Haran DeLillo

Which high school did you attend? Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill

Which degree are you studying? What year are you in? 2nd year, Bachelor of Engineering Science/Bachelor of Laws

What led you to choose UTS for your studies in Law? What influenced your decision? I wanted to attend a university in Sydney and had heard many positive things about UTS from people studying there. More importantly, it had been recommended to me by lawyers who had either studied at UTS or employed people who had graduated from UTS:Law. I received strong feedback that the UTS program produced graduates who had a solid understanding of law and an ability to secure notable graduate positions.

How have your studies at UTS helped you in finding a career path? My study of law at UTS has helped me realise that I definitely want to become a legal professional, be it a solicitor or barrister.  I am still to decide on which avenue of the law I wish to work in. However, I feel that the range of elective subjects offered at UTS will help me narrow my field.

Are you working while studying? How do you manage the competing demands of university and work? I currently work part-time as a law clerk in a commercial law firm. Because of the flexibility of coursework that UTS:Law provides, I have been able to structure my week so that I can meet the demands of both work and uni. The high number of lectures and tutorials that are scheduled for law subjects, in addition to the availability of many recorded lectures online, has allowed me to pick up what I may have missed.

How has your learning experience at UTS prepared you for your career? What sort of work do you hope to be doing after you graduate? Though I only work as a law clerk now, the material covered in many of my classes (particularly contracts and commercial law) has provided me with a foundational understanding of the law for when I commence work in a commercial law firm.

What sets UTS students apart in your field? I learnt early on that UTS:Law students cannot be easily categorised, as they all have different backgrounds and different motives for studying law. This student diversity means there are students who excel in all fields relevant to law, and as such UTS produces a broad spectrum of lawyers.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your degree? For me, being able to study the law itself is greatly rewarding, as it is a real passion of mine. The prospect of working in the legal field is also a great privilege.

What is the most useful thing you have learned from your degree so far? One of the most useful things I have learnt to do in law is research.  Though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, the online research skills I learnt in my Legal Method and Research classes have proved most important in my work as a law clerk.

Has anyone in particular at the University had a significant influence on your studies? I cannot single out any particular individual thus far that has had a more significant influence on my studies than the others. However, I can say that each of my lecturers and especially tutors have been most informative and approachable.

What would your advice be for someone who is looking at studying Law at UTS? I believe that anyone wishing to study law should seriously consider UTS when allocating their preferences.  I believe that it is one of the best law degrees for anyone considering a career as a lawyer or even seeking an understanding of the law for use in other fields, such as business. On a more social note, it is worthwhile to get to know your peers at UTS. The friendships that form between law students at UTS last beyond one’s degree.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience at UTS:Law, or the University as a whole? I believe that university is not merely an avenue for the pursuit of academics, but also friendship, networking and extracurricular activities. In respect to law, I partook in the Witness Examination competition (similar to Mock Trial) held by the UTS Law Students’ Society, which gave me the opportunity to travel to Melbourne and compete against students from around Australia and New Zealand. Becoming involved in societies and clubs, particularly the UTS LSS for law students, is a great way to add to the experience of uni.