With the new university semester underway, Alyssya Warty-Hasan, a final-year law student at the University of Technology Sydney and a paralegal at Norton Rose Fulbright; Piadora Rahme, a law graduate from the University of Sydney and an associate at the Federal Court of Australia; and Emma Covacevich, chief executive partner at Clayton Utz, emphasised the paramount importance of law students acquiring practical experience before entering the legal profession. They highlighted that such experience not only bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application but also significantly enhances employability, sharpens essential skills, and profoundly influences career trajectories.

Key advantages

Attaining practical legal experience as a law student provides significant advantages for those aiming to succeed after graduation.

Alyssya Warty-Hasan underscored that a critical advantage of practical experience is its capability to enable law students to apply the theoretical legal principles they have learnt throughout their degree to real-world situations.

“Work experience importantly allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. The practical experience allows students to use legal principles to develop problem-solving skills in actual cases and legal issues, enhancing research, written, and communication skills,” Warty-Hasan said.

Through gaining practical experience, Warty-Hasan explained that students can actively engage directly with industry professionals, thereby expanding their networks and acquiring meaningful and valuable exposure to the professional environment.

“From the recruitment period to being part of a team within a firm, students put themselves out there and network with industry professionals in a context different from one that exists in the university,” Warty-Hasan said.

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Emma Covacevich also emphasised that legal work experience provides students with a nuanced understanding of the legal industry’s operations, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

“In terms of traditional legal work experience, working in roles such as a paralegal position can help students understand how the legal industry operates. It can help bring theory to life, providing context to their law school education. It can also allow law students to see the wide range of pathways and opportunities available to them,” Covacevich said.

Enhancing employability and career prospects

In today’s competitive job market, acquiring practical work experience is instrumental in enhancing a law student’s employability and career prospects upon graduation.

Warty-Hasan explained that obtaining practical experience enables law students to cultivate relationships with legal professionals, unlocking opportunities and providing access to mentors who can offer valuable support and guidance.

“Building relationships with legal professionals during practical work experience can open doors to opportunities and access to mentors who can provide guidance, ultimately enhancing career prospects upon graduation,” Warty-Hasan said.

She also stressed how “practical work experience provides a degree of job readiness and confidence in handling real-life interactions. Legal research, the ability to work in a team, working under pressure, and interpersonal skills are essential assets that law firms look for, which can be developed by gaining practical work experience”.

Piadora Rahme observed that while many students tend to concentrate exclusively on their academic students, they may overlook the importance of practical work experience. However, she highlighted that employers often favour candidates who demonstrate a combination of academic knowledge and hands-on experience.

“Students often fall into the trap of neglecting to undertake any work experience in favour of focusing all their attention on their studies. While this approach has its benefits, in reality, employers will often favour a well-rounded student who can speak to practical, real-world experience,” Rahme said.

She added: “Students with practical work experience are able to showcase to employers that they can manage their time, meet and prioritise competing deadlines, work under pressure, proactively approach their career development, and employ a dedicated work ethic.”

“It also signals that the student knows how to operate in a professional environment, a simple yet essential skill that one can only acquire through experience.”

Additionally, Rahme stressed how practical experience often paves the way for law students to gain employment opportunities within the legal field.

“Practical work experience often opens other doors of opportunity. For example, students who may have worked as a paralegal at a firm are more likely to be considered as part of a firm’s graduate recruitment program or may come across experiences as part of their work that may widen their career prospects,” she said.

Developing skills not covered in university coursework

Although universities provide a solid academic foundation, specific essential skills not typically covered in coursework can only be developed and refined through practical experience.

Warty-Hasan echoed this sentiment, saying: “In academic coursework, legal problem questions are often presented in a structured manner and, importantly, test your knowledge of scenarios analogous to the precedent cases. However, practical experience provides students with the adaptability and critical thinking skills to navigate the complexities and uncertainties of actual matters.”

She also highlighted how the recruitment process allows law students to cultivate critical skills, including “interviewing skills, résumé and cover letter writing skills”, which are frequently overlooked in university coursework.

She also said: “For students aspiring to work in litigation, seeing the courtroom in action is also an invaluable experience.”

Rahme added that the practical experience enables law students to develop soft skills such as “communication, teamwork, leadership, interpersonal social skills, and how to operate in a professional environment”.

She also elucidated that, depending on the specific nature of the work, practical experience often provides law students with valuable opportunities to advance their client interaction and communication skills.

“Depending on the nature of the work experience, there may also be an opportunity to develop client interaction and communication skills. This could be meeting client expectations, adapting legal work products to their changing needs and translating complex legal concepts into understandable, digestible advice,” Rahme said.

“The varied nature of work that young lawyers are exposed to, coupled with the supervised feedback experienced lawyers can provide to graduates, enables an unparalleled learning opportunity that cannot feasibly be replicated in tertiary studies alone.”

Practical advice

Although the advantages of practical work experience are evident, law students must effectively balance these opportunities with their academic responsibilities, which can present a significant challenge.

To assist with this balancing challenge, Covacevich underscored the necessity of maintaining a moderate approach between professional commitments and academic responsibilities to sustain educational excellence and personal wellbeing.

“My advice is to seek out work experience where possible but avoid overextending yourself. Balancing work and study is important. Be curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to seek mentors and reach out to people to build professional relationships,” Covacevich said.

Warty-Hasan concurred, emphasising the necessity of establishing clear objectives and developing a comprehensive schedule for effective time management.

“An important part of juggling different commitments is to have effective time management. Develop a detailed schedule that allocates time for classes, study, work and personal activities,” Warty-Hasan said.

“Make sure that you regularly review and adjust your schedule to accommodate changes in priorities. If students feel like juggling too many commitments, being transparent with their employer and reaching out to friends and family is important.”

Rahme also advised students to communicate their goals and interests to their supervisors to ensure that the practical experience can align with their career aspirations.

“If you’re interested in a particular area of law or want to gain some experience in specific work, communicate that to your team and supervisors so you can make the most of your time working.

“Again, the onus is on you to use the experience to your advantage. Being inquisitive and showing interest and passion throughout your experience will signal to your team that you’re taking initiative in your role,” Rahme said.