This year, we’re celebrating the College of Law’s 50th anniversary.
And what better way to mark the occasion than by highlighting the diverse and impressive careers of our graduates.
After completing his Practical Legal Training (PLT) at the College of Law in 2021, Michael joined the AMP Financial Services Legal Team – where he still is today.
Drawing on his diverse experiences, Michael has carved a niche for himself in the in-house corporate world, where his holistic approach and passion for ESG are making real, meaningful impact.
Read on to hear his story.
Q: Hi Michael! When did you decide you wanted to be a lawyer?
I first considered becoming a lawyer in high school around year 11 or 12.
Before that, I wanted to be an urban planner or architect. But once I took legal studies, I fell in love with the social justice and human rights side of law. I wanted to know more about the framework that shapes our society.
Legal studies showed me how laws are formed, how regulations come about and how community values flow through to everything that governs us. As a student, that was fascinating to me.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your journey into law?
I did my Bachelor of Laws and International Studies (with honours in law) at the University of Technology Sydney – while also working part-time. I wanted to get as much experience as possible as early as I could.
In my first year, I landed a paralegal role at a boutique firm. I also took on research and administrative roles in other fields to gain a broader perspective on how different industries operate. In my third year, I joined Guzman y Gomez’s first legal team, which gave me a taste of the in-house corporate world. After getting back from the exchange in 2020, Covid hit. That year I started working as a claims consultant for a travel insurer and eventually ended up at Lawyers on Demand who seconded me to Westpac, sparking my interest in financial services.
I now had diverse experience across institutional banking, insurance and in-house corporate legal work – all of which led me to apply for my current role. In 2020, I joined AMP, finished my law degree with honours – and I’ve been here ever since.
Having work experience outside of law has given me a more holistic view of how legal decisions impact a business… It’s helped me offer big-picture advice, making me a trusted adviser to my clients and stakeholders.
Q: How was your experience doing the PLT with the College?
I did my PLT in 2021, when it was still held virtually. The class included people not only from Australia but also from Canada and the UK, making it a more international experience. They brought in what they were seeing in their jurisdictions, which I believe enriched my learning experience.
Q: What drew you to AMP and how has your career in financial services developed?
When I interviewed at AMP, I bonded with the hiring manager over a project I’d worked on about the experience of queer individuals in the Eastern Bloc. That shared interest helped us connect – I was offered the job, and now I work as an in-house corporate lawyer for one of Australia’s most recognised financial services companies!
I started off as a paralegal with the company while completing my PLT with the College of Law. Now, I work as Legal Counsel mainly supporting our superannuation and investments businesses, which I really enjoy.
I’ve also carved out a niche for myself as the team’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) expert, which is incredibly rewarding.
Q: You’ve had diverse roles in your career so far. Would you say that’s been helpful to you?
Definitely. Having work experience outside of law has given me a more holistic view of how legal decisions impact a business.
In my current role, I know to ask whether departments like tech, operations and call centres are prepared for legal changes because I’ve seen first-hand how those areas operate.
My earlier roles help me offer big-picture advice today, making me a trusted adviser to my clients and stakeholders. And having that broader perspective means I’m more likely to have a seat at the table when it comes to strategy and business initiatives – which is arguably the most interesting part of legal practice.
I've learned you don’t have to stay on one path... The legal profession is becoming more flexible, and that means there’s space to experiment, move and change as you discover new interests and passions.
Q: You said you’ve found your passion in ESG. Could you tell us more about that?
Yes, social responsibility is really important to me.
I served as chair on AMP’s Diversity and Inclusion Council in 2023, helping to drive the D&I strategy of the organisation.
We’ve been working to make services more accessible to diverse groups. For instance, I’ve contributed to advocacy and engagement by working groups and associations in my industry for causes like recognition of First Nations kinship structures in superannuation policies, so that death benefits don’t exclude significant relationships in Indigenous communities.
It’s been really fulfilling to drive these tangible changes, especially in an in-house role where you get to see the results of your work.
Q: In-house corporate roles seem to have been a great fit for you. Why do you think that is?
I love that you get to see the impact of your work on a business.
At Guzman y Gomez, for example, I saw how a certain legal change affected the ability of some of our stores to hire temporary staff. This affected service times which, in turn, impacted customer satisfaction. Knowing the results of that decision meant we were able to adjust our approach.
In private practice, you often don’t see that ripple effect or are much further away from it. When you work in an in-house corporate environment, you’re part of the team’s journey, and it’s interesting and rewarding to see your work make a difference in real time.
Q: How has your career path differed from your expectations?
In high school, I wanted to go into human rights law. Then, in law school, I was set on becoming a litigator – and I built my entire law school career around that. Now, in my specific role, I rarely litigate!
It was a big mindset shift. But along the way, I realised my interests aligned more with other areas.
I’ve learnt you don’t have to stay on one path. I’ve seen the lawyers around me move between specialisms and industries, between in-house and private practice.
The practice of law is always changing, especially recently thanks to AI, cyber, ESG and the like. The legal profession is becoming more flexible, which means there’s space to experiment, move and change as you discover new interests and passions.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring lawyers?
I’m a firm believer in the benefits of working while you study – even if it’s just one day a week.
A legal role will help you put what you’re learning at university into practice. Meanwhile, a non-legal role will help you understand workplace processes and develop transferable skills.
Having interests outside law is also key, both for work-life balance and for connecting with others. Your hobbies can help you network, support clients and connect with people on a personal level.
And finally, don’t worry if the traditional route of university, clerkship, graduate role doesn’t work out for you. There are so many ways to build a career in law, so stay open to different opportunities and alternative pathways!
