Alumni Chronicles: SOPHIA RASCH - HFW

Priyanka Sharma in conversation with Sophia Rasch.

From nervously waiting at the law camp bus stop to working on complex multi-jurisdictional insurance matters at HFW, Sophia Rasch’s legal journey is a testament to the power of saying yes to the unknown. In this interview, Sophia walks us through the defining moments of her time at Deakin University, the unpredictable turns of her early career, and the lessons she now shares with the next generation of aspiring lawyers.

Sophia knew from a young age that she wanted to become a lawyer. When a scholarship offer from Deakin University arrived on the same day as her ATAR results, the decision was easy. Starting university without knowing anyone, Sophia’s first bold step came when she boarded the bus to Deakin Law Camp alone. There, she met a group of girls at the bus stop who would go on to become lifelong friends. That single decision didn’t just help her find a support network; it also immersed her in the Deakin Law Students’ Society (DLSS) and exposed her to moots, professional development events, and opportunities that reaffirmed her desire to work in law. 

"That introduction into the DLSS really opened up a lot of opportunities, I had more exposure to things like moots, Meet the Professionals, and other events where you could really start to visualise your future. It helped me realise, 'Yes, I’ve made the right choice. I do want to become a lawyer.'”

Her involvement in the DLSS and Deakin’s Student Ambassador program were integral parts of Sophia’s university experience. She was an Activities Officer, then Activities Director, and eventually joined the Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA) as the conference coordinator for the 2019 ALSA National Conference.  

“It taught me so much, event planning, leadership, community building, and gave me friendships that have lasted well beyond graduation.”

Sophia credits her experience with Vis Moot as a turning point in her development as a future lawyer. The competition sharpened her skills in legal research, writing, and advocacy, while also giving her a taste of high-pressure teamwork.

 “I learned so much about teamwork, legal reasoning, and how to handle different personalities under pressure.”

That same experience also opened a critical door, through her involvement in Vis Moot, she connected with an assistant coach who helped her land a paralegal role at a top-tier firm. 

“Everything is so interconnected. It kickstarted my career, and now I try to pay that forward by helping others access similar opportunities.”

Sophia’s involvement in Deakin’s legal community cemented her passion for commerical law, even when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her final year, shifting her clerkship experience online, Sophia had already been working as a paralegal, giving her valuable insight into practice despite the challenges.

After graduating, she stayed in her role as an eDiscovery consultant and completed her PLT part-time before landing a graduate role at a different firm. Despite not expecting to work in banking and finance, she joined the team and gave it her best. Ultimately, she realised that her passion lay in litigation.

 “Litigation suits me. I love problem-solving, structure, and applying the law to real problems. Transactional work just didn’t energise me the same way.”

After gaining experience in front-end legal work, Sophia transitioned to a boutique firm, where she became deeply involved in commercial disputes for small to medium-sized businesses. Working in a lean team meant she was quickly thrown into hands-on litigation.

She recalls how closely she worked with senior lawyers from the start.

“It was just me and the partner working on the matters. I was the junior drafting the documents, managing client communication, and getting everything ready for sign-off.”

As rewarding as it was, the work came with a heavy emotional load. Many of their clients were small business owners, particularly in the construction sector, facing serious financial strain.

“You’re not dealing with in-house counsel. You’re speaking directly to people who built their businesses over decades and are now at risk of losing everything. That stress sits with you. Some lawyers thrive on that closeness, but for me, it became overwhelming.”

The nature of the client base combined with the type of the work and the cultural dynamics in certain industries prompted her to step back and reflect on her long-term path in law.

“At one point, I honestly wasn’t sure if I still wanted to be a lawyer.”

Looking for a fresh start, she explored other opportunities within litigation and eventually joined HFW in its Insurance team. Despite not having worked in insurance law before, the move proved to be a strong fit.

“I had no insurance background, but the partners recognised my litigation experience and saw it was transferable.”

The firm’s culture, international reach, and office size in Melbourne offered the best of both worlds. 

“We’re global, but still personal. You feel respected and supported, and it feels like a team.”

Today, Sophia works on complex insurance matters involving supply chain finance, trade credit, and commodity disputes across multiple jurisdictions.  Her prior litigation experience translated seamlessly into insurance work, which she describes as misunderstood. 

“Insurance policies are just fancy contracts. Once you understand that, it becomes fascinating. A lot of insurance related disputes are really misrepresentation or negligence cases, all the things we learn about at uni.”

Now part of HFW’s clerkship and graduate recruitment, Sophia sees firsthand what makes a strong candidate. She encourages students to focus on genuine connection, not rehearsed interactions. 

“Prepared questions are great, but listen to the answers. Engage with the person, not just the opportunity. Being confident is good. Acting like you know everything is not. No one expects you to be perfect. Just show that you’re willing to learn.”

Having experienced burnout, Sophia is now protective of her work-life balance.

 “Law used to be my personality, and that’s dangerous. Your job should not define your self-worth. There will be bad days, even in a job you love. That’s why you need something else that brings you happiness.”

She encourages junior lawyers to create boundaries early.

 “If there’s no deadline, log off. Make plans. Go to the movies. You’ll be a better lawyer for it.” 

She also emphasises the importance of understanding what kind of legal environment suits you best. 

“Whether it’s a top-tier firm with prestige and longer hours or a boutique firm with more work-life balance, find the right fit for you.”

Sophia’s story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and embracing the unexpected.

 “When I didn’t get the rotations I wanted, I made my own. Every detour taught me something.” 

Her advice to students and young lawyers is clear: stay open-minded, take risks, and never let a single ‘no’ define your worth. 

“It’s your career. Shape it the way that works for you.”