Global law degree opens doors to career success

David Lyons, Master of Global Law, online

For industrial relations specialist David Lyons, completing a Graduate Certificate in Global Law Practice at Griffith University has opened doors he’d only previously dreamt about.

With more than 20 years experience in industrial Relations, OHS and employment law, he says the degree perfectly complements this givinghim the formal qualifications to boost career success.

“The highlight of my Grad Cert has been gaining entry as an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators based in London,’’ he said.

“I was already a student member thanks to studying at Griffith Uni, then being admitted as Associate Member due to the qualification, on top of 20 years of experience in arbitration.”

David began a law degree after more than 10 years in the Building Industry but left before graduating when he found employment with the union movement. So began his industrial relations career in construction, infrastructure and the resources industry.

Then after nearly 10 years as the principal consultant in his firm he says: “When the resources sector was booming my firm was doing extremely well, but when the bottom fell out of the market, business plummeted.”

“I was browsing on LinkedIn one day and I saw the ad for the Grad Cert/Masters. I thought it sounded interesting.”

New world of study

Although he hadn’t studied for 20 years, David soon became familiar with academic rigour, achieving a high distinction for his first subject.

“I spent the first couple of weeks with my law dictionary in one hand and an academic dictionary in the other,’’ he laughs.

“But the lecturers were world class with brilliant teachers who have great legal minds. The student support was also great, especially as learning how to study in an online space was new to me.

“I really enjoyed the flexibility of the study — if I was busy at work one week, I could reduce my hours and then add more on slower work weeks.”

David has now enrolled in the Master of Global Law and hopes to continue working in arbitration law in Australia and overseas.