Ms Goodsir said while students were aware of the pressures and demands that sometimes required corporate lawyers to pull long hours, "there is definitely an impetus for change in the legal profession".

"I don’t think anyone is oblivious to those things, but it’s about putting mechanisms in place that allow students to thrive, and there’s definitely a push from students that they want to go into better workplace cultures," she said.

(Top graduates) want firms who say, we are looking at you as a long-term investment so we don’t want to burn you out and use you up. — Siobhan Ryan, UNSW law faculty careers manager

Ms Goodsir said students were showing growing interest in advocating for change in the legal industry.

The association, which represents the law societies of Australia's 43 law schools, has "a mandate from students that they want better workplaces that are safe and healthy".

Culture is more important than brand

UNSW law faculty careers manager Siobhan Ryan said students are increasingly looking at culture over brand when considering where to work after graduating.

Firms with a reputation for poor hours could see top law students go elsewhere as "they're mindful that long hours are part of the culture", she said.


"They want firms who say, we are looking at you as a long-term investment so we don’t want to burn you out and use you up."

Ms Ryan said students had more awareness around wellbeing and work-life balance than they used to and were starting to look to online reviews or feedback from people who worked at firms to make informed decisions about their careers.

"There used to be a stronger sense from students that you'd do your two years and get out, and they just accepted the fact they'd be living a tortured life with long hours.

"But students are more savvy now, and that can be a very long two years."

If it's so bad, why do they stay?

Gilbert + Tobin said if its "rumoured reputation were true" for long hours, it "would not see the recruitment, retention and engagement results that we are seeing”.

"Over the last three years we have recruited record numbers of clerks with higher acceptance rates each year. Our employee engagement survey results are exemplary with an engagement score of 85 per cent," a spokeswoman said.


"We are honest about the fact that at Gilbert + Tobin sometimes you may work long hours; however this is something the partners are extremely conscious of, and are working hard to improve.”

Ms Ryan said there would always be some students who looked past firms' reputed hours as they believed any corporate outfit would expect long days.

"There’s always going to be people in the profession who accept that culture, but we are seeing a shift from law students and young lawyers away from that, especially around mental health and wellbeing." Ms Goodsir added.