The lecturers challenged me intellectually and they encouraged me to think outside the box.
What is your current role?
I am a corporate immigration lawyer at Guberman Garson LLP , an independent immigration law firm allied with Deloitte and based in Canada. I first gained experience in Australian immigration law before going on to practice exclusively in the area of Canadian immigration law. My job is to advise clients on all matters relating to Canadian immigration law and immigration issues, as well as assisting clients to complete applications for permanent residence in Canada.
What drew you to study in Sydney?
While I was an undergraduate student in Canada I learned a lot about Australia’s rich culture, and was attracted to the lifestyle of living by the coast in an international world class city. I really wanted to learn in a warmer climate, with people from different parts of the world, who all share the same objective of obtaining a world class education in law from law professionals who are passionate about their area of expertise.
Why did you choose to study law?
Since I was a child I have had a strong passion for social justice, and while completing my undergraduate studies in Canada, I also developed a deep interest in criminality. I’ve had several family members serve in the Vancouver Police Force, and that in part motivated me to apply to study law. While studying at UTS Law, my ultimate career goal was to become a prosecutor. I was lucky enough to work for a renowned criminal defense lawyer throughout my JD studies, and this experience only served to reinforce my interest in pursuing a career in criminal law.
What did you like about studying at UTS?
Reflecting back on my journey at UTS Law, the three years went by very quickly and they were some of the happiest times of my life. The lecturers challenged me intellectually and they encouraged me to think outside the box. In addition, I really enjoyed the networking opportunities provided by the Faculty. The ability to work while attending classes provided me with the unique opportunity to gain hands on practical experience in the industry – so I was able to apply my learned knowledge to real life legal scenarios, all while still at law school!
I believe the UTS Law JD program provided me with both the technical and interpersonal skills needed to excel in my current career as an immigration lawyer.
What did you like most about the JD course?
I enjoyed the smaller lecture sizes and the weekly tutorials where we had the opportunity to ask our tutor specific questions in relation to the subject content. In addition, the lecturers were all very friendly and approachable - it was great to learn from lecturers who were still current legal practitioners.