Law careers are one step closer for three Griffith Law School graduates who have been awarded positions with a prestigious Brisbane law firm’s graduate program.
Sam Nean, Emi Christensen and Naomi Midha will take up the two-year program with Norton Rose Fulbright at the end of March.
Their individual journeys from student to lawyer may have taken slightly different paths but all have their sights firmly set on burgeoning international careers.
Sam knew she wanted to be a lawyer from a very young age and once she reached high school where she undertook legal studies she discovered a passion for advocacy.
“It was clear to me that law underpins everything in society and I wanted to be a part of that,’’ she said.
As a Griffith Honours College student, Sam was chosen to attend an International Youth leadership conference in Prague prior to studying a semester on exchange.
“It was an amazing experience and I learnt a great deal about the European system of governance and law.”
After graduating from Griffith in 2014 she spent a year as a judge’s associate in the Supreme Court, which she said, was an invaluable experience.
“It gave me a practical insight into how the justice system works. I’m now looking forward to seeing how things happen on the other side as a lawyer with Norton Rose Fulbright.”
Sam hopes to practice in litigation and develop an international focus in her work.
International experience
Emi, also a Griffith Honours College student travelled extensively throughout her degree which took her six years to complete instead of five because of her international commitments.
She studied human rights and leadership in Prague in 2012, spent a semester at the University of Copenhagen on exchange in 2013, and in 2014 was awarded a Prime Minister’s Scholarship (now the New Colombo Plan) to study in Japan.
While in Japan, she completed an honours thesis on indigenous human rights, with case studies on the Japanese Ainu people and Australia’s indigenous people.
“I’m looking forward to starting my career at a global law firm with a commitment to community and social responsibility.”
For Naomi, a career as an economist was her initial dream but at her father’s suggestion, she chose to study law as well as commerce.
“Once I started studying law I realised it really suited my personality as I love communicating and interacting with people and I love the problem-solving that’s part and parcel of law.”
Originally from India, Naomi moved to Australia when she was eight but her family moved back to India when she was a teenager and she completed Years 11 and 12 in India.
“I consider myself Australian so when I went back to India it was a huge cultural shock but I can honestly say it was the best experience. I loved it and it made me appreciate how lucky we are in Australia.”
Naomi chose to study at the Griffith Law School because of its reputation and she wasn’t disappointed.
“I wanted to work in Australia and I heard a lot of good things about the Griffith law program and its focus on practical as well as theoretical concepts.
Like Emi and Sam, Naomi also participated in an international internship, hers in India at a real estate firm. Her Australian experience includes working at a small Gold Coast-based boutique firm when she was part of the litigation team on one of the biggest personal insolvency cases in Australia.
“I am interested in many different aspects of commercial law and the graduate program will help me decide.”
In whatever area of law they work, one thing is clear, the future is bright for this young trio of lawyers.