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The Careers Guide
Clerkships, Law Firms, Legal Practice Courses,
Private Sector Work and Job Application Skills
Tasmanian University Law Society
TULS.COM.AU
A booklet for law students containing valuable information on
career pathways and options after Graduation
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Disclaimer The viewpoints and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily shared by the
Editor or by the Tasmania University Law Society (‘TULS’). Content in students and graduate
profiles was written by, and reflects the views of, those individuals alone.
All information presented in this document is, to the best knowledge of the Editor and the
society, correct at the time of publication and is subject to change without notice.
This information is provided freely and without obligation. To the greatest extent permitted
by law, the editor and/or TULS accept no responsibility, either joint or several, for any of the
information presented in this document, or any loss or damage, whether financial or
otherwise, incurred in reliance upon, use of or other reference to, this guide and/or the
information contained within it.
The information presented is merely advisory and should not be relied upon without
independent verification. This work is an edited and expanded compilation of information
based on a large number of sources. This guide draws heavily on a variety of sources, including
(but not limited to) information provided by the following sources, all of whom are attributed
to the greatest extent possible throughout this guide:
- The websites of various law firms;
- Previous clerks, students and graduates;
- Brochures and publications issued by firms and Practical Legal Training providers;
- Previous Careers Guides and similar publications, from both UTAS and other
universities;
- Other, independent, online resources;
Any infringement on the intellectual property of any third party is only in good faith and purely
accidental. Amendments can and will be made to this guide to remove any such intellectual
property infringement immediately following contact with the editor of this guide.
The TULS Careers Guide 2014 is prepared and distributed free of charge in the understanding
that the editor, author and other individuals involved in the publication are in no way
responsible for the results of their actions or omissions on the basis of any of the information
provided. Continued reference to or use of this guide indicates your assent to this
understanding, and your unconditional release of any claims which you might wish to bring
against the editor or the society in relation to this guide or your use or reliance thereupon.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the editor, the TULS
Career Director on the below details:
Aaron Moss
2014 Careers Director
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Table Of Contents Disclaimer 3
Table Of Contents 5
Dean’s Welcome 7
ALSA Welcome 9
President’s Welcome 10
Editorial 11
Acknowledgements 12
Practicing Law In The Private Sector 13
Introduction 13
Admission & Legal Practice 14
Admission In Tasmania 14
Tasmanian Legal Practice Course 14
Specific Programs (ANU, College of Law, Leo Cussens) 16
Interstate Admissions Requirements & Programs 22
Corporate Clerkships & Graduate Positions 25
What do corporate firms do? 25
What is a clerkship? What’s a graduate position? 25
How do I apply for Clerkships? What is the selection process? 26
What is cvMail? How do I use it? 28
Firm Profiles 30
International Opportunities 52
Student Profile: Gerard Quek 55
Public Law Careers 57
Introduction 57
Community Legal Centres (CLCs) & Legal Aid 58
Community Legal Centres 58
Legal Aid 59
Court Work & Associateships 61
Becoming An Associate 61
Other Court Work 63
Criminal Law Work – Public Prosecutions 65
Graduate Profile – James Walker 66
Administrative Law Opportunities – Tribunals and the Ombudsman 67
The Office Of The Ombudsman 67
Tribunals 68
Parliamentary Work 69
Tasmania 69
Commonwealth 69
Student Profile: Emilie McDonnell 70
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Non-Legal Options 72
Introduction 72
The Public Sector & Public Service 73
The Commonwealth APS 73
State Public Services 74
Graduate Profile: Dave Port 75
Economics & Finance 77
Graduate Profile – Cameron Ritchie 78
Postgraduate Study & Academia 80
Legal Editing & Publishing 82
Extra-Curricular Opportunities 83
Introduction 83
University Exchange & Travel 84
Student Profile: Rohan Nanthakumar (+ Rebecca Byrnes & Anika Bratzel!) 85
University Competitions 88
Tasmania University Law Society (TULS) 89
University of Tasmania Law Review 91
Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship 91
Important Skills 92
Introduction 92
Résumés/Curriculum Vitae (CV) 93
Résumé Contents 95
Cover Letters 98
Selection Criteria 100
Specific Tips For Applying For Public Service Jobs 100
Interview Tips 101
Preparing For The Interview 101
In The Interview Room 101
After The Interview 102
Phone Interviews 102
Interview Practice Questions 102
Finding Other Opportunities 104
Networking 104
Legal Opportunity Databases 105
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Dean’s Welcome As Dean of the UTAS Law Faculty, I would like to take this opportunity
to commend to you this TULS Careers Guide, which provides advice
to students transitioning from study to future careers. In many
respects, the UTAS Law Faculty is well-placed nationally. In the most
recent ERA exercise (Excellence in Research for Australia) in 2012, the
UTAS Law Faculty was confirmed to be above world class, in the top
tier of the 30+ Law Schools in Australia, and a recent international
ranking (QS World Rankings, 2014) placed us in the top 200 Law
Schools in the world. As a world class Law Faculty, we hold out high
expectations for our graduates and their careers.
The UTAS Law Faculty has a lot to offer our students: good quality teaching, an active research
environment which includes a strong postgraduate student body, and a welcoming and
collegiate atmosphere. In particular, we believe that there is strength in our smaller size
compared to some of the larger universities where students’ experiences are more
impersonal. Here there is a clear sense of Faculty identity and community which students can
share. We offer pastoral care of students and foster meaningful relationships between staff
and students. An excellent facilitator in this regard is your TULS organisation and the Faculty
enjoys a good working relationship with TULS.
An important TULS’ initiative has been the development of this Careers Guide. I want to
recommend this guide to you as a useful resource which brings together a wealth of
information. It is very practically oriented with up-to-date information about pathways to
admission to practice. This includes information about the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
offered by the University of Tasmania which has a very good reputation for being very hands
on with substantial practical experience, including advocacy training with magistrates and
members of the judiciary. The Careers Guides also canvasses a range of work options from
the corporate to the public sector with good practical advice on preparation of applications.
In dealing with public sector roles, this guide cross-references the TULS Student Opportunities
Guide and compliments that valuable resource.
A Law degree is a very versatile qualification: entering the legal profession is one obvious
pathway after graduation, but there are many others, as this Career Guide reinforces. There
is no doubt that a Law degree is a well-respected qualification that can lead into many other
roles, particularly when combined with another degree allowing you to play to specific
strengths. It is therefore important for your long term career and personal fulfilment that you
use your Law degree effectively, whether directly, or indirectly. To this end, I encourage you
all to make it your business to explore options so that you can make informed decisions,
ensuring that you find the right career to match your skills, aspirations, and allow you to fulfil
your full potential.
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I am confident that our students will find this Careers Guide useful as they seek to position
themselves to maximise their opportunities whilst at UTAS and for future careers. As this
guide acknowledges, the employment market is very competitive and employers are
increasingly seeking out graduates who have had a diversified work experience. We are
observing growing interest and expectations from employers in examining what extra-
curricular activities applicants have undertaken; to this end, having some voluntary work
experience on your CV can be very beneficial. There are a range of opportunities, including
those offered through TULS and Faculty involving mentored training opportunities (e.g. the
Student Legal Service, the Prisoner Advisory Service and the Refugee Legal Service). There
are, of course, also a whole range of opportunities for voluntary work in the community as
documented in the TULS Student Opportunities Guide which can usefully enhance your CV,
particularly at a time when opportunities for relevant paid work pre-graduation may be
scarce.
The Law Faculty is proud of the quality of the graduates that it produces. It has a reputation
for producing able, well-rounded graduates, and we have many leading lights amongst our
alumni both in Australia and overseas. There are many pathways to success and the Faculty
is keen to work with you for constructive teaching and learning. In conjunction with TULS, and
working with the profession, the Faculty also seeks to promote to our students information
about job opportunities which I receive from local and national organisations.
Professor Margaret Otlowski
Law Faculty Dean 2014
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ALSA Welcome Welcome to the Tasmania University Law Society’s Careers Guide for 2014!
My name is Charlotte Thomas and I am the 2013/2014 President of the
Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA). I am a law student at the
University of Adelaide and am in my fourth year of studies.
As a law student, you are part of a broad network of people from all corners
of the country. All 28,000 Australian law students are automatically members
of ALSA and during your time at university you will hopefully have the
opportunity to meet many of your fellow students.
ALSA is the peak national representative body for Australian law students. ALSA’s
membership is comprised of both law students as well as the Law Student Societies, such as
the Tasmania University Law Society, that operate at each Australian law school.
ALSA has a number of functions relevant to law students, including:
Facilitating an information-sharing forum for Law Student Societies from around the
country;
Representing and advocating for law students’ interests on a national platform; and
Providing services for Australian law students as well as the opportunity to attend and
compete at ALSA’s national annual conference, held in July.
In 2014 ALSA is working to further enhance its relevance to and engagement with Australian
law students. In particular we are hoping to:
Expand our support for newer and smaller Law Student Societies and their initiatives;
Respond to issues facing law students across Australia;
Foster strong relationships between ALSA and Law Student Societies such as TULS; and
Promote ALSA on both a national and international stage, including in New Zealand and
throughout Asia.
Our 2014 ALSA Conference will be held from July 7-13, and we are looking forward to
welcoming hundreds of law students to the host city of Brisbane. Please visit
www.alsaconference2014.com.au for more information and instructions on how to register!
On our website (www.alsa.net.au) you will find a range of information about ALSA’s
publications, competitions, and commentary on national issues. If there is ever anything with
which we can assist, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the ALSA Executive or
Committee.
I wish you all the best for 2014!
Charlotte Thomas
2013/2014 President
Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA)
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President’s Welcome The TULS careers guide is a yearly initiative that is viewed by
both the law faculty and students to be a helpful resource in
assisting with career decision making.
TULS understands the emotional roller coaster that our
students go through when planning their career directions. As
we move closer to the end of our degree and into the
“corporate world”, some of us feel increasingly uncertain;
therefore the careers guide seeks to assist students by
incorporating vital information that provides direction and
opportunities when making career choices.
Among several significant contents, I found the articles on work
experiences very helpful as the writer provides valuable
insights on an industry or firm.
Furthermore, the interview advices in the guide encourage students to create favourable
impressions with potential employers that inevitably increase the chances of receiving an
offer for a job.
TULS would also like to take the opportunity to thank the Dean of the Law Faculty; Professor
Otlowski for her warm support, Aaron Moss, the Careers Director for his undying dedication
and the kind sponsors and writers who contribute their time and resources to make this guide
a success.
We sincerely hope that the careers guide would play a role in your career decision making
processes and we wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Gerard Quek
President
Tasmania University Law Society (TULS)
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Editorial Legal Eagles,
Welcome to the 2014 TULS Careers Guide, thank you very much
for your interest! This guide is produced by TULS to inspire you as
to what your options are after law school, and to help give you
the skills and knowledge to get you there.
This book, a labour of love, hopes to inspire you with some of the
things which might be available to you after law school and to
give you all something to dream about, making those long days
in the law library worth your effort. We have attempted to pull
together a diverse range of opportunities, and we’re confident
that there is something here for those who dream of being the
next Elle Woods, Harvey Spector or Alan Shore, as well as those
who desire something a little less traditional.
Hopefully this guide will help to spark something inside of you which will give you a bit of
purpose to your law degree, and remind you why you came to law school in the first place.
Whether it’s to ensure that society is kept safe, the voiceless are heard, the underprivileged
are protected, or government is constrained, this guide will hopefully act as your map to get
you from where you are now to where you want to go.
One of the things which makes me so excited about this guide is the focus upon skills and tips
to ensure that you can hold your own in the often intimidating job market. The things that
you don’t get taught in a textbook are so very important, and we’ve gone above and beyond
to collect and assemble what we’re confident will be the best tool to land your dream job.
I’d urge you consider this guide alongside the TULS Student Opportunities Guide, which
contains volunteering and internship opportunities, focusing on other opportunities for those
less corporate minded amongst us and those which can be undertaken now.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, please feel free to forward me any feedback you
might have, as well as any new opportunities you find. I hope that this becomes a useful
reference, and that the hard work of everybody involved in assembling this book pays off.
Aaron Moss
Careers Director
Tasmania University Law Society
M: 0409 571 450
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Acknowledgements Assembling this guide has been an immense job, and it’s one I couldn’t have done alone.
As a result, I’d like to thank like to thank a number of people who were critical in completing
this document.
Firstly, Victoria Stewart – the 2013 Careers Officer – for her assistance and for allowing us to
update and tweak her guide from last year. Many panicked Facebook messages were sent.
Primarily, I’d like to thank:
The UTAS Faculty of Law for their endless and generous support of this guide, and
TULS generally. Without them, this wouldn’t happen. Special thanks must go out to
the Dean, Professor Otlowski, as well as Deputy Dean Rick Snell.
o Special thanks must go to Ms. Christine Beuermann especially for her endless
support, patience and advice for which I am deeply grateful.
The UTAS Careers Team for their support, advice and feedback, especially Brigid
Wilkinson who was generous enough to provide some leads for me to investigate
The ALSA team and the ALSA President, as well as the TULS team for supporting and
working so hard in this field – special thanks to Laura Michaelson and Brenton Worth
for their moral support, and Verity Dawkins for designing the cover
All the 2014 TULS Sponsors, especially Allens Linklaters, College of Law, King & Wood
Mallesons, Tasmanian Centre for Legal Studies, Leo Cussens Centre for Law, Baker &
McKenzie and Palgrave MacMillan
I’d also like to thank:
Theo Kapodistrias, Rhiannon Fletcher, Cameron Ritchie, Madeleine Figg, Rohan
Nanthakumar, Rebecca Byrnes, Anika Bratzel, Dave Port and Emilie McDonnell for
their awesome graduate and student profiles
James Walker for allowing me to keep his insightful grad profile from last year, and for
being an academic inspiration to many, including myself
Alexander Moores for his fantastically detailed graduate profile and just for being an
awesome guy and one of the best friends with whom I’ve been blessed
Peter Scott and Madeleine Figg (2013 UTAS Law Review Editors) for contributing their
short section for the extra-curricular section of the guide
George Holgate, Luke Ogden and Grace Williams for copy-editing and link checking!
Annabelle Ward for liaising with me regarding our guides - you should all check out
her Student Opportunities Guide, seriously.
Gerard Quek for being a super supportive President, and for his lovely grad profile!
Genevieve James, Christian Street and Jules Moxon for putting up with me and my
neurosis and constantly inspiring me. Without them, I wouldn’t be here to do this.
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Practicing Law In The Private Sector Introduction
The first part of the Careers Guide will focus on giving you your own Elle Woods, Harvey
Spector or Denny Crane moment in legal practice.
Designed to walk you from Graduation to the day your surname is listed on the company
letterhead, this section includes information on:
Admissions & Legal Practice Courses
Corporate Clerkships
Graduate Positions
International Positions
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Admission & Legal Practice
Admission In Tasmania
Admission and legal practice in Tasmania is regulated by the Legal Profession Act 2007 (Tas).
This Act outlines the requirements for legal practice in Tasmania, and the procedures for
getting yourself to the point where you can call yourself a real life lawyer.
A detailed analysis of the provisions and conditions of this Act are outside the scope of this
guide, however, section 25 of that Act requires you to have completed both an ‘approved
academic qualification’ – a law degree – and an ‘approved practical legal training
requirement’.
The latter program, commonly known as ‘Legal Prac’, is a short, practically-oriented skills
training program designed to give you the required skills and knowledge to put your law
degree into practice. There are a range of Practical Legal Training courses available for UTAS
Graduates, and one is sure to fit in with your post-graduation plans!
Tasmanian Legal Practice Course
Introduction:
The Tasmanian Legal Practice Course (TLPC) is a post graduate professional legal training
program whose graduates are eligible to apply for admission as legal practitioners. In
addition, graduates are awarded a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of
Tasmania. The Course is conducted by the Centre for Legal Studies at the UTAS Hunter Street
campus.
Why complete a Professional Legal Training Program?
The TLPC is a practical and challenging course that provides you with an invaluable skill set
whether or not you intend to practice law. In each year trainees complete the TLPC for
different reasons: because they intend to practice law; to help decide if they want to practice
law; to keep their career options open should they choose to practice law in the future; to
expand their qualifications and opportunities in the job market; or to gain practical skills, such
as advocacy and letter writing to use in other professional roles.
Why complete the TLPC? The Course is recognised nationally as providing excellent and comprehensive quality training.
It offers a unique practical experience unlike any other professional legal training program
and will be different to any other course that you will have studied at University.
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Highlights of the TLPC include:
A strong advocacy component with trainees appearing in the Supreme Court or
Magistrates' Court before Judges and Magistrates on a weekly basis;
A client interviewing program conducted with real clients;
Two weeks work experience in a firm or government agency
Workshop style teaching with an emphasis on learning through simulated
transactional files;
Direct instruction and support from Tasmania's Judges, Magistrates and legal
practitioners;
Face-to-face teaching and mentoring with minimum online learning;
A social and collegial environment.
An additional bonus is that historically a number of employers seeking a graduate legal
practitioner advertise their positions directly to trainees attending the TLPC.
Course Information:
The Course consists of six months of practical legal work in a legal office environment. TLPC
consists of seven compulsory units:
1. Civil Litigation Practice – Supreme Court Practice and Advocacy (incl. Tribunal Practice)
2. Criminal Law Practice – Magistrates Court Practice and Advocacy
3. Trust and Office Accounting
4. Property Law Practice (incl. Wills & Estate Practice)
5. Commercial and Corporate Practice
6. Family Law Practice and Advocacy
7. Skills, Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Work is assessed on a pass-fail basis and is made up of a range of different forms of ‘practical’
assessment, including court advocacy and legal drafting.
Costs & Dates
In 2015 the TLPC will commence on Friday 30 January and conclude on Thursday 30 July. The
workload is full-time, with most core training on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to
allow trainees flexibility to study around family and work commitments. In 2014 the cost, the
TLPC cost $9,075 for Domestic students, and this is supported by HECS.
Applications will open for the 2015 intake in August 2014 and close on 31 October 2014.
Details about the TLPC and application process can be found:
On the TLPC website at http://www.utas.edu.au/legalstudies
On Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TasmanianLegalPracticeCourse
Or by contacting the TLPC at [email protected] or (03) 6226 4394.
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Specific Programs (ANU, College of Law, Leo Cussens)
ANU Legal Workshop
The Australian National University (ANU, Located in Canberra) offers a specialised
professional legal education course, the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP).
The course is a flexible course, delivered online, and can be completed in any time between
five months-three years.
The ANU GDLP is delivered in four modules:
Becoming A Practitioner – A 5-day, face-to-face intensive course held around Australia
(mainland only) at various times throughout the year, covering interviewing, writing,
drafting, civil and criminal advocacy, problem-solving and teamwork.
Professional Practice Core – An 18-week module requiring you work with fellow
students in a simulated online office completing practice in Practice Management
(incl. Accounting & Ethics), Property Law Practice, Civil Litigation Practice and
Commercial Law Practice. The PPC module runs twice per year, in January and July.
Legal Practical Experience – A 20, 40, 60 or 80 day placement in an approved legal
environment. A longer placement means you’re required to complete fewer electives.
Elective Coursework – A number of electives are offered, including Administrative Law
Practice, Family Law Practice, Consumer Law Practice and Government Law Practice.
In 2014, Domestic Students are charged $1404 for the ‘Becoming a Practitioner’ module,
$4725 for the Professional Practice Core, and $945 per elective unit. The Course is not
supported by HECS, and is ‘pay as you enrol’, however, FEE-HELP may be available for some
postgraduate students. Scholarships are available for Indigenous, Rural, Regional and Remote
students, and some firms may sponsor your course fees.
Specific course dates for 2014 are available here:
http://law.anu.edu.au/sites/all/files/legalworkshop/2014_colour_course_catalogue.pdf
More information about ANU’s Legal Workshop is available at:
http://law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/gdlp.
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College Of Law
The College of Law also offer a Practical Legal Training Course, leading to the award of a
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
The College of Law Program is broken up into three parts:
Coursework
o Compulsory Subjects: Civil Litigation, Commercial & Corporate Practice,
Property Law, Professional Skills, Professional Responsibility, Trust & Office
Accounting
o Electives: Administrative, Criminal or Family Law and Consumer Law,
Employment and Industrial Relations, Planning and Environmental Law, Wills
& Estates.
Work Experience
o Work experience can take the form of either a full 75 day program, or a 25 day
period alongside a ‘Clinical Experience’ module. Some clerkships and other
work experience can be counted towards this module.
Continuing Professional Education
o 10 hours of continuing Professional Education Seminars
o A workbook and journal completed during your Work Experience
These three components may be completed at any time within four years of commencing
your course. Most of the College of Law Program is conducted online, with a small number of
onsite sessions at the any number of the College’s campuses, including one campus in London.
For Australian students, the Course costs $8,310, and is supportable by FEE-HELP.
More information about the College of Law Program is available here:
http://www.collaw.edu.au/practical-legal-training-college/.
You can also call 1300 856 111 or email [email protected].
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Leo Cussen Centre For Law
Practical Training Course
(Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice)
Leo Cussen has been operating since 1972 and is recognised as a centre of excellence for
providing high quality practical legal training and professional development programs for
entry-level lawyers through to senior legal practitioners.
The Leo Cussen experience enables law graduates to learn how to practise law in a
professional, yet friendly and engaging environment. Our Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
is comprehensive and well respected by legal employers. Employers often sponsor their
graduate employee to do the course.
Successful completion of the Practical Training Course (PTC) entitles you to apply for
admission to the legal profession as an Australian Lawyer which, in turn, entitles you to
practise as an Australian Legal Practitioner in any Australian jurisdiction.
Practical Training Course Onsite or Online – Your Choice
Online delivery offers flexibility to those who have work or family commitments and who
enjoy the discipline of distance education within a small online community. The Onsite course
suits those looking for a training experience with face to face teaching and learning. It also
suits those on overseas student visas.
Online trainees attend for intensive teaching blocks and contact days during the course. In
the Onsite course you attend each business day from 9am to 5pm. In the full time Online
course, you will need to commit at least 25 hours a week to your PTC work. We also offer a
part time Online PTC.
Features of the Practical Training Course (Online and Onsite)
Building of practical legal skills in a broad range of practice areas
Mentoring by in-house legal training staff who guide your professional development
Visiting legal practitioners as instructors
Current Matter file program – run simulated client files within your own PTC ‘law firm’
Extensive advocacy training
Collegial environment with the opportunity to build friendships and professional
networks that can last your entire career
Clinical Experience Program with Victoria Legal Aid (onsite PTC)
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Professional Placement
Employment Register for graduates
FEE-HELP available
The Learning Experience
The Practical Training Course (PTC) is founded on the principle of ‘learning by doing’ and is
designed to lead you to reach the required Competencies in an active and practical training
environment.
Current Matter Program
Set up your own ‘law firm’ and run up to 10 simulated files covering a wide range of practice
areas and presenting a range of legal and practical problems reflecting those you encounter
in real-world legal practice.
We operate an in- house registry and banking facility to assist the simulation of real practice.
Course Reference Materials
A detailed set of reference materials provided for each practice topic is a resource during the
Course and a handy reference in your first year of legal practice.
Mentors
You work in a small group with the guidance of one of our staff. All our training staff are
experienced lawyers. Their job is to help you develop your practical legal skills, professional
values and confidence to work as an entry level lawyer.
Collegiality
You form friendships during the course and begin to build the personal and professional
networks that support you during your entire career. PTC trainees organise a variety of social
activities during the course to make sure the fun doesn’t disappear in the midst of all the hard
work.
Course Details and Application
24 weeks including three weeks Professional Placement
Two intakes a year (Online and Onsite) commencing January and July.
July intake: Apply by 9 May 2014
January 2015 intake: Apply by 21 November 2014
Later applications are accepted and considered in order of receipt.
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Forms are available at: www.leocussen.vic.edu.au/apply
FEE-HELP is available for eligible applicants.
For further information please contact Aimee Vogler, Administrator, Practical Training Course
Phone: 03 9602 3111
Email: [email protected]
A Leo Cussen graduate shares their story
Molly McCaffrey Senior Investigating Officer, Ombudsman Western Australia
I felt that there would have been little value in obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
that didn't involve lots of real practice! Leo Cussen was unique in providing instruction and
assessment via practical tasks reflecting real world scenarios.
I was also attracted by the staff I met at Information Evenings who were passionate about
passing on their experience to budding lawyers, not just focussed on making us tick boxes for
admission. Knowing I was selecting the course with the most thorough preparation for a legal
career was the main appeal.
I most enjoyed the skill development process with fellow trainees under the guidance of
experienced barristers, solicitors and academics. I developed skills in advocacy, negotiation
and even working with interpreters which has been helpful in my professional life. The best
part of the training was that it was varied, challenging and in-depth.
The course definitely made me feel more confident to enter the legal workforce. It was the
perfect transition from university life of solo research and in depth analysis to the fast paced,
and collaborative professional world. Once I entered the workplace, the key to the transition
was to draw on a wide range of skills. I obtained my first full time role after law school with
the State Ombudsman in Western Australia. I work on the front line dealing with enquiries
from members of the public and investigating any one of the 300 WA Government
departments and authorities in jurisdiction.
I would recommend the Leo Cussen PTC to others, because the course provides all the
grounding you need to explore where your actual professional legal interests lie. Afterwards,
I was best placed to make a prudent career choice, whether that be in the legal or non-legal
sectors.
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Interstate Admissions Requirements & Programs
This section is a brief, and non-comprehensive, overview of the admissions requirements and
programs in other Australian jurisdictions.
Victoria
Victoria offers two different pathways to legal practice:
Supervised Traineeship
The Victorian Articled Clerkship system has been replaced by the Traineeship. The traineeship
allows for 'On the job' legal training with a law firm, but differs from a clerkship because all
trainees will be taught a minimum standard of competency in various areas of the law.
Traineeships last 12 months.
Applications for Traineeships are made to the Human Resource Personnel of each firm, and
open Monday 2 July 2014. Applications are made by students in their final year of study for
commencement in the following year.
For more information on the Traineeship system visit http://www.liv.asn.au/LIV-Young-
Lawyers/Law-Students/LIV-Traineeship-Seasonal-Clerkship-Guidelines
Approved Practical Legal Training Course
Similar to the Practical Legal Training courses outlined above, which can be completed in
under six months and consist mainly of course work (either online or on-site at the education
facility), with a combination of practical work experience completed in a legal environment.
Approved providers include:
The College of Law Victoria (see above – www.collaw.edu.au)
The Leo Cussen Institute (see above – www.leocussen.vic.edu.au)
The ANU GDLP Program (see above - http://law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/gdlp)
Monash University Faculty of Law – Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Skills and
Ethics (http://www.law.monash.edu.au/)
New South Wales
Most graduates in New South Wales gain admission to the legal profession by completion of
a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice through the College of Law.
Other Practical Legal Training programs are offered through the University of Technology,
Sydney (http://www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-law) and the University of Wollongong
(http://lha.uow.edu.au/law/index.html)
Queensland
Queensland offers three options for admission:
College Of Law’s Practical Legal Training Program
Information about this program was outlined in the previous section.
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Supervised Workplace Traineeship
Graduates who are employed as trainee solicitors, and are undertaking their articles, may
complete an additional 90 hours of training, offered by the Queensland University of
Technology (QUT). Their Trainee Solicitor Program is undertaken entirely online at any time
over the year in a six-month window, with a one-day attendance component for Criminal Law.
Core modules include Litigation, Property and Commercial practice, and electives are the
same as those for the College of Law and Leo Cussens courses.
This course costs a total of $2090, and more information is available here:
http://www.qut.edu.au/study/short-courses-and-professional-development/short-
courses/trainee-solicitor-program-tsp-and-supplementary-training
QUT Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
The Queensland University of Technology also offers a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice,
including both full-time, as well as fully or partly online options. The course runs for 24 weeks
full time, and between 34 and 38 part-time, commencing in January, March or June.
Credit in this program can also be gained through pre-existing work in an approved law office,
and completion of this program can be, in some circumstances, credited toward a QUT Master
of Laws.
Applications for the June program close on 14 June 2014. This course generally costs $10,500,
and is supportable by FEE-HELP.
More details are available by contacting [email protected] or (07) 3138 2839.
More information about this program is available here:
http://www.qut.edu.au/study/courses/graduate-diploma-in-legal-practice
South Australia
South Australian Graduates generally undertake their Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
through the University of Adelaide.
The program is administered in conjunction with the Law Society of South Australia, and as a
result, students are able to attend Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events free of
charge, as well as receiving complimentary Associate Membership of the Law Society of South
Australia. This course may also be commenced whilst remaining an undergraduate student.
The GDLP program runs twice a year, commencing in January and July, and continues for six
months, though graduates can study for a period of up to three years at their own pace.
Courses and assessments are largely similar to all other Practical Legal Training programs
offered elsewhere, and is divided into four modules:
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Core Units (Foundations, Professional Obligations, Civil Litigation, Commercial &
Corporate and Property Law)
Electives (Criminal, Family, Employment & Industrial Relations, Planning &
Environmental Law, Wills and Estates)
Continuing Professional Development for a minimum of 10 hours
30 Days (225 hours) in a Legal Practical Placement.
The GDLP costs $7750 and is supported by FEE-HELP.
Further information regarding this program is available from the UniAdelaide website at
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/publications/pdfs/gdlp.pdf, or by calling (08) 8410 5865.
Western Australia
Western Australia offers two methods of admission to the legal profession:
Practical Legal Training Course
A standard practical legal training course, as outlined above.
This is generally undertaken through the College of Law.
Articled Clerkship
Western Australia continues to offer an Articled Clerkship system, a 12-month program during
which clerks complete the four-week Leo Cussen Practical Legal Training for Articled Clerks.
Training as an Articled Clerk is delivered through the Perth CBD, and is assessed on an ongoing
basis by the WA Lawyers who organise the program. There are two intakes each year – in
April and August, with one week of electives following the two fortnight-long blocks of
compulsory topics. More information on the Articled Clerkship program is available here:
http://www.leocussen.vic.edu.au/cb_pages/traineeship_articles_wa.php
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Most graduates in the ACT gain admission to the legal profession through the ANU’s GDLP
program, as outlined in the previous section.
Northern Territory
Graduates in the Northern Territory generally undertake their Practical Legal Training through
the College of Law or the ANU Legal Workshop program.
The Rural, Regional, Remote Practical Legal Training program permits students to undertake
the ‘placement’ module of their PLT course in public interest legal support services for those
who are disadvantaged. Offices who are willing to take such trainees In the NT include the
Alice Springs Central Australia Aboriginal Family Legal Unit, the Katherine Northern Australian
Aboriginal Justice Agency, and the Darwin Top End Women’s Legal Service.
More information about this program is available here: https://placements.naclc.org.au/
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Corporate Clerkships & Graduate Positions
What do corporate firms do?
Corporate and Commercial Law firms practice in a large and diverse number of areas of law.
No two firms will practice the same area, and each firm has its own unique specialties.
However, some of the more common areas of practice include:
Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
Advertising and Promotion Law
Banking and Financial Services Regulation
Climate Change, Environment and Planning
Competition and Consumer Law
Contract Law
Funds Management
Industrial and Workplace Relations Law
Insolvency and Restructuring
Insurance and Re-insurance
International Business Obligations
Mergers and Acquisition
Real Estate & Native Title
Patents, Trademarks and Intellectual Property
Personal Property Securities
Privacy and Data Protection
Private Equity
Project Finance
Regulatory Controls
Sale of Goods and Supply of Services
Superannuation
Taxation
What is a clerkship? What’s a graduate position?
Clerkships are work experience programs for students, usually in their penultimate year of
their law degree (4th year for you combined degree kids), offered by law firms which allow
you to get a feel for how it feels to be an ‘actual lawyer’. Many firms recruit ‘graduate lawyers’
from their pool of clerks, hence the graduate position, to be completed while you complete
your Practical Legal Training.
Most clerkships are paid (at least nominally) full-time positions. Clerks are usually selected
from across Australia, and as a result, are generally highly desirable, but also competitive.
Firms which offer clerkships are generally top or mid-tier commercial law firms, but some
government departments, and other bodies may offer similar positions – for more
information on those, please see the Student Opportunities Guide.
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How do I apply for Clerkships? What is the selection process?
Clerkship schemes are regulated in NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA with uniform application
processes and dates, however, these schemes only apply to firms who have agreed to comply
with these guidelines, and differ between jurisdictions, so you should take time to research
your firm.
Important Dates
Most firms have agreed to comply with jurisdiction-wide application procedures, the main
dates of which are below. However, these are just general guides, be sure to check with your
desired firm before applying.
ACT/NSW: Applications from late June-late July each year, with 8-12 week clerkships
over the summer holidays
QLD: Applications from late Feb-late March, with 4-week clerkships in the winter and
summer breaks.
SA: Applications in July, with clerkship times and dates varying between firms.
VIC: Applications from mid July-mid August each year, recruiting for the summer break
and the following winter break (so apply in 2014 for a Winter 2015 clerkship)
WA: Applications in late July-late August, with 2-3 week clerkships in Winter and
Summer breaks.
TAS/NT: No set guidelines exist in either of these jurisdictions, so contact your chosen
firm directly.
Research Your Firm
The first step in preparing your clerkship application should be researching and selecting your
firm. Many organisations offer clerkship programs, each with different strengths, weaknesses,
cultures and opportunities, and it’s important for a successful application (and experience, if
you land the job!) to pick the firm that’s right for you.
Researching your firm doesn’t have to take a long time, and can be as easy as looking up their
website. Thankfully, to make a little more ‘in-depth’ research a tad easier, a range of services
offer firm profiles. These services include:
The guide you’re currently holding!
CVMail - http://www.cvmail.com.au/user/firmcontent/firms.cfm?rcd=189371
Survive Law - http://survivelaw.com/index.php/clerkships/clerkships-2
It’s also a fantastic idea to speak to other students who have clerked for that firm beforehand,
to get a frank, ‘on-the-ground’ perspective on the work you’ll be doing. That’s why we’ve
attempted to get as many clerk profiles in here from recent UTAS Graduates as we could, to
help you out with your decision.
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Prepare Your Documentation
Applying for clerkships isn’t an easy process, and it requires a lot of paperwork. That’s why
it’s important to have the following documents updated, and easily accessible for when you’ll
need them in your application process:
Your résumé/CV – A sparkling CV that’s pretty, easy to read and packed full of the
things that make you awesome is the key to a good clerkship application. Part 5 of this
guide contains a range of tips to help you get your CV there.
Your academic record/an academic transcript – Firms do care about your results. Have
them handy. It may be a good idea to order an official transcript before you get started
– do this through eStudentCentre
Your calendar – whether it’s Google Calendar, or a diary, you’ll check dates for
clerkships and interviews more than you realise. Make sure it’s close at hand.
Write Your Application
With your CV and Academic Record prepared (and loaded into CVMail – see the next section),
the only thing left to write is a series of answers to the interview questions which each firm
requests, and your cover letter – the way for you to dazzle your way into the interview room!
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR APPLICATION TO THE LAST MINUTE. These can take time, anything can
happen and many people might be trying to submit their application at the same time. You
don’t want to leave your future to Murphy’s Law.
Pro tip: Draft your answers in Microsoft Word or another word processor before copying into
the application field. It’s both less scary and easier to edit.
As most text in these forms (especially in CVMail) is ‘plain text’, the following tips should be
kept in mind:
- Emphasise major headings with an equals sign (=), and minor headings and bullet
points with hyphens (-)
- Don’t forget to use extra spacing to keep your text readable
Please note: Firms in NSW and ACT utilising the standard application form for these
jurisdictions do not allow you to attach your CV to your application form.
Submit Your Application
Cross your fingers!
If using CVMail, don’t forget to save a copy to your computer for future reference.
Interviews
If you’re lucky enough to score an interview with a firm, CONGRATULATIONS!
Flip to Part 5 of the guide to get the low-down on awesome interview tips.
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What is cvMail? How do I use it?
What Is cvMail?
cvMail is a law student portal run by Thomson Reuters, which provides information about the
legal industry, law firms, applying for jobs. It also enables law students to apply and schedule
interviews online.
Most major firms in all states (as well as some overseas firms) now prefer applications online
via http://www.cvmail.com.au. cvMail contains a list of firms that use cvMail here:
http://www.cvmail.com.au/user/firmcontent/firms.cfm?rcd=10765.
Not all firms use cvMail. Make sure you check a firm’s website in order to determine how they
would like you to apply. If in doubt, telephone their Human Resource department.
Tasmanian firms prefer to run their own application process. Students will receive
information about Tasmanian firm application processes directly or via TULS.
Using cvMail:
Step 1: Create An Account
Go to http://www.cvmail.com.au and register as a ‘First Time User.’
Insert your name, email address and a password to create an account. Ensure this e-mail
address is one you check frequently, as alerts and notifications (including interview requests
from firms!) will be sent to that address.
Once you have created an account you can log on as a registered user.
Step 2: Personal Profile
Enter your personal details including name, address, email, and language ability. This
information is automatically forwarded to the firm as you apply. All personal and academic
profiles can be edited as many times as required prior to applying to the firm.
Step 3: Academic Profile
Create an education record for each of your relevant academic qualifications, and enter the
individual marks. Double-degree students must undertake this process twice.
Step 4: Submit Your Application
Click on the Seasonal Tab for clerkships or the Graduate Tab, and select the state to which
you are applying which will display a list of the firms using CVMail.
Candidates can practice submitting an application to a practice firm prior to submitting a real
application.
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When the application is ready to submit, simply click onto the ‘Apply here’ button, located
next to the relevant firm.
Although each firm will have different application requirements, generally candidates can
answer application questions, attach their résumé and cover letter, and preview the
application before submission. The level of specificity regarding the application questions
varies from one firm to another, and it is important to note that answering these questions
can take a significant amount of time.
Questions in this category will generally regard:
Education
Achievements
Employment history
Other interests
Referees.
Examples of questions a firm may ask could include:
Please outline any achievements, award, or prizes you have obtained including
academic, sporting, community, and charities.
What interests do you hold outside your studies?
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
When completing an application you have up to 90 minutes to complete the application
before your session automatically times out. To ensure you have adequate warning before
your session times out, you will receive a popup message approximately 3 minutes prior. This
gives you enough time to save your data and send the form, or, if you need more time, save
and exit so you can continue at a later stage.
For long questions, it’s a good idea draft your responses in a word document, then copy-paste
them into the form; this way you can both spell-check and fully consider your answers, in
addition to having a backup working copy on your computer.
Step 5: Finish and finalise your Application
After sending your application, you will see a confirmation screen that confirms your
application has been successfully sent to the firm, and provides you with a unique receipt
number.
After submitting your application the firm will receive it instantly. Different firms may
acknowledge your application at different times. Also, particular firms may not contact you
until they have fully considered your application.
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Firm Profiles
These profiles are not comprehensive, and provide a quick run-down on some of the major
firms who offer clerkship processes. They are provided for your information only, and only for
illustrative purposes – to encourage you to investigate the range of firms available who may
be able to suit your needs and interests.
Page Seager (TAS)
http://www.pageseager.com.au
Page Seager is one of Tasmania’s leading law firms, and is the state’s largest law practice, with
13 partners and approximately 50 practitioners. The firm specialises in Corporate &
Commercial, Workplace Relations, Commercial Litigation, Environment & Town Planning,
Insurance Litigation, Workplace Health & Safety and Estate Planning work.
Their clients range from small to medium size Tasmanian firms, with some larger corporate
clients as well as Tasmanian Government enterprises and state-owned corporations.
Page Seager runs both a summer clerkship program, and a graduate program. Résumés and
covering letters should be submitted to [email protected].
Applications are generally in July each year, for two intakes of clerkships – in December and
Late January of the following year.
Follow Survive Law, the Page Seager Website, and the TULS Careers information sources for
more information regarding Tasmanian firm clerkship dates.
Graduate Profile – Rhiannon Fletcher
Name: Rhiannon Fletcher
Graduation Year: Graduated 2013
Job Title – Firm: Summer Clerk
What was your position? With which firm did you
undertake this role?
I was a summer clerk at Page Seager as part of their
2012/2013 clerkship program.
What were your responsibilities and tasks?
Page Seager has quite an established clerkship program, with each of the three clerks rotating
around five practice areas over the fortnight we were there. Because of this there was lots of
variety in the tasks we were assigned, for example mine ranged from reading over wills, to
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assisting on contract drafting, participating in negotiation and mediation sessions, and
preparing files for court. We also spent a day with the ‘front of house’, and got to go to places
like the Land Titles Office which was really interesting given we had just finished studying
property.
What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about
the organisation’s environment and culture?
Because the program is so well established there was a lot of support for the summer clerks,
particularly from our buddies, who were junior lawyers assigned to us. The rest of the firm was
generally really friendly and helpful too, and all of the lawyers I worked with were keen to give
us as much client contact as possible, from inviting us to sit in on meetings, to acting as
witnesses for wills, and documenting telephone calls with parties.
The hours of work were pretty standard for a law firm, I think we worked from around 8:30-5,
but with lunch in the middle and as many coffee breaks as we needed the time went really
quickly!
What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity?
I think gaining some practical experience within a firm while you’re still studying is
fundamental, and I feel like I learnt nearly as much in two weeks as I did in some whole
semesters (sorry lecturers…). Whether you are set on becoming the next Harvey Specter, or
not actually sure why you are doing a law degree because you don’t think you want to practice,
being in a real firm and dealing with real clients and their issues will quickly show you what
you can do with your knowledge, and despite being very much the baby in the firm, this is
quite an inspiring experience.
What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell
someone else who would like a similar role?
Don’t hesitate to apply for clerkships in Tasmanian firms. I think there is a big focus on scoring
a top tier, mainland clerkship, however the experience which you will gain in comparatively
smaller firms is first class, and we have a fantastic local legal profession which is generally
willing to teach and accommodate students.
Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes?
Start buying your corporate wardrobe now, get someone to show you how to use the coffee
machine on your first day, and don’t go too OTT at the Friday night drinks!
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M+K Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (TAS)
http://www.doma.com.au/
Dobson, Mitchell & Allport (DMA) is a commercial and litigation law company based in Hobart,
who, in 2010, joined the national M+K Lawyers Group.
DMA has a number of areas of expertise, including litigation, health law, family law,
commercial practice, residential property, migration law, intellectual property, estate
planning & administration, finance & banking, debt recovery, employment and industrial
relations and health law.
Although DMA doesn’t offer a ‘fully-fledged’ clerkship program, DMA has a range of programs
for undergrads and graduate lawyers to gain experience in a similar manner.
DMA generally has positions for at least one graduate lawyer each year, and call for
applications from final year and legal practice students in May of each year, interviewing
applicants shortly following that, and are employed pending their completion of legal
practice, however they are offered an opportunity to clerk with the company over the
summer vacation. Unsuccessful applicants may be offered other work experience
opportunities in semester breaks and other vacations.
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Simmons Wolfhagen (TAS)
http://simwolf.com.au/
Simmons Wolfhagen (SW) run a ‘multi-disciplinary’ practice across a range of legal areas,
based in the Hobart CBD. SW heavily emphasise their corporate and social responsibility
program, encouraging employees and the company to support and volunteer with a range of
community organisations. They also run a comprehensive blog which is a useful source for
recent developments in Australian law: http://simwolf.com.au/blog.
SW specialise in a range of practice areas, including partnerships, company and commercial
law, conveyancing and property development, family and relationship law, wills and estate
administration, commercial litigation, local government, bankruptcy and insolvency,
employment and industrial relations, insurance and personal injury law.
Simmons Wolfhagen run a small clerkship program for two students each year, information
for which is often provided on the website, so interested parties should contact the firm’s
Practice Manager Margaret Maddock on 6226 1200 or [email protected].
Graduate Profile – Theo Kapodistrias
Name: Theo Kapodistrias
Graduation Year: 2013
Job Title – Firm: Clerk at Rae and Partners
and Simmons Wolfhagen
What was your position?
In January of 2013 for 2 weeks, I completed a clerkship at Rae and
Partners in Launceston and in February for 1 week, I completed a
clerkship at Simmons Wolfhagen
What were your responsibilities and tasks?
At both firms, I was given research tasks from a variety of practice areas such as family law,
property law, wills and estates, and local government, and environment and planning law. I
had the opportunity to write letters and emails to clients. At both firms, I was given the
opportunity to meet with lawyers from many practice areas and ask them questions about
what they do and tips for improving my work.
At Rae and Partners, I had the opportunity to work in the criminal law department and sit in
on many client interviews, and then seeing the case heard at the Magistrates Court. At
Simmons Wolfhagen, I got to accompany a solicitor to the Planning Appeals Tribunal and then
write to the client explaining what occurred.
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What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about
the organisation’s environment and culture?
At Rae and Partners, the hours were 9 – 5. This firm was designed in an open plan environment
on one level, and an open door policy with all the directors. If I ever needed to talk to someone,
it was very easy! Although all the lawyers were hard workers, they were generally quite
relaxed. I enjoyed the ‘no tie unless appearing in court’ policy! Regular tea breaks were
encouraged and welcomed. I had quite a lot of client contact at Rae and Partners. I was
involved in many client interviews, witnessing wills, and gathering instructions from clients in
person and over the phone, with a solicitor present.
At Simmons Wolfhagen, the hours were 8:45 – 5:15. This firm allowed all lawyers to have
more personal space. I had constant support from all staff, and enjoyed having regular
meetings with the lawyers to discuss my research work, and their practice area. Everyone was
really focused and seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. I was given training at both
firms regarding how to use the digital filing systems, some research databases and how to do
add in time and calculate billable hours.
What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity?
I learnt more about how important legal research is and doing work efficiently. Getting to the
information you need quickly, is really important! I really enjoyed learning about how to write
letters to clients, which is a vital skill for a graduate lawyer.
What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell
someone else who would like a similar role?
Listening to Deb’s library lectures is one of the most important things you can do in law school!
Know how to use the databases, know how to read a case, know how to interpret legislation!
To get a clerkship, just apply and try your luck! If you don’t get one, its not the end of the
world. If you do get one, enjoy the opportunity to meet new people, gain new skills, and
experience what its like to be a lawyer!
Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes?
I enjoyed the differences and similarities at both firms and really appreciated the opportunity
working at both firms over the summer!
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Baker & McKenzie
Melbourne, Sydney, Worldwide
http://www.bakermckenzie.com/Australia/
Baker & McKenzie are a global law firm with over 4,000 practitioners spread across 74 offices
in 46 countries around the world. Their Australian bases are Melbourne and Sydney.
Baker & McKenzie won the Law Firm Diversity Award at the Lawyer’s Weekly Women in Law
Awards 2013, and have a decade-old Pro-Bono & Community work program, recording over
9,000 hours of pro-bono work in the 2013 Financial Year, particularly in the firm’s own
Homeless Person’s Legal Service. All staff are eligible to apply for financial assistance and
study leave for postgraduate courses relevant to their career goals.
The firm has a large number of practice areas, which include: Banking & Finance, Clean Energy
& Renewables, Competition & Consumer Law, Construction, Customs & Trade, Dispute
Resolution, Employment & Industrial Relations, Energy, Hotels, Resorts & Tourism,
Immigration, Intellectual Property, Occupational Health & Safety, Pharmaceuticals &
Healthcare and Taxation.
Both the Melbourne and Sydney offices take seasonal clerks, and maintain a substantive
graduate program. In Melbourne, the seasonal clerks run for a four-week period in
November/December, and complete a placement in one practice group. In Sydney, clerkships
run from November-February. Applications are taken through CVMail. Clerkships are
primarily offered to penultimate year students, however final year students may also be
considered.
Seasonal clerks who accept graduate roles with the firm are also eligible to apply for an
international clerkship for a month in an overseas office.
The Baker & McKenzie Graduate Program takes graduates in March for three 6-month
rotations, before joining a practice group as a junior associate, whilst also offering targeted
graduate professional development opportunities throughout this period.
Most positions in the graduate program are offered to successful seasonal clerks – if these
positions are unfilled, however, the firm opens general applications in approximately August
of each year.
Information on these positions can be found here: http://www.bakermckenzie.com/careers
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37
DLA Piper
Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Worldwide
http://www.dlapiper.com/australia/
http://www.dlapipergraduates.com.au/
DLA Piper has over 4,200 lawyers in more than 30 countries across the world, with offices in
Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, employing approximately 600 staff.
DLA Piper places heavy emphasis on pro-bono work and community engagement, with
approximately 30,000 hours of pro-bono work, and $230,000 of donations in recent years,
assisting in advising charities, enhancing access to justice, assisting in UN Treaty monitoring,
participating in law reform and development and implementing a Reconciliation Action Plan.
DLA Piper also runs a strong alumni program, connecting former and current employees.
DLA Piper works closely with government, appointed on all four categories of the
Commonwealth’s Legal Services Multi-Use list. Additionally, the firm offers a range of
opportunities for overseas employment, through secondments, project assignments and
placements. Australian practice areas include: Administrative Law, Energy & Utilities, Human
Rights law, Superannuation and Pensions, Financial Services Regulation, Climate Change
Adaptation, International Trade, Intellectual Property, Privacy, Taxation and Real Estate.
DLA Piper runs both a seasonal clerkship and graduate recruitment program. Summer
clerkships are offered in all of the firm’s offices, with winter clerkships in selected locations,.
Applications are only accepted from penultimate year students, with approximately 95 clerks
accepted across Australia. Applications for the 2014-15 program are as follows:
Brisbane: 3-24 March 2014, with interviews in April 2014
Canberra: June-July 2014, with interviews in August 2014
Melbourne: 14 July-10 August 2014, with interviews in September 2014
Perth: July-August 2014, with interviews in August 2014
Sydney: June-July 2014, with interviews in August 2014
Applications are made on the firm’s Microsite:
http://www.dlapipergraduates.com.au/apply/application-form.html
Graduates beginning with DLA Piper undertake a Graduate Development Program, with
formal training in negotiation, advocacy, networking and presentation, plain language
drafting, financial analysis, time management and business development. Graduates,
commencing in February, then undertake three structured rotations across the next 13-16
weeks, whilst simultaneously completing a Practical Legal Training course. Approximately 40
graduate positions across Australia are offered each year.
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Graduate Profile – Alexander Moores
Name: Alexander Moores
Graduation Year: Graduate 2013 – BA LLB (Hons)
Job Title – Firm: Seasonal Clerk at DLA Piper (Melbourne)
What was your position?
I was chosen as one of Seasonal Clerks at DLA Piper in
Melbourne. I was one of 11 with everyone else taken from
Melbourne universities. DLA Piper has undergone several big
mergers over the past few years but most recently Phillips Fox became DLA Phillips Fox in 2006
and became fully integrated as DLA Piper Australia in 2011.
What were your responsibilities and tasks?
DLA were excellent at allowing clerks to deal directly with clients and do real legal work. I was
placed in the Corporate area, which at DLA is primarily large-scale M&A, advice on corporate
structuring and restructuring, and all the elements of superannuation and tax that go with a
particular option.
My daily tasks included preparing and filing documents with ASIC, writing briefs for Partners
and Senior Associates on emerging areas or changes to corporations law, attending client
phone conferences and meetings to flag any areas of concern while the senior lawyer led the
meeting, drafting case notes, specific research, and due diligence.
What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about
the organisation’s environment and culture?
I arrived at 8AM to get an early start on the day but important meetings started at 9AM. The
hours were very reasonable for clerks – I was gone by 8PM every day and sometimes earlier –
but I did hear one Lawyer book a conference room until 1AM. The training and support was
excellent, but with clerkships this often depends on the quality of buddies and supervisors,
both of mine were new to the roles so were always available and went beyond expectations
to become friends as well as colleagues.
The environment could be off-putting at times because it is very intense for much of the
working day. This is offset to a large degree by social events and the ever-disarming kindness
of the PAs. If I had one piece of advice for anyone doing clerkships it’s to show nothing but
respect for the PAs, they’ll save your life many times, are very smart, and know where the hot
chocolate machine can be found.
What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity?
I did several clerkships and elected to work in corporate advisory, intellectual property and
projects because they are my preferred areas. DLA allowed me to develop skills in M&A and
large projects, which was not possible at firms where the corporate team primarily handles
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regulatory advice or smaller matters. I was thrown in at the deep end with several exciting
opportunities such as being given full instruction from the Senior Associate before leaving the
office for a client meeting to settle a matter myself, or scrutinizing documents that were the
subject of a closure on a hundred million dollar deal. These opportunities helped me learn to
work under pressure in new environments and hone my attention to detail. You realise at the
start of a clerkship how you’ve only brushed the surface of knowledge on so many issues
during university.
What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell
someone else who would like a similar role?
My background in workplaces is that tasks must be done instantly and advice given straight-
away. Despite how I thought this would be important in commercial law, and it is, it’s as
important to take it slowly to get it right. Lawyers would prefer one answer with no additional
information to getting half the picture then have you fill in the blanks as you do more research.
This is especially important when the work is basically going straight to the client as happened
a few times during my clerkship.
My top three pieces of advice are:
(1) triple check all your work, as a mistake is worse than taking a little longer;
(2) balance expectations, don’t promise what you can’t deliver and keep everyone up to date
on your progress; and
(3) be yourself, nobody likes the clerk who is treating the whole thing like a job interview or a
competition and they are easy to spot.
Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes?
The hours I mentioned and the intensity of the workplace are products of how exciting it is to
work at a global firm like DLA. Balancing time differences and jurisdictional requirements is
challenging and rewarding. One night at about 6PM, the senior corporate Partner jumped out
of his office and said “I need someone who can speak Mandarin in my office in 3 minutes”.
Unless you get stuck working on due diligence for months, it’s a different experience every
day, so enjoy it. I personally, could not rate DLA high enough, both the entity and their
treatment of clerks and the clerkship program.
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Allens
Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Worldwide
http://www.allens.com.au/
http://www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates/index.htm
Allens (formerly Allens Arthur Robinson) has offices throughout Australia and Asia, operating
in an integrated alliance with Linklaters – a London ‘Magic Circle’ firm. Allens advises 75 of
Australia’s top 100 companies, and over 55 of the world’s top 100 companies.
Allens also has a strong community presence, coordinated by their Charity and Pro-Bono
Committees. The firm takes pride in its Art Collection, comprising artworks from a range of
up-and-coming Australian artists, also producing a regular online Art Journal.
Allens’ practice areas include: Competition Law, Banking & Finance, Energy, Environment &
Planning, Insolvency & Restructuring, Insurance, Intellectual Property, International Business,
Patents & Trademarks, Privacy & Data Protection, Resources, Superannuation, Tax, Water and
Workplace Relations.
Allens runs both strong clerkship and graduate programs. Clerks are given a short induction,
before on-the-job training supported by a partner and junior lawyer. Clerkships are offered
to students in their penultimate year, who generally spend between three weeks to ten weeks
in one (or two) practice areas, subject to the specialisations of each office. Allens also runs
indigenous internships in each office.
Graduates with Allens are given a two-week induction program, and are assigned a
development supervisor who oversees their progress, alongside weekly legal education
seminars, and an in-house Practical Legal Training program specifically designed by the
College of Law. Allens also offers clerks and graduates a range of secondment opportunities
across Australia and Asia.
Applications are made online and through the Allens website directly – information is
available here: http://www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates/apply/index.htm
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Graduate Profile – Madeleine Figg
Name: Madeleine Figg
Graduation Year: Graduated 2013
Job Title – Firm: Summer Clerk – Allens Linklaters
What was your position? With which firm did you undertake this
role?
In the summer at the end of fourth year, I went to Brisbane to clerk
at Allens Linklaters (formerly Allens Arthur Robinson).
What were your responsibilities and tasks?
The clerkship program at Allens was very well organised. I was placed in the property group
and was paired with a ‘buddy’ lawyer, who I could ask questions of, as well as a partner who
was technically in charge of me. During the 3 weeks I was there I completed work from a range
of people. Tasks ranged from the dull (organising documents) to the exciting (attending client
meetings and helping with advice) to the stressful (speed-reading and summarising 20+
migration law cases in one evening. Not cool).
What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about
the organisation’s environment and culture?
From my experience clerking at ‘top tier’ firms, the hours you work as a clerk probably aren’t
indicative of the hours expected of a graduate lawyer. As a clerk, a typical day would see me
working from around 8am - 5:30 – very reasonable! However, one unfortunate Friday night I
did have to stay back until 10pm, which I felt provided me with a truer picture of the work
hours sometimes expected in a large commercial practice.
The level of support was very high. The clerkship program had a lot of networking and training
workshops built into it. Because the clerkship program at Allens is so integral to their
recruitment process, I was never made to feel like I was a nuisance or was in the way (which
I’ve found can be liable to happen when you’re doing work experience in certain contexts).
However, the flip side of this is that it really is a 3 week job interview, so be prepared for that.
Perhaps needless to say, seasonal clerks and graduate lawyers don’t typically get a huge
amount of (or any) client contact time. That being said, I was lucky enough to sit in on a couple
of meetings with clients. Broadly speaking, I would say the culture was typical of a large
commercial firm, and your experience can differ a lot depending which practice group you’re
placed in. Luckily for me, my group was full of friendly, enthusiastic people who were more
than willing to help me out and make me feel welcome.
More generally, the firm was full of highly experienced and intelligent legal practitioners
making for a pretty exciting, albeit slightly frenetic environment. One senior associate
described the culture to me as ‘we work hard, and we party hard’ – which is a pretty fair
42
summary. Some top tier firms can be slightly ‘Wolf of Wall Street’-esque, though, so be
prepared to fully embrace the commerciality while you’re there.
What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity?
I learned a lot about what life is like working at a large commercial practice. I strongly believe
that you never know what type of career path you’ll enjoy until you try it, even if its just to
come to the realisation that a particular area of practice isn’t your thing. I also learned
practical skills including how to write memos, organise a file, organise a brief, do title searches
and interact with partners whose time is worth thousands of dollars. I also finally learned how
to use the databases and research services properly – I sincerely wish I had paid more attention
to Deb’s library lectures earlier in my degree.
What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone
else who would like a similar role?
Always carry writing paper and a pen, and practice writing fast! Don’t be afraid to ask
questions, you probably can’t wing it. A cliché I know, but try to be yourself, even when writing
applications. Everyone who is interviewed has good marks, so it really comes down to whether
you can connect with the people interviewing you. I’m convinced the reason I got my clerkship
at Allens was the partner who interviewed me was entertained by my out-and-proud
feminism. Of course, this could have backfired dreadfully, but I always say if you can’t be
yourself at a potential new workplace, chances are that workplace isn’t for you. Also, try not
to be intimidated by anyone – they’re all just people.
Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes?
If you’re looking for a clerkship in one of the top tier firms, definitely consider trekking up to
Brisbane. It’s an up and coming city with a lot of opportunities for law graduates, and it’s my
belief that it's a bit less competitive than Melbourne in terms of securing a clerkship. Being
Tasmanian, you’re also a bit of a novelty. However, be aware that applications for Brisbane
clerkships close much earlier than those for Melbourne and Sydney (I think around March) so
you’ve got to be organised!
All in all, it was a brilliant experience to have had. Even if you’re not sure commercial law is
for you, I highly recommend pursuing a clerkship at Allens.
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44
Ashurst Australia
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Worldwide
http://www.ashurst.com/
http://www.ashurst.com/graduates/
Ashurst resulted from the merger between Ashurst Australia and Blake Dawson, and has over
190 partners and 800 lawyers in Australia, advising over 73% of the ASX Top 100 Companies.
Ashurst has 28 offices in 16 countries, with over 1,800 lawyers in total. The company’s areas
of specialty include: Banking and Finance, Climate Change, Competition, Commonwealth &
State Government, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Environment, Intellectual Property,
Native Title, Real Estate, Superannuation, Tax, Restructuring and Insolvency.
Ashurst also strongly promotes its Pro-bono program, charity and volunteering committees,
and their Annual ‘Make A Difference Month’. Ashurst is also the only law firm to have been
recognised as an Employer of Choice by the Equal Opportunity for Women Agency since 2001,
every year since the award was created. Ashurst also offers employees the opportunity to be
seconded to large clients and the public and community sectors to enrich their work,
alongside gym memberships, social events, sporting teams, study leave and flexible work
arrangements.
Clerkships are offered for 12 weeks in Sydney and Canberra, and 4 weeks in the remaining
offices for students in the penultimate year of their degrees. Seasonal clerks complete two
rotations in different practice areas, with the exception of the Melbourne and Adelaide
programs where clerks engage with only one practice area.
Graduates with Ashurst undertake a twelve-month development program with three months
in different practice areas, beginning in February (though Sydney has an extra intake in
October). Graduates are also offered a tailored in-house Practical Legal Training (PLT)
program, and a specific rotation plan designed to provide exposure to a combination of
litigious, transactional and advisory work.
Applications are undertaken online, through the Ashurst mini-site. Clerkship dates are flexible
on a case-by-case basis. More information is available at the firm’s mini-site at:
http://www.ashurst.com/graduates/
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Clayton Utz
Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, Hong Kong
http://www.claytonutz.com.au/
Clayton Utz is a top-tier, Australian law firm with offices in Melbourne, Perth, Darwin,
Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as in Hong Kong. Clayton Utz works for a number of
leading companies, as well as over 250 government departments, agencies and organisations,
receiving the 2013 Who’s Who Legal 100 Award for Australian Firm of The Year. The firm’s
practice areas include: Banking and Finance, Competition Law, Litigation & Dispute
Resolution, Native Title, Real Estate, Governance and Compliance, Insurance, Taxation,
Intellectual Property, International Trade, Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety.
Clayton Utz is the only top-tier firm to be a founding member of the Australian Legal Sector
Alliance, a sustainability initiative designed to develop guidelines for firms to reduce their
environmental impact. The firm also has a formal Reconciliation Action Plan to develop the
firm’s relationship with Indigneous communities. A majority of employees at Clayton Utz are
women, and as a result, a range of programs have been implemented to assist women,
including flexible work arrangements, working from home opportunities, and ‘Momentum’,
a national female lawyer’s network. Clayton Utz also runs the Community Connect Program,
and the Clayton Utz Foundation.
Clerkships are offered to penultimate year students, in most offices around Australia. Clayton
Utz also offers a strong graduate program, however, these positions are primarily offered to
those who complete seasonal clerkships with the firm. Applications are conducted through
the firm’s own online recruitment system available on the company’s website.
Dates for the Brisbane Rotation, the only dates released at present, are as follows:
Applications:
o 3 March 2014-24 March 2014 at 9.00 am AEST, with interviews in April 2014
Clerkship Program dates:
o Winter – 30 June to 18 July 2014
o Summer 1 – 24 November to 19 December 2014
o Summer 2 – 12 January to 6 February 2015
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Herbert Smith Freehills
Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Worldwide
http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com
http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) are a global commercial law firm, formed from the merger
between Herbert Smith’s international practice, and Freehills’ Australian practice, with
Australian offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane.
HSF was the top-ranked firm in the NISUS Consulting Performance and Value Index, assessing
client service, strong relationships and high-quality performance, and were awarded the Best
Financial Law Firm in 2013.
The firm has approximately 800 lawyers and 190 partners in Australia, working in fields
including Competition law, corporate law, dispute resolution, employment, finance,
insurance, intellectual property, mining, private equity and tax.
HSF also donated approximately 50,000 hours of pro-bono legal work in 2012, particularly
through community centres and homeless person shelters, as well as working with non-
governmental organisations attempting to realise the Millennium Development Goals.
The firm also emphasises its internal diversity and inclusion policies, through a range of
‘Networks’, including those for Women, Multicultural individuals, Family and LGBT lawyers.
HSF offer both summer and winter clerkships in each of their Australian offices, and these
clerkships constitute the primary means for recruitment to their graduate program. In 2013-
14, HSF also offered up to four clerks the opportunity to work in the Singapore, London or
Hong Kong offices following their domestic Clerkship.
The HSF Graduate program consists of three rotations across different practice areas,
supported by formal development opportunities and on-the-job feedback.
Applications are made through the firm’s online job portal at https://fsr.cvmail.com.au/hsf/
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King & Wood Mallesons
Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong
http://www.mallesons.com/
King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is a global law firm – the first ever headquartered in Asia -
with over 2,700 lawyers in 30 international offices, strategically positioned so as to engage
with the world’s growth markets. This firm resulted from the 2012 merger between Chinese
firm King & Wood, and Mallesons Stephen Jacques, and has Australian offices in Sydney,
Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra.
KWM specialises in a diverse range of practice areas, including Competition and Antitrust,
Corporate, Government and Public Law, Human Rights, Intellectual Property, Investment
Management, Real Estate, Construction and Environment, and Taxation, Superannuation and
Pensions. KWM heavily emphasises their unique engagement with both China and the
greater Asian region, with 11 local offices in Greater China and strong relationships with local
firms across the region.
The firm also maintains a strong Alumni network, and 25% of the global firm is owned and
run by women. Additionally, 79% of legal staff provide pro-bono assistance, and the firm’s
‘Workplace Giving’ program raised over $600,000 in 2010. KWM are the only Australian law
firm with a dedicated Human Rights Law group and were also one of the first firms to become
a certified Fairtrade Workplace.
KWM runs an ‘Insight’ program for students in third-year or equivalent who are not yet able
to apply for a Summer Clerkship, offering an in-depth look at the firm’s work, skills sessions
and the opportunity to shadow a lawyer.
Summer clerkships are offered to students in their penultimate year of study, and consist of
two rotations over eleven weeks (Sydney, Canberra), in a three-and-a-half week program in
December, January or July (Melbourne and similar in other offices). Clerkships are also offered
in the Hong Kong Office.
KWM’s international graduate program enables graduates to complete three six-month
rotations, with four rotations offered in Hong Kong and two in Canberra. KWM grads also
undertake PLT alongside their work, with specific arrangements made for Hong Kong grads to
complete Hong Kong’s required Postgraduate Certificate of Laws (PCCL) qualification. The vast
majority of graduates from KWM are selected from successful summer Clerks.
Applications for all of these programs generally open in July and close in August, and are made
through KWM’s own online system.
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Minter Ellison
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Overseas
http://www.minterellison.com
Minter Ellison are one of the largest Australian-based, multinational law firms, with offices in
many Australian cities (including the Gold Coast), and overseas. They serve a range of clients,
including blue-chip public and private companies, alongside multinational firms, government
organisations and other state-owned entities. Minter Ellison’s practice areas include
Competition & Market Regulation (incl. International Trade), Corporate Law, Employment,
Environment & Planning, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Litigation & Dispute Resolution
(incl. Administrative and Consumer Protection Law) and Real Estate.
Minter Ellison also run MatchME, a ‘matched charity donation’ program, supporting fourteen
charities in the firm’s pro-bono focus areas of disadvantaged youth, homelessness, poverty
alleviation and access to justice. They also work closely with the Public Interest Clearinghouse,
indigenous causes and domestic violence victims to improve access to justice.
Minter Ellison run both vacation clerkships and a graduate program. Advertising their
selection process as ‘fun, informative and interactive’, Minter Ellison clerks attend clerkship
information evenings prior to the commencement of formal interviews. Minter Ellison also
offer two-week placements in their Hong Kong office for four clerks. Applications are made
through the firm’s website. Clerkships are the primary way in which the firm fills its ‘Graduate
Development Program’ - a program including Practical Legal Training, and 6 month-long
rotations.
Clerkship dates for 2014 and 2015 released at the time of publication are:
Melbourne: 24 November 2014 – 12 December 2014 (Summer) and 29 June – 17 July
2015 (Winter).
o Applications open 14 July 2014 and close 10 August 2014.
Perth: 24 November – 12 December 2014 (Summer 1), 27 January – 13 February 2015
(Summer 2), 22 June – 4 July 2015 (Winter 1), 6 July – 18 July 2015 (Winter 2)
o Applications open 21 July 2014 and close 8 August 2014.
Brisbane: 30 June – 26 July 2014 (Winter), 24 November – 19 December 2014
(Summer 1), 12 January – 6 February 2015 (Summer 2)
o Applications open 3 March 2014 and close 24 March 2014
Canberra: 24 November 2014 – 13 February 2015 (Summer)
o Applications open 18 June 2014 and close 21 July 2014
Sydney: 24 November 2014 – 13 February 2015
o Applications open 18 June 2014 and close 21 July 2014
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K&L Gates Australia
Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Worldwide
http://www.klgates.com/
K&L Gates are a US-based multinational firm, with Australian offices in Brisbane, Melbourne,
Sydney and Perth. The firm has over 48 offices spread across five continents, employing over
2,000 lawyers. K&L Gates merged with Middletons in July 2013, and serve clients including
leading corporations, growth and middle-market companies, capital market participants and
entrepreneurs, as well as public sector entities, philanthropic organisations and individuals.
The firm was dubbed the ‘Global 100’s fastest growing firm’ by the UK’s Legal Business.
The firm operates seven ‘firm-wide’ practice areas: Corporate and Transactional, Energy,
Infrastructure and Resources, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Dispute
Resolution, Real Estate, Regulatory and Policy. The firm also runs a global Professional
Development department for its employees, focused on continual development,
implementation and improvement of training initiatives, in both substantive and skills-based
curricula, across the entire firm.
The firm is strongly committed to diversity, appointing the profession’s first Chief Diversity
Officer. K&L Gates also has a range of diversity committees, promoting and supporting the
inclusion of women, LGBT lawyers, ‘lawyers of colour’, and lawyers with disabilities. The firm
also handles hundreds of pro-bono cases per year.
K&L Gates run both a clerkship and a graduate program. Clerkships are offered to penultimate
year students, and are supported by daily feedback sessions, in the Melbourne, Perth and
Sydney offices. Graduates are recruited for a period of twelve-months, and in that period,
three rotations are completed. The firm’s graduate program combines Practical Legal Training
with other professional development sessions. Applications for these positions are made
through cvMail.
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TressCox
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra
http://www.tresscox.com.au
TressCox are an Australian commercial law firm, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
and Canberra, with particular emphasis in corporate and commercial law, litigation and
dispute resolution. The firm also is part of the ALFA International Alliance, with over 140
members across the world.
The firm also undertakes a number of pro-bono opportunities, including work for
disadvantaged or marginalised individuals, not-for-profit organisations who assist such
individuals, or matters in support of the ‘public good’, with particular focus on health and
disability. TressCox also has a heavily developed sustainability program, creating a National
Green Team, also joining the Australian Legal Sector Alliance. The firm also offers a ‘Wellness
Program’, including in-house yoga, pilates, personal training, health sessions and financial
planning for its employees.
TressCox’s seasonal clerkships are offered to students in their penultimate year of study, and
are offered in the Firm’s Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne offices, with three rotations across
the firm’s practice divisions. Applications are received through the cvMail system.
The firm’s Graduate Program involves two six-month rotations in both the Sydney and
Brisbane Offices, with a specialised Traineeship program offered in the firm’s Melbourne
office.
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Gilbert + Tobin
Sydney, Melbourne, Perth
http://www.gtlaw.com.au/
http://me.gtlaw.com.au/
Gilbert + Tobin is a corporate law firm based in Australia, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne
and Perth, and operations across the Asia-Pacific region. The firm operates across a large
number of practice areas, including banking and finance, corporate advisory work,
communications and technology, competition and regulation, intellectual property, media,
litigation and dispute resolution, real estate and projects. The firm also has a dedicated Pro-
Bono legal group.
The firm has over 500 partners, and has the highest proportion of female partners of any
major Australian firm. Gilbert + Tobin also sponsor the UNSW Centre for Public Law, a leading
think-tank in the area of public (especially constitutional) law. Gilbert + Tobin offer a range of
flexible work arrangements for women, and extend a large amount of support for
disadvantaged women in the community through their pro-bono and corporate social
responsibility programs. Additionally, the OUT @ G+T program offers a support for LGBT-
identifying lawyers.
Clerkships are offered in Summer (Perth, Sydney, Melbourne) and Winter (Perth, Melbourne)
for various periods, with a placement in a dedicated practice group aligning with your
interests, with two five-week rotations in the Sydney program. Applications are received
through cvMail.
Graduates enter an 18-month program (12 months in Perth) which includes the firm’s
Practical Legal Training and Professional Development program, and offers are generally
made to successful clerks. The firm offers financial support for younger lawyers to complete
Postgraduate study, and offer interstate and international secondments, as well as offering
one graduate a 12-month placement with Japanese firm Anderson Mori and Tomotsune.
52
International Opportunities
There is no reason why you can’t let your degree take you anywhere in the world, and UTAS
Graduates are lucky enough to have a large range of exciting opportunities available to take
them abroad.
This section is not, and should not be considered, a comprehensive summary of these
opportunities, and is instead a small ‘overview’, a tasting plate, if you will, of the possible
options available to you.
Clerkships & Graduate Programs with International Opportunities
Many clerkship or graduate programs with large, multinational firms offer international
secondment opportunities, or the ability for successful graduates to travel to overseas offices.
Check your individual firm’s website for information regarding these opportunities, however,
of the firms outlined in the previous section, the following firms advertise international
practice opportunities. Most of these opportunities are offered throughout Asia, especially in
Hong Kong.
Baker & McKenzie
Allens
Herbert Smith Freehills
King & Wood Mallesons
Gilbert + Tobin
Overseas Clerkships
Alternatively, students may wish to pursue a clerkship entirely based overseas. There are an
exceptionally diverse number of firms, across all continents, offering students clerkship
opportunities.
There are two major ways to secure such an opportunity:
Apply directly to a multinational firm’s overseas office
Many firms with offices across the world take clerks in each of their individual offices. Instead
of applying, for example, to one of the firms outlined in the previous section and hoping to
secure an international secondment, students may wish to apply directly to an overseas office
to enquire about clerkships, graduate programs and other opportunities.
Apply with a foreign firm
Foreign firms often offer opportunities for clerks, graduates or interns in their local offices
across the world. These are a largely untapped resource and may prove highly rewarding –
information for these will rarely be provided outside the local market, so head directly to your
firm’s website, or find the website of a local university’s student law society for possible
opportunities.
53
Language skills, and a familiarity with the legal framework in the relevant jurisdiction are likely
to been seen as valuable attributes by a potential employer, as these clerkships are likely to
be highly competitive. The individual websites of each firm are likely to be your best resource
and a good starting point for future reference regarding these opportunities, application
dates and other similar information.
Similarly, foreign courts may offer UTAS Graduates the opportunity to undertake
Associateships or other similar work in those jurisdictions.
International Legal Practice Courses
A range of graduate study options are offered by mainland universities which often include
international, or overseas, legal practice opportunities or experience, as an element of the
course.
Bond University – Master of Laws (International Legal Practice)
http://www.bond.edu.au/study-at-bond/postgraduate-degrees/list/master-of-laws-
international-legal-practice/index.htm
Bond University currently offers a Master of Laws (International Legal Practice), running for
four semesters of full-time study. This course involves a coursework Masters, alongside a 13
or 26 week Practical Legal Placement, which Australian students are encouraged to undertake
overseas. Previous firms offering this placement have included Baker & McKenzie, Hachette
Livre (France) and Thomas & Mayer & Associates (Hong Kong).
Subjects in this course include (to give a small selection):
Introduction To Common Law
Banking & Finance Law
Canadian Administrative Law
Clean Energy Law
Comparative Corporate Insolvency
Electronic Banking Law
Law & Investment In China
The Law Of Globalisation
The course commences in May 2014, and students are required to have a completed
undergraduate degree in law to undertake this course. Applications are made directly to Bond
University, and students must undergo an interview with a local admissions manager prior to
the issuance of an offer. Census date for the May Semester is 6 June 2014.
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University of Sydney – Masters of Global Law
http://sydney.edu.au/law/fstudent/coursework/global-law.shtml
Sydney University offer a unique ‘Global Law’ program including a range of subjects across
international law, overseas domestic law, Australian domestic law and comparative law,
designed to enable graduates to undertake positions in the fields of business and law. This
course encourages students to specialise in particular areas, some of which include:
Administrative & Government Law
Asian & Islamic Law
Banking & Finance Law
Climate Change Law
Commercial Law
Corporate Law
Dispute Resolution
Energy & Resources Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Trade Law & International Commercial Arbitration
Labour Law
Law & International Development
Taxation Law
Applications are currently open for the 2014 program, however, some units have a restricted
class size and other core units may run early in the semester. Census date for this course is
March 28, and applications are made online.
Sydney Law School in Europe offers a range of subjects in their overseas campuses in Berlin,
Cambridge and London. Other international opportunities possible in this course include
Kyoto and Tokyo Seminars in Japanese Law, the Himalayan Field School in Nepal, the Shanghai
Winter School, and the Southeast Asia Winter School in Malaysia and Indonesia.
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Student Profile: Gerard Quek
Name: Gerard Quek
Graduation Year: 2014
Job Title – Firm: Paralegal, Stephenson Harwood LLP
What was your position?
I was hired as a paralegal at the London office of Stephenson
Harwood LLP.
What were your responsibilities and tasks?
I worked on two different cases, both contractual disputes. One of
these cases originated from Africa and was heard by the London
Court of International Arbitration. The other originated from South
America and was heard in the High Court of Justice of England and
Wales, and each case involved claims valued around 40 million
dollars.
My role with the South American case related to reducing the scope of discovery of
approximately 150 000 electronic documents for trial. I was required to work very closely with
forensic experts to devise strategies and methods to achieve this, and worked closely with my
supervising partner.
My main task in the African case was to read every document and highlight relevant and
contentious information for our upcoming trial which was less than a month away, and
explore strategies that could help with the trial.
What were the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about
the organisation’s environment and culture?
I worked approximately 14 hours a day, split evenly across both cases. I was well trained and
supported across all the firm’s different platforms and systems to manage documents and
cases, and my supervising partners were always ready to discuss any issues I had. The firm’s
culture and environment was something I really appreciated, as everyone was very willing to
help one another despite their busy schedule.
What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity?
Aside from acquiring legal knowledge surrounding enforcement procedures and the
importance of jurisdiction clauses, I was fortunate to learn about legal thinking from my
supervising partners. One of my supervising partners would always emphasise that trainees
should think ahead and look at what they are trying to achieve, and allow this to guide their
actions. Furthermore, he mentioned that when looking at what you are trying to achieve, one
has to consider whether your advice is helpful or worthy to be presented to the clients and
what ramifications this may have for them, as all clients want value for money.
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He mentioned that as a commercial lawyer, one has to be very tactical. One of the most
significant things he said to me was that litigation should be seen as a tool and not an option.
Furthermore, he taught me the importance of building and maintaining client relation, a very
tricky task as every client feels that they are your only client.
What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell
someone else who would like a similar role?
A piece of advice I thought I could use was that you take an action or asks a question, you
should always take a step back and think of the ramifications and consequences before doing
that action. If your question can be found on the internet, or your advice is redundant, or your
correspondence will invoke an unnecessary response, therefore as easy as it sounds, one
should really reconsider their intended communication and take another tact.
Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes?
I strongly believe that working hard and displaying initiative are important to show your
superior that you have the right attitude to build trust and reliance.
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Public Law Careers Introduction
Commercial law not your thing?
That’s okay.
There’s still a large number of options available to you.
Commercial law firms are far from the only options available for graduates and law students
wishing to gain legal experience. Your law degree can take you on a range of different paths,
and this next section aims to introduce you to a range of possible career options within the
public law field –including fields as diverse as Administrative, Constitutional and Criminal law.
The opportunities available for students and graduates within this sector are exceptionally
varied and diverse, and as a result, neither this list (nor any!) can possibly be exhaustive.
Within this section are some of the most notable, common or familiar opportunities to pique
your interest and to illustrate the diversity of opportunities available.
Furthermore, this section especially intersects with the TULS Student Opportunities Guide,
which outlines a large number of internship and volunteer opportunities with many of these
organisations.
This guide draws heavily on the below resources:
Social Justice Opportunities - http://www.sjopps.net.au/sjopps/home.asp
BeyondLaw - http://www.beyondlaw.com.au/job-hub
Public Interest Law Careers Guide –
http://www.law.monash.edu.au/castancentre/careers-guide/index.html
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Community Legal Centres (CLCs) & Legal Aid
Community Legal Centres
Community Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations who provide
accessible legal services to the community, primarily to those who are disadvantaged or
otherwise marginalised by factors including socio-economic status, disability, geography,
culture or gender. There are over 160 Community Legal Centres of this type in Australia.
Information on Tasmania’s CLCs contained below is drawn from http://www.clctas.org.au/.
Tasmanian CLCs include:
Hobart, Launceston and North-West Community Legal Centres
http://www.hobartlegal.org.au/
http://www.lclc.net.au/
http://www.nwclc.org.au/
These community organisations aim to increase public awareness regarding the law, to
increase access to and equitable implementation of the law, and to provide free legal advice,
information and referral services to members of the public.
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO)
http://www.edotas.org.au/
The Environmental Defenders Office is a public-interest CLC, designed to assist with legal
advice, education and research on issues including urban planning and subdivisions, pollution,
endangered species protection, wilderness preservation, forestry and marine farming.
Tenants’ Union of Tasmania
http://tutas.org.au/
The Tenants’ Union of Tasmania is a not-for-profit community organisation offering free
advice for public and private residential tenants in relation to issues arising from their
tenancy.
Women’s Legal Service
http://www.womenslegaltas.org.au/index.php
Women’s Legal Service is a free legal advice and referral service, assisting women with issues
including family law, separation and divorce, property settlements, family violence, child
support, discrimination and sexual harassment, civil and criminal law, estates and property
law.
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Animal Welfare Community Legal Service
The Animal Welfare Community Legal Service aims to provide animal protection groups and
other individuals interested in animal cruelty issues with free legal advice, focusing on issues
including live animal export, animal farming, and killing of wildlife and ‘feral’ animals. This
service is based on Flinders Island.
Worker Assist
http://www.workerassist.org.au/
Worker Assist Tasmania is a free service for injured workers in Tasmania, providing
information, service and assistance regarding workers compensation, return to work and
rehabilitation, and the Asbestos Related Diseases Compensation Fund. This is a service
operated by Unions Tasmania.
Most Community Legal Centres take volunteers and offer other opportunities for students to
gain experience – see the Student Opportunities Guide for these details.
Other Jurisdictions
For more information regarding Community Legal Centres in other states and territories,
please visit the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC) website at
http://www.naclc.org.au/. NACLC also maintain a register of CLC job vacancies across the
country at http://www.clc.net.au/JobAds/.
Legal Aid
There are also eight independent Legal Aid commissions (one for each jurisdiction), who
provide economically and socially disadvantaged individuals with free legal advice and
support. These programs are small, and the positions are highly competitive.
Legal Aid Commission Of Tasmania
http://www.legalaid.tas.gov.au/index.html
The Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania operates a range of services, including the Telephone
Advice Service, mental health lawyers, the Legal eGuide and a range of other law reform
related publications. The commission is an independent Statutory body, created under the
Legal Aid Commission Act 1990 (Tas).
Job vacancies for the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania are published in the Tasmanian
Government Job Guide. To access them:
Open www.jobs.tas.gov.au
Select ‘Browse Notices’.
Select ‘Justice’.
Scroll through the notices to find those relating to the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania.
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Other Jurisdictions
National Legal Aid is a peak body, representing the directors of each of the Eight State and
Territory legal aid commissions in Australia. Their website, containing contact details and
other information regarding each of the jurisdictions in Australia, is available here:
http://www.nationallegalaid.org/
A range of national legal aid programs also operate – especially in the fields of indigenous
justice, native title and human rights law reform, with services such as the Aurora Project
(http://www.auroraproject.com.au/) frequently seeking graduates:, however recent funding
cuts to the sector have affected the number of vacancies available.
Other programs include the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD), with a
large number of vacancies available: http://www.atsils.org.au/default.asp.
For further information on vacancies and graduate programs, visit:
Legal Aid ACT:
http://www.legalaidact.org.au/aboutus/workingatlegalaid/currentpositions.php
Legal Aid NSW – Career Development Program:
http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/about-us/working-at-legal-aid/Career-
development-solicitors
Legal Aid QLD:
http://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/careers/Pages/Positions-vacant.aspx
Legal Aid Western Australia – Graduate Programs:
http://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/LegalAidServices/employment/Pages/GraduateProgr
am.aspx
Legal Services Commission of South Australia:
http://www.vacancies.sa.gov.au/NOVPUblic/asp/public/Home.aspx
Northern Territory Legal Aid
http://www.ntlac.nt.gov.au/
Victorian Legal Aid – New Lawyers’ Program:
http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/careers/new-lawyers-program
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Court Work & Associateships
Becoming An Associate
An Associateship represents an exciting alternative to a graduate program for law-minded
students who may not wish to pursue corporate law work. These positions are highly
prestigious and competitive, and are available across Australia, in State and Federal Courts
(including both the Federal and High Court). Associates provide secretarial, academic and
other personal assistance to a specific Judge to enable them to undertake their job effectively,
and are employed for a fixed period, usually 12 months. Associates undertake slightly
different duties in each jurisdiction around Australia, however, common duties include:
Providing research assistance, writing reports, preparing papers and finding relevant
statutory and case authorities
Formal Court roles, including empanelment of juries, taking of pleas and swearing of
witnesses
Accompanying the judge on circuit, or any formal travel
Coordinating Court proceedings, including conducing pre-trial documentation checks,
monitoring and recording of proceedings
Analysis and summation of evidence
Assistance in drafting findings of fact, and in editing judgments
Providing administrative, secretarial and clerical assistance to the Judge, frequently
involving liaison with relevant Court Registrars
Ensuring judgments and correspondence are accurate and comply with all relevant
Court requirements
Maintaining the Judge’s Chambers, frequently including maintenance of the
Chamber’s Library, and the Judge’s judicial apparel.
Ensuring the security and confidentiality of draft judgments and other documents
Entertaining and serving meals to judges and any other distinguished guests
Judge’s Associates (also known as Tipstaff in NSW, where the system is slightly different) are
appointed directly by individual judges, and as a result, no standardised application
procedures exist - applications should be addressed to specific judges, and each judge/Court
has different expected competencies and experience.
Associateship vacancies are rarely publicly advertised, and are often appointed between two
and three years in advance, so if you’d like to be an Associate, it is important that you plan in
advance.
In Tasmania, an open expression of interest or advertisement appears in the Tasmanian
Government Gazette in or about April each year. Positions commence in late August, for a
period of 12 months.
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For more information becoming an Associate, please visit the following sites:
High Court:
http://www.hcourt.gov.au/employment/applying-for-an-associateship-with-a-
justice-of-the-high-court-of-australia
Federal Court:
http://www.fedcourt.gov.au/about/employment/associates
Supreme Court of Tasmania:
http://www.supremecourt.tas.gov.au
Supreme Court of New South Wales:
http://www.supremecourt.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/
Supreme Court of Queensland & District Courts:
http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/about/jobs-with-the-courts/judges-associates
Supreme Court of Victoria:
http://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/utility/employment/expression+of+interest+fo
r+associateships
Supreme Court of South Australia:
http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/Employment/OngoingOpportunities/Pages/Supreme-
Court-Associates.aspx
Supreme Court of Western Australia: http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/
Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory: http://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/public/employment_as_an_associate_or_re
search_officer
Supreme Court of the Northern Territory: http://www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au/index.htm
This section has drawn heavily on the Australian Law Students Association (ALSA) Judge’s
Associates Guide. This document is produced annually and released on the ALSA Website, and
the 2013 guide is available here:
http://www.alsa.asn.au/council/documents/July2013/2013%20Judge's%20Associate%20Gui
de%20FINAL.pdf
It is highly recommended that interested students read this guide in its entirety before
applying.
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Other Court Work
Australian Government Solicitors (AGS)
The Australian Government Solicitors are the providers of legal advice and representation to
the Australian government, with offices in every capital city. The Government Solicitors work
three major practice groups – the Office of General Counsel (Administrative law,
Constitutional law, Statutory Interpretation, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Law,
Employment and Workplace Law and Security Law), Public International Law, Dispute
Resolution and Commercial Law. The AGS also produces ‘Express Law’, summaries of recent,
important decisions in these fields, as well as legal briefings, litigation notes, and other
podcasts and fact sheets.
The AGS offers a national, 12-month training and development program, which is expected
to culminate with employment with the AGS. The program includes orientation, a rotation
schedule across the three internal practice groups of the AGS, a client placement in a
Government Department or Agency, Pro-Bono opportunities, sponsorship toward completion
of an external PLT program, prescribed in-house training and peer support and mentoring.
Important dates for the AGS’ 2015 program are:
Tuesday 4 March 2014: Applications for graduate positions open.
Friday 18 April 2014: Applications for graduate positions close at 5 pm.
Monday 12 May 2014: Interviews for graduate positions commence.
Friday 13 June 2014: Offers for graduate positions can be made.
Friday 20 June 2014: Offer expiry date
The AGS is also launching a winter clerkship program, the second set of appointments (to take
a position in Winter 2015) will be advertised in the second half of 2014.
For more information on positions with the AGS – visit http://www.ags.gov.au/index.html
Legal Research Officers & Other Court Staff
Most Courts offer a range of other legal work, including legal research officers, positions in
the Court registry, duty lawyers, court Librarians and similar positions. These vacancies are
usually advertised either through the Court’s own website, or through the government jobs
portal for the relevant jurisdiction.
Court Research Officers provide another form of Court work for those interested individuals,
undertaking discrete tasks at the direction of the Judges. Legal Research Officer positions are
advertised in the following jurisdictions:
High Court of Australia – The High Court of Australia appoints Research Officers each
year for a 12-month period. Applications should be made directly to Ms Petal Kinder,
Court Librarian - by email to [email protected]
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Supreme Court of Victoria - Research Associates are appointed in both the Court’s Trial
Division and the Court of Appeal, and are advertised on the Supreme Court’s website
when vacancies occur: http://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au
Supreme Court of NSW – The Office of the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of NSW
accepts applications on an ongoing basis for a Judicial Clerk/Research Director
position. Applications are made in a similar manner to those of Associateships,
outlined above:
http://www.supremecourt.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/supremecourt/sco2_careers.html
Supreme Court of ACT – The Supreme Court of the ACT appoints a Research Associate
to the Chief Justice, from a list of applications received in the past 12 months. For
more information, visit:
http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/Supreme/Circular_for_Research_As
sistant_July_2011.pdf
Paralegal Work
Paralegals are individuals specifically trained to assist lawyers in delivering legal services to
clients, working alongside and assisting attorneys. They often engage in tasks of a clerical and
administrative nature, frequently involving legal research. Paralegals are often employed by
in-house legal departments, in private firms and in government departments.
Requirements and procedures for appointing paralegals differ between jurisdictions in
Australia, and positions are commonly advertised through ‘traditional’ job search
mechanisms, such as Seek.com.au – please see http://www.seek.com.au/jobs-in-legal/law-
clerks-paralegals for more information.
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Criminal Law Work – Public Prosecutions
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the office charged with the
prosecution of criminal offences, may prove an exciting (if highly competitive) career path for
those interested in criminal law.
Throughout the country, various ODPPs offer a diverse number of graduate opportunities.
Additionally, some offices may be able to ‘create’ positions or internship opportunities for
you, if you contact the office directly.
Tasmania
The Tasmanian ODPP does not run a dedicated graduate program.
Any job vacancies in the office will be advertised in the Tasmanian Government Gazette, at
http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au. This guide, under the heading ‘Legal Aid Commission of
Tasmania’, provides instructions on how to find these specific job vacancies.
Victoria
The Victorian ODPP usually offers 12-month legal traineeships to law graduates each year.
Such a traineeship constitutes a method of admission to the legal Profession in Victoria and
resultantly, can take the place of a Practical Legal Training program.
For more information, please visit: http://www.opp.vic.gov.au/Careers-at-the-OPP
New South Wales
The NSW ODPP employs recent graduates as part of their Legal Development Programme,
available on a full-time, 35 hours/week basis. This program continues for a period of twelve
months.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.odpp.nsw.gov.au/careers/legal-development-program
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT DPP offers placements to students who wish to complete the work experience
component of their Practical Legal Training/admission process. For more information on how
to obtain these positions, please visit: www.jobs.act.gov.au.
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Graduate Profile – James Walker
Name: James Walker
Graduation Year: Graduate 2012 – BA LLB (Hons)
Job Title – Firm: Clerk - Office of the Director of Public
Prosecutions (ACT)
In January 2013, I spent three weeks completing a clerkship at the
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in the ACT. Much
like the Tasmanian DPP, in the ACT the DPP is responsible for
instituting, conducting and supervising prosecutions and related
proceedings, including appeals. In the ACT, this includes summary proceedings (i.e. those
conducted in the Magistrates Court), whereas in Tasmania these are dealt with by Police
Prosecution Services. The Director also has the power to, for example, provide advice to police
and other investigative agencies.
My clerkship was split between spending time in court and in the office. I spent time observing
DPP lawyers in both the Magistrates and Supreme Courts. The time in the office was divided
between assisting with administrative, policy and research tasks under the supervision of one
or more senior lawyers.
I was able to assist with preparing two cases for trial, generally by researching specific points
of law or cataloguing the voluminous amounts of evidence that the DPP was preparing to have
admitted. In my last week I was also asked to try my hand at a few other tasks, such as drafting
a template indictment and recommending whether certain simple summary matters should
proceed to prosecution.
The first case was an armed robbery where the Australian Federal Police (AFP, who function
as the Territory police force) had put suspects under surveillance, which led me to being asked
to research the extent of the AFP's surveillance powers. The second case was a murder where
the DPP would allege the accused had stabbed his partner to death in her home. The case was
based entirely on circumstantial evidence. I spent some time researching, e.g. convictions in
the ACT based on circumstantial evidence, and much more time reviewing binders of forensic,
medical, police and other evidence that would be used at trial.
The other interesting task I was asked to assist with was the reform of several procedural laws
relating to the ACT courts' case management system. One of the DPP's other roles is to bring
law reform proposals to government. I was asked to draft two letters presenting research
comparing aspects of case management systems from around Australia and proposing
amendments to modernise relevant Territory legislation, such as to the Supreme Court Act
1930 (ACT). This was done in accordance with the Director's instructions and under his
supervision.
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A number of UTAS law graduates have previously worked at the ODPP. The Director, Jon
White, told me one of the reasons I was offered a clerkship was because he rates the UTAS
law graduates he has worked with so highly. Mr White also suggested that other UTAS law
students should consider applying for clerkships with his office.
After my experience, where I was supported and encouraged by senior lawyers (I would
especially like to thank Mr White and Assistant Director Margaret Jones) and I was always
being given something interesting to work on, I hope there will be some applications from
UTAS in the future. The ODPP website has information for students looking for a Legal Practice
work placement, but none on clerkships for undergraduates. Don't be deterred by this: apply
in writing to the Director.
My experience also confirmed for me that getting a clerkship at a commercial firm, as valuable
as one may be, is not the only, or even necessarily the best, option. I strongly encourage
everyone to apply for clerkships (I only applied in my fifth year, and that wasn't a problem
anywhere I applied) and to consider applying in both the public and private sectors. At the end
of the day, with so few legal jobs for graduates in Tasmania, I also strongly encourage
everyone to apply everywhere else in Australia.
Administrative Law Opportunities – Tribunals and the Ombudsman
The Office Of The Ombudsman
Opportunities exist for employment or work experience with the Ombudsman, in both
Tasmania and other jurisdictions. The functions of the Tasmanian Ombudsman include:
Receiving and investigating complaints regarding administrative action undertaken by
Government, government departments and other public authorities, to ensure their
actions are ‘lawful, reasonable and fair’
Acting as the Health Complaints Commissioner and Energy Ombudsman
Overseeing the implementation of the Right to Information Act 2009 (Tas), Public
Interest Disclosures Act 2002 (Tas) and the Official Visitor schemes for the State’s
prisons and mental health institutions.
The Office of the Ombudsman in Tasmania runs an internship program each year, information
for which is usually released directly to students in November.
For more information on these internships, and opportunities with the Ombudsman in other
jurisdictions, please see the Student Opportunities Guide.
The Tasmanian Ombudsman’s website also provides further information, and is available at
www.ombudsman.tas.gov.au.
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Tribunals
Although not ‘courts’ in the strictest sense of the word, administrative tribunals also employ,
in some cases substantial, staff to assist in their operations.
Potential opportunities for employment exist in, for example:
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)
http://www.aat.gov.au/WorkingAtTheAAT.htm
The AAT provides independent review of a wide range of administrative decisions made by
the Australian Government. Although members of the tribunal are statutory officers
appointed by the Governor-General, the Tribunal also appoints individuals with specific
professional skills or expertise in a diverse range of fields – including aviation, actuarial
studies, social work, medicine and other sciences.
The AAT also employs staff, in all states and territories, to perform a range of duties, including
managing the Tribunal’s registries, conducting conferences, legal research and supporting
clients. The AAT also appoints Legal Administrative Assistants directly through universities,
either during or immediately following their final year of study – similar to a judicial
Associateship. Vacancies are advertised on the AAT’s website
(http://www.aat.gov.au/WorkingAtTheAAT/CurrentVacancies.htm), or on the Australian
Public Service’s Jobs Gazette (https://www.apsjobs.gov.au/)
The Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal (RMPAT)
http://www.rmpat.tas.gov.au/
The Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal is an administrative body which
hears appeals regarding the sustainable development and use of public resources in
Tasmania. Positions with RMPAT are advertised through the Tasmanian Government’s jobs
portal, at http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/.
The Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
http://www.vcat.vic.gov.au/
VCAT is one of the oldest civil and administrative tribunals in Australia, an amalgamation of
15 boards and tribunals, and is deemed ‘Australia’s Busiest’ tribunal. The Tribunal’s work is
split across three major areas of work – the Civil Division (consumer matters, domestic
building, tenancy disputes, real property et cetera), Administrative Division (land valuation
and planning permits, taxation, business licenses and registration, Freedom of Information)
and Human Rights Division (guardianship and administration, discrimination, vilification,
health and information privacy, Mental Health Reviews).
Positions in the VCAT Registry, and other administrative positions within VCAT, are advertised
with approximately 5-6 positions per month becoming available. Applications are advertised
through the Victorian Government’s Careers Portal: http://careers.vic.gov.au/.
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These opportunities represent some of the largest/most well-known tribunals in Tasmania,
and other jurisdictions. A plethora of similar opportunities exist in other tribunals, and we
strongly encourage you to investigate your preferred tribunal, or jurisdiction, to consider
other opportunities which might exist.
Parliamentary Work
For those of you especially interested in public law work, Parliaments of each of the States &
Territories employ a large number of individuals from legal backgrounds in a range of roles.
Although a detailed analysis of each of the positions available in the 9 Australian jurisdictions
is outside the scope of this guide, some common positions include work as a Parliamentary
Clerk, or particular (for Law students) work in the Office of Parliamentary Counsel – the office
which drafts the precise wording of legislation.
Tasmania
In Tasmania, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel is a division of the Department of Premier
and Cabinet, and is contactable at [email protected] or 03 6233 3422.
Positions within the Tasmanian Parliament, or with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, are
offered on the Tasmanian Public Service Jobs Portal, in the Tasmanian Government Gazette:
http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/.
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth Parliament operates four ‘departments’ to assist in the administration of
its work – the Departments of the Senate, the House of Representatives, Parliamentary
Services and the Parliamentary Budget Office.
All of these departments, excepting that of Parliamentary Services, offer graduate programs,
with placements for three to six months in each of these departments. However, graduate
positions are only available to those already participating in existing graduate programs with
other Australian Government departments or agencies, who endorse the placement.
Information about employment within these departments of the Commonwealth Parliament,
and the Commonwealth Parliament Graduate Program, is available here:
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Employment.
The Commonwealth Office of Parliamentary Counsel advertises their vacancies on their own
website, at http://www.opc.gov.au/employment/index.htm.
The Commonwealth Office of Parliamentary Counsel also maintains a register of legal drafting
positions advertised across the country by the Commonwealth Association of Legislative
available at http://www.opc.gov.au/calc/calc_employment.htm.
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Although not a Parliamentary Counsel position, Emilie McDonnell’s position provides some
idea of the work available in this field.
Student Profile: Emilie McDonnell
Name: Emilie McDonnell
Graduation Year/Year Of Study: Fourth Year of a
Combined Arts and Law Degree
Job Title – Firm: Research Officer at Stenning &
Associates
What is your position? With which firm are you
undertaking this role?
I am employed as a casual research officer at
Stenning & Associates in Hobart.
What are your responsibilities and tasks?
My main tasks involve monitoring and auditing data relating to business licencing for
governments and councils in Australia. This involves reviewing legislative and other sources
for any information relating to new acts and regulations that may impact business licences.
I spend most of my time interpreting legislation, regulations and codes of practices. After
interpreting the legislation, I draft new content regarding business licences, which are then
uploaded to the Australian Business Licence and Information Service or relevant state service.
These services help the public to find government licences, permits, approvals, codes of
practice, standards and guidelines so that they can apply for licences and ensure their business
is meeting the compliance responsibilities.
For example, I have drafted content relating to building registration, plumbing licences and
approvals to become a Racing Organisation just to name a couple. The content covers what
qualifications a person requires to be eligible, a general description of the licence, applicable
fees and contact details for the government agency.
What are the hours of work, training, support and level of client contact like? What about
the organisation’s environment and culture?
I work two days a week currently. I receive excellent training and support from my fellow
workers and team service providers. They are always willing to help me and encourage me to
ask questions in order to ensure that any work I undertake is up to scratch. It is great to work
in such a supportive environment as it means I feel comfortable asking questions, which
ultimately improves my work and knowledge of the area.
I mostly engage with clients over the phone when I need to gain more information about
business licences.
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The environment is very supportive and fun and everyone is extremely friendly. We have
regular content meetings where everyone has a chance to report on the datasets they
maintain, ask questions and discuss upcoming projects, which is a great way to build team
morale and make sure everyone is on the same page.
It is great to work in an environment that focuses on providing impeccable service and working
hard to achieve goals and meet deadlines but still has a friendly and fun culture.
What did you learn, and what new skills did you acquire, through this opportunity?
I have learnt some great practical legal skills that will be extremely beneficial for my future
career. I have acquired new skills and knowledge that cannot be gained at law school. Overall,
my ability to pay close attention to detail and my critical thinking has increased.
I have learnt how to interpret many pieces of legislation; some complex and some simple. I
have become skilled at sifting through legislation, regulations and codes of practices and
analysing them to find relevant sections, definitions and information and to then reword this
information into easy to understand formats and descriptions for the general public –
particularly small businesses - to understand.
I have also learnt how to search for and analyse the potential impacts of legislative changes
on business licensing and industry. I have also learnt how legislation impacts on small business
and the interaction and differences between legislation and how it works in practice.
What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone
else who would like a similar role?
Nothing! Everything was made very easy!
If someone wanted a similar role I would tell them to put themselves out there and actively
try and make opportunities for yourself. Email or call different legal workplaces or other
companies offering your assistance and tell them about your eagerness to learn new legal
skills and help them out.
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Non-Legal Options Introduction
Neither of the above particularly tickle your fancy? Don’t want to practice law?
That’s okay, around 50% of law graduates are just like you.
However, the reason a law degree is just so valuable is that the skills – in-depth analysis, highly
developed written and oral communication skills, well developed interpersonal skills, the
ability to construct and follow highly complex chains of reasoning, and to research enough
information to support them – make you attractive and useful in a range of fields beyond the
bounds of the Courtroom.
The following section of the guide provides information regarding a small number of these
alternative career paths. Of course, this list is incomplete, and the sheer number of possible
opportunities means that much of this information will not be as comprehensive, even as
other sections of this guide, however and as a result, you should, as always, undertake your
own research about possible career options.
Much of this section also intersects with the TULS Student Opportunities Guide, which we
can’t recommend highly enough.
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The Public Sector & Public Service
Law graduates frequently apply for graduate or entry-level positions with the Commonwealth
or State Public Service. The Australian Public Service (APS) recruits a large number of
graduates with a diverse range of skills and attributes, across all range of disciplines, for their
graduate programs.
APS Graduate Programs are structured, on-the-job programs designed to introduce you to
the APS, typically lasting between 1-2 years and including a number of rotations through each
area of each department.
This section is merely designed to provide a cursory overview of the options available within
the APS – for more information regarding the APS, and the clerk and internship opportunities
they might offer, please see the Student Opportunities Guide.
The Commonwealth APS
Australian Government agencies usually advertise graduate employment opportunities
between February and June each year – information on these, and the graduate programs
offered, is available here:
http://australia.gov.au/topics/employment-and-workplace/australian-government-
jobs/graduate-programs
Possible departments include:
Attorney-General’s Department
http://www.ag.gov.au/About/Careers/Graduateprogram/Pages/default.aspx
The Attorney-General’s Department advises Government on the maintenance, development
and improvement of Australia’s legal frameworks in a large number of areas.
Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet
http://careers.pmc.gov.au/graduate_careers/index.cfm
The Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet provides policy advice on a range of areas
including economics, social policy, national security, foreign affairs, domestic governance,
legal and freedom of information and cultural issues. They also provide a range of support
services to the Prime Minister, Cabinet and other government departments.
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
http://www.dfat.gov.au/jobs/
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to advance Australia’s diplomatic, political
and economic interests internationally, and is responsible for providing advice regarding
international organisations, foreign policy and trade to the Government.
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There are many other public bodies, government departments and not-for-profit
organisations which have roles that are not necessarily ‘law specific’ yet often seek applicants
with legal backgrounds to fill those roles.
Examples include: the Australian Federal Police, Australian National Audit Office, Department
of Defence, Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Department of Agriculture,
Department of Education, Department of Finance, Department of Immigration and Border
Protection, Department of the Environment, Department of Communications, Fair Work
Ombudsman, and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
State Public Services
Each state & territory government also employs a substantial public service, and as a result,
opportunities abound for new graduates across the Country.
Tasmania
Sadly, however, the Tasmanian public service does not run a large graduate program.
However, in 2012, graduate programs were offered by the Departments of Premier and
Cabinet, and of Health & Human Services.
Graduate positions in the Tasmanian public service are offered on the Tasmanian
Government’s employment portal at http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/.
Please read the TULS Student Opportunities Guide for further information on opportunities in
these organisations and other related opportunities through all levels of government.
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Graduate Profile: Dave Port
Like many law students, I was anxious in in my final two years of Uni. I realised that pretty
soon I’d walk out of Uni / Legal Prac for the last time as a student, and I still wasn’t sure
whether or not I wanted to be a lawyer. Fortunately, I had a close friend tell me about public
service graduate programs. Government graduate programs offer an alternative career path
for students from any background.
A graduate program runs from anywhere between 10 months and 2 years, during which time
graduates complete work rotations around different areas of the department. It’s all about
gaining the skills and knowledge to succeed not only in the public service, but in your career
in general. While there are many Australian Government departments that offer
employment programs to recent graduates (see first link below), I can only speak to my
experience in the Attorney-General’s Department.
Having finished the graduate program in January 2013, I can confidently say that it has been
the most rewarding experience I could have hoped for.
During my three rotations, I worked in corporate governance, anti-corruption policy, and
national security capability development. This diversity of work is typical in an Australian
Government graduate program, and the work undertaken by the Attorney-General’s
Department is diverse enough to appeal to any law graduate.
In 2012, graduates were placed in areas ranging from Copyright Policy to Countering Violent
Extremism to Indigenous Justice Policy.
This diversity of work is just one selling point for Australian Government graduate programs.
If you ask any graduate in Canberra what the best part of their job is, they might tell you one
of several things:
Financial assistance for further study
‘Flex time’ (Google it) and the work/life balance
Mentor and buddy program
Above-average starting salary
Potential for advancement, or
The friendly and passionate people they work with.
The move to Canberra was daunting, but a graduate program really helped me adjust. I
started my program with 32 other graduates, and we quickly bonded over having to move to
Canberra and an eagerness to get started. Throughout the year, we took several trips to the
NSW coast and ski fields, with countless BBQs and other social events in between.
Since completing my graduate year, I’ve had a variety of exciting roles, including as a Legal
Officer in the International Crime Cooperation Division and as an Adviser to the Secretary. My
current role is in the National Security Law and Policy Division, where my focus is Australia’s
domestic response to the conflict in Syria.
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The term ‘dream job’ gets thrown around a lot, but I believe that I’m about as close to having
my dream job as someone could get.
If you have any questions or would like any more information or tips on your application,
please feel free to contact me at the email address listed below. Applications for most
Australian Government agencies open around March and close in April.
Links
http://australia.gov.au/topics/employment-and-workplace/australian-government-
jobs/graduate-programs
http://livelearnlead.ag.gov.au/
http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications07/crackingthecode.htm
Contact
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Economics & Finance
Economics and the law have a close relationship, and law graduates (especially those studying
a degree combined with Economics or Business) may find a range of rewarding career
opportunities within this sector in a range of areas, including corporate advisory work or work
with economic and financial regulators.
A snapshot of some possible employers might include:
ASIC – Australian Securities & Investments Commission
http://www.graduates.asic.gov.au
ASIC is Australia's corporate, market and financial services regulator. It has several roles
including monitoring corporate behaviour, regulating and measuring consumer behaviour,
supervising market competition, and implementing and enforcing legislative and
administrative requirements regarding corporate governance, registration and licensing.
APRA – Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
http://www.apra.gov.au/aboutapra/workingatapra/pages/graduate-program.aspx
APRA is the ‘prudential regulator’ of the financial services industry. It supervises banks, credit
unions, building societies, insurance companies, and the superannuation industry.
ATO – Australian Taxation Office
http://www.ato.gov.au/About-ATO/Careers/
The ATO is the government's revenue collection agency. It manages, administers and enforces
Australia’s tax, excise and superannuation systems.
ACCC – Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
http://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/careers/graduate-opportunities
The ‘Holy Grail’ of Consumer Protection Law, the ACCC promotes competition and fair trade
in the market place. The ACCC’s main role is ensuring compliance with relevant competition,
fair trading and consumer protection legislation.
ASX – Australian Stock Exchange
http://www.asx.com.au/about/careers-at-asx.htm
The Australian Stock Exchange is the body responsible for overseeing Australia’s share (and
related products) market. As part of the broader ASX Group, a range of positions are available
to economically-minded law graduates.
Other Corporate Advisory Work
Corporate advisors/analysts/consultants offer commercial companies advice on a wide
variety of business transactions occurring within the company. Corporate advisors are largely
found in the fields of investment banking, management, consultancy, insolvency recovery,
accounting and taxation, and are often employed specifically by large corporate firms.
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In House Counsel
Many large companies employ law graduates as ‘in-house counsel’, an employee who provide
advice directly to one particular law firm. Opportunities abound in this area, and for more
information, please visit the website of the Australian Corporate Lawyers’ Association at
http://www.acla.com.au/
Graduate Profile – Cameron Ritchie
Name: Cameron Ritchie
Graduation Year: 2013
Job Title – Firm:
In-House Intern
Hewlett Packard Australia (HP)
In November 2013 I applied for an in-house internship with
Hewlett-Packard Australia, and was lucky to be selected as
one of four interns. The internship was like no other legal
internship I had seen offered in Australia, and the four
weeks over summer during which I interned at HP addressed a tremendously broad range of
skills - both legal and commercial.
The internship was based in Rhodes, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, roughly 15 kilometres
west of the CBD. The brand new building, on a bustling corporate park with gyms, cafes, a
shopping centre nearby and a busy train station a short walk away, was a fantastic location
to be introduced to Sydney and to in-house work.
HP's in-house teams mirror their core internal businesses, which cover far more than just
printers and computers. I was placed in the Enterprise Services team, which provides legal
support and deal-making as part of the sale of IT outsourcing packages to companies and
governments, large and small. Our task, in a nutshell, was to assist in internal projects and
current business deals.
The role of an HP lawyer, especially in the Enterprise Services team, is very specific. It involves
liaising with potential customers, responding to tenders, drafting large contracts, sitting
through long and difficult negotiations to finalise the contracts, and managing contractual
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issues post-execution. There is little to no likelihood of going to Court, and there was little need
to refer to substantive law in the drafting of contractual clauses. While IT outsourcing is a
specific part of a very technical industry, contracting and negotiation skills are more of an
asset than an in-depth knowledge of the most important legal issues in IT law.
I believe the internship was unique amongst others mostly for the reason that it was structured
very differently to others I have heard of, and we were actively taught the ins and outs of
contracting by HP staff.
The first two weeks felt a lot like a summer intensive unit, but it was the HP staff that took
time out of their busy day to teach us.
We were taught everything we needed to know about the business, its strategies, clients and
projects, the IT industry, and most importantly, the key elements of large contracts and how
to issue-spot, mark-up, and negotiate amendments to major contracts.
Not only that, but we were taught by a whole range of HP staff, not just the lawyers;
salespeople, client relations managers, contract implementation managers, project
managers, and even technology site managers, when we were taken to visit a high-tech data
centre.
For the second two weeks, we had a chance to put our knowledge to the test when we were
put straight to work on a major IT outsourcing contract. We were given a large project room
with a fantastic panoramic view as a collaborative space to work on various parts of the
contract. Throughout, we were invited to many coffees and lunch with the HP staff, and they
were very accommodating and friendly.
There were significant benefits of being taught by such a wide range of people and in such an
intensive way. I think I am finally beginning to understand the elusive quality known as
'commerciality'!
We learned advanced drafting techniques, how to assess contractual risk, and how to spot the
exact issues a large company looks for in a large contract. I also developed a much greater
underlying understanding of the financial, operational, and strategic reasons for pursuing
certain positions in a commercial contract negotiation - essentially, learning the needs of a
commercial client from the inside, and not from a private practice perspective.
The internship also taught me that one of the most important day-to-day objectives of a
lawyer, even in private practice, is to assess and manage risk.
Overall, HP treated me to a fantastic insight into in-house practice in an exciting industry, and
if you enjoyed contracts and negotiation, or have an interest in the IT industry, I would highly
recommend the programme to you.
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Postgraduate Study & Academia
Jumping straight into a job isn’t necessarily the path that everybody wants to take, and an
increasing number of employers are desiring those who have developed a high level of
expertise in their field, evidenced through a post-graduate qualification.
Postgraduate qualifications in law come in all types and are offered by almost all law schools
around Australia, and as a result, opportunities abound to find your specialisation and the
right university for you to pursue it.
The UTAS Faculty of Law offers two research-based programs for postgraduate study in law:
Masters of Law (LLM) – usually one-two years in length, with a 40-60,000 word thesis
Doctor of Philosophxy (PhD) – usually two-four years, with a 80-120,000 word thesis
Students undertaking these programs may be offered employment within the faculty as
academic staff, especially as tutors. Postgraduates are also sometimes recruited as research
assistants on staff research projects.
Specific areas of expertise within the UTAS Faculty of Law include, but are not limited to:
Biotechnology & The Law
Constitutional Law
Contract Law
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Equity & Trusts
Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Human Genetics
Intellectual Property Law
Law & Ethics of Health Care/Medical Law
Media Law
Admission to Postgraduate study in Law is based upon your undergraduate academic
performance, your specific topic area chosen and the availability of suitable supervision and
resources within the faculty. Prospective applicants should submit a preliminary expression
of interest to the Associate Dean (Research) – Prof Jan McDonald
([email protected]) – including a copy of your academic record to date and a two-
page preliminary topic proposal.
All domestic students accepted into the Law Faculty’s postgraduate programs are normally
eligible for a place in the ‘Research Training Scheme’, and thus exempted from HECS or other
tuition charges. A range of scholarships are also available, including those offered directly by
the UTAS Faculty of Law itself.
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The UTAS Law School has an active research program, with an excellent national reputation
for the quality of our research. This is supported by the presence of two leading centres of
legal scholarship within the Faculty:
The Centre for Law and Genetics
http://www.utas.edu.au/research/graduate-research/elite/law/law-and-genetics
The Centre for Law and Genetics’ main aim is to investigate bio-ethical matters and legal
implications arising from the use of new technologies. The Centre is at the forefront of
research into issues such as legal standards in the commercialisation of human-genetic
technology.
The Centre was formed by Professors Dianne Nicol and Don Chalmers and the current Dean
of the Law School, Professor Margaret Otlowski.
Tasmanian Law Reform Institute (TLRI)
http://www.utas.edu.au/law-reform/
The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute was established in July 2001 with a mission to undertake
law reform work and research on topics proposed by the State Government, the community,
the University and the Institute itself.
Recent activity has included projects looking at a Charter of Rights for Tasmania, protection
of the anonymity of victims of sexual crimes, sexual offences against young people, non-
therapeutic male circumcision, Arrest laws, racial vilification, easements, drug courts, physical
punishment of children and same-sex adoption laws.
Current members of the UTAS Faculty of Law on the TLRI board include Professor Kate Warner
(Director of the Institute), Professor Margaret Otlowski and Ms Terese Henning.
For further information on Postgraduate opportunities with the UTAS Faculty of Law, please
visit http://www.utas.edu.au/law/postgraduate-study or contact the Associate Dean
(Research) – Prof Jan McDonald ([email protected]).
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Legal Editing & Publishing
Did you combine English, Linguistics or Media and Communication with your Law degree?
Perhaps a career in legal editing or publishing is for you.
These positions usually require a post-graduate degree in Publishing and Editing, however,
positions are frequently available within many companies, including the following:
LexisNexis Australia
https://www.lexisnexis.com.au/en-au/home.page
LexisNexis Australia is a large corporation specialising in computer-assisted legal research
services (and you’re likely familiar with their databases), as well as legal publishing. They also
maintain a large number of overseas databases, with offices across the world.
LexisNexis also offers a range of diverse opportunities for their employees, including
volunteer leave, gym memberships, and over 2500 online training programs from a range of
diverse, leading institutions.
The LexisNexis Careers Portal is available here:
https://www.lexisnexis.com.au/en-au/about-us/careers-professional-candidates.page.
Thomson Reuters
http://www.thomsonreuters.com.au/
http://careers.thomsonreuters.com/
Thomson Reuters publish a comprehensive range of texts and information across the legal,
tax and accounting fields, as well as operating in the healthcare, science and media fields.
They are also responsible for maintenance of a number of (invaluable) services, including the
Westlaw AU database and FirstPoint. Thomson Reuters employ over 550 people in offices in
Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth, with over
55,000 employees across the world.
Information for Thomson Reuters careers, including their Graduate Career Programs, is
available on their comprehensive careers mini-site at http://careers.thomsonreuters.com/.
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Extra-Curricular Opportunities Introduction
We’ve decided to place a small section on extra-curricular opportunities in this guide for a
number of reasons. We’re so keen on extra-curricular opportunities because:
Employers often look for students who are able to demonstrate that they have a
‘balanced’ life, and are able to develop time-management skills such that they can
manage a range of commitments alongside their study.
Upon graduating, you become one of a large number of law graduates in the country
looking for a job, extra-curricular opportunities allow you to both develop a range of
skills and abilities above and beyond those taught to you in the lecture theatre, and
to demonstrate that you have passions and interests which make you a real person.
Such activities can help you realise what you enjoy, and what you might want to do
with your future career.
Extra-curricular opportunities are also great networking opportunities.
Extra-curricular opportunities are often extremely rewarding, and can help you have
fun and to keep your motivation up when law school becomes hard – seeing tangible
results from your study, and ‘real-life’ applications of your work is highly rewarding,
and well worth your time.
These extra-curricular opportunities are some of the most rewarding, and most relevant
options available to law students, and for more information, specific contacts have been
provided.
They are, however, only a tiny taster of the myriad of options available for interested
students, and students should keep their eyes peeled for opportunities from TULS and around
the law school for other opportunities as they arise.
More information, and more opportunities in this area are included in the TULS Student
Opportunities Guide.
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University Exchange & Travel
Law students have a range of opportunities to attend overseas universities on exchange.
Exchange is available:
In Fourth Year, Semester 2 for students undertaking combined degrees
In Third Year, Semester 2 for students undertaking straight law degrees
UTAS has over 90 partner institutes across 30 countries, and students are able to gain credit
to their course from foreign universities, whilst also remaining UTAS-enrolled students.
Employers also often value students who have spent time abroad, as it demonstrates a range
of attributes, including a willingness to try new things, a sense of adventure, flexibility,
empathy and communication skills.
Students from the Faculty of Law have previously attended the following universities, all of
which offer courses in English:
The University of Ottawa, Canada
The University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Uppsala University, Sweden
University of Lucerne, Switzerland
Tromso University, Norway
Masaryk University, Czech Republic
University of Bologna, Italy
City University Hong Kong, Hong Kong
University Ljubilana, Slovenia
More information on exchange generally is available here:
http://www.utas.edu.au/students/exchange-for-utas-students
A number of International Travel Scholarships are available to support students who wish to
study overseas. These include:
Federation Scholarship In Law
http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=297
UTAS Foundation Overseas Exchange Scholarship
http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2415
Tasmania Overseas Travel Scholarship
http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=280
Estelle Marguerite Taylor Overseas Exchange Scholarship
http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2244
Barney Rodgers Overseas Exchange Scholarship
http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2407
For more details – please contact the Faculty Executive Officer, Kira White on 6226 7510 or
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Student Profile: Rohan Nanthakumar (+ Rebecca Byrnes & Anika Bratzel!)
Name: Rohan Nanthakumar
Year Of Study: Fourth Year
University: University of Lucerne
Where did you go on exchange? What
subjects did you study?
Anika Bratzel, Rebecca Byrnes and I went
to Switzerland to study at the University
of Lucerne from September 2013 –
January 2014. We all studied different
combinations of the following subjects: Terrorism and the Law; African Law; Diversity
Management; Comparative Constitutional Law; International Environmental Law;
International Trade Law; Introduction to Swiss Law and International Political Economy (as an
economics elective).
Aside from the academics (though feel free to mention anything particularly unique you
learned), what skills or abilities did you pick up from studying on exchange?
Comparative law skills: As law students, the most valuable thing exchange offered us was
exposure to different legal systems and studying the law from a comparative approach.
Cultural understanding: Living and travelling with other students from all around the world
also gave us the opportunity to have a cultural exchange on a personal level, enhancing our
appreciation and understanding of many different cultures and traditions.
Foreign languages: UNILU offers a free week-long language course at the beginning of
semester to help exchange students get familiar with the basics of the German language and
with Swiss culture. You can’t learn much in a week, so we all continued learning languages
throughout semester. Anika already had proficiency in German and continued to practice.
Rebecca continued learning German through an independent language school. I was the
random person who decided to learn French (whilst living in the German-speaking part of the
country). In my defence, I weaselled myself free lessons. Gotta save on costs when you can!
A general appreciation of wine and cheese: This was very important.
What was the exchange experience like? Did you get many opportunities to explore your
exchange city and culture?
Exchange was a life changing experience. Unilu offered some great opportunities to see the
country and engage with Swiss culture. The language course at the beginning of semester is a
great introduction to the country. The Introduction to Swiss Law course had many excursions
to significant places in Switzerland. The law school also held a number of events to welcome
and farewell us which usually involved free food and wine, and gave us the opportunity to
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sample some traditionally Swiss food like raclette and fondue. Also, the Diversity Management
course involved our epic professor taking the class to a hotel in Lungern for a “conference-
style” intensive course. The program for the course was essentially: class in the morning,
sightseeing in the afternoon and drinks and partying at night. I really recommend this course
because it gave you a chance to see Switzerland and hangout with fellow students and
academics in an informal way. What happens in Lungern…stays in Lungern.
We all managed to do a lot of travelling beyond Lucerne. We only had classes from Monday
to Wednesday – so the rest of the week was free for wild journeys. Collectively, we managed
to travel to many other European countries. The trap of Europe is that you neglect the place
you live as it is so easy to go abroad. Our biggest regret was not spending enough time
exploring Switzerland.
Were there other exchange students or local students you were able to connect with?
There were about 50 exchange students altogether. Living in student accommodation was
great for making new connections. Our accommodation was very multicultural so we had an
excuse to celebrate every holiday we possibly could – including Thanksgiving, Hanukkah,
Halloween, Diwali, Christmas and New Years. Unilu also offered a lot of cheap or heavily
subsidised sporting opportunities which helped in getting to know other locals. The nightlife
in Lucerne was great (the clubbing vibe was way better than here, just sayin’) – many nights
were spent at Roadhouse and the Black Sheep.
How much support did you receive before and during your exchange?
UNILU gave us plenty of general support. This was important because there are a ridiculous
amount of administrative hurdles they make you jump through to get residence in Switzerland.
How do you think exchange helped you? Do you think it’ll improve your job prospects? If
so, why?
Absolutely! Exchange helped me:
Boost my academic record – While the courses at Unilu were still demanding at times (writing
25 page papers is not always fun), it is not as challenging as what we’re used to here at UTAS.
So…if you put a bit of work in when you have to, you’ll be happy with your results.
Stand out in interviews – Exchange widens your perceptions about the world. You get skills in
dealing with people from various different backgrounds and a wider understanding of the
world. These “soft skills” and international exposure are highly regarded attributes which
many prospective employers seek in a graduate. Also – it’s such a great talking point!
Gain contacts for the future – The networking opportunity is phenomenal. We have friends all
around the world now and many of them are going to be working in our field. You can’t trade
that with anything.
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What advice would you have appreciated before you started? What would you tell someone
else who would like a similar experience?
Start your visa application EARLY. The trains may never be late in Switzerland, but your visa
might be! I had to take a day out of my travels through Spain to go to the Australian embassy
to pick it up.
Explore Switzerland. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I should have done more of it when I had
the chance.
Exams are in December – January, so don’t leave too much travelling to the last month of
exchange, you will be inundated with papers. There is plenty of time before semester starts
and during semester for travelling. Make the most of the time when you have it!
Any other comments, advice or amusing anecdotes?
UTAS only allows for exchange in the second semester of your penultimate year. This is pretty
bad timing with clerkships and other internship, volunteering or summer work opportunities.
Stay on the ball, try and slot experiences before and after your time abroad. Some of these
opportunity providers will be flexible to accommodate something as life-changing as an
exchange semester – sometimes, you just need to ask.
What happens in Lungern…stays in Lungern.
If you have any further questions, feel free to buy me a coffee and we can have a chat –
[email protected]. GO ON EXCHANGE!
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University Competitions
Every year, TULS and Faculty runs and supports a range of competitions in mooting,
negotiations, client interviewing and witness examination, for students of all year groups, in
both semester one and two.
These competitions, alongside being a lot of fun and a great opportunity to enrich your law
school experience, allow you to develop your advocacy, communication and research skills.
Competitions can also boost your CV, develop fantastic skills which will come in useful
throughout your professional career, prepare you for your assessments (including your final
year Faculty Moot), and even give you an opportunity to join UTAS Delegations to the many
national competitions – including the National Australian Law Student Association (ALSA)
Competitions. The major competitions that UTAS supports include:
Mooting
A moot is traditionally a simulated appeal in a superior Court, based on a factual scenario and
judgment from a lower court. Given the appeal focuses on points of law, there are no
witnesses, and instead individuals use their allocated time period to present (and be
questioned on) their legal arguments before a judge. You will often be required to present
written submissions before your moot, and will be marked on a range of skills – including your
legal knowledge and research, your oral presentation skills and your ability to comply with
relevant court etiquette and procedure. Moots that UTAS generally competes in include:
ALSA Mooting (Try outs for students in 3rd year+ in Semester 1)
ALSA International Humanitarian Law (ALSA Selections in Semester 1)
Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Mooting Competition (Semester 1)
The TULS Law Mooting Competition (all years – semester 2)
The Hon. Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot Competition (semester 2)
Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Mooting Competition (Semester 2)
Phillip C Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Summer Semester)
TULS is also launching the Australian Human Rights Commission Mooting Competition in Sep
2014
Negotiation
Negotiations involve two teams of two solicitors, meeting to discuss a dispute between their
clients on a particular matter. Each team is provided with a description of the factual scenario,
with some facts common to both teams, but each with a few secrets up their sleeve. Each
team also has instructions from their client detailing exactly what outcome they should seek
and what should be avoided at all costs. You’ll be judged on your ability to secure an
agreement beneficial to both parties which protects your clients interests as best you can.
Negotiation competitions are offered to senior years in the ALSA try-outs in Semester 1, and
to all years in the TULS Law Competitions in Semester 2.
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Client Interviewing
Client Interviewing requires a team of two individuals to interview a hypothetical ‘client’,
suggest possible courses of action, and to do a quick self-analysis of the interview following
this. Interviewers must cover all the formalities of an interview, find out all the details of the
client’s problem, handle any other issues which they might have had, and reflect upon their
experiences afterwards.
You’re judged on your ability to provide useful advice to your client, how you deal with your
client and whether you’re able to uncover all the information regarding your client’s problem.
Client interviewing is generally offered to senior years in the ALSA try-outs in Semester 1, and
to all years in the TULS Law Competitions in Semester 2.
Witness Examination
Witness Examination is a simulated civil or criminal trial. The trial is run over a period of
approximately 20 minutes, from the opening statements, through to the examination of
witnesses, and finally to the closing addresses by solicitors. Generally, witness examination is
only undertaken by higher years, as a basic knowledge of the law of evidence is required.
You’re judged on a range of things, including the quality of your oral advocacy, your ability to
lead evidence effectively, your ability to undermine/discredit opposing witnesses, and your
ability to effectively apply Evidence law and follow court procedure.
Tasmania University Law Society (TULS)
Volunteer positions abound with the Tasmania University Law Society (TULS) itself, permitting
law students to engage in a range of activities that are highly regarded by employers and the
broader student body.
TULS is one of the largest student societies at UTAS, and is supported by, and affiliated with,
the UTAS Faculty of Law, the Tasmania University Union (TUU) and the Australian Law Student
Association (ALSA).
Administered by student volunteers from all years, elected in Semester 2 of each year, TULS
provides a diverse, and unparalleled, range of services to the law student body.
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This work includes:
Careers support and guidance, through the creation of this guide, organisation of
Careers skills sessions and forums with successful graduates, facilitation of networking
through events including the Careers Fair and ‘Wine & Cheese Nights’, and the
dissemination of other employment opportunities throughout the year
Education support, through the organisation of SWOTVAC tutorials across all subjects,
and close liaison with the Faculty to ensure that the Faculty’s curriculum is high-
quality, interesting, relevant and meets the needs of students and the profession.
Organising social activities for law students and the broader student body, including
the annual Orientation Law Camp, inter-faculty sporting activities, Law Ball, Law
Cocktail and frequent barrels.
Organising and supporting participation in law competitions by UTAS Students,
including conducting ALSA pre-selections, undertaking the annual TULS Competitions
and supporting other inter-state competition teams selected by UTAS.
Facilitating a range of social justice and student welfare opportunities, including the
creation of the Student Opportunities Guide, sharing volunteering and other
internship opportunities, as well as ensuring students are happy, healthy and
supported, including through Health Week and other related initiatives.
Supporting and advocating for the needs of each law student, through our series of
‘year representatives’, promoting the unique needs of each law cohort, ensuring each
year group is cohesive through a range of social activities, and publicising the work of
TULS more generally
Assisting in the orientation and ongoing support of International Students, through
ongoing networking, support, and assistance in administering the Faculty’s
‘International Student Support Program’.
Production of the Annual Law Yearbook – Advocatus – and the periodic Pettifogger
newsletter
Assisting in overseeing, implementing and publicising TULS’ work by managing the
Committee, sourcing funding and support from a range of sources to facilitate our
initiatives, and utilising treasury, secretarial and IT skills to improve our work and
publicise it to the broader student body.
These services also provide unmatched experiences and skill-building opportunities for the
volunteers themselves, and as a result, students are encouraged to get involved. In 2014,
TULS is committed to expanding access to these opportunities through the creation of a
number of sub-committees to support the work of individual office-bearers.
The entire TULS Committee strongly encourages all students to make heavy use of TULS’
activities, as a committee members donate much time and energy. We also strongly
encourage all students to consider running for TULS throughout their degree.
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University of Tasmania Law Review
The University of Tasmania Law Review (UTLR) is a bi-annual law journal published by the Law
Faculty. The journal is entirely run by students and is supervised by the faculty supervisor,
Peter Lawrence. The Law Review Board is made up of 2 Editors and 8 Board Members from
third, fourth and fifth year. The 2 Editors may have their work on the Law Review counted as
an elective – LAW625.
Being a Board Member of the UTLR will help you improve your writing and administrative
skills, as well as providing an invaluable opportunity to have your work published in a
recognised law journal whilst still an undergraduate. It is also a great way to meet people
from other year groups who share your interests and to gain a deeper understanding and
appreciation of the publication and editing process – involving yourself in researching peer
reviewers, and copy-editing of articles.
Applications for the UTLR Board of Editors are advertised in Semester 2 of each year.
Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship
Tim Hawkins was an outstanding young Tasmanian. He was an international oarsman who
had graduated with Honours in Commerce/Law from UTAS and was admitted to the bar of
the Supreme Court of Tasmania. Tim’s tragic death in Bali in October 2002 was the result of a
terrorist act that criminally violated all principles of humanity. Family, friends and associates
of Mr Hawkins and members of the wider Tasmanian community have endowed this
Scholarship at the University as a fitting memorial to this fine Tasmanian.
The recipient will receive an allowance of $13,000 and a return economy airfare to The Hague.
The scholarship will allow the recipient to take up a position as a six-month Research
Associate in the Prosecutor’s Office of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. They
must be available to take up the position in The Hague in mid-year for a period of six months.
Applicants are required to:
Demonstrate an interest in humanitarian law or terrorism studies (current students
must have completed an international law elective unit);
Indicate a capacity to work at the highest level in the international law arena;
Show how this opportunity will support their current career goals
Include a piece of their own written work which demonstrates both your knowledge
of international humanitarian law and your skills in written expression;
Confirm their availability to take up this five-month position from mid-year.
More information on this scholarship is available here:
http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=105
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Important Skills Introduction
Now that you have a great idea of the range of opportunities available to you as a law
graduate, and maybe have even settled on that ‘perfect’ job destined to be yours, you need
to know how to get it, right?
Applying for jobs, especially your first ‘law job’ can scary, and even if you’ve had a job for
years, we hope that this final section of the Careers Guide will be somewhat useful, even just
as a refresher.
The art of making a good impression and landing yourself a job is exactly that – an art. This
section aims to give you some useful tips to help you on your way.
Your application is absolutely vital in this process, and these tips aim to help you craft an
awesome application to land you an interview, and then help you out while you’re in there.
There are an astronomical number of tips like these available from many sources, and we
highly recommend you read as widely as possible to get an idea of what will work for you,
your job and your aspiring employer.
Information from this section draws heavily on the resources included in the UTAS
CareersHub (http://careerhub.utas.edu.au) and application tips available from the following
firms:
Ashurst:
http://www.ashurst.com/graduates/content/applications
http://www.ashurst.com/graduates/content/interviews
Allens
http://www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates/apply/tips.htm
http://www.allens.com.au/careers/graduates/apply/help.htm
Herbert Smith Freehills
http://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/careers/australia/graduates/applications/pre
paring-your-application
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Résumés/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A résumé is designed to be a concise and presentable overview of your career to date. It is
designed to not only present factual information about your employment and academic
history, but should also project to a potential employer why you are the best candidate for a
particular position.
Résumés are also a marketing tool, and are designed to satisfy an employer’s every (seemingly
selfish) need – so keep the following three questions in mind throughout your application
process and you’ll be well on the way to success:
What have I got to offer the firm?
What can I do for the firm?
What do I want out of the position with the firm and how can I get that?
In Australia, there is no practical difference between a résumé and a CV. Traditional
differences between the two terms (that a CV was both longer, and included information
regarding any relevant experience, awards, affiliations and other details, hence the latin
translation ‘course of life’) have slowly eroded. The differences are largely geographic, with
Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia preferring the term CV, and the United States and
Canada the main proponents of the term résumé. In Australia, these terms are largely used
interchangeably, and a ‘CV’ is generally what an employer desires, regardless of what name
they use.
A good résumé must be:
Well structured
Well edited (meaning free from inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or typos)
Informative
Succinct
Clear
Remember that employers often spend no longer than 30 seconds looking at each résumé,
so you need to make it pithy, relevant and skimmable to get to that next interview stage.
This doesn’t mean that you should make your résumé novel, as there are far better (and more
morally acceptable) ways to stand out from other applicants than printing your résumé in A3
and attaching coffee and sweets. Or printing it on pink, scented paper (though, admittedly, it
worked for Elle Woods).
Some basic points about formatting your résumé:
Target your résumé for each particular job.
You don’t have to re-write your résumé from scratch each time, but each job will require a
different skill set and range of abilities. To maximise your chances of success, ensure your
résumé reflects these specific requirements.
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Ensure your résumé remains accurate and current
An out-of-date résumé indicates at best, laziness, or at worse, a ‘gap’ in your career
development – neither of which are going to impress a future employer. Although the job is
a pain, make some time to update your résumé, at least before each job application.
Keep to the most relevant, pertinent points
An employer probably doesn’t care about a ‘Conscientious Effort’ certificate you received in
high school. A résumé shouldn’t be a mere catalogue of your achievements, but instead
should be curated and relevant to each potential job you’re applying for. See point one for
more information.
It should be a maximum of 3-4 pages
If your employer gets bored reading about you, you’re not off to a great start.
Short, easy-to-read sentences have a greater impact than continuous lines
Bullet point lists especially assist with this. A résumé isn’t a story, so ensure it doesn’t become
one. This may also help you reduce repetition and keep your page count down.
Be consistent with the fonts and sizes. Make your headings clear and obvious
Not only does this demonstrate that you know how to use technology, it’s more professional
and ensures you’ve put some thought into your document. This is super easy now with
Microsoft Office’s ‘Styles’ feature. This also ensures your résumé is ‘skimmable’ (a good
quality when an employer receives 20 or so for each position), and not overwhelming.
Nail your spelling and grammar
Nothing is more frustrating or off-putting for a potential employer than an individual who
appears not to understand basic English. Print a copy of your résumé and go through it with
a red pen, and then give it to a friend to do the same. Common mistakes include inconsistent
tenses, clunky phrasing, stray apostrophes and other grammatical and typographic errors.
Unless you can back them up with in-depth examples, avoid ‘resume fluff’.
Simply listing phrases which you believe employers are looking for often comes off looking
desperate at worst, or at best, a waste of precious resume space. You need to anchor any
characteristics or claims you make in your résumé in real-world experience. Avoid terms like
‘innovative’, ‘world-class’, ‘results-oriented’, ‘motivated’, ‘creative’, ‘dynamic’, ‘passionate’.
Your résumé must be truthful
We know you’re all desperate for a job, but your résumé must be as accurate and as truthful
as possible. Many employers expect a degree of ‘artistic license’ – self-promotion in an
attempt to emphasise specific traits (e.g. stating that you enjoy playing tennis socially when
in reality you play twice a year), however, this should be kept to an absolute minimum.
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Furthermore, you must be conscious that your résumé does not veer into the territory of
‘lying’, where you portray yourself as someone that you are not.
Not only do you not know when you’ll be required to verify information that you’ve given,
and may well become unstuck (see, for example, most comedy films involving jobs), you may
find yourself facing formal sanctions by a legal or professional board, or have your name
placed on black-lists – employers tend to talk to each other about things like this!
Avoid including information in your CV that may cause a question to be raised about
your ability to perform the job
Generally this relates to personal information – such as age, sex, weight, gender, or sexual
identification, religious identification et cetera. In these cases, it is illegal for an employer to
ask for this information and by providing it, you are creating an ethical dilemma for the
company. Be sensitive to including any political experience, for similar reasons.
Regarding other information, determining when an ‘omission’ becomes ‘dishonest’ is often
difficult. However, it is important to consider the interpretation that may be given to your
information by a potential employer. If in doubt, raise it in an interview or after you are
offered a position.
Résumé Contents
The contents of your résumé should be overwhelmingly dictated by the requirements of the
individual employer with whom you are applying, promoting your most desirable traits.
However, the most common requirements that all résumés should include generally are:
Personal details
o Name
o Address – Give a separate postal address if you cannot, or do not, reliably check
mail at your residential address
o Phone (home, mobile, fax) – consider indicating your preferred contact
o Email – Ensure this is professional, ‘[email protected]’ probably
isn’t going to get you a job anytime soon.
Education
o You should mention the date, institution and name of your course – also
include your expected completion date
o Details of secondary studies can be included, listing the most recent first
o It is debatable whether individual results need to be included. If you are
particularly proud of some achievements, and they are relevant, mention
them. Most applications, however, request a separate academic transcript.
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Achievements
o These include Academic, sporting, musical or community awards
o Remember that an employer will be interested in your current skills and
experiences, not what you were doing 10 years ago. Try and keep these to
those achieved at University, as a good rule-of-thumb.
Extracurricular Activities
o This can include a broad number of things including:
Leadership roles in volunteer or community organisations
Academic programs outside of formal University education (such as the
Vice-Chancellor’s Leadership Award)
Achievements in areas other than the academic realm
Volunteer work
Membership in social clubs
Sports
Other interests
o When an interviewer must choose between two candidates, a well-rounded
person will clearly be the more attractive.
o When stating your interests, it is best to be as honest as possible as your
interests are a key indicator of the best working environment for you. Honesty
can only be of benefit to all persons concerned, especially you. Though, it is
probably worth refraining from mentioning ‘lying on the couch eating whilst
on Tumblr’ as an interest.
Employment or Work Experience
o Given you are a recent graduate, nearing graduation, or in your early years of
your degree, you may have no legal employment history. Interviewers will be
aware of this, and may even expect it, and therefore, it is necessary to include
in your details of any casual or part-time positions you have undertaken whist
studying. You may not think that working in a cafe etc was particularly exciting,
but it will show, for example, that you had the ability to juggle work and study
which is both admirable and shows a degree of financial independence.
o Details should include:
The employer's name
The period of employment, approximate number of hours per week
Your role and responsibilities
o Clearly identify any related legal experience which you may have as this is a
highly-desirable trait
o Keep in mind that you may also need to provide a short description of an old
employer where their name may be unfamiliar to a potential employer
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Personal Skills:
o Even if you do not have an employment history, it is important to include your
personal skills and attributes:
Leadership skills
Time management
Communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Willingness to learn new tasks or information
Ability to work in a team and on your own
Ability to juggle a number of commitments
Ability to assist others
o The most important thing is to list these things with reference to your life
experiences. Don't just make a blanket statement of your skills, but instead
show how you have attained these skills by reference to your other
information.
o Try and focus also on your ‘adaptive skills’ – those skills such as familiarity with
technology, ability to work independently and with others, and self-motivation
– that help you acquire, succeed and transition amongst jobs and tasks with
ease, especially important as a recent graduate.
Referees:
o List your referees with their job title, email address and phone number. Ideally,
you should be able to provide 2-3 professional or work-related referees.
Generally one referee should be your most recent supervisor
o If you have received a written reference from a previous employer or other
source, indicate this in your cover letter and supply a copy with your résumé
o Don’t merely state that referees are available on request. This is implied.
You should format your résumé in reverse chronological order, starting from the present and
working backwards. Ensure that there are no ‘gaps’ in your employment, education or other
history, and if there are – provide an explanation for them.
A NOTE ON RESUME LINK
The UTAS CareersHub (more information available in the final section of this guide) offers a
‘résumé link’ service. If you are applying for an advertised job vacancy, send through details
of the job, and include the closing date in the Subject Header, and the UTAS Careers team will
review your resume and provide suggested improvements.
To use it, all you need to do is send your updated resume to [email protected], with
an email explaining the job or industry you are targeting. There is a 5 day turnaround on
resume link, so do not leave the application to the last minute!
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Cover Letters
In a highly competitive employment market, a convincing cover letter accompanying your
application will go a long way towards capturing an employer’s attention. If deployed well, it
can show off your writing skills, while illustrating your strengths and attributes.
Cover letters serve to provide a ‘snapshot’ of your résumé, and should encourage a potential
employer to consider your application and give you an interview. As a result, writing from the
perspective of ‘why should we interview you?’ can be a good way to start.
The covering letter MUST be in a business format:
Include the date and address details at the top – yours on the top right, above the left-
aligned date, which is above your recipients details.
Open and close with the correct salutations – ‘Dear x’ and ‘Yours Sincerely/Faithfully’
are generally appropriate.
Include a heading which states the purpose of the letter
Make sure you address your cover letter to the correct person
Always type your cover letter –don’t subject your employer to your messy handwriting
Include the correct title of the person to whom you are addressing the letter. There is
a lot of variation among firms as to relevant titles.
Employers usually like concise, well-written cover letters - a page is often sufficient.
Ensure you use formal, and traditional, English grammar and expression – accurate
spelling, no abbreviations, clear, readable prose and precise expression are important.
It’s important to be assertive about your achievements, but not overconfident. It’s a
fine line and modesty is important.
Keep a copy of the letter after it is complete as a record that it’s been sent, and to use
to develop your future cover letters.
Tips to secure a successful cover letter:
Include information on the position in the letter, ideally in the first sentence. Although
many applications are now received online, recruiters often are hiring for multiple
positions at the same time, and information included in e-mails can easily get
‘chopped’ from your application when it is printed or saved.
Explain clearly why you want the job, how it fits into your career plans, and how you
will contribute to the organisation.
Keep the font size readable, clear and evenly spaced. Look for traditional fonts such
as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri for clarity.
Avoid including anything negative in your application – this includes complaints about
previous employers, upbringing, wages, life situation or work that you’re sick of doing.
Inject your personality, but don’t go overboard. Make your cover letter stand out from
the rest by writing an upbeat, interesting and compelling resume. However, be aware
that many attempts at humour often fail, and you don’t want to seem unprofessional.
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Try and avoid starting with ‘My name is x and I am applying for y’, if you can clearly
indicate the job you’re applying for in your cover letter without introducing yourself
first, do it. Employers have already worked out your name.
Do not just download an example cover letter off the internet and make minor
alterations. Interviewers easily recognise overused phrases which indicates laziness
and a lack of respect for their application.
Use positive, confident language throughout, a cover letter is a marketing tool and
you must market yourself.
Cover letters should communicate:
Your interest in the position (if advertised) or potential opportunities which may exist
Your understanding of and interest in the organisation
The key skills, qualifications and abilities you have to offer
Your personal voice, aspirations and other information about you
Thus, a suggested format may follow:
Paragraph One: State the position you are applying for, what interests you about the
job and how that links to what you know about the organisation needs.
Paragraph Two: A brief overview of what you have done in your life and your
qualifications (a snapshot of your résumé). This can include examples of your
academic, employment and voluntary experiences, as well as extracurricular interests.
Paragraph Three: What can you contribute to the organisation? Give an example of
each contribution in a brief way (Bullet points work well for this). Ensure here that
your key skills/strengths link to the position. Examine the firm’s web site as these often
state the qualities that they are seeking in a candidate.
Paragraph Four: You should include information about why you are applying to the
specific firm; what attracted you to their clerkship program over other firms. The
firm’s website will include reference to other interesting little facts and figures. If you
can appropriately include these in your application, it can look very impressive.
Ensure you have proof read your letter carefully – grammatical or spelling errors will create a
negative impression with a potential employer, especially if you include the name of the
wrong law firm in your letter.
After drafting, wait a day, read your letter over and review it meticulously. One way to do this
is to read your letter out aloud. Are you tripping over words or repeating yourself? If so,
change it. Ask someone you know to read it for you to ensure the text flows and has a
conversational tone.
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Selection Criteria
For applications in the public service or public sector, you will often be required to write to a
range of selection criteria – a range of competencies and requirements that you must
demonstrate that you possess or satisfy.
Selection criteria should be approached in a similar mindset to cover letters, and they serve a
similar purpose – giving you an uninterrupted opportunity to explain to your potential
employer why you are qualified for the job and why they should interview you. Selection
criteria statements need not scary, and a suggested technique for tackling them includes:
Step 1: Analyse The Criteria
Like breaking down an essay question, start analysing the selection criteria by identifying each
part of the criteria listed. For instance, a criterion requiring “strong written and oral
communication skills, the ability to work well in a team as well as high level negotiation and
liaison skills”, would require you to demonstrate:
Strong written and oral communication skills
The ability to work well in a team
High level negotiation skills
High level liaison skills
Step 2: Make A STAR
For each requirement identified in the previous section, brainstorm as many examples of how
you have demonstrated this skill in the past. Then, using each selection criteria as a heading,
underneath it, repeat the ‘STAR’ approach:
Situation – Describe the context where you used the skill or quality
Task – What was your role?
Actions – What did you do and how did you do it?
Results – What did you achieve? How does it relate to the job you’re applying for?
Be clear and to the point. If a word or page limit is set, make sure you stick to it, and edit your
responses for grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Specific Tips For Applying For Public Service Jobs
Applications for positions with the Australian Public Service can be very different to the
process in private sectors, often with a much greater emphasis on selection criteria. The APS
are statutorily required to recruit staff solely based on merit. To do this they compare the
skills, experience and abilities of each candidate using a combination of written applications,
interviews and/or work-sample tests. Of these, selection criteria are the most important.
The Australian Public Service Commission has published a series of 11 fact sheets available on
applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service at http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-
and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code.
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Interview Tips
So, you have landed yourself an interview! Congratulations! Now you have to get into the
nitty-gritty of impressing the interviewer in person, and securing your hold on the position.
This is your opportunity to market yourself, because the interviewer will be assessing whether
you have the qualities and qualifications that they seek for the position. The interview is also
a fact finding mission for you too, as you will be assessing whether you really do want the job
and whether it is right for you in terms of career opportunities, areas of law, lifestyle, values,
culture and so on.
Interviews are often the scariest, and most nerve-wracking part of an application process,
however, and thankfully, tips abound to help you make the most of this unique opportunity.
Preparing For The Interview
Although it seems far more appealing to waltz into the interview room, and work it all out on
the fly, a little preparation can not only set your mind at ease – assisting in calming your nerves
on the day – but can also arm you with useful information to improve your performance
Some tips which might be helpful include:
Talk to people you know in the industry/who have done clerkships/worked at the firm,
to get an idea of the firm’s culture, likely questions and things to be aware of.
Explore the firm’s website, especially the Careers pages, to familiarise yourself with
the firm and its work, especially its main clients.
Read newspapers and legal blogs, noting the firm’s current projects
Take some time to self-assess – it’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses,
achievements, interests and values. You also should have a clear career objective.
Think about the questions you might be asked, especially any potential points of
interest or weakness, and prepare answers you can drop in such an instance. Try not
to be ‘staged’ – you’re not rehearsing lines for a play – but just think about some
strategies to overcome potential moments.
Interviewers will want to get to know you, so they will often ask about your
application, and your CV. Know them well.
Interviewers love it if you use the unique opportunity to open up a dialogue with the
firm, so think about the questions you might like to ask the interviewers.
Practice interviewing with someone who will give you honest, frank feedback.
In The Interview Room
Give yourself plenty of time to get to your interview – double check the date, time and
address, and arrive 10-15 minutes early to calm yourself. Any earlier and you’ll make
awkwardly friends with the receptionist.
Turn off your mobile phone. Not even on silent.
Listen carefully to the interviewer’s questions, and ask if you require clarification.
Consider your answers – a short silence is better than a bumbling wrong answer
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Try to make eye contact with the interviewers, and avoid fidgeting.
Take a deep breath before you answer a question.
Always answer questions honestly and upfront – if you don’t know the answer, say so.
If you don’t, you’ll look like you have something to hide, or that you’re covering.
Always answer questions honestly.
Avoid speaking in superlatives, or getting negative. Even tough questions are an
opportunity to advertise your strength, commitment and tenacity.
Consider your body language – changing things including your posture, your
expression and your body position can greatly affect your mood, and can – crucially –
overcome any nerves you might have.
After The Interview
Don’t beat yourself up if it went badly. You can’t change the past; treat it instead as a
learning experience for future applications.
Write down any key points, especially if you have applied to multiple firms, as this
might help you make a decision if you’re lucky enough to receive an offer.
Treat yourself to something to take your mind off it – you’ve done well to get this far
and interviews are nerve-wracking experiences.
Write down any further questions you might have – it might be worth calling your
interviewers to follow-up, or to ask later on, if you are offered a position.
Phone Interviews
Phone and online interviews are a unique beast, and are becoming increasingly used by firms
either as a precursor to, or in place of, an in person interview. However, phone interviews are
often unsettling for graduates. In addition to the above, extra tips include:
Treat the phone interview just like you would a real, in person interview. The same
level of preparation is needed (if not more, as you cannot rely upon your non-verbal
communication and personality to the same extent).
Suiting up as if you were attending a real interview can help place you in the right
mind-set, and helps ensure you make a professional impression.
Try and take the call on a land-line if at all possible, they tend to be more reliable. If
you can’t, make sure you’re in an area with good reception. Regardless, ensure you’re
in a quiet environment, and there are no technical problems.
Interview Practice Questions
These questions might assist your preparation:
Tell me about yourself?
What do you have to offer the firm?
Why did you choose law?
Why have you applied for this job?
What are your interests?
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What challenges you?
What motivates you?
Are you competitive?
How do you define personal success?
How have you responded to a confronting customer/client etc at work?
Where have you had to exercise responsibility?
How do you perform in a team environment?
How do you perform under pressure?
What do you see as your long term goals?
What practice groups do you wish to work for?
Are you flexible or tied to particular things?
Where do you see the legal profession heading?
Why should we employ you?
Why do you want to come to our firm?
What attracts you to a big/small size firm?
What are the pros and cons of a legal career?
Can you comment on your academic record?
Can you explain your disappointing result in X subject at Uni?
What is your greatest achievement and why?
Did you enjoy University and why?
What do you seek to gain from a Clerkship?
What have you learnt most from your legal work experience?
How would your friends describe you?
What are your expectations from this position?
What does team work mean to you?
Can you explain to me your job as if I were an 8-year-old child?
What is something you should start doing, do more of and do less of?
What is one thing you’ll never be as good at as others?
What are the two best pieces of advice you’ve been given, and why?
What do you want to be remembered as?
What is your definition of a leader? How do you meet that?
How do you make big decisions?
What is one thing I’d never guess about you from reading your application?
(The last 8 questions are drawn from the “10 Unpredictable Questions Harvard Business
School Asks” available at http://poetsandquants.com/2013/07/24/10-unpredictable-
questions-harvard-asks/, reproduced on the UTAS CareerHub News on 30 July 2013)
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Finding Other Opportunities
By virtue of the nature of publication, and the limited space and information available in this
guide, as well as the constantly changing job market, this guide is only a tiny snapshot of the
many possible things you can do with your law degree.
As a result, to ensure you find the perfect job for you, it is important that you stay on top
emerging opportunities. This can be done in a whole host of ways, but some of the most
important include the following options.
Networking
A large number of positions are filled without any public advertisement, and so often through
personal connections developed through one-on-one interactions with firms and employees.
As a result, mastering the skill of networking is critical to make sure that you can tap into
every possible job opportunity which might be available to you. Although it’s scary, the
following tips may help ease the fear of networking which so often attacks students:
You should approach networking from the perspective of developing professional
‘friends’, understanding them as people with needs, and trying to help them and to
strengthen that relationship. Reciprocal benefits flow from strong connections.
People respond much better to meaningful connections, and receiving value, rather
than a straight-out “Can you give me a job?”. Try and find a shared interest, or at least
provide some worth (e.g. advice or mentorship) before asking for employment.
Try and take on new opportunities, in new places with new people – yes it’s scary, but
you never know what (or who) you might find. Don’t dismiss anybody as irrelevant.
Watch your body language – you want to project confidence and an image of
‘professional togetherness’. Ensure you’re aware of your space, your belongings, your
posture and expression. Learn to nail a strong professional handshake too.
When done right, remember that networking doesn’t annoy others and is in fact often
quite flattering. You’re not a burden.
Know yourself, your strengths, goals and aims – people rarely come looking for you
and if you’re networking, you need to be able to provide value to your partner.
Be personal, authentic and relatable – you’re a real person, act like it.
If you have a chance, prepare for your meeting – research important guests, find some
photos so you can recognise them, and learn a few points of their back story.
Ask questions, and be inquisitive. You never know what a person might be able to offer
you, and the more you know, the more you’re able to make that assessment.
Don’t take a rejection personally – everybody is busy and it might simply have been a
bad time for your potential contact.
Get, fill out and use a LinkedIn profile. Yes it’s hard to figure out and it’s a lot of work,
but it’s a unique opportunity to advertise yourself – think of it as the ‘Work Facebook’.
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There is a wealth of information available about LinkedIn across the internet, and
Google is your friend. This post from SurviveLaw is great motivation:
http://survivelaw.com/index.php/blogs/careers/1322-linkedin-for-law-students
Take advantage of casual and relaxed networking opportunities when they’re
presented– the TULS Careers Week events, Wine & Cheese Activities and the UTAS
Careers Fair are golden chances for students looking to network without pressure.
Keep some fresh conversation starters on hand – anything relating to food, genuine
compliments, sports, or other general conversation topics (e.g. recent news, weather,
and the like) are generally safe.
Try and target ‘loners’, as it’ll make you both feel less awkward.
Have an exit strategy in place also, in case things get awkward.
If you are totally lost for opportunities, join a queue. Not only do they give you a
personal anchor and a conversation starter, they limit the number of people you can
engage with (one in front and one behind), give you a purpose, and have a natural exit
strategy.
Make an opportunity to follow-up – keep a business card and actually get in contact
the next day. This is what sets you apart from the rest.
Don’t drink too much, and mind your manners. This should go without saying.
Remember that networking intimidates all but the most seasoned of professionals.
Legal Opportunity Databases
Thankfully, despite the fact that it appears extremely scary, a range of websites exist which
catalogue and promote job opportunities both within and beyond the legal sector. Have a
look at these any time you’re looking for a position, or even after some inspiration, and they’ll
hopefully give you something which’ll pique your interest:
UTAS CareerHub - http://careerhub.utas.edu.au/
SurviveLaw - http://survivelaw.com/index.php/jobs
ALSA CareerHub - http://alsa.net.au/careers/careerhub
Social Justice Opportunities - http://www.sjopps.net.au/sjopps/home.asp
BeyondLaw - http://www.beyondlaw.com.au/job-hub
Public Interest Law Careers Guide –
http://www.law.monash.edu.au/castancentre/careers-guide/index.html
Additionally, keep your eyes peeled on your UTAS E-mail address, the TULS Facebook page,
Pettifogger, and other positions throughout the law faculty, as the TULS Careers Officer and
the TULS team will be making a huge effort to publish as many exciting opportunities as we
can throughout the year. We’ll also be running a number of networking and careers events
throughout the year.
Furthermore, UTAS will be organising ‘The Big Meet’, a careers fair which will include some
legal employment providers, at the Activities Centre on 11 March 2014.
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