Portia - Victorian Women Lawyers

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Amanda Barnett, Senior Associate BLAKE DAWSON WALDRON Amanda’s career path has been anything but ‘straight and narrow’. With a strong secondary school science background, Amanda considered studying medicine before deciding to move laterally and study law/economics. During the early years of her tertiary studies, Amanda was not convinced that she would practise law - she saw it as something to fall back on, or to help her to obtain a job in another industry - but a summer clerkship at Blake Dawson Waldron prompted her to change her mind. Having decided to pursue a career in law, Amanda took the unusual step of working with Potter Partners (now Warburg Dillon Read) for a year in corporate finance to get a commercial/business background before commencing her legal career. Amanda joined Blake Dawson Waldron as an Articled Clerk in the firm’s Corporate Group in November 1989. After completing her Articles, she worked in the firm’s Corporate and Banking Groups for three years before being seconded to the firm’s London office in 1993, where she spent four years as one half of a two person office (consisting of herself and a partner - first David Williamson and then Justin Smith, both of whom she cites as mentors) providing on-the-ground advice to UK and European clients on Australian law and generating referrals to BDW’s Australian and Asian offices. Amanda refers to her London experience in the context of her career highlights but also, interestingly, in the context of her career hurdles. On the one hand, Amanda was based in one of the world’s largest and most exciting financial centres, working on sizeable transactions, often with lawyers from English, European, US and Canadian firms. She was also involved in identifying opportunities for the firm’s Australian offices and pursuing these by marketing the firm’s expertise and capability. Working in London also provided her with opportunities to work in other countries. Amanda spent extended periods working in New York on cross-border leasing transactions, conducted a due diligence in Munich and attended conferences in Frankfurt and Prague. On the other hand, as the junior of BDW’s two lawyers in London, Amanda had limited opportunity to delegate - unless she delegated “upwards” or to the firm’s Australian offices. She also initially found taking calls from partners of English law firms who had asked the receptionist to be put through to the office’s tax, trade practices, employment or insurance law expert sometimes challenging! Since returning to the firm’s Melbourne office at the beginning of 1998, Amanda has been practising in BDW’s Corporate Group focusing on mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment and employee share plans. Amanda was initially apprehensive about her level of specific experience as a corporate lawyer, having had such a broad experience in legal practice in London in comparison with her contemporaries who had practised only in the Corporate Group. However, she utilised her experience in London (which, although broad, largely involved corporate and banking matters), swotted up on the more specific issues and has overcome this anticipated hurdle with ease. Not so easy to overcome is her concern with the concept of having to justify every minute of the day - especially if a lawyer is very thorough (the time/cost of which cannot always be passed on to the client) and/or involved in delegating to and training junior lawyers which leads to time/cost duplication. Having gained a business-oriented perspective of legal practice in London, Amanda has become involved in a variety of administrative and professional development projects since returning to Melbourne, including the introduction of a new practice management system, graduate recruitment and staff training. Keeping in mind the increased demands placed on lawyers due to technological advances (which make them accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), Amanda reminds us that we do not live to work but work to live, and emphasises the need to keep a balanced perspective about work, stress and life. If Amanda was not a lawyer in private practice, she would either be an in-house counsel or work in an investment bank - although, whenever she visits a hospital, she sometimes still dreams of being a doctor! Amanda was interviewed by Victoria Pellicano. 18
COMMITTEE REPORTS Work Practices Following the successful launch of the revised flexible work practices booklet, “Living and Working Together” in September 1998, the Work Practices Committee commenced on two new projects which will be completed in 1999. The first project involves a survey of law firms to reveal the extent to which firms are offering flexible work practices and employee friendly policies. The results of the survey will be presented as a form guide to be used by prospective employees seeking employment in law firms and corporations. The project is being supported by Monash University as the form guide will be used by students seeking articles. The second project is being undertaken in conjunction with Minter Ellison. The project involves an investigation of part time partnerships and will include the development of pro-forma partnership deeds to be used for part time partnerships. The Committee thanks Glenda Beecher for her leadership in 1998. As Glenda has moved on to the position of Treasurer for the Association, Carolyn Sutherland and Sarah Rey will be the Joint Chairs for 1999. We are currently seeking new members for our productive team. Anyone interested should contact Carolyn on 9274 5723 or Sarah on 9235 0219. Communications The Communications Committee’s major project for 1999 is the development of the Victorian Women Lawyers’ website. We are aiming to launch the site in May this year. We are all very excited about establishing a presence on the internet which will provide a medium for VWL to communicate globally. Look out for further announcements soon. In 1998 Portia grew from a 16-page to a 20-page magazine! This year the Communications Committee is planning to continue improving Portia, developing it into an even more sophisticated publication. In 1999 we will be addressing issues relevant to women lawyers ranging from social and lifestyle issues to current and controversial legal and justice issues. Remember that Portia is your magazine and we value your suggestions, comments and contributions. Please contact Dimitra Birthisel (Chair) on 9614 1011 or Jan Peryman (Co-chair) on 9246 5000 with any suggestions comments or contributions.. Mature Age Practitioners The Mature Age Practitioners Committee hopes that 1999 will see a greater number of members (whether ‘mature’ or not) and potential employers, registering with the Committee. Hopefully, this will result in a large number of members seeking part-time or locum employment being ‘matched’ with employers (at no charge). If you would like to register, or have ideas on how we can better service members in this category, please telephone Roz Curnow on 9808 7777. On the move ..... Victoria Pellicano to Mallesons Stephen Jaques If you move, please advise Suzanne Jukic, VWL Administrator (Tel: 0607 9390), so your colleagues and friends can be kept up to date. 19
Page 1 and 2: Balance: Work and Life Portia Issue
Page 3 and 4: Convenor’s Column With New Year
Page 5 and 6: • Job insecurity and lack of care
Page 7 and 8: Hepburn Day Spa at Hilton on the Pa
Page 9 and 10: taking a trip to the TAMAR VALLEY T
Page 11 and 12: ECUTIVE Carolyn Sutherland Sarah Re
Page 13 and 14: paper diary cross referenced to the
Page 15 and 16: Noosa Noosa has, perhaps unkindly,
Page 17: International WOMEN’S DAY By Mary

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