What's your name and job title? What did you study? When did you graduate?
My name is Aleisha, and I am a graduate at Gilbert + Tobin (‘G+T’). I completed both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Western Australia. My undergraduate degree majored in communications and marketing. I then worked in marketing for a while before going back to study the Juris Doctor of Law, and I graduated in 2022.
Where did you grow up? Important stages of your life (school, education, experience abroad, jobs, etc.)
It depends on who asks! I completed all my schooling in Perth, Western Australia, although on my dad’s side we have a cattle farm in Southwestern Australia, where I spent a lot of my childhood. On my mom’s side, she moved to Broome towards the end of my high school career, so I spent some time in Broome and lived with my sister and brother-in-law during early adulthood.
How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it?
In 2021, I applied for a clerkship at G+T and received an offer to be a vacation clerk. I also applied for positions in the renewable energy industry, as I was on the committee for the National Environmental Law Association and interested in energy transition and environmental law. When I received my clerkship offer at G+T, I also received an attractive offer to work part-time during my penultimate year and full-time upon graduation for a diversified mining and renewable energy company.
After much deliberation, I decided to take the position in renewable energy. Although after 18 months in that role and talking to different people, I decided that the best move for my career while I was still a junior was to get more advanced and tailored legal skills. After talking to professionals who spoke highly about the culture at G+T and from my research into the firm's leadership pieces and unique skillset in the Perth office, I decided that I wanted to learn from the best, so I reached out to gauge if there were any graduate positions available. After a few more interviews, I received an offer to join G+T as a graduate in 2023, which I started in February.
How did you choose your specialisation (compared to others)? Were you weighing up any other alternatives before choosing this specialisation?
I do not have a specialisation yet, and I have always found it easier to try something and decide I do not like it than to know exactly what I do like. Which is why the graduate program at G+T was so attractive to me, as I can rotate in every team for 6 months to find the perfect fit. Although I have not selected a team I want to settle in yet, my interests still rest with the renewable energy space, and I would love to continue to learn more about environmental social governance and the energy transition, which is possible in any team as the firm values and prioritises decarbonisation.
My background working at a diverse minerals and renewable energy company meant that I could try out a more commercial position and understand how budgets were approved in-house and the process of moving a project from studies to feasibility. My role helped me gain a deeper understanding of the industry and the diverse range of people and professions needed to successfully transition to renewable energy.
What was your interview process like? What kind of questions were you asked?
The interview process was relaxed and conversational, although there were some questions about WA and law generally. I found I could answer these due to my genuine interest in decarbonisation and industry.
Suppose a student was considering your career. What would you advise them to study? Are there any soft skills that would be beneficial for them to develop? Should they pursue any sort of work experience?
I would not recommend a specific course of study to any student, as individual career paths and personal situations vary. However, I would encourage all students to engage with professionals in their field of interest to gain valuable insights into the working world. For example, studying law is essential to practicing as a lawyer, but the day-to-day will be different depending on whether you work in-house for the government and varies significantly with each area of practice and the culture in a law firm. As a student, you have a unique advantage in leveraging your curiosity and technology by using LinkedIn, which offers you access to a wealth of influential individuals and companies. Taking the initiative to meet for coffee, shadow, or have conversations with various professionals can open the door to promising opportunities if you express genuine interest.
What does your employer do?
Provides bespoke legal advice for a range of clients with a focus on decarbonisation and mining in Western Australia.
What are your areas of responsibility?
I will do legal research, attend client meetings, write legal advice, and help the team in any capacity I can!
Can you describe a typical work day? (If this is difficult to answer, tell us about the last thing you worked on?)
Today I worked on finishing a PowerPoint for an international oil and gas client that is interested in monthly updates about Australian laws, regulations, carbon credit and storage, and green hydrogen. In a week, I will then attend and help present the PowerPoint alongside a Partner.
What sort of person succeeds in your career?
Recognise that, as a graduate or junior lawyer, you occupy a distinctly humble position in your career journey, one that won't be replicated, so remain open to feedback, make changes within your control, prioritise ongoing learning, and have good attention to detail and communication skills.
What are the career prospects for your job? Where could you or others in your position go from here?
It is an exciting time to start a career as a lawyer since the world is changing and Australia and the global community must meet climate targets within my professional lifetime. This not only creates a sense of optimism to sustain me through the long days but also requires lateral thinking to try to answer complex issues that intersect science, law, and policy. In the future, I suspect there will be entirely new job roles, and law firms will need to adapt to assist their clients in achieving their climate objectives. Using artificial intelligence with G+T has a head start.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, given you have the right qualifications, I think different backgrounds and diversity make for good solutions.
What do you love the most about your job? Which kind of task do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the team and people I work with! I also enjoy learning about industry updates and news while learning how to draft and fine-tune my legal skills.
What’s the biggest limitation of your job? Do you bear a lot of responsibility? Do you have to work on weekends? Are the stress levels high?
A potential constraint might be the working hours. Although there is a shift in the profession and a focus on mental health, certain circumstances and legal work may necessitate longer working hours. However, it's during these periods that you achieve the most and develop strong connections with your colleagues.
Which three pieces of advice would you give a current university student? They don’t necessarily have to be related to your role or even be career-focused.
Communicate with different people, explore new experiences, and be compassionate towards yourself and others.