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Population: 4 million
Time Zone: GMT/UTC plus 10 hours
Telephone Area Code: 02

INTRODUCTION

Sydney is Australia 's oldest city, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. It's blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, delicious and daring restaurants, superb shopping and friendly folk. Although it's come a long way from its convict beginnings, it still has a rough and ready energy, and offers an invigorating blend of the old and the new, the raw and the refined. While high culture attracts some to the Opera House, gaudy nightlife attracts others to Kings Cross.

It's a city blessed with long stretches of heavenly beaches, a pleasant climate that sees over 300 sunny days a year, an economy that's stronger than it should be, a stable local government, and a population of open-minded, outgoing entrepreneurial types who are itching to show the whole place off.

Skyscrapers in the Central Business District ( CBD ) vie for dominance and harbour views, but the city's relentlessness is softened by shady Hyde Park and The Domain parkland to the east, Darling Harbour to the west and the main harbour to the north. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the harbour tunnel link the city centre with the suburbs of the North Shore . Sydney Airport is about 10km (6mi) south of the city centre. The public transport in Sydney is an integrated system and one ticket can get you travelling by bus, ferry or train to almost any part of the city.

THINGS TO DO

Bondi Beach is the grand dame of Sydney 's beaches, with a magnificent sweep of sand and a never-ending series of majestic rollers. The foreshore is an eclectic mix of ice-cream parlours, designer cafés, greasy fish and chip joints, and surf fashion stores.

Once a thriving industrial port, Darling Harbour is now a vast Harbourside leisure park. Its various venues include the excellent Sydney Aquarium and Powerhouse Museum , the Australian National Maritime Museum , the touristy Harbourside shopping mall and Segaworld amusement park. The emphasis is on casual fun and enjoyment of the kind appreciated by families with small children.

The Rocks can be delightful. Attractions include the weekend market, the Sydney Observatory, and numerous craft shops and art galleries. But it's the old buildings, alleyways and historic facades that attract most visitors. Check out the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel and The Hero of Waterloo , two of Sydney 's oldest pubs.

LAW FIRMS/INDUSTRY

Sydney is the most sought after location for both overseas and interstate lawyers largely because a large proportion of Australia 's legal work is catered for in Sydney . Sydney is a true hive of legal activity and its popularity with lawyers is also peaked due to the great combination of work and lifestyle amenities.

Sydney offers private practice lawyers sensational internationally recognized work across most legal disciplines in international, national and specialized boutique practices. Transactional work in particular tends to be bigger in dollar terms in Sydney than elsewhere in Australia . Lawyers seeking an in-house option are offered a spectrum of options with many multinational organizations having offices in Sydney . The market is competitive with many new entrants from interstate competing for sought after work with the big end of town.

Success in private practice life in Sydney , requires assertiveness, superior marketing and networking abilities, and a high end technical skill set. The ability to schmooze over a martini also doesn't go astray, particularly on Friday night when many savvy lawyers hit the CBD bar scene with a vengeance.