Jonathan Mackie, Articled Clerk, Banking and Finance, Melbourne

I commenced as an Articled Clerk in March, after completing a Seasonal Clerkship the previous December. I have really enjoyed my time at Mallesons and after several years of university it is great to have the chance to finally put my legal skills into practice.

One of the strengths of Mallesons’ graduate program is the ability to rotate through a number of the firm’s practice groups. I completed my first rotation in the Mergers and Acquisitions group and at the moment I am undertaking my second rotation, in the Banking and Finance group.

I have had the opportunity to gain exposure to a wide variety of interesting and challenging work. In Mergers and Acquisitions I was involved in a merger by way of scheme of arrangement, while in Banking and Finance I have been part of a team acting on a public private partnership bid and have been involved in a significant corporate refinancing. The team environment in these groups and collaborative nature of the work has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of working at the firm.

One of the real benefits of an integrated practice like Mallesons is working with other practice groups within the firm. During my rotations I have worked alongside lawyers from the Competition, Construction and Tax groups on particular aspects of a transaction.

The work given to articled clerks is challenging and extremely varied, no one day is the same. The ongoing training and support system in place for young lawyers is excellent and all Articled Clerks are allocated a Host and a Coach. The members of my team have been more than happy to offer assistance and are always there to answer any questions.

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to get involved in the extra curricular activities the firm offers. In addition to the great social functions throughout the year, I have had the opportunity to participate in Run Melbourne with the Mallesons team. The mix of social and sporting events has been great and I am looking forward to many more this year.