By Riley Short -
From team meetings, the service of legal documents, attending the Supreme Court and even a visit to Parliament House, work experience at the Law Society of New South Wales has given one year 10 student a new found appreciation for the lived experience of a legal practitioner.
My name is Riley, and I’m a year 10 student. In June 2025, I completed work experience with the NSW Law Society’s Professional Support Unit (PSU), and this is my account of my time there. I am interested in law and was hoping to gain some insight into what this career involves. I wasn’t sure what to expect during my time there, but my experiences have helped shape my opinions and facilitated my understanding of what being a lawyer involves.
My time within the PSU informed me of the fundamental skills required for legal practitioners, and for pursuing a career in law. Under the guidance of members of PSU, I gained insight into what it is like to practise law, which I enjoyed greatly.
Work experience at the NSW Law Society allowed me to grasp the theory of respect and responsibility in the workplace, especially when observing the work undertaken by the ethics department. Not only did I learn about legal ethics and the professional responsibilities of solicitors, it also helped me discern the obligations of a lawyer, specifically in regard to the Legal Profession Uniform Law Australian Solicitors’ Conduct Rules 2015 (Conduct Rules), in addition to the responsibility of legal practitioners to courts.
Whether I was analysing legal articles, learning about a Power of Attorney, reading over legal documents, or going to the Supreme Court of NSW – to name a few – these opportunities have helped shape my understanding of the law.
Court Proceedings
Among the myriad opportunities that I had, one included attending a Supreme Court trial. This opportunity allowed me to view the court proceedings and experience what it is like during a trial. I witnessed the prosecutor, defendant, judge and witness speak. I also saw the jury and the accused. The specific part of the trial that I observed involved the prosecutor questioning a witness.
I observed the crown prosecutor present evidence and questions with the intention of upholding justice. In addition, I observed that systematic steps and order were key takeaways, in conducting a trial. Attending court also allowed me to observe the mannerisms within a court, for example, bowing to the judge when entering and leaving the court room. This furthered my understanding of legal principles.
Legal articles and documents
During my time at NSW Law Society, I also read and analysed many articles, including those on the use of generative AI in law, documents detailing powers of attorney, and legal documents relating to purchasing a home. Having the opportunity to analyse, read, and comprehend these different materials continued to help me understand the concepts of law within the workplace.
I was also given the opportunity to read the various conduct rules which lawyers must follow, such as the Conduct Rules.
Attending Parliament House
I was also fortunate enough to attend NSW Parliament House which was an intriguing experience, centered around NSW history – parliament, acts, statutes, and culture – but more broadly as an experience on Australian history. One of the PSU members accompanied me as we visited the place where legislation in NSW is created. The PSU member shared his extensive knowledge of the history of the NSW Parliament. This was informative and served to educate me further about law and the NSW legal system.
Meetings and service of documents
Throughout my work experience, there were various meetings I was fortunately allowed to join and which I found very engaging, and potentially where I learned the most about how a legal practitioner operates. I attended group meetings with the PSU and a legal conference. Being in these settings showed me how a legal practitioner should act and gave me a better understanding of the conduct and standards that are expected of solicitors in legal practice.
I also witnessed the signing and service of legal documentation. It was interesting seeing the formality of how the service of documentation is conducted.
Conclusion
The various opportunities that I was provided during my time at the NSW Law Society have helped shape my understanding on the subject of law. Thus, allowing me to understand the rudimentary principles required to work as a legal practitioner – patience, justice, listening, integrity, honesty and confidentiality.
My time at the NSW Law Society has been extremely beneficial, allowing me to understand the law and the legal profession and to see it through a different perspective. The whole team was so welcoming, kind and facilitating, making sure I always had something to do and ensuring I was settled in very close to their chocolate corner! I’m grateful for the experience, and all the opportunities that were given to me while I was there. I very much appreciate the hard work, time and effort put into letting me come here.
