Taryn Priadko

Are you working while studying?  Yes. Thankfully, the flexible timetabling offered by UTS has meant that I have been able to work gainfully throughout my degree, whilst pursuing a number of volunteer roles and internships to gain legal work experience, and still keeping up with extracurricular activities.

What does your job involve? Is it related to your degree? At present, I am working as a Youth Advocacy Coordinator at the organisation Anti-Slavery Australia, and also as a Paralegal at a law firm. Both of these jobs are related to my law degree, yet at Anti-Slavery Australia I have found that I am able to utilise some of my Writing and Cultural Studies and general Communications skills in conducting legal outreach work as well. Both of these opportunities have come to me through connections I have made whilst studying at UTS.

How do you manage the competing demands of university and work? A law degree can seem daunting, however the UTS Law Faculty go out of their way to make subject workloads manageable. You are given a guide in the form of a Subject Outline which will set out the tasks that you should complete week to week. Learn to work to these deadlines and you will find that you will not be left with a huge workload at the last minute. This way you can prioritise competing demands, not just with work but with social and extracurricular activities as well. It is important to maintain these for a healthy work-life balance. The onus is on you, but UTS:Law will give you a great head-start to learn how to juggle competing demands before you head out into practice/

What led you to choose UTS:Law for your studies? It was actually the UTS:Communications degree that attracted me to the institution initially, however from the beginning of my law studies I have found UTS:Law to be wonderfully unique. The institution is exceptional in the support and opportunities that it offers to students. Whether it is an approachable and friendly staff member, a flexible timetable, an opportunity found within the UTS LSS or Brennan Social Justice and Leadership Program, Practical Legal Training through my degree, or simply classes offered by the Library in Endnote for Law, I have found absolutely everything I need, and more, at UTS:Law.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your degree? Why? The most rewarding aspect of my degree has definitely been my elective studies. By having such a breadth of subjects to choose from, the process of investigating, selecting and studying the fields of the law that pique your particular interest is insightful and rewarding. Studying topics that I am passionate about has led me to realise where I want to end up, and what I can ideally see myself doing with my degree.

Where would you like your double degree to take your career? I would like to venture into the field of international law, or pursue a career in government. I have found that coming from this particular educational background has put me in an advantageous position to apply for jobs that have an element of research, although writing skills have been a good strength to possess generally as well. 

Are you involved in extra-curricular activities such as the Mentoring program, Brennan program, Mooting, LSS? How has this experience aided your career/personal development? I have been involved with a number of extra-curricular activities, such as the Brennan Program, UTS LSS Negotiations Competitions and, in particular, contributing to and editing UTS LSS publications on various subcommittees. Doing so has been rewarding in and of itself, as it has allowed me to meet and work with an array of other students, and to be exposed to things and develop kills that I would not have possessed otherwise. Yet I have also found that it has opened a number of doors, and can lead to accomplishments that can be particularly useful to have under your belt, or in your resume.

What would your advice be for someone who is looking at studying Law at UTS? I would advise them to take advantage of everything the university has to offer. Be engaged and you will gain friendships, opportunities and skills that you have never dreamed of, and that you may not even realise the importance of yet.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience at UTS:Law, or the University as a whole? Having started studying Law at UTS, I have never looked back. I don’t know anyone who has either. It is a great institution and, if nothing else, a great law degree. With its focus on ethics and professional development, you are imbued with vital skills from a very early stage without realising how well these will translate into practice. I have now worked amongst many other students from various institutions and I believe, through and through, that UTS stands their law students in the best stead to get out there and start great careers.