The thing I enjoy most? Probably the thrill. It is fantastic being on the pointy end of law and being involved (sometimes) in making new law.” -Joshua Knackstredt, Barrister
Currently a Barrister at Seven Wentworth Chambers, Joshua Knackstredt is the immediate Past President of NSW Young Lawyers. Prior to being called to the Bar, he worked as a solicitor at Clayton Utz and as a tipstaff/legal researcher to the Hon. Justice R P Austin of the Supreme Court of NSW. Joshua has published several articles on topics ranging from corporations and revenue law to the disciplining of judges. He has marked and tutored in Litigation and Torts at Macquarie University.
“A barrister is essentially an advocate, who propounds a client’s case in court against his or her opponent,” said Joshua. “Of course, there is also plenty of non-court work involved, such as research, writing submissions and so on.
The thing I enjoy most? Probably the thrill. It is fantastic being on the pointy end of law and being involved (sometimes) in making new law.”
To near graduates nervous about life after uni and what their career might look like, Joshua says: “Don’t worry. At the moment, there are so many jobs out there that people will eventually be offering you all sorts of ridiculous things to come and work for them. What is important is to start getting experience (and that coveted graduate job.) But there are so many options out there! You don’t need to get a job in a top law firm to end up successful…you can get an excellent experience at small law firms, in government jobs and elsewhere. Each job you get will open up the door to another one.
Working with the law is a great privilege. It is a profession unlike any other, but like others, it involves clients putting their trust in you. The most important thing is to repay their trust and ensure that you do as good a job as you can. It is often said that we have a system of law, not a system of justice. But the fact is that the law’s ideal is justice.”
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