Tell us a bit about yourself.
I joined the MinterEllison graduate program in February 2021. I clerked in Workplace during my penultimate year then returned to the team as a Clerk. My first legal job was as an Office Junior at a family law firm. I then worked in-house as a Law Clerk for over five years for a mining services provider. I gained amazing mentors in this role, a drive to pursue a career in commercial law and an understanding of business drivers and commercial acumen.
What rotations have you done?
I have now settled in Workplace after rotating through Transaction Solutions, Dispute Resolution and Workplace. The graduate program was a great time to learn how a large law firm operates, make as many connections as possible and learn from experienced lawyers and professionals. During each rotation, I was exposed to a variety of clients, legal problems and tasks. This provided the opportunity to develop my communication style and build confidence in my approach to work. In Transactions Solutions, I developed my front-end skills having worked on M&A transactional work, corporate governance advisory, contract drafting and corporate pro bono work. In Dispute Resolution, I spent most of my time on a regulatory investigation and a significant Royal Commission for an international client. A typical day involved attending project meetings, conferences with Counsel or witnesses, preparation of court documents or attending a hearing. Workplace appealed to me because the law is people-focused, relevant to every business and the area is constantly evolving. As a graduate, I attended witness interviews, conferences or hearings, prepared documents for disciplinary processes or litigation, and conducted legal research on discrete issues.
What do you love most about your job?
Working in employment law, I love having the opportunity to help employers manage and take proactive steps to deal with workplace issues that have real implications for an employer and its employees. This creates the opportunity to understand your client (whether public or private sector), and deliver advice to a client which is pragmatic and useful. There are also endless opportunities to volunteer for various employment law pro bono services and assist with ongoing employment litigation on a pro bono basis. To date, I have particularly enjoyed learning the nuances of public sector employment matters and my involvement in industrial strategy given its intersection with the political space. Currently, I am seconded to one of Australia’s largest mining companies as an Investigator in the Ethics & Investigations team to conduct workplace investigations. The Workplace team both conducts and advises clients on disciplinary action following external investigations, so I am looking forward to developing my skills in this area.
How has the team at MinterEllison helped to support you?
My Supervising Partners, colleagues and Talent have reiterated on multiple occasions that the Graduate Program is a learning opportunity. As a result, I have felt comfortable asking for help during both my rotations and having a go at tasks even if I am out of my comfort zone. The firm has also always supported my contribution to pro bono work and attended as many firm-wide or team training sessions as possible, both of which were important to me when I was learning about firms during the clerkship process.
If you could tell your Uni student-self one thing, what would it be?
Take advantage of learning opportunities including electives and extra-curriculars. You will never regret doing so! I used these experiences to learn about myself and gradually piece together the type of work and areas of law I was interested in when it came time to think about applying for clerkships.
Be enthusiastic and curious about the matters you are involved in.
Be genuine so you put yourself in the best position to understand whether the firm is the right fit for you, and vice versa. During my clerkship, I felt comfortable being myself and this is what makes the firm unique.