Graduate induction and training
I started as a graduate at Freehills Brisbane in February 2008 after doing a summer clerkship with the Employee Relations Group in January 2007. The induction training lasted a week and a half, a few days of which we spent in Sydney getting to know the graduates there (as well as doing training and College of Law!).
The induction covered the usual suspects… library training, IT, etc, as well as some Freehills specific sessions to help us settle in to the firm and know what to expect once we hit our practice groups. The first week is daunting, even if you have worked in a top tier law firm before, but the program is tailored to make you feel comfortable and extremely welcome. No question was too stupid and nothing was too much trouble.
Practical experience – working in practice groups
I started in the Projects group’s Property team and as soon as I got there it was all systems go! I quickly realised that my ‘real’ education was only just beginning and the learning curve was steep. But you are never on your own—the support from all levels is amazing. The work was challenging and interesting and there was always someone around to help if I got stuck.
The days flew by and before I knew it, I was feeling totally at home and part of a team. As the office in Brisbane is on the smaller side, it is easy to get to know everyone in your practice group as well as people from the other groups. This, for me, is one of the Brisbane office’s greatest attractions. All the benefits of a top-tier firm, resources, support, excellent work, coupled with the benefits of being in a smaller office.
More than a graduate program
College of Law is a necessary part of getting admitted these days, but the way the program is run at Freehills makes it reasonably straightforward. Sessions are either run on the college campus or here in the office and the college staff are really helpful. It does require work, but Freehills offers study leave before each exam and support along the way.
Admission—the final goal. Here in Queensland there is quite a process to go through in order to be admitted—lots of forms and deadlines, and the process can be quite overwhelming. Freehills provides plenty of support to make the process as simple as possible.
The first year as a graduate brings lots of challenges and new experiences, but working for Freehills has meant it has also brought plenty of rewards. Great work, excellent people and incredible support all add up to a remarkable graduate program.
As admissions loom ever closer, I look back at my year of article clerkship, reflecting on the amazing triumphs and the few minor dips in the road.
Practical experience – working in practice groups
I spent the first eight months of my articles life in Litigation. The cases and rules of the bygone law school days were no longer figments of the past but foundations (or barriers) to interesting and complex legal issues. During the first couple of months of my litigation rotation I was heavily involved in a hearing concerning two very large and very public entities disputing over a sizable amount of money. Some of Australia’s most brilliant legal minds were involved in this hearing and it was truly inspiring to see barristers and solicitors turn discrete and seemingly unrelated facts into persuasive legal arguments. The work that I have been involved in has been varied and always fascinating. Scrutinizing expert reports, piecing together data to form coherent narratives and researching the science behind metals were just some of the tasks that came across my way.
My second rotation was through Corporate which, compared with litigation, represented the opposite end of the commercial law spectrum. The atmosphere in Corporate is dynamic and fast paced. The legal work is intertwined with complex commercial issues of clients, and not only do you become well-versed in the law of corporations, you also become aware of how different businesses work. Freehills is frequently part of large, public transactions and I have since been involved in trust schemes, asset sales and capital raising transactions which have been extensively covered by the media.
Freehills has a comprehensive induction and training program that eases you into professional life, as well as opening your horizons to new areas of knowledge. As an AC, you receive training to recap the knowledge you acquired at law school. In addition, there are further opportunities to receive training on legal and industry developments from senior lawyers, clients and external consultants. There is also a mentoring program in place to really allow you to reach your potential.
The article clerkship has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience and I say this, even after having completed many of the ‘AC rite of passage’ tasks such as discovery and due diligence. These tasks have not only been positive experiences but have allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for the legal work that follows. There is also generally a team of junior lawyers and ACs working together on these tasks which results in a great atmosphere of solidarity and friendship.
More than a clerkship program
There are also so many facets of a law firm to explore. I have had the pleasure of being involved in non-legal activities such as billing and recruitment which has given me a real insight into Freehills as a business and not just a law firm.
The past year has presented exciting professional and personal challenges, and Freehills has been there to provide a foundation of support and encouragement to launch my legal career.
Making the most of it
I started at Freehills as a graduate in Sydney in February 2008 after working as a summer clerk here in 2006–2007. I wasn’t quite ready to start full-time work straight after uni finished last year, so I was grateful that Freehills gave me the option to delay my starting date if I wanted—whether I wanted to take up an associateship or other work, travel (as I did) or just have a well-deserved break.
From the beginning — the Graduate Program
My graduate group included some of the people I had clerked with, as well as many I didn’t know. But as I had found with the clerkship, there were lots of opportunities to get to know my fellow grads, particularly during our first week of training, as well as other staff members though regular practice group and firm social functions, firm-sponsored sporting activities and participating in various charity events. Freehills also runs a National Graduate Workshop once a year, where you’re able to meet the graduates working in other Freehills Australian offices and realise that many of the other grads have the same experiences (and concerns!) as you.
The first part of the program was dedicated to helping us settle in again and refreshing some of the other skills we would need once we settled in to a practice group. We also had an introduction to some of the common financial concepts and terminology we would come across, which meant that no matter what your second degree was you felt a bit more confident before starting work.
The structured learning doesn’t just stop after that week though. Freehills runs regular in house Continuing Legal Education seminars that everyone is encouraged to attend to learn about a different practice group or body of law or to find out about new developments in areas you are already familiar with. Some practice groups, such as Corporate (where I started) also run specialised sessions for graduates and new starters during the first few weeks as well as general sessions for all solicitors, so there are plenty of opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills. As Freehills’ Graduate Program is based on eight-month rotations through three different practice groups, all this extra information can help make your life a lot easier if you are in a group you don’t know a lot about!
Practical experience — working in practice groups
The actual work you do each day as a graduate varies between practice groups and will depend on how busy the group is, the types of matters they work on and the work practices of each team within the group. During your rotation you usually have the opportunity to attend client meetings, review and draft various agreements or advices as well as prepare research memorandums.
Doing it all — College of Law and working
For most grads, there is still the small matter of College of Law to deal with even after that final law exam is over. Freehills runs a program in conjunction with the College of Law which allows you to complete college part-time—partly online and partly by attending sessions on-site and at the college campus—while working full-time. Though this may sound like a lot to take on, Freehills offers study leave each week and you can get lots of help both from experienced solicitors who have already been through the program, as well as all the other grads, which makes it a lot easier to keep on top of both work and study.
More than a Graduate Program
While life as a graduate is certainly a big change from uni (and even from being a summer clerk) Freehills’ training and ongoing support makes the transition as smooth as possible. It may seem daunting at first, but you have plenty of resources at your disposal to help you put everything you learnt at uni into practice. You slowly get used to having to work full-time and squeeze everything into two days on the weekend, and it makes it a lot easier to get through each day when you work with such a wonderful group of people.
