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Thomson Geer

4.1
  • 500 - 1,000 employees

Nathan Batty

The highlight of my job is the satisfaction of achieving a successful outcome for our client, after the highs and lows of a case. It is well worth the late nights.

What's your job about?

Thomson Geer is a national law firm consisting of around 500 employees and approximately 100 partners with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.  We provide legal services to a diverse client base including ASX 200 corporations, local governments and not-for-profit organisations.

I am a law graduate in Thomson Geer's Brisbane Planning and Environment team.  The Planning and Environment team engages in a broad range of work consisting of a combination of both Court based and advisory matters. My daily activities can range from drafting a Notice of Appeal for a company against the refusal of a development application, assisting a local government with the prosecution of a person who has committed a development offence, to drafting an advice for residents on the prospects of appealing a nearby development approval.  The variety of work provides for a constantly evolving work environment and every day brings a new and different challenge.  However, Thomson Geer has an established core of senior lawyers who are more than happy to assist with the learning curve for law graduates.

What's your background?

I grew up in south Brisbane attending the Anglican Church Grammar School.  In 2013, I began a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (Economics) at the Queensland University of Technology. 

At the beginning of my third year of university I commenced work as a part-time paralegal in the Planning and Environment team at Thomson Geer.  This was an invaluable experience which confirmed my desire to become a lawyer.  In 2017, I entered Thomson Geer's 12 month graduate program which consists of rotations across different practice areas.  The rotations provide an opportunity for law graduates to experience working in different areas of law and learn the different ways senior legal practitioners approach matters.  

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Without a doubt!  Diversity in the legal profession fosters new ideas and approaches to problems.  For example, Thomson Geer has a database of multi-lingual employees who are able to assist with non-English speaking clients.  This is merely one example of the importance of diversity in the workplace.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The highlight of my job is the satisfaction of achieving a successful outcome for our client, after the highs and lows of a case. It is well worth the late nights.

What are the limitations of your job?

Law graduates will often simultaneously receive tasks from multiple senior lawyers which can make time management particularly challenging in the early stages of their career.  However, this can be overcome with effective organisational and communication skills. 

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  • Work Experience – this is important for determining whether you are genuinely interested in the daily tasks undertaken by a person working in the field of your studies.  For example, the day-to-day life of a lawyer is completely different to studying law at university.  
  • Study or Travel Abroad – make the most of your holidays and travel overseas.  
  • Get Involved – between work and study commitments it is easy to get caught up in the daily life of being a university student. However, it is really important to participate in activities and have fun whilst you are studying. When you are reflecting on your university experience post-graduation you will not be telling stories about the 7 you got in Torts A!