White & Case

What's your job about?

I am a Melbourne-based Associate at White & Case, currently completing a Project Finance rotation in our Tokyo office.

This is my third and final six-month rotation as part of the Graduate Program and follows my previous seats in Melbourne (Project Delivery) and Sydney (Corporate M&A). Since starting the Graduate Program last year, my day-to-day work has varied greatly. It has largely consisted of legal research, drafting project and finance documents, reviewing documents as part of due diligence exercises and corresponding with clients, and managing closings and executions. This work has predominately been in the renewable energy and transport sectors, as this is a real focus of the Firm, in Australia and in the wider Asia region.

For example, over the last week here in Japan, I have been corresponding with a client regarding some regulatory questions they have on a project and liaising with colleagues in some of our US offices to provide responses to those questions, helping to draft documents for an offshore wind project, and conducting research, for an upcoming presentation, into the role that new digital technologies, such as AI and Blockchain, may have in the transition to renewable energy.

What's your background?

I grew up in Melbourne. From an early age, I was encouraged to try new things and to say ‘yes’ to as many opportunities as I could.

My first jobs were as a show bag packer at the Melbourne Show and a court servicer at the Australian Open, after being encouraged by others to apply for both positions. Believe it or not, later on, when applying for clerkships and graduate positions, it was often these experiences that interviewers were most often curious about.

At University, I decided to take the same approach and try as many areas of law as I could in order to work out what I might be interested in pursuing. Always keeping an eye out for opportunities, I was able to study International Law subjects in Italy and Malaysia with the help of a few grants, study practical or internship subjects where available, and gain experience working in small criminal and government law practices.

Towards the end of my degree, I had the chance to intern in the United States Congress with the Democratic office of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as part of the UCWIP program. It was here that I definitively determined that I was interested in working in the infrastructure and projects field going forward.

Ultimately, those experiences brought me to White & Case, and when they suggested late last year that I should consider rotating in Tokyo, I found myself yet again, with the support of my friends and family, saying ‘yes’ to a challenging, yet exciting new opportunity.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely! I say this with confidence because so many of my colleagues are from backgrounds vastly different from my own. I think, however, that no matter their background or experiences, those who are successful in this job share some similar skills and characteristics. Some of these, you won’t be surprised to hear, are good problem-solving and communication skills, attention to detail and a strong work ethic. However, successful people often also have a range of less obvious ‘soft’ skills, such as being thoughtful of others, having good time and task management habits, knowing when to ask for help, and in return, being willing to assist colleagues when they need a hand.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest things about my job are the international network and opportunities that come from working at a global law firm, as well as the interesting projects I get to work on.

As evidenced by my current international graduate rotation, and many other initiatives, such as the Firm’s annual ‘World Cup’, where the entire firm is invited to Europe for the weekend to compete in a friendly sports competition, White & Case really promotes collaboration across offices and regions.

As a result of this rotation, I have the ability to work with lawyers, and on projects, all around the world on a regular basis. On top of this, such projects often include innovative and globally significant transport, infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

What are the limitations of your job?

Being a graduate and junior can be a steep learning curve, with new daily industries, concepts and tasks to grapple with. This, sometimes coupled with long hours, can at times be challenging. However, I have found that if I am able to work on matters that interest me, and am well-supported by my colleagues, such challenges can be easily overcome, and in turn, provide invaluable experience.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

1. Speak to those around you, especially those who have recently been down a path you’re thinking of pursuing. The most practical and honest advice will usually come from friends or peers who’ve recently been through the process you’re about to embark on, be that law school, clerkships or a graduate program.
2. Be brave, and say ‘yes’ to as many opportunities as you can, you never know where they might lead.
3. Always be collaborative with your peers, be that at university, law school, the clerkship/graduate process and beyond. These individuals will form your future support, colleagues, employers and clients.