The most effective way I have found personally to understand myself, what is most important to me and where I want my future to go, is through life experiences. In the past, I have learnt the most about my strengths and weaknesses by pushing myself out of my comfort zone and taking opportunities when they present themselves, regardless of whether or not these opportunities feel overwhelming or nerve-wracking. When I was considering whether I wanted to study the Bachelor of Laws after high school, I didn't feel confident that I had the right personality to make it in such a competitive field. However, after high school I had the opportunity to work in a law firm and being fresh out of school I wasn't confident that I had the skill set necessary to succeed in this new role. Despite my fears, this opportunity allowed me invaluable experience in the legal field and after slowly taking on more responsibilities within the firm I developed my knowledge and abilities and discovered the values and ideal aspects I want for my future career in law.

A simple way to explore my career options is by taking advantage of the many resources available through Griffith University. The Griffith Law Society is one organisation that is incredibly helpful in providing up-to-date news on current events, competitions and networking opportunities for law students. There are often events open to law students to hear from professionals in the industry and meet potential future employers and colleagues. Getting involved and taking part in these occasions will enable me to learn about the many career pathways within the legal field and discover what role may suit my goals and values. Given that the law is such a broad and diverse profession it is important to research the various areas of law and which I best align with, as well as different work experience opportunities and job market trends.

To deepen my understanding of the law industry, I intend to engage with professionals in the field and gain insight from their experiences. Learning from experienced professionals will allow me to increase my understanding of what is to be expected post-university and what my priorities should be throughout my studies. I will also actively pursue work experience opportunities and internships on offer, which are often published via the university. I will also ensure I stay up to date with developments and current issues within the legal field to prioritise the media I consume and stay focused on my career path. Furthermore, I will continue to develop my legal skills throughout my degree and take on feedback from assessments to allow my writing, researching and critical thinking skills to continuously develop and improve.

With my experience working in a family law firm, I gained essential insight into the skills necessary for a career as a solicitor. The integral skills I was exposed to included: confident advocacy on behalf of clients, effective communication with opposing counsel/solicitors, clear correspondence, file management and drafting and filing of court documents. While I did not perform these skills myself as I am not yet at that stage in my career, it was incredibly helpful to understand what responsibilities are required of a solicitor and what day-to-day duties are involved. Alongside such duties are administrative tasks and secretarial duties, jobs that were involved in my junior role. These acquired skills I have now been able to adapt to my resume. As I take on new roles and experiences, my resume progresses, and I can add to my list of skills. I find this an effective way to document and record these skills as I can keep track of my personal development and add to it when necessary.

Developing professional networks involves actively engaging in opportunities on offer at university. This could include joining the Griffith Law Society. As mentioned earlier, the Griffith Law Society provides the chance to engage in networking events, which help expose students to industry professionals. Another opportunity on offer at Griffith is the various Student Mentoring Programs, which enable students to connect and form friendships with potential future colleagues. LinkedIn is a useful platform for connecting with professionals, potential employers and like-minded people. I plan to engage in all of these methods of networking to ensure I maximise my opportunities and increase my career prospects post-graduation.