What's your job about?

As a graduate lawyer in the Corporate and Commercial team, my role involves assisting clients with specific business transactions and general advisory matters. Most of my work falls into one of two categories:

• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): This includes facilitating the acquisition or sale of businesses. For example, we are currently working on a complex M&A deal that involves various considerations such as the share sale process, assignment of contracts and leases, structuring decisions, purchase price adjustments based on business performance, and tax implications.

• Equity Capital Markets (ECM): This primarily involves helping ASX-listed companies with secondary raisings, where new shares are issued to investors to raise funds. The ECM process involves navigating a significant amount of regulatory compliance.

Beyond these categories, we also handle various ad hoc legal matters for our clients, including dispute resolution.

As a junior lawyer, my role often involves drafting and reviewing documents and contributing strategic input on structuring and commercial matters. In summary, as my boss often says, we act as "trusted advisors"—the first point of contact for our clients when they need legal guidance.

What's your background?

I was born and raised in Queensland and am the first generation of my family to be born here. I attended a local school and developed an interest in law after completing a legal studies course in Year 10.

To keep my options open, I pursued a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (Finance) at QUT, graduating in 2023.

During university, I worked as a paralegal at several law firms, gaining experience in both boutique and large US firms. In 2024, I joined Hamilton Locke as a law graduate, where I have been supported and mentored by the firm's partners ever since.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes, absolutely. The legal profession is made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, and different life experiences can provide valuable skills for a legal career.

While formal qualifications are essential to practice law, some of the best lawyers I have met started in other industries. A commercial mindset, strong attention to detail, and genuine care for clients are key attributes that can make someone highly effective in this role.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

Seeing the real impact of our work on clients' businesses is incredibly rewarding. Many of our clients have spent years building their businesses, so being able to help them grow or realise value in their hard work is fulfilling.

Additionally, a significant part of our job is problem-solving, and seeing our legal strategies and ideas implemented successfully is always exciting.

What are the limitations of your job?

While the work is rewarding, it is also high-pressure and often involves long hours.

Tight deadlines—especially on complex deals—can mean late nights, early mornings, and even weekend work, which can be challenging to balance with personal life.

Three pieces of advice for your student self...

• Enjoy the journey. University is important, but grades don't define you. Some of the best lawyers I know didn’t have perfect grades but still built exceptional careers.
• Find a stress outlet. Life only gets busier after university, so developing healthy ways to manage stress early on is crucial.
• Take every opportunity. If you get the chance to study abroad or join a club, go for it! You never know what connections you'll make or what experiences will shape your future.