What's your job about?
I work in the firm workgroups of Planning and Environment Law, Building and Construction Law, and Commercial Litigation. These are areas that I did not have the opportunity to take as subjects at university, so I have had to learn a lot of the law on the job. These areas involve matters that are often spread over months or even years before some resolution is reached, which means I could be working on the start of a matter one day, and the end of one the next. My daily tasks include drafting letters of advice and court documents, reviewing contracts, and conducting legal research. All of my work is reviewed by senior colleagues, and I receive prompt and helpful feedback to improve my work. I have been given the opportunity to attend court hearings, work alongside and instruct Counsel, and participate in mediations where I get to experience parts of my work being put into action.
What's your background?
I was born and raised in Townsville. I graduated high school in 2017 and went straight to study at James Cook University the next year. I began university studying a double degree of a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business, but after a semester, I realised a Business degree was not necessary for what I wanted to do in life. I then continued with a Bachelor of Laws and graduated in November 2021.
For most of my high school and university life I worked two jobs at once. These casual jobs included being a barista at a coffee shop, salesperson at a jewellery store, and waitressing for a catering business. Working from a young age allowed me to gain an ability to communicate and refine customer service skills that would one day help me in my chosen career path. In my final year of university, I was fortunate enough to be employed part time at a local barristers’ chambers. In this role I was able to apply my legal knowledge, research and writing skills that I had learnt at university and use them in a real-life setting.
I applied for the wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers graduate program through their website advertisement. I was contacted shortly after for an interview, and that same week, got the call to say I had a job! It was a relief to know that I was joining a prestigious firm that I knew would help me in the early days of my legal career. I have worked at the firm for just over five months now. I am due to finish my Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (PLT) this year and continue my employment with the firm as a Solicitor.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Anyone with some good personal skills could definitely do my job! There is a necessity to have a law degree and other qualifications, but above anything else, being a good communicator and having good social skills is imperative to work effectively with clients and colleagues. Having a drive to succeed and do well for yourself and others is also an important trait to have for this job.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is being able to continue learning and develop my legal knowledge, and applying that knowledge in a practical setting which leads to helping clients. I have learnt something different every day. My favourite tasks are writing court documents or letters of advice to clients. My colleagues are all extremely friendly and supportive, and are always willing to offer help and great feedback when I require.
What are the limitations of your job?
There are limitations to the job. There are always time limits that are required to be met and the firm could suffer significant consequences if they are not met. There are often weeks where many things are due for a number of different matters, and I am required to start work early or stay late in order to ensure the work is finished in time. This can sometimes be taxing on trying to keep up a good work/life balance, which is also an important part of the job.
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