Two former School of Law students make headlines

William Roberts: Going Green Good for This Law Firm

In less than three years of opening business, a law firm run by two former students of the School of Law has received excellent coverage in the national media.

The firm is William Roberts Lawyers which draws its name from Robert Ishak and Bill Petrovski, both graduates of the School of Law at the University of Western Sydney (UWS).

“Technically I am still a student at the School of Law,” says Mr Ishak who is currently a Candidate for Doctor of Juridical Science (Law) at UWS. That’s a long association with the university given that Mr Ishak had commenced his Accounting degree in 1994.

“I undertook what was in effect a sub- major in Law and having enjoyed the legal aspects of the accounting degree, at the behest of Ian Iredale, I decided to continue studies in law.” Mr Iredale is currently a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law.

Mr Ishak finished his Bachelor of Law in 2001 while working full time in the legal profession. It is this experience that forms the basis of a great piece of advice he has for law students – “find a legal job no later than midway through your law degree.”

How to study a lot easier

“Working in the legal profession while studying adds realism to the theory; and the excruciating hours notwithstanding, concurrently working in the legal sphere actually makes studying a whole lot easier,” says Mr Ishak.

And how do students go about looking for a legal job?

“Whether or not a firm is advertising, you might send your resume with a finely tuned cover letter.”

Mr Ishak explains that a letter is finely tuned when its writer is able to demonstrate what value they would be able to add to the firm. “More importantly, when UWS students go to the interviews, they ought to be prepared to answer legal questions, basic as well as advanced.”

Mr Ishak says that when the questions are a little tough, the firms want to probe a student’s thought process rather than actual legal knowledge.

“But of course you must know answers to basic legal questions.”

Almost half of the 15 lawyers at William Roberts are graduates of the UWS. 

How going green makes sense

William Roberts’ goal is to make itself carbon neutral by 2010 if not sooner. Is there a commercial logic to this?

“It saves money, but there are other aspects as well,” replies Mr Ishak.

He says his firm’s sophisticated document management system dispenses with the conventional steps of dictation, typing, amendments and then typing of amendments and then printing hard copies.

“The way in which we communicate with the client and the way in which we attend to our matters are unconventional to the old school style law firms. Our processes are different.”

Mr Ishak said that “William Roberts’ success is based on its ability to attract, develop and inspire legal talent.” 

William Roberts in media

• What you get is what you see 23 May 2008 | The Australian Financial Review (subscription required)
• If the firm fits 2 April 2008 | Sydney Morning Herald (subscription required)

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