Portfolio Feature: Commercial Careers

Priyanka Sharma
Apr 24
6 min read

Communications Officer Molly Howie, in conversation with Director of Commercial Careers, Sanya Patel

With clerkship season fast approaching, I caught up with Sanya Patel, Director of the Commercial Careers Portfolio, to hear all about how she and her team are helping Deakin law students break into the world of commercial law. In the lead-up to their flagship event, Meet the Professionals, Sanya shared how the Portfolio is creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with top-tier firms and gain valuable industry insights. Whether you're eyeing a clerkship or simply curious about commercial law, keep reading to find out how the Commercial Careers Portfolio is here to support and guide your next career move.

Sanya, you’re currently director of the DLSS Commercial Careers Portfolio. Tell me about yourself!

Sure! I’m currently in my third year of a double degree in Law and Science, majoring in Chemistry - I actually just came from a four-hour lab, which was... fun! I work as an Electorate Officer at the Victorian Parliament, and recently I was a guide dog trainer with Guide Dogs Victoria. My guide dog, Bonnie, just went into assessment, so it’s a bit of a waiting game now, but it was such a rewarding experience.

Outside of work and uni, you’ll usually find me at the pool - I used to be a swim teacher and still swim for fun. I also love crocheting, especially in the colder months (which are definitely on their way), and I’m a big fan of cricket, footy, F1... and recently, bouldering!

What drew you to joining DLSS and in particular the Commercial Careers Portfolio?

In my first year, I got really involved with DLSS events like First Year Law Camp. I only knew a couple of people from high school, so it was such a great way to meet others, and I ended up becoming close friends with a lot of current directors! That experience meant a lot to me, and when I later applied for DLSS, I knew I wanted to help carry that same sense of community forward - to play my part in making sure future students can build those connections too.

I initially joined DLSS through the Competitions Portfolio, but with my background in Law and Science, I’ve always been interested in patent and IP law, which falls under the commercial umbrella. I also really enjoy litigation. I did mooting in my first year and loved the dynamic of two teams engaging in legal argument. That mix of IP, litigation, and a passion for commercial law led me to the Commercial Careers Portfolio.

After seeing how much directors contribute behind the scenes, I knew I wanted to take on that responsibility and help create even more opportunities for students, just like the ones I had.

What do you hope to achieve as director of Commercial Careers?

When I first stepped into the role, I had three main goals for the year.

The first was to continue the momentum built by previous Commercial Careers teams. They’ve worked incredibly hard to elevate our profile, and now Deakin Law - especially in the commercial space - is really being recognised. Firms know who we are, and they see the DLSS and our students in a really positive light. My goal was to build on that upward trajectory and ensure we keep moving forward.

The second was to engage more with younger year levels. From my own experience, I noticed there weren’t many commercial law opportunities for first, second, or even third years - it was mostly targeted at penultimate and final-year students. As someone who was interested in commercial law early on, I wanted to make sure students like me had more chances to explore that interest from the start.

And finally, I wanted to spotlight alternative pathways into commercial law. Clerkships are often seen as the main route, and while they’re important, I don’t want students to feel like they’ve failed if they don’t get one. There are so many other rewarding roles in the commercial sphere - like in-house counsel or roles within major corporations, and I wanted to show that there’s more than one way to build a successful career in commercial law.

As I understand ‘Meet the Professionals’ is right around the corner, can you tell me a bit more about it and its significance for Deakin law students?

Of course! Our annual Meet the Professionals event is just around the corner - less than a month away, actually - and it's one of the biggest events on the DLSS calendar.

MTP is designed specifically for penultimate and final-year students who are heading into the clerkship application process. It’s an immersive evening where students get the chance to network directly with firm representatives and HR professionals - the very people who’ll be reviewing your applications and conducting your interviews. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make a strong first impression and start building those professional connections early.

But it’s not just about being seen - it’s also a chance to get to know the firms. With so many commercial law firms out there, it can be really overwhelming trying to decide where to apply. MTP helps you narrow it down. You might start the night with an open mind and leave with a clear sense of which firms’ culture and values resonate with you.

One key piece of advice: focus on quality over quantity. You don’t need to apply to every single firm. Instead, use MTP to figure out where you genuinely see yourself, then take the time to craft thoughtful, tailored applications. After all, clerkship recruitment is a two-way process - the right fit matters just as much to you as it does to the firm.

What does success look like for the Commercial Careers Portfolio, both for law students and for your personal growth as a director?

For law students, success can look different for everyone, but for many, it’s securing a clerkship that leads to a graduate role. That’s definitely a goal the Commercial Careers Portfolio is here to support. We want to see more Deakin students feeling confident enough to apply for clerkships, and ultimately, landing them.

We’ve heard directly from firms that they want to see more applications from Deakin students, and our job is to make sure those students are equipped with the right tools. Whether that’s through events, resources, or networking opportunities, our aim is to give students the skills, confidence, and experience they need to not just apply, but to succeed.

If you could change one thing about how law students approach their career planning, particularly in commercial law, what would that be and why?

I think one of the biggest things I’d change is the mindset that there’s only one way into commercial law. There’s often this belief that the only path is getting a clerkship, turning that into a grad role, and landing at a top-tier firm. While that’s a common route, it’s definitely not the only one.

There are so many alternative pathways into commercial law. Some graduates might start in smaller or boutique firms, gain valuable experience, and then move into larger firms later. Others may begin in-house, working on legal teams within corporations, and progress to roles like general counsel over time. Firms aren’t only hiring through clerkship programs, they’re also looking for skilled, experienced people at various career stages.

So, if I could change one thing, it would be helping students see that not getting a clerkship doesn’t mean the door to commercial law is closed. There are multiple ways to get there, and your journey doesn’t have to look exactly like everyone else’s.

Other than MTP, how does the Commercial Careers Portfolio help students who may not have a path, a clear path, into commercial law?

Earlier this year, we launched a brand-new initiative called the Career Ready Workshop, specifically aimed at first, second, and third-year students.

The idea behind it was to help students build foundational skills early on—so that by the time they reach their penultimate or final year, they feel confident and prepared to apply for clerkships. We didn’t want students getting to fourth year and suddenly panicking, thinking, “I didn’t know I needed a LinkedIn,” or “I’ve never written a legal CV,” or “I haven’t had any firm exposure.” That feeling of being behind can be overwhelming, so we wanted to prevent that by starting the conversation much earlier.

The workshop covered practical topics like resume writing, creating a strong LinkedIn profile, corporate dress, and importantly, networking. These are basic, but essential, career-building skills that often get overlooked until much later. Giving students the chance to start working on them early can make a huge difference.

Later in the year, we’re also running a Litigation Panel, which ties into our goal of expanding the scope beyond just clerkships. It’s open to all year levels and offers insight into litigation as a major part of commercial law. Several firms will be attending, giving students, whether they’re just starting out or about to graduate, another valuable opportunity to learn more about the industry, connect with firm reps, and keep building those professional relationships. For younger students, it’s a great first step into the commercial law space; for older students, it’s a chance to follow up with firms they've already met.

Want to Learn More?

If you have any questions or would like further information, please feel free to reach out to Sanya, Director of Commercial Careers, at director-commercialcareers@deakinlss.org.