MLS community celebrates distinguished alumni

The enduring global impact of the Melbourne Law School’s (MLS) alumni was the focus of celebrations to kick off the academic year for Melbourne’s legal scholars.

“One of the great things about bringing together a large group of alumni is seeing just how diverse a legal career can be,” says MLS Dean Professor Carolyn Evans.

“Naturally, among our alumni we have a wonderful representation of judges and lawyers, but we are also able to count people like Dr Francis Gurry, the most senior Australian at the United Nations, among our community. Dr Gurry gave the keynote speech at our recent Gala event, and we were joined by alumni who have been successful in business, the not-for-profit sector, members of parliament, diplomats, public servants, novelists and entrepreneurs.”

The MLS community was also able to learn about the impact philanthropy can have on current students at a crucial time in their law degrees, and several current scholarship students joined the festivities.

“For many students, financial assistance is the difference of being able to move from the country to the city or have enough time to seriously commit to their studies unencumbered by work responsibilities,” Professor Evans says. “For some donors and students, it can be an on-going relationship and not just a one-off gift.”

Third year Indigenous student Jacqueline Katona says the impact of financial support as a mature age student cannot be underestimated. 

“It kept me in law school,” she says, “because the financial barriers were so great for me.”

Ms Katona says she decided to study law to become a more effective advocate for Indigenous people. 

“A friend of mine who is a very strong supporter of Melbourne Law School convinced me that it was the only place to be enrolled,” she says. 

However, the day-to-day considerations of returning to full-time study presented the greatest challenges. 

“The practical problems are often the greatest barriers, rather than the educational. A tremendous challenge for me was leaving the workforce and leaving a full-time income,” she says.

Meeting her benefactor and learning of his story and other people’s experiences of dealing with their own personal challenges is also inspiring Ms Katona to persevere during difficult times in her studies.

“The more stories you hear about the challenges people have faced, the more inspired and committed you become. You can see the outcomes are going to far outweigh the sacrifices you make,” she says.

Third year JD student Christopher Kaias was working his way toward a legal career when a cancer diagnosis in the last year of his Arts degree turned his life upside down. He continued to study throughout his treatment, but the challenges of that year meant he needed time to recharge. 

One year later, he returned to study and commenced the JD at Melbourne Law School where he received financial assistance. 

“It’s prestigious and it’s fantastic and I’m really appreciative of being able to study Law at Melbourne. But for me, when I heard I’d been awarded the scholarship, the greatest sense was relief because I was really financially stressed after the illness,” he says.

Second-year law student Kalia Laycock-Walsh believes that financial assistance can equate to an invaluable gift of time at law school.

“I really want to give it the time it deserves by working really hard,” she says.

Receiving financial assistance made the transition to post-graduate studies easier for Ms Laycock-Walsh and allowed her to make the most of extracurricular opportunities that expanded her outlook on the opportunities a legal career presented.

Ms Laycock-Walsh moved from the Victorian regional town of Castlemaine to pursue her degree in international studies before undertaking the Juris Doctor at Melbourne to develop further her critical analysis skills and broaden career options.

Hearing that she had been awarded the Melbourne JD Harold Ford Scholarship, which supports academically outstanding students in financial need, was a “fantastic vote of confidence,” she says. 

“Coming from a public school in a little country town, I thought Melbourne Law School seemed elite, with its Latin motto and everything.” 

But she says what motivated her was the knowledge that the more effort you put in, the more you get out of the experience and key to that is having spare time.

“So the scholarship was also about there being a place for me at Melbourne Law School. I was someone they wanted there, which was very encouraging. I was very proud to receive it,” she says. 

www.alumni.unimelb.edu.au

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