What it’s like to be a young lawyer in regional Victoria.

Chloe Frantz was delighted to be able to write for Law Week, especially about regional practice. Regional practice is not one that appeals to many lawyers, particularly young lawyers in their first year, often wanting to work for ‘top-tier’ firms in Melbourne and shunning regional, boutique firms as they may not be big enough for their liking.

“I graduated from Deakin University with honours in 2018, completed my Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice shortly after and was admitted to practice in August 2018. I was then thrilled to begin working as a lawyer with Kim McFarlane at McFarlane Criminal Lawyers from that time. I have the opportunity to represent our clients in court all over Gippsland and Melbourne areas every day. McFarlane Criminal Lawyers is a boutique law firm but one that offers more opportunities to excel in different legal fields, a better work-life balance and a work culture of loyalty, justice and empowerment. Not a day goes by without my Principal lawyer, Kim McFarlane, teaching me something new or empowering me to deal with a difficult matter. When I was first admitted, I was extremely lucky to gain Kim McFarlane as a mentor, Kim took me under her wing and ensured I was introduced to every single practitioner at the local courts, the staff and prosecutors so that regardless of what matter I currently had I was able to handle it. Having those relationships with local practitioners, prosecutions and court staff has proved invaluable as a young lawyer. You learn something new every single day and that can only improve your work and the outcomes you can obtain for your client. Nine months on from being admitted I’m still loving the work, appearing in court and most importantly, waking up daily not knowing what will be walking through the office door. There is no sense of monotony as a young regional lawyer, something that can’t be offered in a city law firm. For any other young lawyers newly admitted, my advice would be to find a mentor, meet with them often and also expand your professional relationships in the court system. Your career as a lawyer will be shaped by the mentor you have and the relationships you maintain.”