I was admitted as a lawyer in New Zealand in 2019. Not long after that, countries started shutting down and together with the rest of the world, I found myself trying to adjust to this new way of full-time remote working. My time at law school taught me how crucial it is to make the first few years of your legal career really count. This meant putting in the hours, attending networking events and, of course, participating in the “Great OE” that a lot of Kiwi lawyers before me have also done.

With movement between the trans-Tasman borders finally picking up again this year, I’ve decided to take the leap. I visited Melbourne earlier this year for a quick trip, and I was inspired to dip my toes into the job market to see what opportunities were available. The legal job market in Melbourne is currently very active, and I had the opportunity to really take my time in searching for the right role.

The pandemic has proven that industries such as law are capable of being operated without disruption from anywhere, so flexible working was one of the key features I was looking for. Working at a firm that was well equipped for remote working and flexible working arrangements gave me the assurance that I needed to be able to perform my role in any situation, including a global pandemic.

I have been working at Aspen Legal in Melbourne for a month now. During this short period, I have already noticed differences between my personal experience in working and living in Australia and New Zealand.

As a commercial lawyer in Australia, I have already had opportunities to work more closely on high-level matters on a far larger scale than I would have gotten as a junior lawyer in New Zealand. I have also had exposure to more complex international transactions and clients than I had previously experienced. 

Remuneration and salaries are also significantly higher in Australia, despite there being no material difference in the cost of living between the two countries, particularly between the cities of Auckland and Melbourne.

Lastly, I am really enjoying what Melbourne has to offer outside of work. Melbourne thrives on art and culture. There is a greater range of everything, whether it be restaurants and food options or even consumer items and fashion. Despite having suffered through one of the longest lockdowns in the world, Melbourne’s economy is quickly recovering, and in the few weeks that I have lived here, there has always been a new café or restaurant for me to try.

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I have been very fortunate to have had an easy transition to Australia. My admission to the Supreme Court of Victoria under the trans-Tasman regime was seamless. My colleagues at Aspen Legal have been very accommodating and helpful. What set them apart was their genuine interest in helping me further develop my skills as a lawyer. Although I cannot speak for every Kiwi lawyer that has moved to Australia, my experience so far has been very pleasant, and I am looking forward to seeing what else Melbourne has to offer and building a career here.

Razelle Icaro is a commercial lawyer at Aspen Legal and is qualified in both Victoria and New Zealand.