Hope Mapleson | Law Graduate, Commercial Disputes and Insolvency

Can you share a bit about yourself?

I graduated from Deakin University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Laws and worked as a legal assistant in the Corporate Advisory team at Mills Oakley while I was studying. In 2023, I completed a clerkship at Mills Oakey during my penultimate year, which really developed my interest in commercial law. I enjoy how broad the field is, you get to work with businesses across all kinds of industries like tech, finance, retail, and manufacturing. I also found myself drawn to the complexity of commercial litigation and the problem-solving that comes with it.

What matters most to you as you start your career?

One of the most valuable parts of starting out in my career has been building strong relationships with my mentors. I’ve also learnt how important it is to keep a healthy work-life balance, especially in a fast-paced environment. Gaining practical experience early on has been key, and working closely with mentors has really helped me build my legal skills. My approach has always been to give everything a go, you never know what you’ll enjoy or learn until you try!

You’ve completed a clerkship with us – how was that experience, and do you have any advice for future clerks?

Completing the clerkship at Mils Oakley was both an enjoyable and challenging experience. It gave me the chance to develop invaluable practical and technical skills, and really helped me bridge the gap between what I’d learnt at Uni and how the law works in practice. It was such a valuable part of my penultimate year.

My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting out is to give everything a go, ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to speak up. Everyone at Mills Oakley was incredibly supportive and always happy to help.

How has the clerkship influenced your career path or shaped your interests with law?

During my rotations across different teams, I received great support and valuable feedback on a wide range of tasks, which gave me the chance to showcase my skills while also learning plenty of new ones. The clerkship experience boosted my confidence and encouraged me to be ambitious, take on challenges, and continue progressing my career at Mills Oakley with the graduate program.

Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had at Mills Oakley?

Some of the most memorable times at Mills Oakley have been the social events organised by the firm. One highlight was taking part in the Law Institute Victoria Run/Walk that Mills Oakley participates in every year. The run is for a great cause and gave me the chance to meet people from across the firm, many of whom have become friends. Other events like the table tennis tournament, and the mid-year and end-of-year functions, are also great fun and an awesome way to connect and network with people in a relaxed setting.

What kind of work have you been involved in as a junior lawyer?

As a graduate in the Corporate Litigation team, I’ve had the chance to get involved in a really broad and interesting mix of work. There’s been plenty of variety from preparing for and advising clients in commercial litigation matters like consumer law actions, building disputes, and property disputes, to attending court hearings, mediations, and conferences.

One of my favourite parts so far has been the legal research. It’s helped me sharpen my analytical skills and dive into some niche areas, particularly insolvency, which I’ve found really interesting. Overall, the hands-on experience has been both challenging and rewarding and has given me great exposure to the realities of legal practice.