Laying down the law: Hard work worth it for fledgling lawyer
THERE was never any question as to whether Andy Leathem would choose to launch his career in the bush.
The Mudgee born-and-bred fledgling lawyer heard but didn’t heed the siren call of bright lights, big city that lures so many to the big smoke, landing instead in Dubbo in the capable hands of local firm Duffy Elliot Lawyers.
With a double degree in business and law from the University of New England in Armidale, Andy has spent the past year working three days a week at Duffy Elliot while studying remotely, and says while it’s been a long fiveyear haul to the finish line, he couldn’t be happier.
“I finished my studies in December last year, and then signed up to do what’s called PLT, or Practical Legal Training. That can only be done through certain universities or you go through what’s called the College of Law, which is what I did full time so I’ve just finished that.”
Andy explains there is also a requirement that a candidate for the legal profession also needs to undertake 75 days of work experience followed by a module of continued professional development.
“And then that all gives you your GDLP (Graduate Diploma of Legal
Practice) which is essentially your practicing certificate.”
It’s exhausting just hearing him list the requirements for what is clearly a quite rigorous and robust process and Andy agrees with the comment that the public can be assured that these qualifications aren’t just handed out. If you are able to be admitted into the legal fraternity in this state, you’ve clearly done the hard yards.
That’s true of Andy, whose path to a career in the law was accidental.
“When I was at school, I wanted to be a physiotherapist but physics wasn’t my strong suit, so I dropped it in favour of legal studies simply because it was on at the right time in the timetable,” he laughs, but says he found he was good at it, and enjoyed the class.
“And here I am. I’m very happy I made that switch.”
Andy says he’s fascinated by the process of the law and by being able to understand and apply it.
“There’s an intellectual reward in knowing how laws work, but there’s also satisfaction in being able to apply that knowledge to helping people.
“The greatest challenge so far is honing that eye for detail that’s so essential. That’s all part of the learning experience, and it’s so important because everything needs to be perfect when it comes to the law – all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed.”
At this point in his fledgling career, Andy is “taste testing” all the different aspects of the law, and says a general overview of everything will be helpful.
“I think a bush lawyer needs to have a good general knowledge of the law.”
As much as he’s enjoying his first career steps, Andy is keen to debunk at least one myth.
“People think being a lawyer is glamorous – not so. It’s not like (the television show) Suits. “It’s like anything else – you just have to put the time in. There’s a lot of reading and some of it is very mundane, even though it’s important.”
Andy believes that the foundation of a good career in the law is to have good mentors, and says he’s been “very fortunate”.
“I wouldn’t have learned nearly as much as I have without such great guidance from the experienced hands here. That’s one of the benefits of working in a country firm. “You get to see everyone regularly and have that hands-on guidance, and you also get to spend more personal time with people rather than just being on the phone. You wouldn’t necessarily get that in the city.
“I couldn’t be happier.”