Bond University law alumnus Clayton Glenister is at the helm of one of the Gold Coast’s longest running law firms prepared to lead it into another 50 years of practice.
When it comes to building your law career, the MBA Lawyers Managing Partner says his advice to current law students would be to commit the first five years to “being a sponge”.
“Most students don’t have the life experience, business acumen and developed interpersonal skill during their early years, as that simply comes with experience,” he says.
“Be prepared to take on as much as you can and learn, learn, learn. But remember to be patient as taking on the world will take time.
“Listen to your client, to your colleagues and to your supervisors because even after 20 years I’m still learning new things and developing new skills every day.”
Life after Bond
While Clayton operates as Managing Partner, he is also one of very few experts in body corporate law. Graduating from Bond University in 2001, Clayton first headed to Melbourne where he practiced media and defamation law.
In 2007, Clayton returned to the Gold Coast, beginning his journey at MBA Lawyers, and with body corporate law.
“When I looked at what would give me that opportunity on the Gold Coast, I only had to look outside the office window at the tall residential buildings, governments desire for higher density living to accommodate our population and flourishing Body Corporate industry to understand that this was Australia’s premier spot for residential high rises,” he says.
The changing legal landscape
As MBA Lawyers celebrates its 50th anniversary year, Clayton acknowledges the innovations occurring in the profession and shares how he plans to merge the tradition of client centred practises with a future focused approach to legal transformation.
“While it’s important to acknowledge tradition, technology and artificial intelligence are constantly finding new ways of disrupting the legal industry,” he says.
“One of the major changes I’ve noticed in my career has been the speed of service now available between lawyers and their clients with the advancement in technology improving turnaround times.
“However, what we must acknowledge is the things that technology and AI can’t provide. And that is what we pride ourselves on giving our clients – connections, networks, personalised service and an ability to think outside the box for the solution.”
Studying Law at Bond University
Our accelerated programs mean you can finish a Bachelor of Laws in under three years or a double degree in the same amount of time it takes to complete a law degree elsewhere.