane) 29
Arnold Bloch Leibler 25
* The number of partners is not indicative of the size of the business nor the profitability of
the firm.
125
Law
Appendix 3
Comparative starting salaries of lawyers
to other professions
Seeking full-time Seeking full-time
In full-time Further Median starting salary
Bachelor degree employment, not employment, working
employment full-time study ($000)
working part-time or casual
Agriculture 75.3 9.2 15.5 21.2 35.0
Architecture** 90.9 4.1 5.0 26.9 31.3
Building 89.3 3.9 6.8 22.6 35.0
Urb & reg planning 92.3 4.5 3.2 14.6 40.0
Humanities 67.0 12.3 20.8 34.1 33.0
Languages 71.7 9.8 18.5 42.7 36.0
Vis/perf arts 56.0 15.1 28.9 34.9 32.0
Social sciences 68.5 13.2 18.3 34.7 35.3
Psychology 70.3 9.3 20.4 45.1 37.0
Social work 77.9 7.0 15.0 9.4 37.7
Business studies 80.1 7.3 12.6 16.4 35.0
Accounting 87.1 7.5 5.4 9.4 35.0
Economics 85.1 6.1 8.8 25.0 38.7
Education 79.6 3.1 17.3 7.4 40.0
Education post/other 91.1 1.3 7.6 15.6 40.0
Aeronautical eng 76.3 13.6 10.2 16.0 42.0
Chemical eng 84.2 10.8 5.0 28.0 44.5
Civil engineering 96.5 2.5 1.0 10.0 40.0
Electrical eng 80.7 11.3 8.0 19.8 42.0
Elect/Comp eng 77.7 13.4 8.9 25.9 41.0
Mechanical eng 85.4 8.1 6.5 11.7 42.5
Mining engineering 96.6 3.4 0.0 10.1 57.0
Other engineering 85.8 8.2 6.1 18.0 40.1
Surveying 93.0 3.5 3.5 9.8 37.5
Dentistry 97.0 1.5 1.5 2.7 60.0
Health, other 79.3 6.3 14.4 29.1 38.7
Nursing, initial 95.9 0.6 3.5 6.2 37.0
Nursing, post-initial 95.9 0.7 3.3 7.4 37.2
Pharmacy** 99.1 0.0 0.9 15.3 29.0
Medicine 98.3 0.3 1.5 11.4 45.3
Rehabilitation 91.0 2.1 6.8 15.5 40.0
Law 87.4 5.8 6.8 21.6 40.0
Law, other 85.6 6.2 8.1 20.3 33.5
Computer science 70.5 14.9 14.6 22.6 38.0
Life sciences 69.0 10.8 20.2 47.3 36.0
Mathematics 64.4 18.2 17.3 45.3 40.0
Chemistry 78.7 10.1 11.1 50.6 37.0
Physics 69.0 10.1 20.9 54.7 38.0
Geology 79.3 12.9 7.9 43.7 40.0
Veterinary science 98.0 0.0 2.0 8.1 36.0
Total % 79.7 7.4 12.9 23.4 38.0
Total number 34 360 3 172 5 570 15 212 14 026
Total % may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Bachelor degree graduates: employment, further study and starting
salaries (%), 2004
Source: www.graduatecareers.edu.au
* Base figure is group in full-time employment. ** Pre-registration
126
Appendix 4
FAQs answered by an academic
The University of Sydney’s Professor Don Rothwell is well placed to
answer some common questions about studying law.
q&a
Do you think many people choose law simply because they get the
necessary university entrance score? Is this is problem?
It is a common experience. It might reflect the fact that students put
so much effort into their HSC year and perhaps don’t put a lot of
thought into what their career options might be until after they get
their entrance score.
I think students are often selecting the study of law without really
giving sufficient consideration to what the law is as a career. They are
driven by the fact that they got a UAI which will make them eligible
for admission and, accordingly, they want to get the best reward for
all of that effort. I think there’s also a sense that the law is a relatively
high-paying career option. Given the costs involved in studying these
days, being able to recoup those costs with a relatively highly paid
professional career is one that many students are looking towards.
Whether that ultimately makes a good law student is much debated.
I think there is a concern in the law schools that students do not
necessarily come with a strong vocational calling for service or the
necessary professional attributes for understanding that ultimately
they’re there to provide a service to clients and assist clients in
resolving their legal problems.
What is the connection between academic success and success as a
legal practitioner?
There is not necessarily a very high correlation between the two.
Certainly you need to have a certain academic standard to study
law but the current cut-off rates are very much inflated as a result
of competition to get into law schools. So students with even
relatively modest UAI scores can do quite well in law and certainly,
upon graduation and moving out into professional life, can succeed
exceptionally well.
There’s not a strong correlation and, indeed, at Sydney Law School
we receive some of the brightest students in New South Wales by
the nature of the very high cut-off rates, but that’s not a guarantee of
immediate success in terms of study or career.
127
Law
What options are available if someone wants to get into law but
doesn’t achieve the necessary marks?
Traditionally, we would advise students of three options.
1 If you do secure entry into a law program somewhere within the
state, given the exceptionally competitive nature of entry into a
law program, you should probably take that option. You can either
complete your studies in that institution or there is the option to
transfer after the first year of your combined program.
2 T
he second option is to complete an undergraduate degree in
whatever area and apply to law as a graduate. And that’s becoming
increasingly popular, though as it becomes more popular, it also
becomes more competitive. We now find at the University of Sydney
that we have students applying via that route who have a master’s
degrees or even a doctorate.
3 T
he third route is to commence an undergraduate degree in another
discipline but seek to transfer into law after the first year of your
studies. This is particularly effective if you are just below the UAI
cut-off and are able to do quite well in that first year.
What are the difficulties of studying for the Diploma in Law as
opposed to doing a law degree at university?
One of the most significant differences is that it is a part-time program
and only offered during the evening and it doesn’t provide the same
opportunities as a university-based program does. By that I mean
all the additional benefits of university life and the other aspects of
studying within a fully functioning and operating law school program
based within a university. Having said all that, there are some very
notable graduates from that particular program, including Justice
McHugh, a current justice on the High Court of Australia. For students
who apply themselves there is no reason why they couldn’t go on and
have successful legal careers.
Would it be accurate to say that, as a qualification, it is not as well
regarded as an LLB?
I think that would be a fair comment.
At what points do students commonly strike problems over the course
of a five-year combined degree?
I think in the first year a number of students are inevitably finding
their way. Also, many students who chose law because they got a high
UAI might question whether the law is really the career for them.
Because of the nature of combined law studies at nearly every
university in New South Wales, many students find the first part of
the program to be a bit of a challenge because they’re working across
two different faculties, whether it’s science and law, arts and law, or
economics and law. That in itself poses certain challenges. Accordingly,
many students find the final years of their law program are more
128
rewarding because they are only studying law. The other element
that inevitably arises is just one of burnout and fatigue that sets in
towards the latter period of the degree. Quite a number of students
now elect to go on exchange programs in their fourth and fifth year.
Some students might take a year off between year three and four to
refresh themselves.
What can people do to determine whether the law is the right course
of study?
There’s nothing to stop prospective law students going to court and
watching proceedings. There are many opportunities to do that,
whether at the Local Court level, District Court, Supreme Court or even
the High Court. The courts are open for public access and that is one
way of encountering the reality of the law. Television legal drama is
find out
not always accurate.
more
But I think students need to ask themselves as a result of their HSC About HECS
studies whether they have some of the fundamental elements needed: www.goingtouni.gov.au
a critical inquiring mind and whether they are content to spend a About courses, UAIs
lot of time reading, thinking and reflecting. That can be drawn from and fees – Good
work in a number of HSC subjects – history in particular, geography, Universities Guide
politics, economics and the like. That doesn’t mean to say that science www.thegoodguides.com.au
or maths students are necessarily excluded. But, traditionally, students Check out the websites of
with a social science or humanities background tend to perform better the individual universities.
within law studies.
129
Law
Appendix 5
Sample job ads
Paralegal
• CBD
• Relevant experience required
• Strong admin component
This dynamic media company has an opportunity for a
Paralegal to join its busy legal team.
Working closely with the Director of Legal and one
other solicitor, this is an opportunity to be mentored at
a senior level. There is even the possibility of becoming
Junior Solicitor in the next 1 – 2 years, although career
paralegals are welcome to apply.
Senior candidates are also welcome to apply on a part
time basis – 3 or 4 days per week.
This is a varied and demanding role which will require
liaison and working to deadlines.
Areas of Law include:
Contracts; Due Diligence; Summaries of Deals; Music
Licensing; Immigration.
You will liaise with: production, local unions, government
bodies, Dept of Immigration.
The hours are 9 – 6 pm and parking is available.
Please note that this is not a graduate role but LPAB
students are welcome to apply. Ideally you will have at
least 1 year remaining in your studies.
Please call Diane on 02 5555 1111 to find out more
or email greatjobs@tv.com.au
130
Australian Government Solicitor – Executive Assistant
An opportunity is currently available for a dynamic and highly motivated
Executive Assistant to join our Revenue team. The EA role is responsible for
coordinating and overseeing legal support staff workloads, assisting the Team
Leader with client liaison activities and managing team systems and procedures,
as well as providing general secretarial and administrative support to the team.
In order to be considered, you will need to address Competencies Required
as outlined in the role description. Prior experience working within a tax legal
practice will be highly regarded.
An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated with the successful

applicant which will include superannuation, access to performance bonuses
and profit sharing. For more information, including details on how to apply,
please visit our website at www.ags.gov.au/careers/vacancies
Graduate Program
Sydney
March 2006 commencement
13 month graduate rotation program
“Middletons breaks the mould when it comes to big law firms”

• size, like expertise and geographical reach, is a given for our clients
• our lawyers talk our clients’ language but challenge their thinking
• our approach is different to others, we offer advice and services
built on intellect, inspiration, influence, involvement, integrity
and individuality.
Middletons is a leading Australian commercial law firm servicing
clients nationally and internationally. We have 65 partners, a further
190 legal staff and a total staff in excess of 420. We are committed
to a growth strategy, particularly in Sydney, to further build on our
already well established commercial practice and to achieve our
goal of becoming the genuine alternative to the mega firms.
Inspiration is what gets us out of bed in the morning. And with inspiration
comes genuine enthusiasm. It lies in doing the kinds of legal work
we love, for people we respect. In the clever idea or novel approach
that creates a way forward. The adrenalin rush of a major deal or a
breakthrough in Court. The buzz of a job well done and an ecstatic client.
This is what it’s all about. This is what has inspired you through your
years of study. Your reward is quality work, high profile clients and
career success, within our friendly and social environment.
131
Law
NSW DPP Prosecution

Officer (Lawyer) Level 1
Location: Sydney CBD
Job Status: Permanent Full time
Salary Package: $71,850 pa
Salary Start: $49,314 pa
Salary Top: $64,867 pa
Salary Notes: Employer’s contribution to superannuation
and annual leave loading.
Job Description: P
rovide professional legal research
services to ODPP lawyers and
Crown Prosecutors
Selection Criteria: Demonstrated high order legal
research skills using electronic and paper-based systems.
Professional experience in a legal research environment.
Sound knowledge of the criminal law, including case law,
legislation and evidence. Demonstrated organisational
and time management skills. Excellent oral and written
communication skills. Strong analytical and problem
solving skills. Computer skills. Eligible to hold a practising
certificate as a solicitor in NSW.
Infopackages: John Smith – 555 1234
Closing date: 15 May 2005]
132
Appendix 6
Sample résumé
10 Smith St
Smithfield NSW 2222
Phone: XX XXXX XXXX

Mobile: XX XXXX XXXX
Email: XX XXXX XXXX
Jane Smith
Employment Objective My primary professional aim is to become an established legal practitioner.
I am committed to taking advantage of every opportunity to develop my legal
skills in order to become an effective lawyer and a valuable member of
the community.
Education 2001 – 2005

Bachelor of Laws / Diploma Legal Practice
University of Smithfield
2001 – 2003
Bachelor of Arts
2000
Higher School Certificate
Smithfield High School
UAI: 98.50
Legal Experience 2003 – present

Legal Volunteer
Smithfield Legal Centre
As a legal volunteer my role involves interviewing and advising clients, drafting

legal documents, managing multiple files and preparing briefs for counsel.
This experience has been both rewarding and useful, developing my practical
legal skills while at the same time making a small contribution to the community
at large. It has also strengthened my desire to work as a legal practitioner.
March – June 2005

Work placement (PLT)
Williams and Williams
Assisted the senior associate in the property group run matters for major
private sector and government clients. I was able to work both independently
on small matters, such as drafting letters, and as part of a team on more
complex files.
The experience considerably increased my knowledge of property law and

more generally gave me a valuable insight into the responsibilities of a legal
practitioner and the day-to-day operations of a major firm.

sample resumes and cover letters from Career FAQs 133
Law
Employment 2000 – present

Bar Attendant
Smithfield Hotel (casual)
1997 – 2000
Sales Assistant
DefTone Records (casual)
I enjoy working in a service environment and get considerable satisfaction out
of being able to exceed customer expectations.
My experience at the Smithfield Hotel and DefTone Records has brought me
into contact with people from all walks of life and has helped me develop
excellent communication, leadership and teamwork skills.
Extracurricular
Activities 2004 – 2005
Vice-President
University of Smithfield Law Students Association
In this role my primary responsibility was to represent the interests of members
on all matters relating to their educational interests. Key achievements include
forming a staff-student committee within the law school and establishing an
annual graduate legal jobs booklet.
Contributing in this way taught me that the combination of initiative and
teamwork can have significant and lasting results.
2004
University Ambassador
International Students Conference
In January 2004 I travelled to Paris to represent the University of Smithfield at
an international conference of students organised by the European Union. The
purpose of the event was to develop links between tertiary institutions around
the world. During the 10-day conference, I gave a talk at a plenary session
and led a number of small-group forums.
This experience broadened my perspective on educational issues and
emphasised the importance of ongoing dialogue as a way of fostering
international understanding.
2001 – 2004
Captain and team member
University of Smithfield Debating Team
I have had extensive experience in debating and have represented the
University of Smithfield at a number of state and national competitions. In
2004 I captained the team to the national finals. I learned much about thinking
on my feet and developed skills in advocacy.
Competition Results:
• 2004 – Finalist: Australian Universities Debating Challenge
• 2003 – Winner: NSW Universities Debating Competition
• 2003 – Semi-Finalist: NSW Universities Debating Competition
• 2003 – Semi-Finalist: NSW Universities Debating Competition
• 2001 – Runner-Up: Australian Universities Debating Challenge
134
2001 – 2004
Treasurer
Smithfield Surf Lifesaving Club
As treasurer I maintained the financial records of the club and managed all
transactions. Key achievements include obtaining sponsorship from two major
Smithfield businesses and hiring out the clubhouse as a party venue, injecting
much-needed money into the organisation. The experience taught me much
about financial management and the value of entrepreneurial endeavour.
Interests and
Activities Outside work and study, I pursue a number of interests: I play tennis and
soccer, am an active member of my local surf-lifesaving club, sing in a gospel
choir and am learning French.
Personal Qualities I regard myself as a motivated, optimistic and goal-orientated individual

whose actions are based on ethical principles. I thrive on challenges, work
well under pressure and value teamwork.
Referees Academic
Dr Alan Jones
LL.B (Hons), LL.M (Hons), PhD
Lecturer in Criminal Law
Phone:
Employment
Ms Jane Williams
Manager
Smithfield Hotel
Phone:
Personal
Mr Gary Davis
Lawyer
Davis, Allen and Chambers
Phone:
135
Law
Appendix 7
Sample cover letter
Jane Smith
10 Smith St
SMITHFIELD NSW 2222
10 July 2005
Mr. Adam Jones

HR Manager
XYZ Lawyers
GPO Box 000
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Dear Mr. Jones
Re: Graduate Employment Program
I wish to apply for entry into XYZ Lawyers’ graduate program advertised in The Sydney
Morning Herald on 9 July 2005.
I was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 7 July
2005 and am keen to begin my professional career at a reputable and dynamic firm such as
XYZ Lawyers.
I did my practical legal training in the property group at Williams and Williams, where I spent
16 weeks assisting the senior associate run files for major private sector and government
clients.
This experience developed my research, drafting and analytical skills as well as my knowledge
of relevant property legislation. It also gave me the opportunity to work autonomously on
smaller matters and as part of a team on more complex files, where I was able to foster
successful working relationships with colleagues and clients.
I have also developed my practical legal skills as a volunteer at Smithfield Legal Centre.
Working one evening each week since June 2003, I interview and advise clients, draft legal
documents, manage multiple files and prepare briefs for counsel.
In addition to increasing my understanding of common legal problems affecting ordinary
people – in the areas of consumer credit, tenancy and criminal law – the experience has
highlighted the need to pay attention to detail and the importance of fully understanding a
client’s problem before attempting to provide a solution.
I have excellent oral and written communication skills: I was awarded the University Medal for
best final-year law essay and enjoyed being part of Smithfield University’s champion debating
team.
I am now eager to apply all I have learned in a firm which values initiative and hard work. XYZ
Lawyers has a reputation for the high quality of its legal advice, its diverse blue chip client
base and its commitment to service and I would like to be part of the team.
My resume and academic transcript are enclosed. I look forward to being able to discuss the
graduate program further at an interview.
Yours sincerely,
Jane Smith


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Want more quality career resources from Career FAQs for FREE?

Published by Career FAQs Pty Ltd

National Library of Australia

ISBN No. 1 921106 06 9

1. Law – Vocational guidance – New South Wales. 2. Law – Vocational guidance

Publisher: Sue Stevens

Career FAQs acknowledges the following copyright owners for permission to

Graduate Careers Council of Australia

Law Society of New South Wales

Michael Page International

In our system, lawyers cannot sign up for a judicial career straight

ultimate accolade of a life in our profession. If you dream of that

The big picture

Law Council of Australia 27

Ready, set, go for it!

Making an impact at the interview 112

Career FAQs was conceived in 2004 as a result of my own quest

The range of Career FAQs titles is constantly expanding as we

Best of luck with finding the right career for you!

It is always inspirational to find people who are willing

That you all gave so willingly and provided such compelling

Career FAQs books are divided into three main sections.

‘The big picture’ provides an overview of the industry, employment

‘Insider info’ profiles the personal experiences of people who are

cv is a snapshot of a person’s career pathway –

indicates that another Career FAQs title has more

gives you directions to find out more about a

provides additional information or an interesting

provides a brief definition of a term that appears in

are jobs in the industry or profession that, at the

in is a short profile of a specific job, with

MYTH explodes popular myths surrounding a particular

myweek is a day-by-day overview of the typical work-

jobs that have an unconventional, interesting

q&a tells the story of real experiences of people working

highlight some of the issues associated with a

Nonetheless, the law is one of the most interesting and rewarding

As a lawyer you’ll find there is a wide range of career opportunities,

Lawyers are well paid by community standards and are generally

Want more quality career resources

The profession also offers interesting careers for paralegals – people

What do lawyers do?

n interview clients and recommend legal action or other options

n facilitate negotiations between two parties

n draw up contracts, lease agreements, wills and other

n act for one party in a dispute

n appear on behalf of clients in court or at a tribunal hearing

n advise clients of the latest changes to statutes and court decisions.

Private Government Corporate

Commercial Law Administrative Law Corporations Law

Civil Litigation Civil Litigation Banking/Finance

Wills and Estates Advocacy Intellectual Property

Common areas of practice

Many solicitors ‘practise’ in partnerships in legal firms. Others may be

Barristers work on many matters and are generally ‘briefed’ by a

n providing advice and drafting legal documents

n conducting negotiations and appearing in courts on behalf of clients.

Other legal positions include senior counsels, magistrates

What does it take to be a good lawyer? To find out, we went straight

n a good academic record

n a genuine interest in the law

n the ability to interact with people

n to have good people skills

n interview clients and recommend legal action or other options

n facilitate negotiations between two parties

n draw up contracts, lease agreements, wills and other

n act for one party in a dispute

n appear on behalf of clients in court or at a tribunal hearing

n advise clients of the latest changes to statutes and court decisions.

n Corporate: private and public companies

n Public: state, territory and federal governments, and publicly funded

n Mallesons Stephen Jaques

n Allens Arthur Robinson

n Blake Dawson Waldron