Corporate Law

What made you gravitate towards a legal career?

I've actually never thought about becoming a lawyer before I actually started law school. Having studied Japanese and French in my undergrad, I’ve always been interested in  being an interpreter and becoming a consecutive interpreter working in one of those little black boxes in the UN. Towards the end of my Bachelor of Arts degree, I took the LSAT as one of my friends was taking the LSAT, and I was pretty intrigued because I did law electives as breadth subjects. Having already done the LSAT, I applied for law school as I wanted to be an interpreter in the business/legal sphere. Since starting law school, however, I never really looked back.

As a student, was corporation law the area that you wanted to practise in?

During my undergraduate studies, I absolutely hated corporation law. When I was doing my Bachelor of Arts, I did corporate law as a breadth subject. At that time, I did corporate law as a breadth subject. Not going to lie, it was the worst subject in the history of my transcript.Thankfully I improved a bit during my JD coursework but until recently, I never thought I would be a corporate lawyer. I also never thought I would be a mergers and acquisition lawyer. I also never never thought I would do a front-end transaction. 

Even during my JD, I've always loved litigation more. I've loved advocacy. I've loved arguing about different things. I loved different legal research questions. Even for my graduate program rotation, I started off with an employment rotation, focusing more on litigation. And I've subsequently rotated with the litigation team, focusing on professional indemnity insurance. Both of these rotation are very litigation focused. But for my last rotation, I decided to do a front-end rotation. I never really thought I would love it, but three months in, I really like it. Ultimately, I decided to put it as my first preference for settlement.

I never thought I would be a corporate lawyer. So I guess a takeaway point is to always keep your mind open. Sometimes you just don't know whether you like something or not, because maybe you haven't given it a shot. So I think it's important as a law student to keep your mind open.

Even if you are not the best at a particular subject in law school, would you still be able to work in that particular area?

Absolutely. What you learn in law school is quite different from what you’ll encounter daily in a law firm or in chambers as a litigator.

Law school provides you with essential tools—teaching you Corporations Act provisions, directors' duties, and so forth. But when you're working with real people and real clients, it’s a completely different experience. You’ll face situations that never showed up in textbooks. Subjects you might find dull in class could become fascinating in practice. On paper versus in action, the contrast is significant.

Similarly, excelling in a law school subject doesn’t necessarily mean you'll enjoy it in practice. You might really enjoy studying Copyright Law in a group setting, but when you're handling it for a client, you might find it far less appealing. You won’t know until you actually do the job.

There are also many facets within each practice area, like corporate law or litigation. You could find one part engaging while disliking another. For instance, in litigation, you might enjoy drafting Statements of Claim, preparing defences, or advocating in court, but dislike the tedious document review during discovery. In corporate law, you might love client meetings but find drafting documents tiresome. Everyone's preferences are different, and it’s crucial to explore different tasks to discover what you enjoy, what you excel at, and what you don’t.

“As a junior lawyer, it’s important to be a generalist first. Build a broad foundation across various areas before gradually specialising in a field where you find your strengths and interests align.”

What does a typical day look like for you?

At the moment, I'm with the corporate team. I usually wake up around 8:00 a.m., get ready, and arrive at the office between 9:00 and 9:15 a.m. Once I’m there, I typically grab breakfast and a coffee.

I start my day by checking emails that arrive overnight, as I often work with international firms from the US and Europe. I go through those emails and then outline my to-do list for the day.

Throughout the day, there are usually meetings—either with clients or internal briefing sessions. When I’m not in meetings, I focus on working through my tasks.

Sometimes, I’ll be handling just one matter, while other times I’ll have three or four matters on the go. I need to assess which tasks are most urgent and prioritise accordingly.

Lunch is typically around 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., and we often have internal training during this time, known as "lunch and learn" sessions. These sessions might cover topics like shareholders' agreements, and the company provides lunch while you eat and learn from the presentation, usually led by a senior partner.

Depending on my workload, I usually finish work around 6:00 or 6:30 p.m., though it can vary. There's flexibility—if I finish my work or have something scheduled later in the afternoon, I can give my team a heads-up and leave earlier. This flexibility is pretty standard across most law firms.

There are no strict time constraints; no one expects you to arrive at 8:00 a.m. if you have a 10:00 p.m. call with a US client or a 7:00 a.m. call with someone else. The schedule is adaptable, which is one of the benefits.

What skills, experiences or opportunities would you consider or recommend to help you break through the field?

Everyone says to network, and I’d give the same advice. But honestly, I never networked during my JD years. It wasn’t just because of COVID—I’m simply not a fan of networking or talking to strangers.

I understand that putting yourself out there, getting to know people, and familiarising yourself with the companies you’re applying to is important. But if you’re not comfortable with networking, it’s not necessarily a must for getting a job. I landed my job without making cold calls or sending emails. That said, I’m not suggesting you’ll definitely get a job without networking, nor am I saying you’ll definitely get one if you do.

Networking is a valuable skill, and not everyone has it. It’s worth developing, but for me, I didn’t enter the legal sector until my first proper paralegal job in the second year of my JD. Before that, I worked at the university as a tutor for several years, starting when I was 18. I don’t think it’s a big deal if your work experience isn’t legal-related.

What really matters are the transferable skills you develop. For example, communication skills are crucial when you work in a firm, as you’ll be interacting with both internal and external clients. You can gain similar experience in retail or hospitality. Likewise, if you’re a research analyst in a tech company, you can apply those research skills to a legal setting.

These days, students push hard to get legal experience before applying for a clerkship, which is great, but it’s not essential. Don’t stress yourself out if you don’t have legal experience. Everyone starts somewhere—those with extensive CVs also started with nothing.

I believe I was quite lucky. I applied to the right firm at the right time and met the right people, which worked out well. Even during my rotation, I was fortunate to start in employment law, where I connected with the team, who are now some of my favourite colleagues. Luck has played a significant role in my career so far.

One thing that I believe set me apart is my attitude—the determination to keep submitting applications, handling rejection, and signing up for experiences even if they’re outside my comfort zone. Your attitude matters—how you treat others and yourself can make a big difference.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone to follow someone else’s exact journey. Everyone’s different, so what worked for me might not work for someone else. There’s no single path that guarantees a job. For instance, someone could work as a research assistant for a well-known lawyer for years and still struggle during the clerkship process. No particular experience guarantees success.

The same goes for your WAM (Weighted Average Mark). I know there’s a lot of pressure around it, and it’s understandable. Even though we often say it’s just a number, the reality is that recruiters still considers it. However, for every interview I have attended, I have always been told that the firm focuses more on the person and their attitude more than their WAM. Even if someone has an 80% average, if they have a poor attitude or aren’t a good fit, they may not be hired.

At this stage, your WAM may matter less than before. Recruiters might prefer someone with a slightly lower WAM but with a positive attitude. Ultimately, the interview process is about finding someone they’d enjoy working with.

When I received rejection letters, I was understandably sad and stressed. But one thing that helped was someone telling me that if things don’t go according to plan, just remember—that’s the original plan. This mindset is particularly relevant during the clerkship process, which can be stressful and overwhelming though you do learn a lot from it.

“If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to take a break. Rest and self-care are essential. If you push yourself too hard and hit burnout or a meltdown, everything can spiral downhill.” 

What if I am not at the clerkship stage yet? What makes it stressful?

Everyone has different reasons for feeling stressed during the clerkship process.

One common source of stress is the waiting process.

Another is the competition, especially when you’re up against people you care about. For example, my best friend and I may apply for the same role—she got in, and I didn’t. It’s natural to feel disappointed and frustrated with yourself in situations like that.

Doubt also creeps in when things don’t go your way. On top of that, you’re juggling exams, uni work, and other life commitments, which can leave you rushing to complete applications at the last minute, adding to the stress.

However, it’s important to remember that a clerkship isn’t the only path forward. There are plenty of other opportunities—whether in market roles, government positions, or consulting firms.

Ultimately, how stressful the process depends largely on your mindset. At the end of the day, you’ll find a job; it’s just a matter of where and when.

If your goal is to land a role at a top-tier firm, you’ll likely get there eventually. It might take a few years of gaining experience elsewhere before you reapply and succeed.

Even if you do secure a clerkship, there’s no guarantee you’ll receive a return offer, and that’s another source of stress. The pressure doesn’t stop there—you might worry about getting the rotation you want, settling into the right team, or dealing with other life challenges.

So, it’s good to learn how to manage stress as it arises and find ways to release it effectively.

Do you have any tips for the application process?

When writing cover letters, everyone says not to be generic—do some research, understand what attracts you to the firm, and avoid boilerplate language. My advice is to find a connection point between you and the company, then link your experiences and values with what the firm stands for.

For example, when I was applying for clerkships, I focused mainly on international law firms because of my background. Having moved across three countries during my teenage years, I’ve grown accustomed to adapting to different challenges and cultures. This naturally drew me to firms with an international presence, where I could explore opportunities like overseas secondments and cross-border deals.

The key is to establish a meaningful connection. It could be anything from knowing someone who works at the firm to aligning with the firm’s values or areas of focus. For instance, if a firm is known for its pro bono work in environmental sustainability and that’s something you’re passionate about, make that connection clear in your letter.

Cover letters typically have one paragraph about why you chose the firm and another about why they should choose you. By highlighting how your experiences and aspirations align with the firm’s culture and values, you create a stronger and more authentic narrative.

Lastly, focus on applying to firms that genuinely interest you. Prioritising quality over quantity in your applications can make a big difference.

How long does the clerkship application process take?

The process can take a long time, especially since many firms only offer part-time positions.

Even if you apply to numerous firms—when I say I applied to all of them, I don’t mean I put the same effort into every application. Some were simply submitted for the sake of applying, which isn’t very effective. If you don’t invest enough time and effort, it often shows in your cover letter or resume, leading to rejection. However, it’s a numbers game. Applying more widely increases your chances, but it also means you’ll likely receive more rejection letters. There’s both a good and bad side to casting a wide net.

When it comes to interviews, I regret not doing more mock interviews. My first interview didn’t go well—I was too tense, and it was clear I was nervous and not in the right mindset. Doing mock interviews with friends or lawyers you know can really help you feel more prepared and relaxed.

Another tip, which most people are aware of, is to save your favourite firm for last. By then, you’ll have more experience from earlier interviews, which can serve as practice rounds to refine your performance for the firm you really want.