Julian Barclay

Legal matters

Bachelor of International Business / Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (1st Class Honours)

Working at a bustling Gold Coast law firm, Griffith alumnus and senior associate Julian Barclay, has a talent for helping companies navigate the legal complexities of growing a business.

In his six-years at Ramsden Lawyers, he has built a career specialising in corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions.

“I enjoy assisting clients with starting and growing their business," he said.

“My work is incredibly rewarding, we have assisted a number of start-up businesses grow to a size where they are now listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.”

Julian’s work with start-ups and growing businesses has seen him advise a variety of industries at the local and national level.

His zeal for Gold Coast business and professional work saw him named a Rising Star finalist in the 2019 Australian Law Awards.

“I’m very honoured to be a finalist, it’s great to be recognised and to represent the Gold Coast legal profession,” he said.

“In the past few years, more lawyers from the Gold Coast are recognised at industry awards, which is really great to see because I think the city has been underrated in the past,” he said.

A Bachelor of International Business and Bachelor of Laws with (1^st Class Honours) at Griffith University, helped launch Julian’s career.

“It offered fantastic foundations in legal skills and training, as well as real-world experience through different events and activities,” he said.

“One of the most valuable real-world experiences for me was an event offered through Griffith Law School called, Meet the Profession, which connected students with practicing lawyers.

“The amount of knowledge and value I got from that one night was amazing. I learnt a lot about the various practice areas and how to navigate my early career.”

Since graduating in 2012, Julian has stayed in touch with the University, offering to speak at student events and arranging work placements for Griffith students at his law firm.

“I know it can be hard for some students starting out and transitioning from study into practice," he said.

“So many law students feel pressure to follow traditional career pathways, which often sees them finishing law school and moving to major cities like Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. The move is great for certain students, however that career path isn’t for everyone.

“I recently spoke to Griffith law students about career options and discussed other viable ways they can use their degree. The reality is they can do great things in places such as the Gold Coast.”

Julian also uses his experience to help young professionals advance their careers through the Gold Coast Junior Chamber of Commerce (GCJCC) where he volunteers his time as secretary.

“The GCJCC is an excellent platform for early career professionals who are learning the ropes, building their personal brand and establishing themselves,” he said.

“Attending professional networking opportunities such as those organised by the GCJCC is a great way to establish a network. As a lawyer, day-to-day practice is made much easier and clients benefit when you have a network to leverage off.

“The GCJCC’s advocacy work for the Gold Coast and the talent that we can produce and foster here is a key reason for my involvement in the organisation.”