I started at Sutherland Shire Council on an internship during university where I did a double degree in Law and Economics/Finance, and continued working here post university, and I’ve now been here for five years.
I love the law, but I’ve also always been interested in design and architecture as well, and thought that working at Council, particularly on planning and environment matters, would be a great way to scratch that itch too! I love being able to think deeply about issues, and to truly understand a problem we’re trying to solve.
The best thing about working at Council is the absolute breadth of opportunity. You get to work on so many interesting matters as an in-house team – from planning law, to criminal law and even corporate matters – no two days are alike. We’ve got a great small and tight-knit team too with a real foundation of trust and open communication. Adam, in particular, has been a wonderful mentor for a junior lawyer like me. He’s so knowledgeable and has a great way of explaining things – I’ve learnt so much from him.
The best moment I’ve had at Council was my recent stint as co-chair for our Young Leaders Network. Although some people might think lawyers are naturally good at networking, leadership and public speaking, it’s not always the case! I really felt I stepped out of my comfort zone, gave it a real go, and was really proud of my achievements with the other co-chairs from across Council.