Sydney Law School students will have access to tailored career support, industry insights and personalised advice through a new Law School Careers Program launching in Semester 2, 2025.
Led by Jessie Scriven, an experienced lawyer and career development professional, the program is designed to empower law students at all stages of their degree to explore career pathways, develop employability skills, help them understand and thrive in the emergent workforce landscape of tomorrow and confidently enter the legal profession.
Jessie brings more than a decade of legal and career expertise. Her diverse background includes practising as a solicitor at top-tier firm King & Wood Mallesons, serving as Head of Legal at Temple & Webster, working as in-house counsel at Coca-Cola Amatil, and founding The Learned Crew, which developed Australia’s first structured in-house clerkship program for law students.
Since joining the University in 2024 as Career Development Manager and more recently leading faculty partnerships at the Careers Centre, she has focused on embedding career services directly within faculties to meet students’ unique needs.
“I’m thrilled to be leading this new program for law students – one that reimagines career support by spotlighting not only traditional legal pathways but the diverse, dynamic roles that legally qualified graduates are equipped to pursue beyond the legal profession,” Scriven said.
“My goal is to provide students with career support that’s not only practical and relevant to today’s legal landscape, but also forward-thinking—equipping them to navigate and lead in the ever-changing world of work.”
My goal is to provide students with career support that’s not only practical and relevant to today’s legal landscape, but also forward-thinking—equipping them to navigate and lead in the ever-changing world of work.
Jessie Scriven, Law Careers
Personalised support and industry-led workshops
A key feature of the program is the opportunity for students to book one-on-one career consultations during semester. These weekly 20-minute sessions, available through CareerHub, allow students to discuss everything from CV reviews and interview preparation to long-term career planning.
“The individual consultations give students the chance to ask questions and receive personalised guidance, no matter where they are in their career journey,” Jessie said.
The Semester 2 calendar also includes a range of interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking events designed to showcase the breadth of legal careers and equip students with practical skills.
Highlights include:
- Pursuing Legal Careers in Japan (6 August): a panel of legal professionals from Japan will share insights into legal career pathways, international experiences, and student exchange opportunities.
- Suit Up: Interview Skills for Future Lawyers (13 August): helping students prepare for clerkship and job interviews.
- International Impact: Building a Legal CV That Travels Well (26 August): tailored advice for international students.
- In-House Lawyers: The GPs of the Legal World (2 September): exploring the pathways and opportunities in corporate legal teams.
- POV: My Pathway Into Law (18 September): alumni share alternative routes into the profession beyond traditional clerkships.
- Walk and Talk Like a Lawyer (23 September): professional tips to prepare for summer legal roles.
- Coming to the Bar (22 October): demystifying the path to becoming a barrister.
Events are open to all law students, and other events in the program such as the Criminal Justice and Criminology Careers Night also welcome students from related disciplines such as criminology, psychology, and health, recognising the diverse careers connected to legal expertise.
Listening to students and shaping the future
In addition to the initial lineup of events, student surveys will be conducted throughout Semester 2, followed by a focus group later in the semester, to better understand students’ career needs and priorities.
These insights will inform a co-designed, curated career development program in the future.
“We want to hear directly from students about what they need,” she said. “This program isn’t just about delivering events — it’s about creating something meaningful, practical, and aligned with our students’ aspirations,” Scriven said.
Students will also be encouraged to use the Law Career Planners, a set of resources created earlier this year, to help them navigate their career planning alongside the new program.
With more events planned for 2026 and strengthened collaborations with law firms and industry associations on the horizon, the program marks a significant step in enhancing career support for Sydney Law School students.
Students can book individual consultations and view upcoming events on CareerHub.