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In his recent address to the incoming cohort of graduate lawyers at the Attorney-General’s Department, A-G Mark Dreyfus shared valuable guidance as they embark on this pivotal and exciting stage of their legal careers.
Last week, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus formally welcomed a new cohort of 56 graduate lawyers to the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD), offering encouragement and valuable insights as they embark on this next stage of their legal careers.
In his address to the incoming graduates, Dreyfus shared a personal anecdote from his own initial graduate role, stating: “My first graduate job was as a field officer for the Northern Land Council. It was an incredible opportunity that allowed me to work closely with Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory – and it set me on the path to the law.”
Acknowledging the blend of excitement and uncertainty that often accompanies the transition into a graduate position, Dreyfus reassured the new graduates, emphasising the importance of taking pride in their accomplishments and the journey that lies ahead.
“I imagine most of you started this graduate program with a mix of emotions. Excitement, of course. Curiosity about what working in the law and policy actually means … and maybe a bit of uncertainty. Have I made the right decision? Does Canberra really need this many roundabouts?
“Let me reassure you – wherever you came from, however you got here, you are exactly where you are meant to be – and you should all be very proud,” he said.
Dreyfus explained that while “you might not always see AGD in the headlines”, it remains a “quiet achiever”, playing an essential role in ensuring that government decisions are legally sound and firmly grounded in the rule of law.
“AGD are the quiet achievers. The ones making sure that when decisions are made, they are grounded in the rule of law. That they are legally sound, and – at their best – capable of making Australia a fairer, safer, and more just country,” he said.
The A-G acknowledged that while the “work is not always glamorous”, he stressed that “that’s the job. And that’s the privilege. And I hope it excites you all – because it should”.
Looking ahead to the coming year, despite the challenges of an election cycle, Dreyfus outlined the AGD’s key initiatives, which include efforts to criminalise sextortion and advance developments in copyright and artificial intelligence legislation.
“Our hate crimes legislation is before the Parliament. We are working on criminalising sextortion and reforms in copyright and AI, and we are establishing an independent Commonwealth Parole Board – ensuring experts with relevant experience in law enforcement, rehabilitation and victims’ perspectives make parole decisions,” he said.
The A-G encouraged graduates to embrace their new roles, emphasising that their contributions would have a lasting impact, no matter how small.
“When you work at AGD, you’re shaping the legal framework of the nation. You’re contributing to decisions that will impact generations to come.
“There will come a moment when you’ll see the results of your workout in the world. It might be a law you helped draft being debated in Parliament. Or a piece of legal advice that changes the course of a major decision,” he said.
“It might even be a seemingly small reform – that makes a profound difference in someone’s life. That’s when you’ll know – all those hours, all those meetings, all those footnotes in your legal advice – they mattered”.
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