Alumni Program News
Work Experience
Through MFG’s involvement in the Ourschool Program, Year 10 student Bethanie Dixon was given the opportunity to do a week’s work experience at a Melbourne law firm, Lander and Rogers.
I recently chatted with Bethanie and she could not speak highly enough of this opportunity. She was so glad she put her school holidays to good use, travelling to Melbourne each day to be surrounded by lawyers of varying experience and seeing, first-hand, what they do in different divisions. Bethanie loved hearing about the lawyers’ individual pathways and appreciated the advice they gave her in regards to her future studies. She was particularly appreciative of the warm, friendly and supportive environment that existed at the firm and loved being treated like an adult and an equal!
Bethanie was particularly thrilled when one of the firm’s graduate lawyers offered to support/mentor her in future years – an opportunity I’m sure Bethanie will take up when the time comes.
Here’s what Bethanie had to say about her week’s Work Experience:
On the school holidays, I was given the opportunity to do a week’s work experience in Melbourne at a prestigious law firm called Lander and Rogers. This experience not only gave me a taste of the work force but it also allowed me to see what lawyers actually do and has confirmed that this is the pathway I would like to follow.
During my week at Lander and Rogers I worked in seven different departments; learning about the people that support the lawyers and the lawyers themselves. I was given first-hand opportunities to work on cases (I even corresponded with a client based in Spain!!), learned about how to conduct proper research using a new computer system and visited the magistrate and the barrister chambers, meeting two Queen’s Council members along the way! I was also fortunate enough to visit one of the Melbourne Courts for a day, sitting in on a very expensive case hearing.
I had so many highlights in my week at Lander and Rogers that I cannot begin to tell you which one was my favourite. However, as well as gaining information about what lawyers do, I also developed important personal skills that will put me in good stead, particularly when in the work force.
It was invaluable meeting lawyers, all of whom were at different stages of their careers. They gave me so much advice about things that worry me: entering VCE, getting into my preferred University course and my future.
My advice to anyone reading this is to take any opportunity you can get because it might turn out to help you in the long run.
A huge thank you to Ourschool and Lander and Rogers for providing this amazing opportunity to Bethanie.
Tanja Dunat Timms
(Ourschool Alumni Program Manager)
