Intern experience pays dividends for Madeline

Proving the adage that practice makes perfect, Griffith Law School graduate Madeline Lacy has obtained a position with law firm MinterEllison after interning with its Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) legal team.

Madeline is one of nine Griffith Law School interns at MinterEllison, three of whom have since gained full-time employment with the firm.

Throughout her internship, Madeline worked on a variety of legal tasks including Intellectual Property tasks and Agreements which collectively are necessary for the coming together of the Commonwealth Games.

“I have a background in athletics, touch football and netball and love anything to do with sport, so the Commonwealth Games internship was a once in a lifetime opportunity,’’ she said.

She said obtaining full-time employment with the firm was the starting point to her new career.

“It’s going to be all hands on deck for the Games and I’ll be using everything I’ve learnt at Griffith throughout my degree and my position at MinterEllison to ensure that the Games’ brand is maintained.

“Griffith has given me a degree, an experience of a lifetime and now a fantastic career. I’m really appreciative of this.”

MinterEllison has a three-year partnership with GOLDOC to provide a legal and brand protection service by embedding a team of six lawyers and drawing in national specialist advisers as required.

MinterEllison partner, Paula Robinson, who leads the legal team, says the internship program enables the next generation of lawyers to gain valuable experience working with a highly skilled legal team on one of the Gold Coast’s most exciting sporting events.

“We are thrilled to be able to invest in the development of the newest members of our profession,’’ Ms Robinson said.

Griffith Law School Dean Professor Penelope Mathew said the school emphasised skills and real-life experience from the first year.

“The internships are also assisting with the students’ employment prospects at the end of their degrees,” she said.