Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Kobi Leins

I commenced Arts/Law with a view to getting a scholarship to study abroad with the Arts component of my degree, and the ability to always find employment with the Law component. Both appear to have worked so far. I studied all of the Law subjects which I had to, and then my optionals were all subjects which I enjoyed: Human Rights Law, International Law, the Jessup moot, etc. I only did the corporate subjects which were compulsory. I did go out on a limb and do a research unit which I really enjoyed.

I don't think that the subjects which you choose are as important as people make out that they are when you are at university. I think that what is important is to choose subjects which interest you and which you will enjoy. Subjects merely indicate an interest in an area later down the track. If you aren't interested in tax law at university, the odds are you won't really enjoy working in that field later on. It makes sense. Do what you enjoy, not what people tell you you should do. Recommendation number one: Find out what interests you and do it! The marks which you get in those subjects are also much less important in later life than your peers would like to have you think they are. I also figure that if you do subjects you enjoy, you are much more likely to do well at them anyway.

After completing my Arts degree, I travelled to Berlin to undertake my Honours degree. There I worked in a publishing house and very nearly did not return to Monash to complete my law degree. Luckily, however, I did.

When I returned to Melbourne I had the coming home blues, and no Arts subjects to balance out my studies as I had completed my Arts degree. As a result I emailed everyone I knew asking what they were doing with their law degree which was interesting. I was not that keen on the idea of the corporate life. I had some wonderful responses, and one lead to an internship with the United Nations Compensation Commission, which I pursued. Luckily, the Dean's Scholarship helped me out financially, and the experience of two months in Geneva was a wonderful one. This experience really opened my eyes up to what was possible. Recommendation number two: Don't be shy ask your friends/family/colleagues/lecturers for any contacts they may have to work in the area in which you think you may be interested. If you are genuine and polite and show initiative, it is really hard for people to turn you down. You'd be amazed what you might dig up, and how helpful people are. And if they aren't, find other people who are helpful. There are so many opportunities out there.

I did articles with Deacons. I personally wasn't a great fan of articles. On the other hand, it did give me excellent legal training which has stood me in good stead. The corporate experience is certainly looked upon very favourably overseas, however, if you are overseas, very few people will know whether a firm is medium sized or large or run by two partners. This emphasis, which I find whilst at Law school, to get into a big firm, really becomes irrelevant as long as you have had some corporate/commercial experience. There are other ways of getting this experience, though, such as legal centres. Government departments are slightly different in their slant, and if you can get experience in both, all the better! This could even be voluntary to a certain extent - as long as you have had some exposure to the different ways of thinking of the organisations, that is a huge plus.

I became involved with the local Red Cross around this time, and was lucky enough to be sponsored to go to Darwin for a conference on International Humanitarian Law. This was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and to get out of the thought pattern that the corporate reality was the only possibility.

I tried a lot of things, including Youth Ambassadors Abroad positions, which have become quite competitive. I didn't get a position. I kept an eye on www.reliefweb.int which is really THE place to look for international humanitarian jobs. If there is any one thing I would emphasise, it is not to give up. Recommendation number three: Don't give up trying! Keep copies of your rejections - I wish I had. There is no magical formula to success. Most people don't walk into dream jobs. Lots of junior lawyers are trying to get out of the rut - you will get your turn! And if you can't get a paid position, find out about the areas which interest you and try to arrange an internship yourself.

Don't think that someone else has to employ you. Work until you have the money to go somewhere to do what you want to do. Recommendation number four: Volunteer! Figure out what you love and go do it. Volunteering opens up amazing opportunities. Lots of people say that they want to work in humanitarian/human rights/international law. Don't just talk about it - do it! Get involved in even one voluntary job in the area you love. You'll be amazed what opportunities this opens up.

I found those approaches really helpful - good luck with your pursuit of an interesting career in law! There are some amazing opportunities, and they aren't out of reach.