Maree Selvaraj

What motivated you to study your degree?
I think I’ve always been the type of person that wanted to care for the needs of others. I decided to study my degree because I felt that the legal profession would be a really tangible way to help the marginalised and to bring compassion into the lives of broken people. I also really liked the fact that UTS thought outside the box – I’ve always enjoyed science, and I wasn’t ready to give it up out of pure interest and enjoyment, so I decided to do medical science out of interest, and law out of a desire to make a difference.

What was it like to study at UTS Law? 
Studying at UTS was equal parts challenging and fulfilling. It was challenging because UTS is not a traditional uni, and challenges its students not to approach their studies in a traditional way. I was always encouraged by my academics to see my time at University as an opportunity to learn and to grow, rather than a means to get to my projected career path. It was fulfilling because looking back on my time at UTS I can see how I was grown, and nurtured into a capable young adult.

When I entered university, I was constantly anxious and unsure. UTS taught me how to problem-solve, how to have confidence and pride in my work and most importantly my time at UTS shaped my identity so that I left with excitement to take on the world.

What was the most rewarding aspect of your degree? Why?
The most rewarding part of my degree was understanding things. I’m more of a hands on, learn by doing kind of person than a wrote-learn person. This means that I often struggle with academic-heavy content with little practical outcome. When I started my degree I was really worried about how I would cope with law. The one thing I had been told in High School is that it is a dry, theoretic, readings-heavy degree. This is just not my experience at UTS at all! At UTS I didn’t have to struggle with abstract concepts – I understood things because they related to the profession. I enjoyed learning because I could see how applicable it was and most importantly I gained skills that I still use at work now.

Where would you like your degree to take your career?
At the end of the day, if I can use my degree to show the marginalised people of society – the racial minorities, the children, the people in low socio-economic circumstances, anyone really that the law can be used to protect and strengthen them, and not just as a disciplinary tool or a barrier that continues oppresses them, then I will be happy. My passion was definitely cultivated and grown through my degree – UTS Law places such a heavy emphasis on social justice, and all throughout UTS there is such an important emphasis placed on using our position to exact change that you feel empowered to pay it forward and help the world also.

Are you planning to be admitted as a lawyer or using the legal knowledge & skills to support your career path or vice versa?
I was admitted to practice in November 2016, but I am still not sure if I want to work as a traditional lawyer or not. Right now I’m working in the legal world, but I’m keen to keep exploring where my degree could take me – I think the skills I gained are really malleable and would assist me in almost any profession or career path that I wanted! Ideally, I could see myself in non-traditional legal practice, maybe in dispute resolution or in policy. In addition to working, I currently volunteer with a pro-bono children’s law centre and I really enjoy that.

Did you work while studying?  What did your job involve? Did it relate to your degree?
I worked all throughout my degree in a few different areas – I worked in hospitality for a bit, I worked for the university for the majority of my degree, private tutoring and as a medical receptionist. In my last year I was able to clerk for a medical negligence barrister and do an internship at a pro-bono children’s law centre. I think that working in a field that relates to your degree can help you to keep focused. Its sometimes easy to become disillusioned that life will just be studying, and work keeps you grounded that you are working toward something, and allows you to enjoy the experience along the way. However, I think its important to sometimes work in something that isn’t related to your degree – maybe customer service, or something really people-oriented because these skills can’t be taught, they need to be gained. Learning how to communicate well for example is an important skill in the legal profession, but something that can be gained in a variety of places too!

Were you involved in extra-curricular activities such as the Mentoring program, Brennan program, Mooting, LSS? How has this experience aided your career/personal development?
During my time at UTS I was really involved in extra-curricular activities both in and outside of uni – I did the Brennan Program, I volunteered with the SSU, I was really active in social clubs, I did witness examination for a semester, I attended a few LSS events and I did a whole range of stuff outside of uni too including mentoring programs and youth programs. I also completed the BUILD and SOUL awards.

I think these experiences have helped me to appreciate that uni is not just about study. I have learnt so much about how to work with children, how to give back to the community, how to communicate clearly, leadership and networking skills and so much about the kind of person that I want to be through my extra-curricular. I think ultimately these experiences have shaped where I want to end up in my career – serving and caring for others in a practical way.

What would your advice be for someone who is looking at studying Law at UTS?
My advice would be to sit down and think about where you see yourself in five years. If you know where you want to be, then you should think about how well UTS Law can get you there. Ask yourself honestly, can this program get me to where I want to be. I think you will find that the answer is probably yes. If you don’t know where you want to be in five years (like I didn’t when I started at uni) then you should pick an institute that is nurturing, challenging, fun and with track record of high quality education so that you can develop as a person and work out what you want to do.

My last piece of advice would be this – never give up on getting where you want to be. If you don’t get into Law, or UTS then there are always other ways in, and never EVER stop believing in your ability to make it to where you want to be. When I was in High School I was told that I should give up on my dreams of UTS Law because they were too out of reach for me, but 6 years later, I have two degrees and a graduate certificate from this amazing institute, and that’s because I didn’t give up, and you shouldn’t either!

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience at UTS Law, or the University as a whole?
I am so HONOURED to be an alumni of UTS because I honestly think that it is the best university ever. The UTS Law faculty is an incredible faculty – their teaching standard is incredible, their practical application is unparalleled, their desire to think outside of the box and offer degrees and courses that are in emerging areas is very clear in the way that everything is run, and this is a reflection of UTS as a whole. I think the defining characteristic of UTS is its age – because UTS is so young there is no traditional structure that is followed – UTS evaluates everything and is constantly challenging itself to be better, to do things differently, to be more relevant and its exciting to be a part of that. At the end of the day, your time at university isn’t just a time to get degree, or a stepping stone to your career but it should be one of the most formative times of your life that you can look back on with joy and excitement, and so go to the institute that offers that whole package.