Meet Annie Huang
Annie is a Lawyer in the Maddocks Public Law team, Canberra.
"The best thing about working at Maddocks is the people. I know this is the most cliché answer but it is probably a cliché for a reason! In the years I have worked at Maddocks I have had the opportunity to learn from so many brilliant lawyers and colleagues, develop friendships with the fellow juniors, and find mentors within the amazing Canberra team."
Tell us about your time as a summer clerk at Maddocks. What teams did you rotate through, and how did the program support your development as a lawyer?
My first experience with Maddocks was as a summer clerk. It must have been a good one as I am still with the firm!
I clerked in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team, where I got to engage with various research tasks, drafting exercises and attended counsel meetings to observe and assist with preparation of court documents.
I also rotated through the Probity team, which was a great experience as I was able to really delve into the workings and machinations of the Australian government.
Throughout the program, I got to take part in various trainings and events that deepened my understanding of the law, and gave me a real taste of what it is like to work day-to-day in a law firm. The program supported my development as a lawyer by allowing me to try lots of different experiences and learn from responsive, on-the-job feedback.
Which practice areas have you experienced as a Graduate? What did you learn from those rotations?
As a graduate, I rotated through the Commercial, Dispute Resolution and Litigation and the Real Estate and Construction teams.
My first rotation was in the Commercial team under partners Gavan Mackenzie and Caroline Atkins (and I have now settled in this team). This team primarily works on ICT procurement projects, but also provides general commercial advice to Commonwealth departments. The most valuable learning experience I had was sitting in on the negotiations led by the senior members of the team. It was really great to observe the commercial issues in action, and to see all the preparation – reading and understanding documents right down to a granular level – pay off.
In the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team, led by Rosalie Bryne, I assisted lawyers with both large-scale litigation in various Supreme Courts across the country, as well as administrative and merits review matters in both federal and local tribunals. I drafted various court documents, contacted the registry for queries, telephoned into the Supreme Court to observe proceedings and prepared plenty of research memos and ad hoc advice on niche topics like tax and superannuation. This helped me gain an understanding of a busy litigation practice and how to juggle many tasks at once.
My final rotation was split between the Real Estate and Construction team led by Pria O’Sullivan and Larissa Toozoff, and the Probity team under Simonetta Astolfi and Sunny Leow. During this rotation, I gained lots of experience assisting with the sale of property from start to finish, including preparing contracts for sale, managing the exchange process, running settlements, and even liaising directly with clients and external stakeholders (a bit daunting at first, but incredibly useful and practical to learn). I also assisted with the review of commercial leases across Australia and supported various procurement activities for head contractors, which provided me with a really in-depth insight into property transactions and the broader practice. My work with the Probity team was equally rewarding and provided a different perspective on legal practice. I supported the team on a range of fascinating projects, participated in evaluation board meetings, drafted advice and even delivered a probity briefing!
What’s one skill or lesson that has helped you grow most as a junior lawyer at Maddocks?
Never assume anything. Even as I progress in my legal career, I still make sure to ask questions and clarify expectations as I find ill-founded assumptions often lead to mistakes. I think as you develop and grow, it important not to assume you won’t like something or you can’t do something if you have never tried it.
What matters to you at Maddocks?
The best thing about working at Maddocks is the people. I know this is the most cliché answer but it is probably a cliché for a reason! In the years I have worked at Maddocks I have had the opportunity to learn from so many brilliant lawyers and colleagues, develop friendships with the fellow juniors, and find mentors within the amazing Canberra team.
What advice would you give a potential summer clerk?
Talk to everyone! Spend your time getting to know and working with not just the partners, but also juniors, support and administrative staff. This gives you a true picture of what a workplace is like. Try to treat your brain like a sponge and soak up the whole experience. Give everything a good try, and keep in mind that even partners don’t have all the answers all the time – so don’t be afraid to jump in, learn as you go, and ask questions along the way!
We offer a great place to Do What Matters to you.
By joining our clerkship and graduate programs at Maddocks, you gain first-hand experience working on interesting, often high-profile matters, for a range of clients.