Law
Tracey from Perth completed her law degree in 1994. Like other law graduates she distributed around 20 resumes and applications to law firms in Perth. Toward the end of her application letter, Tracey disclosed that she had a significant vision impairment. Tracey was fortunate enough to be called for four interviews, however she was not successful in finding employment. At that time around 40% of law graduates in Tracey’s year were not successful in getting jobs in the legal profession.
After this Tracey did not actively seek employment in the legal profession for 3 years, although she did apply for a couple of part time jobs in community law centres. In 1997 Tracey registered with the Paralympic Employment Program, which utilised a mainstream employment agency to assist Paralympic athletes to gain employment. This agency, after some months, enlisted the assistance of a dedicated disability employment agency. A friend of Tracey helped her to liaise with a partner at the law firm Freehills, where Tracey now works. After much lobbying from Tracey’s friend, the partner, and together with the employment agencies, they identified an opportunity for Tracey to work with the firm on a part time basis, as Tracey requested.
The process of lobbying with Freehills took about 4 to 6 months. Tracey met with several partners of Freehills by way of an informal interview and the next day she was offered the job. Tracey indicated that the employment agency, who specialised in assisting disabled jobseekers, played an important role in setting up her adaptive equipment. Most of Tracey’s equipment was funded through both an Athletes At Work Program and partly by the firm. The employment agency also assisted Tracey in customising her computer’s software to the firm's computer systems, enabling her to access Freehill’s electronic research tools and document management systems. Tracey believed that without this assistance she would have been extremely limited in the work she could have been able to perform. According to Tracey the employment agency were also very helpful in assisting to educate the people she worked with to feel comfortable giving her work.
Tracey worked for the law firm part-time for two and a half years. She then applied for, and obtained a position as an articled clerk with the firm. Two and a half years later Tracey is now a qualified solicitor. According to Tracey, the firm she works for and the staff she works with are very helpful in accommodating her to perform her work as efficiently as possible.
Tracey said that she learned several important lessons from her experiences. First, the importance of the assistance of a dedicated employment agency for people with disabilities, both to the job seeker and the employer and prospective employer. Second, the importance of networking. Tracey felt that the old adage, "it's not what you know, but who you know", is relevant. Without this combination, Tracey believes that it is difficult for a blind job Seeker to find employment commensurate with their qualifications in a professional role, especially if they have not had previous work experience.