From cold calling to securing a paralegal role at a global law firm, this law student shares essential tips and strategies every aspiring lawyer should use to land a position and kickstart their legal career.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Victor Yan, a law student at UNSW and a paralegal at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (HSFK), shares his unconventional journey into the legal profession, opens up about how a simple cold email to HSFK led to him securing a paralegal role months later, and discusses the crucial importance of landing a paralegal position while still at university to gain the practical skills that academic study alone doesn’t provide.

Yan also emphasises the importance of first- and second-year law students taking proactive steps to secure their first paralegal roles, highlights common mistakes he often sees during the application process, outlines five key steps students should follow on their journey to landing a paralegal position, stresses the vital need to prioritise self-care and wellbeing throughout this challenging period, and shares encouraging advice for law students about to embark on this exciting yet daunting new chapter.