Alex Oum

Law is a natural fit for Alex Oum who has always had a passion for advocacy and public speaking. Alex started studying Law at UTS with a keen focus on establishing his future career, and says, “I chose UTS because of its central location in the Sydney CBD, which meant that when the time came to apply for internships and work experience, opportunities would be a lot more accessible.”

Alex’s study strategy really paid off. He is currently working as a Legal Intern at a commercial law firm while completing his 5th year of a combined Bachelor of Communication (Digital and Social Media) Bachelor of Laws degree.

“The ability to learn about the law, coupled with hands-on experience working at a firm, has been extremely helpful in providing a more rounded experience of what it is like to work in the legal sector. After studying both contracts and real property as subjects during my degree, I was able to undertake conveyancing work for various firms I worked for by drafting and reviewing property contracts.”

Now on track to graduate in 2022 with the skills and experience to kickstart his career, Alex reflects on his uni experience: “The most valuable thing I have learnt so far is to be open-minded and to give everything a go.”

“One of my most memorable experiences so far would have to be participating in the UTS Law Society negotiations competition during the early stages of my degree. Negotiations competitions are a great way for law students to practice their advocacy and communication skills through scenarios that simulate real life legal negotiations. I learnt lots of practical skills such as how to be a better problem solver, being a more persuasive speaker, and how to practice better cooperation between stakeholders.”

Outside of Law, Alex thrives as a social butterfly. He is part of many UTS student societies, has made meaningful friendships and found a great support network. He says, “My best memories of uni would have to be the days where I would meet up with my uni mates and we would study together.

UTS offered so many great campus facilities for us to use such as the library, law buildings, and study rooms. Having a support network was a great motivator and made my university experience memorable because I was able to share it with friends, study hard together, and of course go out to eat after we would finish studying!”

Beyond uni, Alex hopes to put his legal skills into action and pursue work in policy. He says, “My current career goals are to start a career in government, where I will be able to make real and meaningful change to our communities.”