Name

Rohan Barmanray - JD, University of Sydney

Year

2016/17 Sydney Summer Clerk; current Paralegal

Areas of rotation

1. Corporate Advisory
2. Banking + Infrastructure

Reflection

Completing a clerkship at Gilbert + Tobin was a fantastic experience which allowed me to immerse myself in a top-tier commercial environment. It exposed me to the world of commercial law and taught me many practical skills that fall outside the scope of a law degree.

Over the Summer I completed two rotations between the Banking + Infrastructure and Corporate Advisory groups. In Banking, I worked closely with the Insolvency and Restructuring team. Whilst the work was completely new to me, junior and senior lawyers always took time to explain the delegated task and the context surrounding it, allowing me to understand where my piece of work fitted within the larger picture. If there was down time, then the junior lawyers would walk me through helpful resources to ensure I built up my knowledge in time for the next task assigned to me.  

The Corporate Advisory rotation allowed me to sink my teeth into some really interesting pieces of work. These included researching and drafting advice on the Corporations Act and case law, preparing ASIC forms, editing a prospectus for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and helping a partner prepare for a last minute meeting with a client. The atmosphere of being a valued member of the team from day one allowed me to contribute and start developing my professional skills far faster than anywhere else. 

G+T’s open plan and non-hierarchical culture further enhanced this development. Rather than sitting in a corner by yourself, you are typically seated between a senior and junior lawyer and/or partner. This enabled me to observe how experienced lawyers went about their day, which was an invaluable experience. Overhearing phone conversations and viewing how partners interacted with clients and their teammates taught me far more about being a lawyer than any textbook could. 

Apart from giving clerks, grads and juniors genuine responsibility from the get-go, G+T take pride in being at the forefront of change in the legal landscape. As clerks we had the opportunity to complete a technology focused ‘innovation’ project which provided insight into how rapidly technology is affecting the law and how law firms work. Clerks were also given the opportunity to complete pro bono work. Some examples included giving advice to rural clients over the phone, attending the Homeless Persons Legal Centre and Asylum Seekers Resource Centre and researching refugee case law. These interactions demonstrated G+T’s emphasis on giving back to those less fortunate than ourselves. 

By far the most important criteria when comparing firms is the people. When you are unsure of what to do, have too much on your plate or want to have a joke around the office, it is your colleagues who will provide assistance and support you at all times. Whilst everyone at the firm has diverse interests, they are also friendly, genuine and always willing to help your professional development. Some of the best times of the clerkship were spent having lunch or a coffee with my mentor or broader team and just chatting about their legal experiences. 

Although the clerkship recruitment process can be exhaustive, take the time to talk to as many people as you can to really gain an understanding of the work different firms do and what their people are really like. If you want to work in a cutting edge environment where you will make a meaningful contribution alongside some very intelligent, interesting and friendly people, then G+T is an excellent place to start your legal journey.