Monash Law
Students' Society
Careers
Summary
The Monash LSS Careers Portfolio is a combined LLB and JD portfolio that aims to provide both LLB and JD students (of all year levels) with a wide selection of high-calibre and informative events, with a view to introducing them to areas of employment and cultivating their professional networks. We work together with law firms and other organisations to run a plethora of events throughout the year to help LLB and JD students explore the careers that are available to law students. We also publish an annual clerkship guide that aims to help students with their clerkship applications.
All our events are available to both LLB and JD students, as our portfolios are combined to provide students with a greater diversity of events and opportunities to build their networks with legal professionals. If you have any questions about our events feel free to contact our Careers Officers: careersofficers@monashlss.com
Check out our new Careers Directory powered by Prosple: https://careers-monashlss.prosple.com/. In this space you'll be able to look at employment opportunities with our major sponsors as well as reading articles that will help you along your road to graduate employment.
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The Clerkship Journey Map (https://www.notion.so/Clerkship-Journey-Map-0ee155cbb4b444e6826f262ff059d9f4) was created by two Monash Law Alumni, Renee and Jay, in order to assist students in the complex clerkship application process. The Map aims to assist students in their clerkship applications by giving them the tools and confidence to highlight their unique skills and experience in their cover letters through a reflective process.
Events and Resources
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Beyond Commercial Careers Fair
Your law degree makes you highly desirable across all industries, not just for a traditional commercial career with a large law firm. Speak with lawyers in many non-commercial fields, including not-for-profit, in-house, academia, government and many more. Representatives from Practical Legal Training providers will also be on hand to answer any questions about admission after graduation. This is your opportunity to learn more, ask questions and discover jobs you didn't even know existed!
Criminal & Family Law Panel
Does advocacy interest you? Do you like dealing with people? Have you ever considered a career in family or criminal law? If so, the Criminal and Family Law Panel is for you. Students will hear from practitioners and barristers in these areas about the type of work undertaken, and the challenges and benefits of a career in criminal or family law.
Clerkship Guide Launch
The Clerkship Guide Launch and Networking Evening is the largest commercial law and networking event of the LSS careers calendar. Representatives, including graduates and HR from all Platinum Sponsor firms will be in attendance to mingle and answer all clerkship-related questions.
(Penultimate and final year students will be prioritised)
Clerkship 101 Seminar
The Clerkship 101 seminar is an opportunity for penultimate year law students to hear from a recent clerk about the ins-and-outs of the application period and the clerkship itself. Following the presentation, a panel of recent clerks will be there to answer all your questions on applications, interviews, cocktail evenings and all things clerkship.
Clerkship Guide
The annual Clerkship Guide is an invaluable resource for all students undertaking their clerkship applications. Partnering with our Platinum Sponsors, the Guide contains important information on firms, contacts and clerkship dates.
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The Guide also includes graduate-written articles on the nuances of the clerkship application period, complemented by the practice areas articles from a firm perspective. It is the key resource for Monash law students undertaking their clerkship applications.
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To view the new 2021 Clerkship Guide, please click here.
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If you have specific questions regarding the Clerkship Guide please contact our Careers Officers (Publications): clerkshipguide@monashlss.com
Clerkship Q&A
This is another opportunity to hear from law firm representatives explain their clerkship process. The panel will be made up of graduates or junior lawyers who have recently gone through the process, and who can provide an overview of their experience during the clerkship experience as well as providing some insight into life as a graduate lawyer. There will also be time for questions and answers after the panel with firm representatives.
(Penultimate and final year students will be prioritised)
Expert Panel Series
Hear from partners from some of Australia’s leading corporate firms share their experiences and thoughts on the practice areas in which they specialise! With potential topics ranging from Mergers & Acquisitions to Projects to Litigation and Dispute Resolution, the Expert Panel Series is a great way to meet the experts at the top of their fields, gain insight into their work and learn more about their firms.
(Penultimate and final year students will be prioritised)
From Student to Professional
Our launch event of the year - this is a panel discussion where speakers from a range of backgrounds share their journey from student to professional, with question and answer time allowed. Panels in the past have consisted of a barrister, in-house counsel, a government solicitor and a corporate lawyer. Whether you’re a first-year student trying to understand where a law degree can take you or a final year student looking to secure that graduate position, this is a great place to start!
In-House Seminar
A career as an in-house lawyer is another career pathway for students who are looking to practice as a lawyer but do not want to work in a large commercial law firm. Open for all students to attend, the event is an opportunity for students to hear about the type of work undertaken by an in-house lawyer and learn more about the inner workings of an in-house legal team.
Journey to the Bar
Considering a career at the bar? Come and hear a panel of barristers explain their journey from graduation to successful careers at the bar. Complete with a question and answer panel, students can find out how to enter a career advocating in court and fighting for their client on the front line.
Mock Interviews
Continuing on the successful past experiences of penultimate Monash law students, mock interviews are back. With opportunities to undertake a simulated interview at a leading law firm, followed by feedback, the mock interviews require successful students to submit a resume and cover letter (and possibly academic transcript) to the firm that students are randomly allocated to.
(Penultimate and final year students will be prioritised)
PLT Seminar
Hear from Leo Cussen and College of Law about the Practical Legal Training course that you will have to do after graduation if you wish to be admitted as a lawyer. This is a great opportunity to learn more about PLT and the courses on offer from these two leading PLT providers. There will be ample opportunities to ask questions and network with the PLT representatives.
International Student FAQ
The careers team has sought the advice of a JD international student who has already completed clerkships in order to answer your most frequent questions regarding the process. Please note, these answers are in relation to this particular student's experience and you should always refer to your own visa requirements. The FAQ sheet can be accessed here.