Katherine Agapitos

What led you to choose UTS:Law for your studies?  From the outset I was always interested in UTS as a university. UTS:Law’s PLT program was one of the outstanding features of the degree as it was encompassed within the 5 years of a combined degree at the time of my enrolment in 2010. Further the combined degree itself has prided itself on its flexibility and focus on students building practical legal skills from the commencement of their degree in order to produce well rounded graduates.

If you are working while you are studying, what does your job involve? For the past four years I have been a paralegal in the Workplace Practice Group of a large commercial law firm. This has been an invaluable experience as I have been able to build practical skills whilst undertaking my studies. Being a paralegal is definitely an experience I would recommend all law students take advantage of where they have an opportunity to.

As a paralegal some of the roles and responsibilities include:

• Extensive research on a wide range of legal and procedural issues;
• Drafting memorandums and letters of advice;
• Preparing court documents;
• Assisting with writing articles for inclusion in industry publications;
• Reviewing clients’ internal safety systems and assessing those systems against the legislative and regulatory WHS framework at both a state and federal level; and
• Drafting WHS compliance checklists for large transport, construction and energy companies.

How do you balance study and work commitments? Balancing work and university commitments was difficult at first but enabled me to become very efficient with managing time. Throughout my degree I also balanced work and university with my involvement in the UTS Law Students’ Society. This meant that I did not have much time to waste and procrastinate and I learnt how to maximize my time with all of these activities. Developing effective time management skills has played a significant role in how I approach and prioritise tasks in the workforce.

How have/will your studies at UTS contributed to your career?  Undertaking a combined law degree at UTS has played a significant role in my ability to practice as a lawyer as there has been a strong practical component encompassed in the majority of subjects which makes it very unique when comparing to many other law schools in Sydney and New South Wales. These skills have been significantly transferable in the workplace which is constantly identified by employers.

How have they informed the way you work? In the course of the degree, there has been a strong focus on ensuring that students are equipped with the skills to be reflective practitioners. The graduate attributes that underpin each of the courses have resonated when approaching tasks in my final year of law school as well as in my role as a paralegal. I found from my experience in the workforce, that the graduate attributes that are developed at university flourish once you commence practical work experience.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your degree? Why? The most rewarding part had been having such a strong involvement in the UTS Law Students' Society over the past four years and becoming the President of the Society in 2013. It was a fulfilling experience to have contributed to the student body and Faculty throughout the duration of my degree and enabled me to build networks that will be incredibly significant in my career. The continuous contribution was rewarded by the receipt of the Dean's Special Award which formally acknowledges a major individual contribution by a student, in terms of time and effort, to the general work of the Faculty and, in particular, to student and staff relations at the UTS:Law Awards Ceremony. Another rewarding aspect was achieving the Brennan Justice and Leadership Award and being presented by the former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Sir Gerrard Brennan. These remarkable moments were certainly the pinnacle of my degree and experience at UTS.

What would your advice be for someone who is looking at studying Law at UTS? My advice would be to take advantage of all of the opportunities outside the classroom that are provided by the UTS:Law Faculty and the UTS Law Students’ Society. Taking part in initiatives such as the Brennan Justice and Leadership Program are invaluable with respect to forming a well-rounded education at law school. Competitions such as negotiation, client interview, witness examination and mooting are phenomenal initiatives that can assist students in building practical skills to enhance the knowledge built within the classroom, enabling them to attain advocacy and client based skills before commencing their PLT or entering the workforce.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your experience at UTS:Law, or the University as a whole? Law school is demanding both academically and physically, so it’s vital that you all take care of yourselves during the process. Maintaining a work/study-life balance is crucial.

Whether you are undertaking your legal studies at UTS as a Juris Doctor (JD), a Post-Graduate or an Undergraduate student, your time at law school will be one of the most challenging, yet one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. My advice would be to get involved at university outside of the class room. Whether it is with the Law Students’ Society or other sporting or social clubs, it is vital that you make the most of the opportunity to have a complete university experience.