Elliot Luke (Australia)
Bachelor of Arts (French and Spanish, Honours) – University College London
Master of Science (Development Studies) – London School of Economics and Political Science
What motivated you to pursue studying law?
Following my masters degree, I spent about two years trying to put my studies to good use within the Latin American and Australian NGO sectors. I gained a good amount of experience in the fields of human rights and international development, working in activism, campaigns and programs. It became clear to me that the law is something which permeates these fields both on an international and on a domestic level, and I lacked much of an understanding of legal perspective at either.
Ultimately, whilst I had and continue to have great respect for the organisations for which I was working, I didn’t feel sufficiently challenged or stimulated in my day-to-day tasks. Many of those who were working in the higher echelons of the organisations had specialised in such fields as law, journalism or economics and I came to recognise that with a professional qualification, I would be able to return to that work in the future, make more of an impact to those organisations and allow me to get more out of my career.
For me, law was the obvious option. I have always been interested in the way in which the law frames the societies we live in and especially where there are shortcomings which need attention. I was given a gentle nudge towards the law when I finished high school, but as a stubborn teenager I had my own ideas. By the time I returned to university to pursue the JD in my late twenties, I felt ready for the challenges which lay ahead of me and the stimulation which I had previously been missing.
Why did you choose to take the Melbourne JD?
I knew I wanted to study law at the graduate level. Having studied at that level before, I was aware of the advantages that come from being exposed to an older group of people with diverse life experiences. I was initially offered a place on the older, more intensive JD, but I decided to wait a year until the Law School had made the transition to a fully graduate school. I was hoping to have more optional subjects available to me than would have been possible otherwise, and wanted to go through as part of a larger cohort.
Why did you choose the Melbourne Law School?
Initially I intended to study in the US and was admitted to a top-ten law school on the West Coast. My attention was grabbed however when I learnt that Melbourne was to become the first Australian university to become a fully graduate law school. I was attracted to this progressive way of thinking and so I did a bit more investigation.
I discovered that Melbourne is regarded the top law school in the country and one of the best in the world, so there was no shortage of high calibre. Also, having spoken to the JD staff, it seemed to me that the law school is extremely accommodating of its students’ goals and ambitions. I half expected to be laughed out of there with a mention of human rights, but I was surprised to find myself being wooed with a plethora of subjects in that area and the possibility of overseas exchanges and internships.
When I closely compared what was being offered at Melbourne and in the US, and took into consideration the vast difference in cost, I decided that Melbourne actually offered me more. What sealed it was the fact that Melbourne is in Australia, and as an Aussie who has spent a great deal of his life overseas, I was very attracted by the idea that I might be able to reconnect with my roots. I haven’t been disappointed – even my London accent has disappeared!
Describe your experience of the Melbourne JD to date. What have been the highlights so far?
The academic staff I have come into contact with are extremely responsive to students and will bend over backwards to help them, answer their questions or give them guidance. This is not what I expected from law school, where I expected to be just another anonymous student with grand plans. They really are incredibly generous with their time.
The Law School is also a hive of activity – there are always seminars, morning teas and events going on which are open to students. It gives you a great chance to dip in and out of different areas of the law, ask questions and meet experts in many fields. What this has taught me is that the law is even bigger than I thought it was and my own interests are far wider now than they were a year ago.
My fellow students are also pretty amazing. The course is an intense experience and you make some very close friendships very quickly. Far from being the cutthroat, competitive bunch that law students are rumoured to be, I’ve found the members of my cohort to be congenial, supportive, friendly and always ready for a hard-earned beer on a Thursday night when classes have finished for the week. I have no doubt that I’ll have some life-long friends when I leave Law School.
What are you planning to do when you have completed your degree?
I want to qualify for admission in Australia before I head overseas again. I’ll hopefully do this in a commercial firm or a branch of government and then maybe do another year or two on top of that to gain experience. One thing that has been drummed into us is that the professional skills you will pick up in practice are extremely transferrable and will stand you in good stead in any field, and that has really resonated with me.
After that, my plan is to head back to some corner of Latin America and resume working in human rights. I’ve always wanted to work for the UN, so that’s the ultimate dream. Having said that, this course is making me question and re-evaluate everything. I feel as though a whole world of opportunity is opening up for me and I don’t want to rule anything out. I’m enjoying it so much that I’ll even toy with the idea of another masters, this time in law, and who knows, perhaps a PhD in the future?
What advice do you have for others considering taking the Melbourne JD at the University of Melbourne?
Think carefully about it. It is a big commitment in terms of time, money and effort. It certainly won’t be for everyone. Sometimes the hours can be long, and the pressure high. That said, the rewards are plentiful. It has been years since I have felt so consistently challenged and stimulated in any environment, academic or professional, and I am finding it extremely enjoyable.
I would also advise potential students not to rush things. There is the option of accelerating the course and I had intended to do just that. However I now find myself questioning how much I want to. There are so many interesting things going on at the Law School that it would seem a shame to miss out on them by hurrying along my time here.
Lastly, I would advise people not to come straight into Law School out of an undergraduate degree. Travel (a lot if you’re anything like me!), work, love and live for a couple of years. That way you’ll be more ready for the degree when you get there, you’ll have more to offer and you’ll get more out of it. I started the degree at 28 and feel like I’m just hitting my stride. Don’t be afraid to take that time – use it to your advantage before you settle in for an intense ride through the JD.