“ There are a lot of opportunities to step up, take on responsibility and take on projects that really extend you.”
I am an Arts/Law honours graduate from the University of Melbourne and am currently working as an adviser in the Legal Branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
I became interested in working in government as I saw it as an opportunity to respond more proactively to social problems than may be possible in the private sector. During my time with the Victorian Government (since 2005) I have worked on a wide range of interesting and topical public policy and legal issues. It has been very rewarding to feel like my work has played a part in influencing decisions and reforms that have improved community wellbeing.
In my current role I am responsible for providing legal and legal policy advice to the Premier and the Department. I brief the Premier regarding legal and legal policy issues in Cabinet submissions, prepare documents for machinery of government changes, and help manage the legislative process.
In my experience graduates are exposed to some really challenging work. Even as a junior officer there are a lot of opportunities to step up, take on responsibility and take on projects that really extend you. My biggest challenge so far has been to manage the legislative process for a piece of legislation requested by the Premier. This process drew on a whole range of skills and knowledge: technical legal knowledge, project and time management skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to use different kinds of language to inform different audiences about the law. The Bill passed smoothly through both Houses of Parliament and is now law in Victoria – it’s gratifying to see my contribution to the Victorian statute books!
This year, I have been offered articles in the Department, at the end of which I can be admitted as a lawyer. In the future I would like to complete a Masters in Law or Masters in Public Policy with the support of the Department, perhaps even going to study in the UK. At some point I would also like to use my skills in public administration and governance in an international development context.