What's your job about?

I work as a Law Graduate in the General Insurance team. Our team primarily acts for insurers (and their insureds) in litigated and non-litigated claims including personal injury, public liability, property damage and professional indemnity claims. In my role, I have day-to-day conduct over a full file load. My tasks include drafting court documents, reviewing evidence (including documents provided by our client, by way of discovery or under subpoena), drafting written letters of advice to clients, corresponding with other parties to proceedings and appearing in court hearings. Junior lawyers in our team are tasked with having their "finger on the pulse" of all their matters as they are often best placed to assess the prospects of any legal claim. Providing this information in a coherent and persuasive manner is crucial in advising our clients about various strategies for claim resolution.

I find our work so interesting due to the variety of the subject matter and the people-based nature of each file. As an insurance litigator, you will alternate between acting for a school, a government department, a builder, an accountant, an owners corporation or a local council. Our work deals with real-life problems, so constructing a cohesive argument on behalf of your client requires real-world thinking.

What's your background?

I always had an eye on a career in the law: I am not sure if it was due to my stubborn and argumentative tendencies, my hatred of maths and science or my lifelong desire to wear a wig to work every day - before the Court did away with them!! After school I enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University and throughout my degree I worked at a suburban law practice. My clerkship at HWL Ebsworth in 2022 was my first proper experience at a large, national firm. I completed other clerkships during my final year of study, but the combination of HWLE's diverse and high-calibre clientele, its supportive environment and its genuine commitment to mentoring and developing juniors drew me back for my graduate year in 2024. I haven’t looked back since!

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Absolutely. My job tackles real-life problems and requires real-world thinking. Whilst there is an obvious pre-requisite of a law degree, an insurance litigator would no doubt benefit from a wide range of experiences - no particular background is needed to succeed. That being said, in a high-volume litigation team, you need a strong work ethic and, in our team, a good attitude and willingness to engage with your peers is crucial to meeting the vibe test!

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest thing about being an insurance litigator is the opportunity to step into the boxing ring. Some lawyers will never get the chance to see the inside of a courtroom - I could never be one of them. In our jurisdiction, you are faced with scenarios where your arguments will be put up against your opponents; be this at mediation, interlocutory hearings or even at trial. Competitive by nature, I relish this challenge and the strategic thinking that litigious work brings.

What are the limitations of your job?

My job requires a high level of organisation. You are simultaneously working on upwards of 30-40 files, each with their own unique facts and procedural issues. You need to be a master at using your diary to stay on top of everything, and that's before you even get to the legal work!

There are times where you work late hours, but it is not a daily event. On the spectrum of commercial lawyers, I would say our team facilitates a good work-life balance.

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

1. Take it easy on yourself. There is always an unavoidable level of anxiety about what your future holds in such a competitive industry. The reality is, as long as you apply yourself to your studies and have a good attitude, the people that succeed are the ones that can manage stress (whether this be on exam day, a clerkship interview or managing your workload in a job) better than others. So don't sweat the small things.
2. Enjoy the ride. Working full-time is fun, but it comes with responsibility. So, in between all of the study days, live your life.
3. Keep an open mind. Your life can change fast. Don’t try and predict the future, just put one foot in front of the other and see where it takes you.