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'Your legal future'
Other options
Summer Clerkships
Law Graduate Employment Scheme
Other Graduate Programs
Job-hunting skills
Recruitment firms
Useful contacts
Useful web links
Recommended Reading
Your legal future
by MG
Law students are discovering that the traditional route of landing
a summer clerkship and practicing as a solicitor, is only one of
numerous ways to begin an exciting and rewarding career in the law.
A law degree, combined with another undergraduate degree is arguably
as valuable a degree as you could attain. Employers hold in high
regard the reading, writing, problem solving, and teamwork skills
that law graduates can offer. A law degree will open doors.
Private practice is a popular traditional career for law
graduates. The work of a solicitor is quite varied. Solicitors provide
legal advice, conduct negotiations, draft legal documents and represent
clients in court proceedings. Solicitors deal with the public so
excellent communication skills are essential. Being able to explain
the law to clients and advocate on their behalf are valuable skills
that an aspiring solicitor should be prepared to master.
Working as a solicitor for local, state or federal government
is another option. Government lawyers provide advice to government
departments, draft legislation, prosecute on behalf of the Department
of Public Prosecutions, and assist in the administration of courts.
The regular work hours of government work are conducive to the work-life
balance and there is usually no requirement for excessive billable
hours for government legal work.
Barristers are lawyers who argue cases
before courts and tribunals. They are typically people who love
to win an argument and who are energised by litigation. Gradates
who are quick thinkers and are capable of attaining a firm understanding
of the rules of evidence may make excellent barrister. Public speaking
skills are integral for this line of work. Aspiring barristers will
generally have to prove themselves as a solicitors first.
Corporate law is an attractive option for detail-focused
graduates with an aptitude for technical legal work. There are many
jobs available for corporate lawyers in major companies and banks.
Lawyers who succeed in the corporate world are typically ambitious
and extroverted and can work well under pressure. Billable hours
make corporate law a high pressure career option.
Working in a community legal centre is a pathway for lawyers
interested in using their knowledge and skills to help people directly.
Community lawyers assist members of the public who are in trouble
with the police, their landlords, or their employers. Postgraduate
qualifications in social work can make lawyers attractive to welfare
rights employers.
Similarly, Legal Aid work can also be a very rewarding field
of work for graduates with a passion for social justice. Legal aid
lawyers guide disadvantaged people through the justice system. Patience
and highly developed communication skills are essential for this
line of work.
Policy work is suited to law graduates who are interested
in contributing to the improvement of the legal system. Policy work
involves research, writing and assisting in directing the implementation
of important activities which government departments carry out.
Policy professionals can find work in law reform, in government,
as ministerial advisers, in universities and in industry or commercial
or community lobby groups.
Alternative dispute resolution is an interesting option for
creative law graduates with outstanding communication skills, who
prefer to work in a non-traditional environment. Lawyers with minds
that can easily see two sides of an argument and who enjoy resolving
disputes and seeing paths for others, may be natural mediators or
conciliators.
Graduates who love research and study may be
well suited to a career in academia. Academics enjoy flexible
working hours and, compared to the demands of private practice or
corporate law, a relatively relaxed working environment. The demands
of lecturing and publishing articles can be quite stressful however.
Strong written and analytical skills and the ability to work well
to deadlines are essential for a career in legal publishing.
Legal editors often specialise in a particular areas of law. Also,
employers recognise that the skills that the research, investigative
and writing skills that a student acquires studying law can make
them excellent journalists.
Law and justice courses run by high schools,
colleges and TAFEs are becoming increasingly popular. Teaching
is a particularly rewarding career for law graduates with high level
communication skills and a genuine interest in imparting their knowledge
onto young people and being a positive influence.
A career as a law librarian may suit well
organised graduates who thrive on legal research and assisting others
find information.
Finally, graduates with a curious and creative
mind may enjoy working as a professional legal researcher. Legal
researchers provide specialist legal research, writing, and
analysis support to practicing lawyers and government legal departments.
They search cases, statutes, and other sources of law; draft legal
memoranda, briefs, and submissions. They research and analyse legal
policy options and research facts relevant to litigation, such as
information on products, litigants, companies, and expert witnesses.
Being a professional legal researcher requires much more than a
knowledge of modern research tools and techniques. Most legal research
is about thinking creatively, drawing relationships, and being persistent.
For an example of a company that specialises in providing legal
research and writing support, see Research
One.
This non-exhaustive list of career options is
a useful reference point for students who are wondering where to
begin the job hunt. Students who have neared completion of their
studies have probably narrowed down their interests and discovered
their strengths. This self-analysis will help guide career decisions.
It's comforting to know that legal skills are highly transferable.
The directions that a career in the law can take graduates are really
only limited by their imagination, persistence and the willingness
to work harmoniously with others.
MG is a recent Arts/Law graduate. He is currently
working as a community advocate in local government. He has worked
as a policy officer in the area of Aboriginal Health.
****
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Other options
Advocacy
Ausaid
Youth Ambassadors
ESL Teaching
Social
Entrepreneurship
Overseas aid
Graduate study
Small Business
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Summer clerkships are open to students currently
undertaking their penultimate year of study.
They usually run from early December to mid-February. Most firms
prefer candidates to apply through cvMail.
| Firm |
Areas of practice |
| Allens
Arthur Robinson |
Corporate and Commercial; Energy,
Resources & Infrastructure; IP; Communication and Technology;
Banking and Finance; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Taxation |
| Baker
& McKenzie |
Anti-trust and Trade; Banking
and Finance; Corporate; Dispute Resolution; Employment; Insurance;
Intellectual property; International / Commercial; IT/Communications;
Project Finance; Real Estate, Construction, Environment and
Tourism; Tax |
| Blakes
Dawson Waldron |
Corporate Advisory; Financial
Services; Industrial Relations & Employment; Litigation
and Dispute Resolution; Projects & Property; Tax; Technology |
| Corrs
Chambers Westgarth |
Corporate; Financial
Services; Organisational Advisory and International; Property
and Development; Communications; Technology; Competition and
Intellectual Property; Litigation |
| Clayton
Utz |
Corporate, Banking and Financial
Services; Litigation/Dispute Resolution; Property & Construction |
| Deacons |
Construction and Engineering;
Energy; Financial Services; Government; Health, pharmaceuticals
and biotechnology; Infrastructure; Insurance; Manufacturing;
Media and entertainment; Property; Resources; Retail, Distribution
and franchising; Tourism and hospitality |
| Dibbs,
Barker, Gosling |
Administrative
Law; Aviation; Construction; Corporate Advisory ; Corporate
Governance; Employment Benefits; Employment Law; Equipment Finance;
Equity Finance; European Desk; Finance Services; Financial Services
Reform; Franchising; Government ;Insolvency; Insurance ;Intellectual
Property; Life Sciences; Litigation and Dispute Resolution;
Mergers and Acquisitions; Privacy; Property; Superannuation;
Taxation Services; Technology; Trade Marks;
Trade Practices; |
| Freehills |
Banking and Finance; Corporate;
Employee Relations; Litigation; Projects; Taxation |
| Gilbert
and Tobin |
Corporate Advisory; Intellectual
Property; Competition Law and Utilities Regulation; Property,
infrastructure and Projects; Communications; Outsourcing and
Technology; Media and Content; Litigation; Tax; Pro bono |
| Mallesons
Stephen Jaques |
M&A; resources;
corporate advisory; capital markets; banking and finance; IT/IP;
construction; property; communications |
| Minter
Ellison |
Finance; Dispute Resolution;
Competition law; Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure;
Corporate; Human Resources and Industrial Relations; Government;
Insurance; Intellectual Property; Investment and Financial Service;
Environment and Planning; Real Estate; Resources and Energy;
Tax; Technology and Communications; Tourism and Leisure |
| Phillips
Fox |
Banking, Finance, Funds Management
and Superannuation; Business and Corporate; Commercial Dispute
Resolution; Employment & Industrial Relations; Insurance
Claims and Risk Management; Intellectual Property & Information
Technology; Property, Construction, Planing & Environment |
| Pricewaterhouse
Coopers Legal |
Commercial and Regulatory Litigation;
Construction & transport; Corporate & commercial; Employment;
Environment; Information; Communications and Technology; Insurance;
Real Estate; Tax Litigation; Workers Compensation and Claims
Management |
| Sparke
Helmore |
Business &
Corporate Services; Commercial Dispute Resolution; Compulsory
Third Party; Construction, Engineering & Projects; Dust
Diseases ; Energy & Resources; Federal Litigation; Government
Business; Major Claims; Planning Environment & Local Government;
Professional Indemnity / General Liability; Property, Development
& Infrastructure; State Compensation; Technology & Intellectual
Property Law; Workplace Relations, Safety & Environment |
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Law Graduate Employment Scheme
A number of law firms
secure summer clerks and graduates through the Graduate Employment
Scheme. To apply for positions
at participating firms, students must submit a 'Law Employment Application
form', available at cvMail.
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Other Graduate Programs
Click on the Commonwealth Department / Company
name to go to their web site:
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Job hunting skills
In today's competitive job market law graduates
are in a prime position. Employers value that analytical, research
and writing skills that law graduates can bring to the workplace.
The key to landing a great job is your ability to sell
yourself to potential employers. In essence employers are looking
for graduates who are adaptable, hard-working and who have well-developed
people skills and a desire for life-long learning. The following
web sites provide information about the skills that employers are
looking for in graduates:
UTS Bell Program
Australian Law Students' Association
Employer
satisfaction with graduate skills
O*Net Online Occupational
Information Network
The Conference Board
of Canada
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Recruitment firms
Legalease
is an excellent website to that put you in touch with legal recruitment
firms.
The following list helps you to narrow down recruitment firms in
your local area:
The following recruitment firms specialise in
overseas legal positions:
Hays Personnel Services
Hughes-Castell
Major, Hagen and Africa
Michael Page
TMP/Hudson Global Resources
Drake International
Warnecke Consulting
EVP
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Useful contacts
Legal Aid
Legal Aid Office of QLD - (07) 3238 3444
Legal Aid Commission of NSW - (02) 9219 5000
Legal Aid Commission (ACT) - (02) 6243 3411
Victoria Legal Aid - (03) 9269 0234
Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania - (03) 6230 0900
Legal Services Commission of South Australia - (08) 8463 3555
Legal Aid Western Australia - (08) 9261 6200
Northern Territory Legal Aid - (08) 8999 3000
Community legal centres
axton Legal Centre (QLD) - (07) 3254 1811
New South Wales CLC Secretariat - (02) 9318 2355
Australian Capital Territory Association of CLCs - (02) 6247 2177
Victorian Federation of CLCs - (03) 9602 4949
Tasmanian Association of CLCs - (03) 6223 2500
Norwood Community Legal Centre (South Australia) - (03) 9221 9322
Darwin CLC Inc - (08) 8982 1111
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Useful web links
Legal
career advice from Lexis Nexus
Career One
Australian Jobsearch
Global Careers
Go Abroad
Gradlink
Graduate Opportunities
Job Guide
Labour
Mobility
Legal Profile
Legal
Career info from Nexis Nexis
My Career
My Future
O*Net Online Occupational
Information Network
Law Council of Australia
Council of Australian Law
Deans
New Zealand Law Society
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Recommended Reading
Richard N Bolles, What
Color is your Parachute?- A practical manual for job-hunters
& career-changers, Ten
Speed Press, 2002.
Barbara Barron-Tieger and Paul D Tieger, Do What You Are: Discovering
the Perfect Career For You Through the Secrets of Personality Type,
2001.
Top
Sources used
Careers Introduction, Australian
Law Student's Society
Careers Guide 2003, Australian National University
Law Student's Society
A Guide To Careers in Law, The Law Society of South Australia
Mediation: Lawyers,
inequity and the meaning of 'alternative'
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