CAREERS HANDBOOK 2021 BLACKSTONE SOCIETY CAREERS HANDBOOK 2021 blackstone handbook v2.indd 4 20/4/21 1:12 pm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BLACKSTONE SOCIETY 2021 Careers Vice-President: Catie Hughes 2021 Marketing Vice-President: Samuel Dulyba 2021 Careers Sub-Committee: Joseph Chan, Michael Garbellini, David Seong 2021 Marketing Sub-Committee: Antony Botello, Luke de Castro, Anouscha Green, Kalini Stevens, Max Tran 2021 President: Rebecca Lu MAJOR SPONSOR PRINTING CONTRIBUTORS Aaron McDonald, Aleksandra Miller, Allens, Amanda Thackray, Andrew Huxtable, Anthony Willenge, Ashlee Taylor, Caitlyn Cooke, Calvin Rokich, Fabienne Sharbanee, Felicia Chan, Gemma Wheeler-Carver, Georgia Kalynuik, Justice Charlotte Wallace, Michael Douglas, Patrick MacKenzie, Sakura Kajimura, Sam Buswwell, Sophie Coffin. CORPORATE SPONSORS Allen & Overy, AGH Law, Allens, Ashurst, Bain & Co, Baker McKenzie, Clayton Utz, Clifford Chance, College of Law, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Curtin PLT, DLA Piper, Gilbert + Tobin, Herbert Smith Freehills, HHG Legal Group, HopgoodGanim Lawyers, HWL Ebsworth, Jackson McDonald, Johnson Winter & Slattery, Jones Day, King & Wood Mallesons, K&L Gates, Lavan, Lawyers on Demand, LegalSuper, Leo Cussen, MinterEllison, Norton Rose Fulbright, Pragma Lawyers, Piddington PLT, Sparke Helmore, Squire Patton Boggs, Steinepreis Paganin, Thomson Geer, Tottle Partners, Williams + Hughes. 3 4 Contents Acknowledgements 4 Herbert Smith Freehills 96 The Office of the Director of Public Life as a Graduate in a National Firm 224 Foreword 7 HHG Legal Group 100 Prosecutions WA 179 Life as a Graduate at Clayton Utz 225 HopgoodGanim 105 State Solicitor’s Office 180 Media and Defamation Law 226 Editorial 8 HWL Ebsworth 108 WA Ombudsman 182 Kimberly Land Council and In House Jackson McDonald 112 at Chevron 228 Toolbox 10 Johnson Winter & Slattery 115 Life as an Employment Lawyer 229 Clerkships 11 Jones Day 119 Community Legal Centres 186 Tips for Law Students 231 Key Dates 13 King & Wood Mallesons 122 Aboriginal Family Law Services 187 Victorian Clerkship Applications 233 Applications 14 MinterEllison 127 Circle Green Community Legal 188 Application Tips 15 Norton Rose Fulbright 130 Citizens Advice Bureau 189 cvMail 16 Pragma Lawyers 134 Consumer Credit Legal Service 191 Crafting Your CV 17 Sparke Helmore Lawyers 137 Environmental Defenders Office (WA) 192 Sample Curriculum Vitae 19 Squire Patton Boggs 140 Fremantle Community Legal Centre 194 Writing a Cover Letter 21 Steinepreis Paganin 143 Gosnells Community Legal Centre 196 Sample Cover Letter 23 Thomson Geer 146 The Mental Health Law Centre 197 Interviews 25 Tottle Partners 149 Midland Information Debt and Legal Graduate Positions 28 Williams + Hughes 152 Advocacy Service 198 Admissions 29 Street Law Centre WA Inc 199 Practice Group Insights 31 Sussex Street Community Law Service Courts 156 Inc 201 WA Supreme Court 157 Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service 202 Practical Legal Training 38 WA Supreme Court of Appeals 159 Women’s Legal Service WA 203 The College of Law 39 Curtin Law School 42 Leo Cussen 44 Government 162 Articles from the Profession Piddington Society 46 Administrative Appeals 163 206 Tribunal 163 Life at a Global Law Firm 207 Australian Law Reform Commission 166 A Day in the Life of an HSF Graduate 208 Commercial Firm Directory 50 Australian Taxation Office 167 Q&A: Journey To Becoming a Barrister 210 Allen & Overy 51 Corruption and Crime Commission 169 Life as a Family Law 212 AGH Law 55 The Office of the Commonwealth Mediator and Barrister 212 Allens 59 Ombudsman 170 Making the Most of 214 Ashurst 64 Commonwealth Director of Public International Opportunities 214 Bain & Company 68 Prosecutions 171 Life as a District Court 216 Baker McKenzie 70 Department of Foreign Affairs and Judge 216 Clayton Utz 76 Trade 172 Commencing your career at the State Clifford Chance 79 Department of the Premier and Solicitor’s Office 218 Corrs Chambers Westgarth 84 Cabinet 174 Academia 219 DLA Piper 89 Legal Aid 176 Life as a Criminal Lawyer 221 Gilbert + Tobin 92 Insurance Commission of Western Innovation in the Law 222 Australia 178 5 6 vvvvw Catie Hughes Careers Vice President Foreword Editorial Rebecca Lu President The Honorable Peter Damien Quinlan SC Samuel Dulyba Chief Justice of Western Australia (2018 - Present) Marketing Vice President I thank the Blackstone Society for kindly asking me to provide the foreword to the annual careers Welcome to the 2021 Blackstone Careers Handbook! handbook. The Juris Doctor equips us with the knowledge and skills for the wide variety of career I encourage you to use this career guide to consider the diverse options open to you when you opportunities open to us all after graduation. Although exciting, this can be an overwhelming graduate. Look for work that you will find interesting where you can also be of service to the process at times and so, we have created this Handbook to help you navigate these options. It community, which may or may not be in the legal profession. It is no longer the case that most collates insights and advice from a range of legal and non-legal professionals throughout the law school graduates enter the legal profession, as it was when I graduated. Virtually all areas of various sections. Whatever your goal is, there is something in here for you. Whether you have that human industry, enterprise or pursuit are now in some way affected or regulated by the law, so goal in mind or you are feeling particularly overwhelmed at the idea of life after law school, this your law degree provides an entry to a wide range of fields. However, the range of options which are handbook is for you! available can also make career planning a daunting process! If you are at the stage of applying for clerkships or graduate positions, then this Handbook is a great Throughout the process of career planning, remember that this is your career and there is only place to start your research. It will guide you through the application process, giving you an insight one unique you. No two career pathways will be, or should be, the same. Whilst there may be into what firms are looking for and an idea of the firm’s culture. However, it is not the be all and similarities, no two judges at the Supreme Court have had the same path to the bench. In fact, a end all. Make sure you take any opportunity to meet members of the profession, grow your network career at the bench was not forefront in my mind when I graduated from law school. I focused on and stay up to date with the current legal environment. Demonstrating passion and enthusiasm is finding work in an area that I enjoyed, doing it well, making the most of any further opportunities integral to finding success after law school. that came up and not looking too far ahead. If Commercial Law is not for you, we encourage you to read the following sections, ‘Articles of I suggest that you start looking through this handbook early, so as not to miss out on any the Profession’, ‘Community Legal Centres’ and ‘Government’. Here, we explore a wider variety of opportunities. You need to be aware of any dates by which clerkship or other applications must be opportunities available to you outside of the commercial space and hear about the experiences of made. Take the time to tailor your written applications specifically for the roles for which you are non-commercial law professionals. We hope you take comfort in exploring the various alternative applying. If you are short-listed for an interview, it is a good idea to ask your lecturers or students in pathways you may embark on outside of the commercial space. the years above you what questions you might expect, and even practice a mock interview. Whilst there is so much more to you than a letter, resume and a short interview, unfortunately that may be The publishing of this handbook would not have been possible without the hard work and all you get to show your talents and personality. dedication of many people. We would like to thank the Blackstone Careers Team and the Blackstone Marketing Team for their support. Further, we are so grateful to the professionals who Academic achievement is not the only determinant for employment. Character, work ethic and have taken time out of their busy schedules to contribute to the Handbook. Finally, we would like to breadth of experience are all important. Clerkships are not the only way to gain experience. To extend our heartfelt thanks to Herbert Smith Freehills, for their ongoing support of the Blackstone the greatest extent that you can, try to take advantage of all the opportunities on offer whilst you Society and UWA law students. are a student at UWA. Consider mooting and/or volunteering at a community legal centre. Your elective units provide a good way to explore areas of the law that appeal to you, so consider your We hope you enjoy the Handbook and that it is an enlightening and useful tool in your upcoming choices carefully. Go to any law fairs or other career events that you can. If possible, go to court and applications. We wish you luck for your future endeavours and hope your career is one that excites watch a trial or a list and experience what court is really like. You may be able to refer to all these and fulfils you. experiences in clerkship and job interviews in the future. I wish you well for your future applications and careers. 7 8 Toolbox The Careers Toolbox is designed to assist you through any application process. We have set out techniques for writing cover letters, writing CVs and attending interviews. We have also set out key information regarding clerkship and graduate information, including the recruitment dates for 2021.