Student Highlights
Law school balances study with real world experience

Hannah has always been highly motivated, from high school and now into university study. With interests in debating, writing, politics and social justice, a career in law was an obvious choice.

Taking a gap year after high school and relocating to Newcastle from Port Macquarie, Hannah wanted a university that felt like home but provided an attractive law program.

“I knew that attending the University of Newcastle would suit my desire to experience a new city full of opportunity, while still enjoying a regional lifestyle close to home,” she said.

The School of Law and Justice offers a leading approach that combines a Bachelor of Law and the Diploma of Legal Practice, giving students the opportunity to graduate work-ready.

“The clinical, hands-on approach that the University of Newcastle School of Law and Justice offers to its students was also appealing, as someone who is driven towards not only academics but gaining real-world experience that would prepare me for life outside of study,” she said.

Given the extensive opportunity law provides for Hannah, she was excited to explore this further through work experience and find her place within the law industry.

“Studying law is such a diverse field with a wide range of opportunities not only in legal practice, but also in other quasi-legal, corporate and community type roles. Studying law gave me the flexibility to explore what I was most interested in career-wise,” she said.

Reflecting on the networking potential the School of Law and Justice provides, Hannah is grateful for the connections she has already made and continues to create through study and events.

“Developing these networks is such a valuable feature of the journey through the School of Law and Justice, and these connections will no doubt stay with us as we transition into being colleagues within the legal profession,” she said.

As part of her program, students can complete work experience within the Newcastle Legal Centre. This integrated experience and mentoring element enables work-ready exposure to the legal environment before finishing their program.

“This experience was an important insight into the legal issues that are facing our community and gave me the opportunity to enhance my professional skills in areas such as client interviewing, drafting and legal research,” she said.

Working alongside academics within the Newcastle Legal Centre highlighted to Hannah the external contributions staff are making to better the community, while encouraging student success.

“The experience helped not only hone my research and writing skills, which was a wonderful opportunity for me professionally, but it also gave me insight into how the teaching staff at the School of Law and Justice are not only focused on delivering a valuable learning experience for us students, but they are also making important contributions to the research community at the intersection of law, justice, technology and innovation,” she said.

Excited to start her career, Hannah is currently working as a paralegal in a global firm. Incorporating her study and work experience into her career has given her the confidence to explore areas of law and continue to grow.

“I’m looking forward to taking the practical and academic knowledge that I have learned during my time at University and applying those skills as I look to begin my career in the legal profession as a graduate lawyer,” she said.

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Hannah Middlebrook

Hannah always had an interest in law. Wanting a university that felt like home while offering a prestigious law school experience, University of Newcastle was the perfect fit.

The clinical, hands-on approach that the University of Newcastle School of Law and Justice offers to its students was also appealing, as someone who is driven towards not only academics but gaining real-world experience that would prepare me for life outside of study.