Students in Focus
Why Tuggeranong student Georgia Nelson chose UC to launch her law career
Georgia Nelson always knew she wanted to be a lawyer. The first-year University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ student remembers people telling her from very early on that’s what she was born to do.
“When I was younger, I would always hear ‘you would be such a good lawyer’ from people – probably because I’ve always been quite outspoken and opinionated, haha – and it kind of stuck with me! I thought: that does sound quite interesting,” she says.
The Tuggeranong student has always had clear vision and the drive to achieve it. From as early as primary school, she was getting involved in advocacy and leadership. In Year 6, she served as Deputy Prime Minister at Calwell Primary School (equivalent to a Vice-Captain in other states).
By the time she could select her own classes, Georgia was moving away from the sciences – “not my strong point” – and delving into Legal Studies, which she studied religiously throughout Year 11 and 12 at Lake Tuggeranong College. When the school introduced a politics class in Year 12, she signed up for that too.
“I had the same teacher for both of those classes. He really tailored the learning to what we were interested in, and what was happening in the news, so we would get the most out of it,” she says.
This practical approach to the learning helped her interest in both areas blossom with only one issue … she couldn’t decide which she should study at university.
“I was always set on law, but I also enjoyed politics and international relations so much. I was worried that if I didn’t take it, I might regret it,” Georgia says.
Seeking advice from her teacher, Georgia learned that she could complete a double degree – allowing her to study both interest areas and improve her job prospects post-graduation – while only adding a year to her total study time.
“I decided, I enjoy both areas, and it's only an extra year, why not do the double degree? I'm glad I made that decision!”
When it came to choosing the university, though, her mind was already made up.
“I had heard from lots of people that the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ focuses on the practical, and prepares students for the real world, so I was pretty set on it! I knew [if I studied at UC] I would be more likely to get a full-time job straight out of university and gain real-world, practical experience while studying,” Georgia says.
Within months, she had been accepted to study a double degree, the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics and International Relations, delivered by UC’s Faculty of Business, Government and Law.
Despite Georgia’s confidence and her excitement to finally be at university, the transition between Year 12 and university wasn’t without a few doubts.
“Not knowing what to expect can feel very daunting. I didn't really know what to expect from the workload, whether I would be able to manage, and how it would impact my part-time job,” Georgia said.
“But it’s definitely manageable! The unit outline tells you how many hours you’ll need to spend studying for each course and makes all the requirements very clear. And although I haven’t needed to use them, the university has also been clear there are support services available to help you.”
Now with the first semester under her belt, Georgia has made friends in her course and is feeling at home on Bruce’s bush campus.
“Being able to study areas I’m really interested in is so great! Meeting so many people as been a highlight – it’s definitely easier to make new friends when you share the same interests. I’ve become close with lots of people in my tutorials,” she says.
“I spend most of my time on campus. Going to the library to study after classes or during breaks became my routine.”
Georgia says one of the highlights of her studies has been the support she has received from teaching staff, describing her lecturers and unit conveners as passionate, knowledgeable and highly engaged.
“I’ve had a good experience with all of my teachers and the unit convenors have been so helpful. They're all so passionate about the subjects and have backgrounds in the fields they’re teaching,” Georgia says.
Her decision to study law has also been a source of pride for her family. With a pharmacist mother and tradie father, Georgia says her parents have always supported her ambition to become a lawyer.
“They're very happy for me because I always made it clear that I wanted to be a lawyer, and they’re excited to see me follow my dreams,” she says.
While popular legal dramas such as Suits and Legally Blonde helped spark her interest in the profession, Georgia is quick to point out that the reality of studying law is somewhat different.
“I love these shows, but they’re not the most realistic!” Georgia laughs.
So, what can prospective students really expect from the LLB?
“Readings, lots of readings. I knew there were going to be a lot, but I didn’t realise just how many!”
Are you a college student based in ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥'s south? You can now access advice on university at the UC Southside Hub, based at Lake Tuggeranong College. Drop-in sessions and workshops cover key areas including academic writing, financing university, portfolio entry, career planning, alternate pathways and more.
Story and photos by Kelly White