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Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)

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4.2
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Sonja Halbich

6.00 AM

Alarm goes off. I do a quick change and grab my bag to make the early bus. I have recently moved from Melbourne to Sydney and the commute is now about an hour, which I use as downtime to read (aiming for 1 book per month) and listen to music.

7.20 AM

Before heading into the office, I attend a yoga class at my gym in the city. It is a peaceful way to start the morning and it clears my mind for the day ahead.

8.45 AM

I arrive at work, collect my laptop from the lockers and choose a desk for the day. My team is located on an activity-based working floor. In this part of the office there are different spaces and desks suitable for different working styles, e.g. booths, communal desk spaces, sofas, quiet zone desktops and meetings rooms. I pick a quiet space with a desktop and unpack my things.

I fire up the computer, check my emails and prioritise tasks for the day.

9.00 AM

After replying to an urgent email, I take my laptop to one of the booths. I eat my breakfast while reading the daily media coverage and note down any relevant articles for matters that I am working on.

9.30 AM

I return to the desktop and start work on an assessment memo for a new case that has been referred to my current team, Corporations and Corporate Governance Enforcement, for investigation and enforcement action.

My memo sets out the background facts to the matter, the alleged breaches of the Corporations Act, the merit and public interest of ASIC taking action, the final recommendation and proposed next steps. Once completed and reviewed, I will present this memo to the referrals committee and they will decide whether ASIC commences a formal investigation.

11.00 AM

Time to get caffeinated. I meet up with a graduate from a different team and we head out to get coffee. We discuss ideas for the graduate fundraiser this year (which is run by my graduate cohort and the ASIC in the Community program for a charity of our choosing).

ASIC Sonja having coffee with a graduate while discussing ideas

11.15 AM

I continue work on the assessment memo as well as draft notices under section 19 of the ASIC Act for another matter. These notices will require the persons addressed to attend ASIC for an examination, which will be recorded and transcribed.

As part of my team’s investigation into this case, we will be examining two people. I will lead one of the examinations and my colleague will lead the other. Closer to the date, I will prepare a rough plan of questions and material to show to the examinee. 

1.00 PM

At lunch I sit with a group of other graduates and colleagues.

ASIC Sonja sits with two of her colleagues during lunch

2.00 PM  

Turning to a different case, I work on a brief to legal counsel for advice. My team has concluded our preliminary investigation for this case, and we are now seeking advice from a barrister about whether there has been a contravention of law. My colleague and I are setting out all the facts of the case, the relevant law and its application.

3.30 PM

I meet with my colleague who is also working on the brief to counsel. We discuss the current draft and any changes we need to make.

4.15 PM

While the discussion is fresh in my mind, I start making the changes on the brief to counsel.

5.30 PM

End of the day! I fill in my timesheet for the week, pack up my desk and pop everything back into my locker. Today is Friday and I am going out with some other graduates for dinner and drinks to ease into the weekend.