NRF Interview Flashcards
Tell us a bit about yourself
- Name
- Work full-time, study full-time
- Explain where I work and what we do
- Current role, responsibilities involved
- Throughout 9.5 yrs, successfully stepped into several roles, eager to take on new challenges
- Started as a YW, responsibilties involved, what I learnt
- Progressed to Area Manager, responsibilities involved, what I learnt
- I have also undertaken several quality and compliance related roles… what I learnt
- Link all skills to be transferred to legal career
My name is Grant Flavel. I currently work full-time and study full-time at the University of Southern Queensland. In terms of my full-time job, I work for a not-for-profit community services organisation called Safe Places for Children. We provide therapeutic, residential care services to children and young people on child protection orders. My current role is Senior Licensing Coordinator, and I’m responsible for ensuring that we meet our different legislative, quality and compliance requirements across all our operating states in Australia. Throughout the 9.5 years I’ve worked at the company, I have successfully stepped in several roles as I have always been eager to take on new challenges. I started as a youth worker in February 2014, providing day-to-day care of the children, supporting them to learn new life skills while managing extreme behaviours due to traumatic backgrounds. This role specifically taught me how to remain calm and handle high pressure, high stress situations. Over time I was able to progress into the role of Area Manager, where I lead a team of approximately 45-50 staff, oversaw the care of 20-24 children and managed all operational aspects including financial and HR responsibilities. This role taught me how to effectively lead and motivate people, and work together as a team to achieve common objectives. I have also undertaken several quality and compliance related roles, which has taught me the importance of attention to detail and the negative impacts that can result from a failure to be attentive. I believe that I could successfully transfer the skills I’ve learnt into the legal context.
Why do you want to be a lawyer? Why are you interested in law? What motivated you to pursue a career in law?
- When I changed from Area Manager to Senior QSM… list responsibilities.
- Enjoyed legal aspect of the role, such as … (list tasks)
- This sparked my interest to look into a career within legal sector.
- Before jumping into a degree, spent time researching…
- Mid last year, started a law degree online, continue to work full-time
- I want to use my degree to pursue a career as a lawyer … important role. Offers intellectual challenge and stimulation, opportunities growth and advancement.
- Interested helping clients, navigate complex and difficult issues, achieve goals
a. When I changed roles from Area Manager to Senior Quality and Systems Manager, part of my job responsibilities was helping Queensland to meet its legislative and compliance requirements. I thoroughly enjoyed the legal aspect of the role, such as reviewing legislation, researching state requirements, and communicating this to the business. It sparked my interest to look into a career within the legal sector. Before jumping into a degree, I wanted to be sure so I spent a considerable amount of time researching different legal careers and what a role as a lawyer entails. Last year, I decided to make the jump into studying a law degree online while continuing to work full-time. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to use my law degree to pursue a career as a lawyer as it’s an incredibly important role within society. I believe it offers a great deal of intellectual challenge and stimulation, as well as opportunities for professional growth and advancement. I am interested in helping clients navigate a complex and difficult issue to achieve their goals.
Why are you interested in commercial law?
- Spent a lot of time looking into different areas
- Caught my attention, reason for studying law degree
- Other areas are interesting, but sure commercial law is what I want to practice.
- Business focused approach
- Would love a role that combines my business and legal interests
- Idea of helping companies solve large and complex legal problems, or help to achieve business objectives
- Completed three virtual internships in commercial law, finance and M&A, Global litigation
When I was considering a career as a lawyer, I spent a lot of time looking into the different areas of law. Commercial law caught my attention and was the reason why I decided to study a law degree. Although I have found different areas of law interesting, I’m certain that commercial law is the area of law that I want to practice in. Commercial law appeals to me due to its business-focused approach. I would love to work in a role that combines my legal and business interests, which I am very passionate about. I believe my genuine interest in business will significantly assist me in getting to know each client’s company, providing practical legal advice and being commercially aware. I have also recently completed three Virtual Internships: Introduction to Commercial Law (Allens), Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions (Ashurst) and Global Litigation (Herbert Smith Freehills). I thoroughly enjoyed working through scenario-based tasks, which solidified my interest in pursuing commercial law as a career. I also like the ability to create long-lasting client relationships, as opposed to one-off cases in some areas of law. I enjoy the prospect of helping companies to solve some of their largest and most complex legal problems and help them to achieve their goals and business objectives.
What practice areas are you most interested in and why?
Corporate and M&A - Interested in being involved in supporting a company through one of the most complex and significant events they can go through. Advise on legal, strategic, commercial. Negotiating terms.
Disputes and litigation - Support companies in their most difficult and challenging times. Challenge of researching complex issues and developing persuasive argument. Negotiating with opposing counsel, solution for all.
Banking and finance - I am interested in banking and finances services industry and role they play within society. Providing legal advice for all financial matters. Banking and finance, highly regulated, want to help the client navigate.
a. Corporate and M&A – M&A transactions are among the most complex and significant events a company can go through. They have consequences both internally and externally for years afterwards. M&A is subject to major scrutiny by regulators and investors. Clients need outstanding, commercially sound legal advice from the beginning to achieve commercial objectives while remaining compliant. Specific skills of interest: advise on the legal, strategic and commercial aspects of the transaction. Negotiating the terms of the agreement to help our client achieve their ideal outcome. If your client is the buyer, role will involve due diligence and protecting client’s investment. If your client is the seller, focus is to negotiate the best possible deal and make sure the exit is clean. Vital to manage the risk at all stages.
b. Disputes and litigation - I enjoy the challenge of researching complex issues and developing persuasive arguments that support my client’s position. I want to be able to help companies in some of their most challenging and difficult times. Ideally work with the opposing counsel to come to a resolution that suits all parties. Skills: good analytical, problem solving, research, strong advocacy and and negotiation skills.
c. Banking and finance – I am interested in the banking and financial services industry and the role they play within society. Providing legal advice to organisations engaged in large transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and even liquidations. Complex field, different financial activities regulated by specific pieces of legislation. When financial institutions violate the law, they’re liable to face investigation by regulatory bodies such as the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
What do you know about Norton Rose Fulbright?
a. Second largest firm in the USA, one of the ten largest in the world by both lawyers and revenue
b. Full business law service, strong across all key industry sectors
c. 3000+ lawyers
d. 7000+ staff
e. 50+ locations
What are our firms values and how do you align to them?
a. Quality – Most of my experience is within quality-related roles. I understand the importance of producing high quality work and putting clients first.
b. United – One of the values of the current organisation I work for is ‘United’, so I have lived by this value for the past 9.5 years. I understand the importance of supporting one another, working together as a team and having a positive team culture. I love that different practice teams work together to solve a client’s problems.
c. Integrity – I appreciate that NRF values an open but respectful culture, working to high professional, ethical and business standards. I believe being open and transparent with people, in a respectful way, can help with continual improvement which helps to provide a higher quality service to the clients.
Why do you want to work at Norton Rose Fulbright? Why not other firms that do similar work?
Initial
- large commercial matters, global scale
- complex and exciting matters
- contribute to one of the world’s leading, international firms
- being in business for over 230 years demonstrates an ability to adapt and be innovative, produce high quality work and maintain strong client relationships
Conducted my research
- Learning and development framework
- One of Australian Top Internship Programs
- Corporate Social Responsibility program
– Emphasis on Pro Bono work
- Alignment with values
- NRF Grad program
Info evening solidified right decision
a. What initially drew me in
i. I would love to work for a firm that engages in large commercial matters but also works on a global scale. Opportunities to work on some of the most complex and exciting legal matters. I would love to work and contribute to one of the world’s leading, top-tier international firms. Having over 50 offices around the world is an incredible achievement, clearly demonstrating a high-quality service.
ii. I love the history, starting in 1794 with one employee and growing to one of the largest law firms in the world. No business (law firm or otherwise) can survive almost 230 years without being at the forefront, embracing change and forming strong client relationships.
b. Conducted my research
i. Learning and Development - NRF invests many resources in their clerks, graduates and all other employees with learning and development opportunities. In house specialist training through world-class global learning and development framework. NRF is invested to help build career as both a lawyer and business advisor.
ii. National Clerkship Program has been awarded as one of the Australian Top Internship Programs by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers.
iii. Corporate Social Responsibility program
1. Emphasis on Pro Bono work – appointment of a dedicated pro bono partner in Australia who leads a national team, strong commitment to the provision of pro bono legal services. 25,000+ pro bono hours last year, averaging 52+ hours per lawyer
iv. Alignment with values: Quality, unity and integrity
v. NRF graduate program – 2 x 6 month rotations, aiming for one transactional and one litigious rotation. Complete College of Law within first 9 months.
c. Information Evening has solidified that I have made the right decision in applying
What are your strengths?
- Time management
- Willingness to learn
- Resilience
a. Time management – Juggling full-time work, full-time university study and general life commitments has definitely helped to sharpen my time management skills
b. Willingness to learn – I am excited to be entering a new profession and eager to learn everything possible to become a proficient lawyer. Norton Rose Fulbright’s unique technical training is another reason why I am applying for this clerkship, as I want to learn from the best.
c. Resilience – I have a strong ability to respond to pressure, deal with adversity and overcome challenges. My roles have required me to be adaptable, self-aware and manage crisis situations.
What are your weaknesses?
- Too many things at once
- Self criticism
Trying to do too many things at once. I’m a lot better now but if I catch myself, I’ll stop and prioritise one thing at a time.
Too harsh on myself at times.
Describe yourself
Hardworking, open-minded, respectful, resilient, eager, driven, focused, passionate.
Tell me about a time that you made a mistake and how did you fix it?
- sending a budget with an incorrect figure (too high)
Sent a budget, figure was too high. Didn’t take some of the costings out. Immediately contacted Child Safety, rectified immediately.
