What's your name and job title? What did you study? When did you graduate?
Tom Penglis, law graduate. I studied a Bachelor of Commerce (majoring in Economics) and subsequently a Juris Doctor, both at the University of Western Australia.
Where did you grow up? Important stages of your life (school, education, experience abroad, jobs, etc.)
I grew up in Claremont, Perth. I attended Christ Church Grammar School and studied at the University of Western Australia. As a university student, I worked part-time as a law clerk at Fourth Floor Chambers and as a laborer.
How did you get to your current job position? For how long have you had it?
I was offered a full-time graduate role at Gilbert + Tobin (G+T) after applying for and undertaking a seasonal clerkship at G+T’s Perth office and working part-time as a paralegal. I’ve been in my current role since February 2023.
How did you choose your specialisation (compared to others)? Were you weighing up any other alternatives before choosing this specialisation?
I haven’t settled in a practice area yet, but I chose to pursue a career in commercial law at G+T because it involves working in a collaborative team environment on very complex matters.
What was your interview process like? What kind of questions were you asked?
The interview process involved two rounds. First, we answered several pre-recorded interview questions. The second round involved a face-to-face interview with two partners in the Perth office. The interview style was very conversational, which I enjoyed. Questions included what my interests were outside of work, my motivations for pursuing a career in commercial law (and at G+T specifically), how I perform under time pressure, and how I maintain my mental health during periods of stress at university (like during exams).
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?
In Australia, if you want to become a lawyer, you need to study for an accredited law degree, generally a Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor. You should choose some elective units that are relevant to commercial law firms (like M&A, ECM, negotiation and mediation, intellectual property, and / or mining law, depending on your interests).
Soft skills you should develop include written and oral communication skills, networking and relationship building, resilience and stress management, time management, leadership, and attention to detail, all of which are very important to being an effective commercial lawyer.
In terms of work experience, you should seek out relevant roles at commercial law firms (including clerkships, paralegal positions, research assistants, etc.) or in-house legal roles. Other commercial roles (like part-time roles at investment banks, stockbroking firms, mining companies, etc.) can also provide relevant industry-specific experience.
You should also try to get unpaid experience at a community legal center or similar organisation. These roles will help you gain practical legal experience (including working directly with clients), give you a more holistic understanding of the legal profession, and help foster a commitment to social justice, which I think is important for all lawyers.
What does your employer do?
G+T is a national commercial law firm that specialises in various areas of law, including M&A, disputes and investigations, energy and resources, private equity, and competition and regulation. G+T also has a large, full-time pro bono team that delivers impactful legal services to a range of individuals and organisations.
What are your areas of responsibility?
As a law graduate, I have areas of responsibility for both commercial and non-commercial work. In relation to my commercial work, some examples of my areas of responsibility include:
I have also voluntarily taken on areas of responsibility in pro bono matters. I have been given significant responsibility over discrete pro bono matters, including assisting a refugee applying to the Australian Government for a protection visa and directly assisting barristers in a coronial inquest. The firm has given me a lot of support in these voluntary areas of responsibility, so I’ve never felt overwhelmed by them.
Can you describe a typical work day? (If this is difficult to answer, tell us about the last thing you worked on?)
There really isn’t a typical work day at G+T. Yesterday, I attended a Warden’s Court hearing where our client was opposing a mining company’s application for an extension of time in which to object to our client’s applications for miscellaneous licenses under the Mining Act 1978 (WA). I attended the hearing with a partner and two lawyers from G+T’s Disputes and Investigations team, as well as senior counsel. We prepared for the hearing in Senior Counsel’s chambers; I provided administrative and other support during the hearing; and I was able to observe Senior Counsel cross-examining witnesses. After the hearing, we headed back to the office, where I continued work on a pro bono matter in which G+T is assisting a student-led charity produce a policy paper on improving healthcare in Western Australian prisons.
What sort of person succeeds in your career?
I think successful commercial lawyers are highly analytical, detail-oriented, effective communicators, have strong problem-solving skills, and have a deep understanding of relevant industries and commercial concepts. Adaptability, resilience, and the ability to work under pressure are also important, as commercial law can be pretty demanding.
What are the career prospects for your job? Where could you or others in your position go from here?
This depends on what path you want to go down. You can strive to eventually become a partner within the firm, or you can gain experience and become a barrister, judge, or administrative decision-maker. Depending on your specialisation, you can transition to investment banking, private equity firms, in-house positions at mining companies or retail banks, or eventually become a business executive or company director. Many politicians also start their careers as commercial lawyers.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
I don’t think there is a “typical lawyer”. Most people can become commercial lawyers so long as they meet the applicable admission requirements, have an interest in business and commercial law, and have some of the traits referred to above.
What do you love the most about your job? Which kind of task do you enjoy the most?
The opportunities I have as a junior contribute to my own professional development. I regularly produce the first drafts of important documents, including court documents and official correspondence. This is a great experience and makes me feel like I’m valued and entrusted to perform meaningful tasks. I’m also about to start getting oral advocacy experience before a judge or warden, which is an opportunity that simply isn’t available at many top-tier commercial firms. I’ve always felt like I have adequate oversight and support when undertaking difficult tasks, which I seriously appreciate.
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?
I think the workload is the biggest limitation, but I think it’s a reality of working at a commercial law firm. Although this was a difficult adjustment at first, you get used to it pretty quickly. I still have the weekends to myself and am not working late nights very regularly at all, so I would say the workload is reasonable and I have a pretty good work/life balance.
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.
Try and find some form of volunteering (e.g., at a CLC, a surf lifesaving club, a student-led charity, etc.) and other co-curricular activities that interest you (e.g., sports, university clubs, law societies, etc.). It’s good to give back to the community, and prospective employers want to know that you have interests outside of the law.
Stay physically active; research shows it’s extremely important for longevity and for maintaining your mental and physical health.
Don’t catastrophise when you face adversity. This goes for both academic and non-academic adversities. If you don’t get good grades or aren’t successful in a job application, don’t see it as a failure. Instead, see it as a learning experience—reflect on what you did right and what you could have done better, and take some lessons from it.