Graduate Opportunities

University attended: Murdoch University.

Katharine is an articled clerk with Freehills, a leading Australian-based international law firm. She has undertaken numerous volunteer roles, along with public and private sector clerkships.

Describe your current responsibilities with Freehills.

Articled clerks at Freehills rotate through three practice groups before settling in one. This provides a sense of the work in different practice groups, the people in the teams and whether it’s an area of interest.

Currently, I am in the Employee Relations team. My work has included drafting Employee Collective Agreements, assisting in arbitrations, preparing deeds of settlement and release, proofing witnesses, and assisting in equal opportunity and occupational health and safety investigations. I have found the work enjoyable and intellectually stimulating, particularly in light of recent changes to workplace relations law. Full-time work at a large law firm has been a challenging learning curve, but never at any stage have I felt out of my depth. The people at Freehills are always more than happy to help and support juniors.

What led you to tutor at Murdoch’s Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre?

I was invited to become a tutor through a recommendation by a lecturer. I understand the importance of having good teachers and mentors and thought I could help in a similar capacity. I find it incredibly rewarding to watch the students I tutor become more confident, both in themselves and in their work, and excel in their degrees.

The majority of my work with the Centre is tutoring Indigenous Law students in Law units. I have also given lectures and tutorials, and assist the students in a broader sense such as writing CVs, preparing for job interviews, and supporting and encouraging them to reach their potential and believe in their abilities.

Describe your other volunteer positions.

• General volunteering and preparing a Legal Compliance Manual for the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia. The Manual ensures the Foundation is at the forefront of corporate governance in the not-for-profit sector.
• Sitting on the Editorial Board of the Australian Journal of Gender and Law where I review articles, working papers and comments on a range of issues surrounding women’s interaction with the law and legal system.
• A volunteer editor for the Nepal Institute of Peace to raise awareness of human rights issues, particularly Internally Displaced Persons, in Nepal.
• Sitting on the Advisory Board of the Michael D. Kirby Annual Human Rights Forum. The Forum seeks to promote greater awareness of the continuing evolution and current state of human rights in Australia and globally by addressing some of their most controversial and misunderstood aspects.

All are very different organisations working for the greater good. I enjoy contributing different ideas and working with different people to broaden my life experiences. Through these engagements, I’ve discovered that the contacts and links that I’ve made have the potential to form a more significant role in my future.

Have these professional and volunteer experiences influenced your career path?

To varying degrees, each experience has influenced my career path. Clerking with Freehills and other large commercial law firms helped me recognise my interest in commercial law and desire to help clients find solutions to complex legal issues. The legal expertise of Freehills’ lawyers is both in-depth and diverse, giving me the opportunity to see how far I can go with commercial law.

Freehills also appealed because of its longstanding Pro Bono and Community Programs. We work with a number of organisations including the Clontarf Aboriginal College, Ronald McDonald House and the Australian Wildlife Conservatory.

Ultimately, your career is what you make of it. Have goals, dream big, get inspired and keep an open mind.