1. What does the normal (work) day look like for you?

I am currently a Graduate at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). The Graduate program at the Australian Taxation Office involves completing two work rotations of approximately 4-6 months in duration in two different areas of the ATO, and a 5-6 week rotation in an ATO call centre during tax time in July. The program also involves an extensive training and development program where graduates complete milestones according to the stream they are located in to develop technical and soft skills that will be utilised in their careers beyond the program.

 

I would describe my normal work day as varied. In my first rotation, I worked in the Objections area. This role involved resolving objections lodged by taxpayers in relation to their assessments, penalties or decisions made against them by the ATO. Some days were quite busy where I would be contacting and speaking with taxpayers, and gathering information to make a decision in relation to their objection. On other days it was quiet where I was waiting for information from the taxpayer so I would conduct legal research to be fully informed of the law and policy around a particular issue to prepare to make a decision in relation to a particular objection. A normal day in the call centre was very busy - you would normally be taking calls constantly throughout the day. In my second and current rotation, I am working in the Policy area. My role involves supporting senior policy officers and managers on current policy matters throughout all stages of the policy cycle before a policy becomes a bill and is introduced into Federal Parliament. This support includes commenting on draft law, resolving technical issues, liaising with stakeholders about the progress of certain matters and conducting legal research. A senior policy officer may need more support on some days compared with others which makes some days in the Policy area very busy.

2. What are the most satisfying aspects of your job?

Helping taxpayers with their queries and/or objections, and achieving results either by assisting other less experienced staff members to resolve queries related to their work or providing strong support to the policy officers and managers I work alongside.  

3. Favourite experience/memory at Monash?

I graduated with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws degrees in 2013 and a Master of Laws degree in 2014.

 

At Monash, I valued the opportunity to be part of the Science Student Ambassador Program. It was a great program that allowed me to be engaged with other science students and contribute to the broader life of the Faculty of Science and the university more generally.

In the law school, I was fortunate to be a finalist in the LSS Paper and Oral Competition in 2011. 

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The highlight by far was winning the 2013 Australian Law Students' Association National Essay Competition with a paper I had written for Research Unit B supervised by A/Prof David Lindsay - I don't think I would have won without his advice and guidance.

The above three experiences were definitely highlights of my time at Monash, and experiences that would have only occurred by coming to Monash to study law.  

4. What are the most valuable skills that you learnt at law school and how have they helped you achieve your career goals?

At law school, I developed and consolidated my skills in written communication, analysis, problem solving and legal research, and I consider these to be the most valuable skills I learnt at law school. I have applied these skills throughout my experiences after law school and they have certainly helped me in making the most of my experiences after law school, particularly work experiences to make myself more employable. 

5. What advice would you give to current/future students?

 

1. Make the most of your time at law school - find a casual job (and it doesn't even have to be in law), get involved in an extracurricular activity, enter an LSS competition and/or submit one of your best assignments to an essay competition like the Australian Law Students' Association National Essay Competition. Your time at law school is the best opportunity you will have to develop new skills, gain new experiences and put yourself in the best position possible to gain employment once your time at law school is over - don't waste it!

 

2. Be open to opportunities that come your way no matter what they are - I didn't come to be a Graduate at the ATO straight away after graduating from law school. I completed my PLT in December 2014 and in between that time and commencing in the ATO Graduate program this year, I volunteered with the law firm I completed my work experience at as part of my PLT, worked as a paralegal at another law firm, worked in a case support role in dispute resolution and then worked for almost two years in another role in the ATO before I successfully entered the ATO Graduate program (on my 3rd or 4th attempt) this year. I used the opportunities I gained in between to make myself employable and competitive to ultimately be successful for a place in this years ATO Graduate program. 

Don't assume that your dream job is gone just because you didn't get straight out of law school. Make the most of the opportunities you have to develop your skills and broaden your experiences to make yourself competitive for that dream job!