What's your job about?
Lander & Rogers is an Australian law firm that specialises in a variety of practice areas, including corporate law, insurance law, family law and property law.
As a graduate of a rotational program, my day really depends on what team I'm in. Generally, I can get work from a variety of people in the team - anyone that needs a helping hand - which is a fantastic opportunity to get a comprehensive understanding of the different work and issues that come up in a practice group. My days are always different; they can involve going to client meetings to take instructions or chat about the next steps, negotiations with opposing parties, court hearings, drafting letters and documents or researching niche or nuanced areas of the law. Recently, I had the opportunity to work on marketing material regarding COVID-19 and how it, as well as all the government regulations, affect the workplace. It was fantastic to see my research work be presented in one beautiful and professional package and promoted heavily on socials.
Lander & Rogers maintains a truly supportive environment, and everyone is always friendly and willing to help. I'm never in the dark and can approach a friendly face whenever I need to.
What's your background?
I grew up in Western Sydney and had a pretty average upbringing: public school, tutoring, selective high school and then university.
During my first couple of years at uni, I tutored primary and high school students, which I absolutely loved doing. After that, I started my first job in the legal industry at a boutique law firm specialising in conveyancing. The firm had a sole director/solicitor so I had a lot of room to learn and grow my skills, as well as opportunities to innovate. Since then, I've held a few different positions in different organisations, including an associateship, before starting as a graduate at Lander & Rogers in March 2021.
I had thought for a few years that I wanted to be a family lawyer. However, the true benefit of a rotational program was made clear to me as I realised that family law in private practice is not where I want to be.
One bit of comfort that I want to offer anyone reading this is:
Don't stress if you struggle to find your feet when starting out. I found my first year of uni to be a bit overwhelming and was disappointed when I felt that I was underperforming compared to my friends. I can assure you that, if you take a moment to reassess, put in the work and keep your spirits high, things will get better.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes - I truly believe that anyone who has strong critical thinking skills and an ability to read carefully and process information would be able to do the same job that I do. Law school certainly helped me to refine these characteristics and to grow accustomed to the type of language used in the legal industry. I think that with time and experience in the field, these skills will naturally develop even further. Although, it is important to note that there is a significant amount of duties that come with being a lawyer and, for that reason, it is important that lawyers have adequate training through a university course.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I love the drive to produce high-quality work for clients. While this can be a stressor, particularly when the work has an impending deadline, I thrive off the adrenaline to bunker down and get the work done and get it polished so that it is presentable and easily digestible. Ultimately, I view the legal field as a client-driven, professional services industry.
What are the limitations of your job?
I'll be completely transparent - Lander & Rogers fosters an incredible environment and I have very rarely been under pressure. I have only worked extra hours on evenings or weekends on a few occasions, and usually as a service to myself to ease my workload during typical business hours. Speaking from past experiences, I would say that one of the biggest limitations in the legal field can be politics (i.e. power dynamics, cliques, etc.) however, I do not believe that is unique to the legal field and this is not something that I have experienced at Lander & Rogers.
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