Following graduation, lawyer Damon Laffin found it tough to land his first job in law. After applying for five months with no success, Damon decided to change tack, starting the Young Lawyer podcast to interview senior lawyers for their advice on starting out in law. He’s since joined Miller Sockhill Lawyers as a solicitor, focusing on commercial law and litigation. We caught up with Damon to talk about his podcast, and his own journey as a young lawyer. 

What was your first job in law? What led you to your current role?

My first role was a law clerk in a small generalist law firm, where I was mainly dealing with criminal matters and residential conveyancing. Despite the valuable experience I obtained in both areas of law, I soon discovered that this is not the area of law I was most passionate about. Having completed litigation and commercial law at university and throughout my PLT studies, I found that this area really resonated with me and when the opportunity came up to work in this area, I jumped at the opportunity.

Where do you work now, and what is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

I am currently employed as a Solicitor with Miller Sockhill Lawyers on the Sunshine Coast, focusing on general commercial matters and litigation. With litigation, a client generally requires your assistance when they're in distress, whether it be that someone has refused to pay them for the work done, someone has walked away from a contract or any other sort of dispute. The most rewarding aspect of my role is being able to solve their problem and assist them with the issues that may arise.

How have your PLT studies helped with what you do at work? 

I feel PLT studies helped with what I do at work by providing a more hands-on approach to learning, in doing so, it gives you more of an idea as to what will be expected once you get into practice. 

What set your PLT experience apart? 

I think the requirement to obtain experience in a law firm to complete your studies really sets the PLT experience apart from the university studies. This allowed me to get into a law firm and get a better understanding on how things ran, how to engage with clients, how to properly draft court documentation and learn other valuable lessons. Additionally, the support available, including having a lecturer who is generally well versed in the chosen field, respond to your questions within a relatively quick period is another thing that really sets the PLT experience apart from other study.

What inspired you to start the Young Lawyer podcast? Why do you think it's so important to have a podcast like this? Where can people listen to it?

Upon completion of my University degree, I had been applying for jobs for 5 months with no success. I wanted to do something that would assist those who were in a similar situation to me, struggling with how to move forward and get their foot in the door. The idea of the podcast was to approach Directors, Principals and other senior professionals to see what advice and guidance they would give to Young Lawyers or students making that transition. I think this podcast is important as it gives the listeners a firsthand glimpse into the minds of these employers and what they are looking for, as well as highlighting the fact there is no set path for this law journey. Everyone's journey is different. The Podcast can be listened to on Spotify, Itunes or almost all other major podcast platforms or on the website: https://www.theyounglawyer.com.au

Related Resources