Julia Gillard graduated in law and arts from the University of Melbourne in 1986. At Melbourne, and earlier at the University of Adelaide, Gillard was active in student politics. She was president of both the Adelaide University Union and the Australian Union of Students.
One of the first female partners in the law firm Slater & Gordon at the age of 29, she specialised in industrial law. She became chief of staff to the State Leader of the Opposition, John Brumby, and was one of the founders of the Emily's List network for ALP women.
Gillard was elected to the federal parliament in 1998, winning the seat of Lalor on the retirement of Barry Jones. Quickly promoted to Labor's leadership group, she developed significant new policies as spokesperson on immigration, and then on health. She became Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Labor's Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations in 2006.
Following the ALP victory in the federal election of 2007, Julia Gillard became the first woman appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
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