TL;DR
- Legal Studies isn’t a “must-have” subject; firms actually want a mix of interests and backgrounds rather than one specific path.
- Your life outside of school—like working at Maccas, volunteering, or solving STEM problems—is where you’re already building the logic and grit firms look for.
- Commercial law is more than just reading cases; it’s about using creativity and structured analysis to solve massive (and sometimes tiny) problems.
- You don’t need a “pure” law degree—studying areas like health, finance, or gov gives you a broader perspective that interviewers love.
- Start small with the Ahead at Ashurst program to see if you actually like the vibe before applying for a Summer Clerkship in your final years.
From High School to a Legal Career: Finding Your Own Path
A lot of people imagine that becoming a lawyer means following one superspecific path: study legal studies in high school, go straight into a law degree, work in a law-related job and boom – you’re set. But that’s really not how it works anymore. Law firms today, including places like Ashurst, are looking for people with a mix of experience, interests and skills. And the best part is, you probably already have more of those than you realise.
There’s no single “correct” way into law, and honestly, that’s a good thing. Plenty of students are building the foundations for a legal career without even noticing it. Once you understand your strengths and the different pathways available, the whole “career decision” thing feels a lot less intimidating.
The Skills You Are Already Building at School
Fun fact: even though I ended up as a summer clerk at Ashurst, I didn’t take legal studies for the HSC, and I didn’t even study law in my first year of university. But the skills I picked up from school, part-time jobs and random extracurriculars ended up being very useful.
You don’t need to stack your life with law-related activities. Check out how everyday experiences already help you build the skills firms look for:
- Debating and Humanities Subjects — these sharpen your ability to build arguments and explain ideas clearly.
- Volunteering — teaches you how to work with different people, organise events and manage deadlines.
- Working at Maccas (or any part-time job) — shows commitment, time management, and the ability to juggle responsibilities.
- Maths or STEM problem-solving — helps you think logically and explain how you reached a conclusion.
When it comes to choosing subjects or extracurriculars, there’s no magic combination. What matters most is curiosity, effort, and a willingness to try things that challenge you. Yes, good marks at university matter, but so do teamwork, communication and critical thinking.
How These Skills Show Up in Real Legal Work
Ashurst has lots of different practice areas, and the problems we help clients solve can be huge, tiny, or somewhere in between. But the core skills are the same: a bit of creativity, structured analysis and strong communication.
And not every problem is solved by reading cases. Sometimes it’s helping with a major international dispute. Other times, it’s figuring out why the printer refuses to cooperate. Both require patience and problem-solving (trust me).
University Pathways: One Destination, Many Routes
A straight law degree isn’t the only way forward. Many clerks at Ashurst studied double degrees or explored other fields first — areas like government, consulting, finance, or healthcare. Interviewers actually love hearing about these experiences because they show curiosity and a broader perspective.
Some people even had completely different careers before deciding to study law. There’s no expiry date on figuring out what you want.
Turning Interest into Experience
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it” is genuinely great advice. What you imagine a job is like and what it actually feels like can be totally different. That’s why getting hands-on experience matters.
Programs like Ahead at Ashurst give first-to third-year law students a taste of what legal work is really like. They’re a great way to see if commercial law interests you and to connect your school or university skills to real-world tasks. Once you’re in your second-last – final year of your law degree, you’ll be eligible to apply for a summer clerkship, which gives you an opportunity to work with two teams within Ashurst. You’ll get involved in real matters, with real clients, working alongside the brightest minds in the legal industry.
At the end of the day, Ashurst values people who are curious, authentic and good communicators.
Final Thoughts
It’s completely normal to feel stressed about what comes after high school; most of us have been there! But you don’t need everything figured out right now. Half of the excitement comes from discovering what you enjoy along the way.
Recognising the skills you already have can give you confidence as you explore whether a career at a law firm might be for you. If there’s one piece of advice to hold onto, it’s this: take opportunities, and don’t be afraid to create your own. There’s no single “right” pathway into law, just the one that works for you.
We might be biased, but we think a career in law is pretty cool. If Ashurst sounds like somewhere you’d like to end up, check out our careers page or follow @Ashurstearlycareers_Australia on Instagram.
