What’s your employer doing, and what are your areas of responsibility?

Sparke Helmore is a national firm comprised of a diverse range of practice groups such as insurance (casualty, CTP, specialty, and statutory), corporate & commercial, government, public, & regulatory, and more. Sparkes’ culture can be defined by one word: ‘authentic’. From the recruitment process to your everyday work, you deal with people who are authentically themselves and genuinely want to see you succeed. This manifests in the support and opportunities my partners and the firm provide. 

I have completed two rotations in the Government, Public, and Regulatory team. What struck me when I first joined Sparke Helmore is how the firm is built around our clients, with each team having carefully curated its processes to efficiently serve clients. As a graduate, this means you are in a well-structured and supportive environment, which gives you the chance to develop your autonomy and case management skills while learning from more experienced lawyers. It also means you are on occasion, given the opportunity to be seconded to a client. I was given the opportunity to work with one of the firm’s key government clients through a secondment, which was an excellent opportunity to build relationships and hone my skills in communicating with clients. My week would be split between working directly with my secondment client and working with the lawyers in Sparkes’ offices.  I was able to work on several matters for other clients with my team, which involved a variety of work including legal research, collating evidence, drafting advice, and preparing submissions for matters in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. All work is either second-counselored or cleared by a senior lawyer who is an experienced advocate. Personally, I have found the feedback I received through this process transformative. My experience has given me the skills to confidently progress through the next stages of my legal journey.

What's your background?

I was born and raised in Melbourne’s Northwest and completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) at Monash University.

I was an active member of the Monash University community, engaging in mooting competitions and as a member of Monash’s Borrow Cup program, which was a sustainability initiative founded and led by students aiming to reduce waste on campus. While completing my law degree, I also had the privilege of working as an investigator within the Financial Services Enforcement Team at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This was an excellent experience, as I was able to develop a number of key skills and was also involved in litigation and prosecution work arising out of investigations.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Certainly! Realistically, there is no expectation that you will know everything as a graduate. Law school isn’t designed to be exhaustive; in fact, it barely scratches the surface of the diversity of work in the legal industry. The most important skill at the graduate level is the willingness to learn and be involved.

What’s the coolest thing about your job?

I think the coolest part of my job has been getting to build relationships with clients directly through my secondment. Interacting with clients is something that can take some time in certain areas of law, so being able to do so as a graduate has been a really rewarding experience.

What are the limitations of your job?

As a graduate, the workload varies; you can be very busy and then have some spare time. Managing both the busy and quiet times takes some skill. However, you will always have the support of your partners, who are accessible and supportive.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student

• Keep an open mind. Coming into university, there is a tendency to think that there are only certain types of law you can engage in. No doubt, for many first- to third-year lawyers, your focus centers on clerkships and grades. For many, it seems as though there is only one path. This could not be further from the truth. There are many different ways to pursue a career in law. Try as much as possible to look at the careers of people you find interesting or inspirational.
• Get involved. As a student, don’t be afraid to get involved in the various activities you have on offer, as it really is a great time to meet new people and refine your interests. Making use of the various clubs at the university, volunteering for legal centers or participating in exchange and travel programs can be eye-opening experiences. The more experiences you can have like that, the better, so try to get them early! I learned a great deal while on exchange, and my interests in law have really been guided by my time overseas.
• Have fun! University is a really enjoyable and exciting time. You are learning some really exciting new concepts for the first time. If you try to enjoy the moment and the process of learning rather than stressing about the future and clerkships, you will find university really enjoyable. You will most likely excel!