10. Careers for law graduates

Law is a versatile qualification which provides an excellent basis for a wide range of careers. For those students combining law with another degree, options are expanded. Career outcomes will be dependent on particular interests as well as opportunities available at the time. For instance, students combining law with studies in economics and commerce may find that they are more interested in pursuing a career in business than in the law. In this case studies of law and legal principle will provide an excellent background and basis for engaging in commercial transactions.

Practising lawyers

Once admitted to practise law, you are eligible to be a barrister or solicitor. To practise as a barrister requires a nine-month readership course, including an initial three-month full-time 'readers' course.

Solicitors work directly with clients, such as members of the public, companies and banks. Some firms specialise in the work they do, while others maintain general practices. They offer advice on legal matters; negotiate and represent clients in criminal prosecutions and civil actions; and prepare and process contracts, agreements and other documents relating to companies, land transactions, and a wide variety of business and family matters. Solicitors assist people with divorce or adoption or with immigration or social security problems. They also draw up wills, handle people's estates and prepare and administer trust deeds, or work with companies on commercial or tax matters.

Barristers, on the other hand, are engaged by solicitors and do not deal directly with clients. They usually write opinions for solicitors on doubtful points of law or procedure; draft documents involving difficult legal issues or the pleadings which prepare a case for trial; and appear in court in criminal prosecutions or civil trials.

Government lawyers

Many opportunities exist in government service. You can draft Acts of Parliament in the Parliamentary Counsel's Office; give advice to government departments in the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office; and prepare criminal cases for trial and prosecute them in court in the Director of Public Prosecution's Office. You could work on environmental protection problems in the Environment Protection Authority; help the Guardianship and Administration Board look after the interests of people in institutions; work on occupational health and safety problems; or help administer the Family Court of Australia.

Community lawyers

Many lawyers now look for ways of using their special skills to help less privileged people in the community. In the 1970s a number of community legal services sprang up to offer free legal advice and practical help to people in trouble with the police, their landlords, their employers, their families etc. These services now often have full-time lawyers. Many lawyers also work with the Victorian Legal Aid, providing legal services to those who cannot afford to meet the full cost. You will find opportunities in immigration advisory services, citizens advisory services, adoption and foster care agencies, consumer credit services and the Australian Council of Social Services.

Corporate lawyers

Most major banks and companies have their own legal departments. If you work for an oil company, you may be called on to do anything from negotiating major joint ventures for exploration to buying service stations and writing leases for their operation. If you work for a bank, you could put together large international financial deals or draft standard overdraft or mortgage documents. Invariably such lawyers eventually find themselves involved in developing policy and often move into management positions.

Policy formulation

Policy analysis and planning are developing areas of independent study. There are more opportunities for lawyers with these skills and interests than there are trained people to fill them. Opportunities exist in Law Reform Commissions, as ministerial advisers, as consultants to or employees of government, in universities and in industry or commercial lobby groups.

Research and teaching

Good graduates often look forward to doing postgraduate work overseas. Melbourne law graduates have great success in obtaining scholarships - most recently two Rhodes Scholars in 1997 - and are highly regarded in Britain and North America. Law graduates are also highly sought after in secondary schools because of the popularity of commercial and legal studies subjects. There are always opportunities for qualified researchers in the University of Melbourne Faculty of Law and the faculty is also keen to involve good graduates in its teaching program, at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level, either as full or part-time teachers.

Other careers

Law graduates have successfully developed careers in areas such as merchant banking, accounting, management consultancy, industrial relations, the media and editing and publishing. Many diplomats have law degrees. Some corporations recruit law graduates and give them specialist training. The same is true of statutory authorities and public services.

10.1. Careers and employment

The careers and employment unit at the University offers a career information and counselling service to students. Information on part-time and vacation employment, clerkships and career information for law students is available from the unit. The unit's extensive library provides information on legal firms and relevant government bodies as well as suggestions for alternative careers for law graduates. Regular workshops are also offered, and students looking for graduate work can submit their resumes to GradMatch, a new computerised matching service offered by the unit. Careers and employment is located on the first floor of the Baldwin Spencer Building, telephone +61 3 8344 6686.

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Table of Contents

10. Careers for law graduates

10.1. Careers and employment