Legal profile - Alicia
Name: Alicia
Age: 26
Home town: Sydney
Previous work experience: After I finished studying I started as a graduate lawyer with Blake Dawson Waldron in their corporate advisory group and worked there for 2.5 years. I then moved in-house to the Australian Federal Police legal team where I have been since July 2006.
Qualifications: Bachelor Health Science and Bachelor Laws (Honours) from the University of Western Sydney. I am now completing my Masters in Law degree at the University of Melbourne.
What attracted you to the AFP?
I have always been interested in law enforcement although I was particularly attracted to the AFP because it is a large policing agency pursuing crime in a rapidly changing domestic and global environment. As such, I thought the legal work would be interesting, challenging and dynamic.
I was impressed by the work/life balance that the AFP promotes and the image of the organisation as a truly global policing agency. The opportunity to travel, pursue further study and work with experienced people also attracted me to the AFP.
What are my impressions so far?
I love working for the AFP. It is a great organisation which encourages a strong work ethic, further study and professional development whilst maintaining its commitment to a work/life balance. I have found the AFP to be a team of people from diverse backgrounds and the knowledge and experience I have gleaned from this is invaluable.
From a legal perspective, I have had the opportunity to work on high profile matters and learn from well-respected lawyers and mentors in various fields. The legal team is committed to providing high quality, practical legal advice to assist our clients in relation to matters ranging from operational issues, commercial contracting and procurement, overseas deployment, employment and litigation, aviation and counter terrorism.
The work is varied and challenging, the people are supportive and the results we achieve as a legal team and as an organisation - both in the domestic and global environment - make me enjoy coming to work each day.