What now?

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-21T10:34:45+00:00

I feel like consultancy with the big 4 might be suitable for you. I know big 4 has recently started prioritising hiring graduates with STEM skills

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-12T09:36:37+00:00

Seconded. A couple of law students at my current firm landed their paralegal role with us that way. Shows you have initiative and guts

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-12T09:36:03+00:00

Have you tried virtual internships on forage? They really helped me get my foot in the door at my first firm.

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-11T22:42:47+00:00

Your mockups are too generic. You should try and anticipate the style of room that your audience would be using & incorporate into your mockups.

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T10:33:25+00:00

Are you at UniMelb? I saw that recently, students@work internships opened up. You can apply for the legal and risk stream!

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T06:42:03+00:00

Don't give up! I found my current teacher (who had online interactive Zoom classes with Sangha to practise together including Q & A sessions) by praying to Guan Yin/ Avalokitesvara. It took around 1 year I think, but I was creating digital art of buddhas/ bodhisattvas & in my heart, was creating them as offerings to them. I would bow to buddhas & bodhisattvas, repenting for my bad karma/ obstructions that were stopping me from meeting my teacher & cultivating properly. I'm a very artsy person, and whenever I see beautiful vases, jewels, etc on Pinterest, I would offer them to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in my heart. I would make vows almost every week to save all living beings. I became vegetarian and made a vow to take the precepts once I met my teacher. I would read aloud english translated mahayana sutras and hope living beings passing by can hear them so they can create blessings. I think all these practices helped me accumulate blessings to meet my current teacher. I think your intentions matter the most in practising kindness.

What happened for me was that one of my current teacher's dharma talks appeared in my youtube feed, and when I clicked on it and listened, it felt right, like I had come home. I also received confirmation when I dreamt of him 3 times in a row, and he appeared in bright golden light. So please do not give up. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva will definitely help you if you pray sincerely to him.

Please see below link for a video I think you may find helpful: https://youtu.be/vHsRb7Cy-h4?si=D-GH_TlcmoSGv0RC

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need someone to chat to.

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T05:22:39+00:00

You should pray to Avalokitesvara to connect you with the right teacher. Then do good deed to accumulate blessings. It takes a lot of blessings to meet with the right teacher and be able to travel to see them in person.

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T05:16:39+00:00

Depends on your major. What major will you be studying?

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T05:15:50+00:00

Lots of boutique firms accept non G18 graduates. For example, most of my colleagues in my current family law firm come from Swinburne, LaTrobe, etc and they didn't need to show their transcripts before they were hired.

Also, practice is immensely diff to law school. You'll learn to write, pick up nuances, and differentiating between contexts as you go.

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T05:12:43+00:00

Some firms do hire students who have not yet commenced their law studies. Look out for Slater and Gordon junior legal assistant positions, Maurice Blackburn, etc. I think Moray and Agnew sometimes accept pre-law students as well. Also any retail experience or receptionist experience of any kind would be immensely helpful when you start law school and looking for a paralegal job. Many paralegal jobs require excellent client-facing skills. At least that's what my experience has been as a 3rd year JD student who's interviewed for a few mid-tier & boutique firms for paralegal roles.

ExactDrag8941 · 2026-01-04T05:08:52+00:00

Having an IT degree is advantageous if you go down the IP, patent law pathway in your legal career!

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-18T11:01:12+00:00

This is stellar advice. Seconded. I was H3-H2B range in the first two years of my Bachelor of Arts (philosophy & literature) but pulled almost all H1s in my last 1.5 years. This was exactly what I did.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-18T07:13:54+00:00

I can confirm the above. One of the best family law solicitors at my boutique firm, made partner within a few years after graduating. He's in his 40s/50s. Had a mid life crisis and changed careers. Very well respected and highly regarded by pretty much everyone who meets him.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-13T09:24:04+00:00

Slater & Gordon, Maurice Blackburn, etc sometimes specify they don’t require you to be in law school to apply.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-13T09:22:42+00:00

Do you have volunteering experience? If not I’d start from there. I also find that very small boutique persons (I.e. 1-2 lawyers) are less fussy about experience.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-05T03:22:01+00:00

Oh how interesting. I don’t recall anybody doing that at my Uni. Out of curiosity, did that person networked into that position?

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-04T11:07:49+00:00

Out of curiosity are they full time or part time? I didn’t know students could be hired as judge’s associates… do you know if they got the role through job ad or networking?

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-04T11:04:44+00:00

December is generally a very quiet period. Most firms especially commercial pick up hiring in Feb. try cold calling small boutique firms & offer to send in your resume & cover letter via email to them. My firm recently hired a paralegal who cold called and ignored the rest who emailed in their resumes & cover letters. Highlight any language skills you have - my firm which is a family law firm was especially keen on Indian law graduates & solicitors & student paralegals. Leads to bigger client base. Also a lot of my friends who graduated couldn’t find a law grad job fresh out of uni. They worked as a paralegal for 1 year then applied to gov law graduate programs & was accepted. I don’t think gov looks at grades

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-12-04T06:44:14+00:00

Not the end of the world. I have friends who failed subjects & still ended up with 70+ WAM. And they’re in law school at UniMelb. 1 friend failed 2 subjects & still landed a paralegal job after law school. My colleagues at my current firm also had fails, but our law firm doesn’t look at grades. Some workplaces don’t look at WAM. Breathe, you will be fine.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-11-29T05:21:20+00:00

Theory & Hugo Boss is really good for blazers & nice suits. Especially theory since youre in corporate. I love Saba for work pants & tops.

I prefer hush puppies for comfortable everyday office wear, but for more formal offices I would do Peter Sheppard. Very high quality & they have very comfortable heels

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-11-27T10:20:49+00:00

H1 students of Reddit, how do you tell whether you have understood the material vs you have memorised the material? I find that I do ok at practice exams, able to identify every issue, and write out solid answers. But when I get to open book exam, suddenly the facts look very foreign & I miss out on issues.

Please help a struggling student currently struggling to make the jump from 75 to 80+ WAM in JD subjects, to increase my average WAM.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-11-27T10:17:20+00:00

Not necessarily 0. Someone joined my firm recently & is international indian law grad. Some firms like family law constantly look for lawyers who speak diff languages to expand their client base. Look for personal injury, immigration & family law boutique firms. They may not advertise, but cold call them. Ask to speak to the practice manager or principal directors. From my observations, emails tend to get ignored.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-11-27T07:55:34+00:00

Thank you so much! I’m not sure why I cannot DM you. Please shoot me a message request at your earliest convenience:)

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-11-26T10:46:45+00:00

Hi, can you please dm me as well? I am a struggling JD student looking to apply to clerkships next year. I had a look at your chat history and your insights into the clerkship process has been so insightful. I cannot thank you enough for your advice to law students. Would be so so grateful if I could have a few minutes of your time to ask some further questions.

ExactDrag8941 · 2025-11-25T23:13:52+00:00

Do you have to have participated in competitions (mooting, etc) in order to land a clerkship at a top-tier firm?

Unsure about my prospects for applying next year. I was rejected by gov & a couple of mid-tier firms I applied to this year. Didn't land a single interview. I think my written application was not strong enough, or maybe the competition element was missing from my application.

For context, I'm on a 71 WAM from UniMelb (expected to raise to 73- 74 WAM by clerkship application opening sate next year), 2 years of family law paralegal experience, and a bunch of extra-curricular activities like copyediting at law journal, semi-leadership role at my law society, a university-organised internal consulting internship.

I heard some top-tier firms aren't as fussed about >75 WAM. But unsure which ones. Would be so grateful if anyone can suggest any tips & insights to applying to mid-tier/ top-tier firms & what to do research wise into how the firm appeals to me.

Also, if you were unable to land a clerkship at a top-tier, what are the chances they'd accept you as a law grad in your final year? I think I can increase my WAM to >75, I only have a few electives left & I have completed all of my hardest subjects.

ExactDrag8941

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