It's Not The View Of The Harbour Bridge Or That Salary That You Aim For, It Is Earning That View, That Salary, That Office And That Position As Nothing Is Impossible For Those That Believe In The Beauty Of Their Dreams... And In Order To Earn It, Requires Hard Work And Dedication Throughout Your Time Trying To Reach That Dream. So Never Give Up As Sometimes The Moment You Give Up Might Be The Moment You Succeed The Most...

Every single person who has reached that dream was an ordinary person just like you and me at one stage in their life but through their hard work and dedication they made their dreams come true. It was that step by step, struggle after struggle to get to the position they are currently at... My dream is for one day is to earn that position of becoming a well known educated Solicitor. Many people say Solicitors earn the big money and Solicitors have it so easy but in actual fact, one that has worked in a Law firm actually knows the truth behind that myth. The actual truth is SOLICITORS are so hard working that most of their time is spent actually preparing for a case compared to the time they spent presenting it. The reality wakeup call never comes until you actually get the experience of working in such fields that teach you how to become a true Solicitor.

If you meet any Judge, Barrister or Solicitor in any parts of the world, the first thing they advise you is to never become a Solicitor/Barrister. They will advise you to leave the field as fast as you can because it’s not all that when you actually get there. But no one listens when they have been advised and regardless how many times you hear that, it just pushes you more towards it. You just want to know what everyone is talking about as in your eyes, you will never see the negative side of things or the struggle that leads ahead. The only time you realise that fact is when you’re actually there trying to finish that so called Bachelor of Laws Degree, trying to get that Certificate from the Supreme Court and trying to find that perfect job. But then the big surprise comes at your face when your dreams get all shuttered because you realise that what you see on TV Drama shows is not what really happens in real life. In the real world, your whole time is basically spent on your time recording and if that is not reaching the standards of the firm then basically you do meet the cut off line. It is not about arguing this is not fair and my client should be compensated, it’s about meeting the required grounds under the legislation and precedent decisions....

Acknowledging the above has taken a long time because when I studied in High School, my main aim in life was to be like those American shows at the Court House walking around and proving your clients case against the otherside. It never occurred to me that as a Solicitor, you are required to defend both the victim and the accused. According to my understanding I always had this impression that Law firms are structured in accordance to the position they want to plead. Therefore, in a Criminal matter, you would have Law Firms that would only take matters where your the victim but nowadays the good Solicitor is the one who is able to argue a case that helps the accused become innocent. My whole intentions of the Law has changed dramatically since I left High School in 2006.

During High School I attended different Law Firms as a one week work experience to see what it is all about and it looked pretty at that time. Then while I was completing my Diploma of Legal Services at Ultimo TAFE, I was given the opportunity to work with Moray & Agnew Solicitors. This Law Firm located at Level 24 in Sydney felt like I was in Disney Land as that place only came in my dreams. That opportunity that Nada Greening gave me was such an experience that is unforgettable. When I received letters from that Firm and references, it felt as though I had been to a famous singer’s concert basically first time life experience. Especially with this firm their logo on letter were original and shinny which you can feel the material of the actual paper. I had only came out of High School and at that time, it was only about the view, level and Suburb which was ‘Sydney, Australia’. But now having had the experience of different law firms and in the process of completing a Law Degree, I have learnt that it is not the view you aim for or the salary you receive, it is actually earning that view, position and office with your name on it.

After completing my Diploma of Legal Services at Ultimo Tafe, I started working at Milne Berry Berger Freedman. Working at Milne Berry Berger and Freedman Solicitors felt like I have reached the top of the world. I got a position that was not advertised or had other workers before me, I was technically the girl on trial of the position. Therefore, I was the first person to receive that position known as Junior Legal Secretary directly to the Partner of the firm known as Mr Victor Berger which was referred as VB.  I was working directly with him but he had a Senior Paralegal and a Solicitor which I received instructions from them aswell. I was given my own desk, with my own computer which I was allowed to decorate as I pleased. My desk was directly outside his office, which I was required to complete matters and directly go to him. Even though he was so tough on the Solicitors and his staff, he had always provided time for every persons right and no matter what the problem was, he was the one you would discuss it with.

When I first started there I was so young and having such a role was tough as I was not used to it. I was required to type up letters through the Dictaphone, listening to his voice all day and typing up letters which then will have been proofread by the Senior Paralegal. The best times had to be the times where you would be always appreciated for what you do and no matter how small you might think your contribution was, Mr Berger always made sure that he would show you his appreciation.  The first time, I received an award with a perfume was when I was overpaid one week and I spoke to him privately telling him that there has been a mistake and I was overpaid. After that payment was fixed, there was annual meeting few months later and I received that award not knowing the reason behind it. He told everyone that couple of months ago, I had did that and at that particular moment I cannot even describe my reaction. The appreciation and the applause that I received was absolutely memorable.

Mr Berger was the kind of Solicitor that was so organised and worked unbelievable hours to get the job completed that was required. I have never met someone who loves the law more than Mr Berger because the amount of work he would do for his firm was just incredible. No matter what situation he was going through, he was present at work. Whether he was dying from sickness, he would still manage to work and start work sharp before 6am at times. No matter where he would go on holidays, clients were always directly speaking to him and he was still working regardless the different hours and distance. No one will ever know the amount of time and effort it is really required for Solicitors to do in order to get the job done. People think they just get paid so much but really the amount of money they receive is nothing compared to the hours they spend preparing for cases. The best part is still be able to go back to him and be so respected. Recently, he completed an Immigration matter for a relative and he did an amazing job. The most memorable moment would be the comments that your ex-employers say about you infront of other people after so many years have passed. Especially, when he kisses you on the head and hugs you after saying ‘this one is my daughter, she’s a very good girl.’ For someone being so highly and educated to be able to say that is just feels wonderful and to top that being your old employer is just priceless. At the same time, being so young and working in such a big firm was a dream come true. So, every solicitor you met was seen as role model and your dream would be just reaching those goals that they have been able to reach.

Everyone takes different amount of time to settle in a new workplace and at times you would meet Solicitors that you get along with perfectly fine whereas at times you won’t really get too close to any. As for me, I was so attached to this Solicitor Simone C, who was such an enjoyable person to be with and spent time with. She was always busy preparing work for the next day, the amount of hours she did was just overwhelming. The thing I loved about her the most was that I admired her position, her achievements and also her struggles. I saw the way she would work so hard and then the Partner would just take one moment to wash all that away.

She was such a tough person who was able to take whatever was thrown at her. She was always prepared in her matters. There was days we would just spent time talking and laughing about everything. The best times were I was required to go home and she would make me stay longer just for chats about life. She was more like a mentor rather than a Solicitor. When it was time to hang her Solicitor Practising Certificate from Supreme Court at the new room she was given and I was required to photocopy it for her. As we were close friends at that time and she knew how much I admired her, I asked her whether I can keep a copy and hang it on my wall so everytime I give up, I would look at it and try again. She laughed so much at that time but she goes whatever makes you happy.

The best days has to be when she was angry, no one would go near her and then there was me just standing there smiling at her. She would look at me and give me the stare to say ‘Walk away while you can but being who I am that always refuses to go, she would eventually laugh at the end.’ There was always the inside jokes that she would always make and things that I would only know about. She has to be the most easy going Solicitor that is able to communicate with all ages. She is so determined to reach the top and has that ability to prove anyone wrong. Regardless, what the partner did, she was on the work determined and never took things to heart. She was so determined and hard working in her job that most days her lunchtimes were always spent inside working. Even on days where we had Birthdays and Christmas Parties, she would either never attend or always arrive late.

Even after leaving the firm, she was the most supportive person as no matter how busy she was, she would always make time for me. We would go for coffee and talk about everything. But the most memorable time was when I hit rock bottom trying to survive in this so called Law Degree, I remember reaching that point of giving up and I emailed her after years of working there, stating my issues and how I was about to drop out. Believe it or not, it was her two page email that gave me the courage to keep on going. She was so open about her experiences through life and how she managed to get through it that gave me that courage to get up and keep on going.

My other best Solicitor had to be Anne-marie, she was the person that I gave my ideas to and she would always make them happen. I love working in the marketing team which was in and thanks to her, I was given the opportunity to be in the marketing team. It was through her that took my idea into consideration and always wanted me to strive for the stars. I remember saying to her that I would never be accepted to be in the marketing committee as I am just a junior at this firm and she thought I was crazy and told me that anything is possible. After she approached the partners, I was given an opportunity to say what I wanted and then a week later, I was accepted in the committee. I was so happy and overwhelmed for the opportunity as the committee only consisted of the three partners and two solicitors. I was like the little fish in the big pound. But things just got better slowly and then I was required to be the meeting of that marketing team where I was required to write down everything that had happened in the meeting and also what was decided in accordance to each issue and then send them to each partner. This role was absolutely a dream come true because when I work in a firm, I want to make a difference and I want to achieve something for the firm that they will gain in the long run.

Simone and Anne-marie were the ones that gave me most of the experience of court work, court filing and preparing for court. I had gained so much over that period and there were nights where documents needed to be filed for the next day and we would work closely to finish them which most of the laughter occurred. The times you spend in Law Firms are unforgettable as it is the time you are actually learning without you realising it. It is only in the long run that you will have these flashbacks and think ‘wow, the amount of experience one gets is just priceless. It is through these wonderful opportunities that really get you the skills you require to become a good Solicitor in the long run. 

With the University work load and working hours it just got tough when your a first year Law student but working for such a big Law Firm that consisted of 3 offices at the City, I was given the opportunity to work for the other partner Mittu Gopalan on a part time basis as they were looking for someone to fulfil that position and I was instructed that I was able to do it. It was the best time that was spent there and working under Mittu, she was such a lovely person to work for. She always referred mistakes as lessons to be learnt and huddles to overcome. She was the kind of Partner that provided support in the areas you were weak at. The best thing about any old employer is when they still stay in contact, especially when they remember your birthday every year and never fail to send you a message. It is Partners like Mr Berger and Mittu that you cannot seem to forget forever. It was mainly through this firm that my true roots and experience came from. Working for such highly known educated Solicitors, it gives you the motivation to strive higher and never to give up regardless how tough the road may seem. 

Working with Marta Vukmirica has to be the best experience I have ever had in regards to learning how to actual deal with matters. Before working for this Solicitor, I didn’t even know what s149 Certificate was or what is needed in a contract. It is just amazing the amount of time she has put up with my mistakes and issues. I must have drove her crazy but being so educated and having spent so many years in the law, she is so well structured in her head that she does not need to use a computer to finalise matters. She works with her own knowledge instead of using today’s technology. She always hated using other resources other than the old fashion way. In her time, when she completed her Law degree, all her exams were closed book and every unit was required to be learnt by heart.

I was also organising the marketing area side of the company which was then advertised in the local paper. I was treated as I was someone special, I was given the keys to open and close the office. I was allowed to reorganise the whole office and decorate it as I please. If you think about it, how it is absolutely unbelievable for a Sole Practitioner who employs a 22yrs old girl who knows nothing about what she is doing to deal with matters and clients. Even though I didn’t do much and the things that was done were work instructed by the Solicitor, it is the fact that this Solicitor always believed in me from the first day that I started to work for her. She trusted me with everything that she had and never doubting my abilities to success.

As every solicitor has their own way of managing their office, she was just different. She’s such a hard worker that juggles marriage, her son, her parents and the office. No one should judge a book by it’s cover because behind every Solicitor there’s hard work and dedication to what they do. I found that being a Solicitor, your clients do not care whether you have a sick child, someone dying or when you are literally in hospital yourself.  When matters are due, they are required to be completed and regardless what is happening in your current life, it’s simply bad luck. I have seen this Solicitor spent weeks in the office with no voice where everything was communicated through writing but regardless how she was feeling and the pain she was going through... She was still there till 10pm in the night working on matters to prepare for the next day.

Then I worked with John Cressy who has given me more opportunities than any other solicitor that I have worked for as the experience that I was getting was actually being able to understand what I am doing. His the kind of Solicitor which sits there and explains every single step that is required to complete a matter. He makes the time and effort to make you understand according to your level of understanding. As the above Law Firms gave me the experience on how to do many things, John Cressy is actually in the process of teaching me how to understand what I am doing and being able to actual handle a matter on my own. But I have to admit that reaching this stage in your degree and having worked in so many different lawfirms both paid and voluntarily work experience, it feels as though I have achieved nothing. At times it just gets so tough but the Solicitor wants me to be able to reach that standard that is required in other firms. He tries to make me realise that this field is a tough field and if you do not FOCUS and put your hard work in, then there’s no point in continuing.

In conclusion, the road is a long way to the end and at times, it may feel as though you just want to let go and give up but then you have too many people that believe in you and double that amount that don’t. Therefore, you either get motivated by the people that believe in you or the ones you have to prove wrong... Either way, no matter what your motivation is, God makes it happen as you might have all these dreams and wishes but the end result you might get no where but your Faith needs to be so strong in God that gives you that motivation to always hang in there regardless the struggles, fails and mistakes that occur in your path to your destination. No one is better than anyone, my main motto in life is that Edison had to fail 10000 times till he was able to succeed. So Never Give Up As Sometimes The Moment You Give Up Might Be The Moment You Succeed The Most...