Elizabeth Carroll is the Chief Legal Counsel at IP Australia, providing strategic legal advice to the agency and supporting innovation in the Australian community. For SATLA’s Careers Spotlight, we spoke to Elizabeth about how science and law have interacted in her career to date, the role of in-house lawyers and graduate opportunities in Government.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the field you are working in? What made you pursue a career in intellectual property law?

EC: As the Chief Legal Counsel at IP Australia, I enjoy providing strategic legal advice to the agency and supporting innovation in the Australian community. It is exciting to work in the intellectual property space and I lead a team which advises on all aspects of the agency’s operations including administrative law, commercial law, employment issues and information access. 

Throughout my career I have worked at the intersection of science and law. I started out in private practice in Sydney, focussing on planning and environmental law. While working in private practice, I undertook three secondments to government agencies, which gave me a fantastic insight into in-house work. When the opportunity arose to establish the legal team at the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, it was too good to pass up. I have led the legal teams of three science-based Commonwealth agencies over the past thirteen years, moving first to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and then to IP Australia five years ago.

Q: Is there a typical career path to get to where you are now?

EC: When I commenced in the profession over two decades ago, in-house lawyers generally started out in private practice and only transitioned to in-house work with several years of experience. Most in-house lawyers found their niche in-house by having previously provided advice to the organisation while in private practice or having undertaken a secondment. Today, in-house teams are often looking to “grow their own” and positions for entry level lawyers are much more common. If you are interested in working in-house, undertaking an internship or practical legal training within an in-house team is an excellent way to see if this type of work appeals to you. Another potential pathway is taking on a non-legal role within an organisation, before moving to the legal team. My team at IP Australia has lawyers who have followed each of these career journeys.

Q: What are the career opportunities in Government? Are you able to recommend some career opportunities or types of jobs that you think may be a good starting point for someone looking for a role that services their interests in science, technology and law?

The Commonwealth Government provides wonderful opportunities for lawyers looking to combine an interest in science and technology with their legal career. Working within a science-based agency in a specialist legal team, allows you to work on cutting edge projects for the benefit of the Australian community. Many Commonwealth Government departments and agencies operate graduate programs which are open to legal graduates, including IP Australia’s portfolio department, the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. IP Australia regularly recruits for Trade Mark Examiners and Patent Examiners at entry level. Positions in the Australian Public Service, including positions in the IP Australia legal team, are advertised on the APS Jobs website (www.apsjobs.gov.au).

Hear more from Elizabeth Carroll, and discover where an interest in science and law can take after law school in SATLA’s Careers Spotlight. Stay updated on further news and opportunities in science and technology law by becoming a SATLA member at satla.net/join and by following SATLA on Facebook or LinkedIn.