Young alumni making their mark

Lawyers Weekly is a leading media and communication resource for the legal profession in Australia. Through its monthly publication and digital platforms, Lawyers Weekly contributes to the state and future direction of the profession. Part of this contribution is the recognition of leading lawyers, including young legal professionals. The 30 Under 30 Awards attracts nominations from across the Australian legal profession. The value of the Award is described by Raymond:

I am honoured to have won the 30 Under 30 Technology Law award, and I am grateful to UTS for providing me with the foundation that I needed to succeed in my career.

The Awards recognise the profession’s ‘rising stars’ as lawyers who have achieved significant milestones in the early stage of their legal careers. Michael and Raymond are exemplary examples of young practitioners who are having a significant impact on the reputation of the profession through their work. 

Michael Tangonan is an in-house lawyer with the Financial Services Legal team at AMP. He commenced his career at AMP as a paralegal in 2020 and continued as a legal counsel with the team in 2021 after his admission.  Michael won the 30 under 30 Corporate Counsel (Large Corporate) award last year.

Michael completed a combined Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Bachelor of Arts in International Studies in 2020. 

As a law student, Michael developed a passion for mooting, representing UTS in the Philip C. Jessup Law Moot Competition, the University of Wollongong Intervarsity Criminal Law Moot, the Nicholas Cowdery QC Criminal Law Moot, and the Allen & Overy Private Law Moot. 

Michael believes in giving back to the academy, the profession, and the community and has a specific interest in diversity and inclusion advocacy. 

He is the NSW Vice-President of the NSW Branch of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association, the Chair of the Inclusion and Diversity Council at AMP, and sits on the Law Society of NSW’s Corporate In-House Lawyers Committee. He also serves as member of the Editorial Board for the Berkeley Centre on Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law Online Blog.

Michael speaks of his UTS law degree:

The practical and solutions-based approach of teaching law at UTS has assisted me in always considering the underlying policy objectives of regulation and the impacts of consequences across multiple stakeholders including government, business, and customers. This has assisted me in providing more well-rounded and commercially-sensitive advice to my clients.

Raymond Sun is a solicitor in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications at Herbert Smith Freehills, having joined the firm in 2020. 

Raymond completed a Bachelor of Laws in 2019. Throughout his study, he actively participated in curricular and co-curricular opportunities. Raymond was placed on the Dean’s Merit List and first in Competition Law in 2019. He tutored students in Criminal Law through the UTS Law Students Society (LSS) tutoring scheme. 

Raymond was selected to join the UTS Law High Achievers Mentoring Program where he was mentored by a NSW Supreme Court judge. He was involved in the LLS as a competitions’ judge and participated in the UTS Justice Action Committee. His commitment to social justice and access to the law is also reflected in his volunteering as a student with headspace and the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS). 

Raymond reflects on his study at UTS:

I loved how UTS Law has a strong focus on practical education and technology, and it was one of the earliest schools to introduce the “Disruptive Technology and Law” course, which was the subject that actually inspired me to pursue a career in technology law! Beyond the core law courses, my UTS Law degree also offered free elective units which I used to study some computer science subjects at the IT faculty to grow my programming skills, and I believe that this well-rounded education has prepared me well for a career in technology law.

Professor Anita Stuhmcke, UTS Dean of Law, proudly notes: 

Michael and Raymond represent the results of a legal education that inspires students to follow their passion in the law through applying the skills and values they developed throughout their study. Both Michael and Raymond were taught by expert academics and practitioners who are committed to student success and fulfilment.