What's your job about?
I am a lawyer working in the CTP Commercial Insurance team in Sydney. The matters I work on primarily arise out of claims made in relation to a motor vehicle accident where an individual claims to have suffered a resulting physical or psychological injury; we represent the insurer of the at fault driver. Claims are usually referred to my team when there are complex issues regarding quantum (the monetary value of the claimant’s compensable injuries) or liability (who is legally responsible). I am very fortunate to oversee my own matters under the supervision of my partner. My daily responsibilities include drafting advice, liaising with clients, analysis of evidence, liaising with liability and medico-legal experts and coordinating further investigations. My role also provides me with the opportunity to draft submissions to the Personal Injury Commission about different disputes that arise throughout the life of a matter.
Drafting advice is my favourite part of the job. They are a great way to communicate with our clients about the legal status of each matter. I assess quantum in light of the medical evidence available, as well as liability, based on investigative evidence. I also make recommendations about future conduct in order to progress the matter and propose a settlement strategy.
Recently, I have been given the opportunity to work alongside one of our senior associates on a matter being heard in the Supreme Court of NSW. This has provided me with exposure to preparing a matter for trial, instructing counsel and conducting in depth legal research. It has been an amazing experience so far and has allowed for the significant development of my practical legal skills.
What's your background?
I was born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia. I am the first generation in my family to be born in Australia and have a very large Greek Cypriot family. I studied for a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Corporate Finance) at the University of Adelaide. Following graduation in 2022, I completed GLDP and made the move to Sydney to begin my career as a graduate/solicitor at Sparke Helmore.
During my studies, I worked as a law clerk for a Barrister predominantly working on personal injury and medical negligence matters. I also worked with a second in civil litigation namely, corporations, property, equity and consumer law matters. Additionally, I undertook several volunteering roles, which varied depending on my study workload. Volunteering provided a great opportunity to contribute to access to justice whilst also gaining practical experience and exposure to different fields of law.
Interestingly, during my secondary studies, I undertook mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry with the objective that I would commence a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at university. During this time, I realised that I wanted to work in a profession that was people orientated, challenging and required collaborative work. As a result, I took a risk and put down law as my first preference for university. Looking back, I am so glad I decided to try law school. I learnt from this experience that you never know where you will end up so keep an open mind and be willing to try new things, even if they make you uncomfortable.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Absolutely! Although I had some previous experience in plaintiff CTP work, I was unfamiliar with the legal framework in NSW. I had also no experience in defendant work. Working at Sparke Helmore places you in a situation where you are surrounded by amazing legal professionals who are experts in their field. In my opinion, as long as you are willing to learn and ask questions you will, without a doubt, have the ability to succeed in my role.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is the people I work with. I have always admired Sparke Helmore’s culture. The welcoming environment and professionalism of Sparke Helmore employees are unmatched in my eyes. I can always walk into any partner or senior associate’s office in my team to ask questions. The partners are invested in your career progression and entrust you with real responsibility and autonomy for the purposes of facilitating professional growth. Although Sparke Helmore is a large corporate firm, I definitely do not feel like ‘just another number’.
What are the limitations of your job?
With autonomy and responsibility comes a significant workload, which can get overwhelming at times. The workload comes in ebbs and flows, it is certainly not constant. However, the partner in my team always makes sure to constantly check in and enquire as to how I am handling my workload. There is no pressure to perform unachievable amounts of work and relying on other solicitors in my team is definitely encouraged.
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