Interview #3 – Austin Irwin

How did you find your internship opportunities? 

I developed an interest in gaining experience in public interest legal work around about my second year of university, so from then on I periodically monitored websites that I knew would post relevant positions. 

The two main sources for internship opportunities I used were my university law faculty’s jobs board and Social Justice Opportunities. The former was helpful as it included internships unique to my university. The latter was helpful as it focussed on social justice roles – and I felt like I was interested in nearly every position!

What are some highlights from your internships?  

I will always remember meeting with people seeking asylum at outreach clinics run by the Refugee Advice & Casework Service. Listening to the stories of people in really distressing circumstances was tiring, eye-opening and rewarding. 

Interning at the Kingsford Legal Centre was thoroughly enjoyable, and not just because it gave me course credit! KLC offered a wide variety of interesting work (discrimination, employment and domestic violence law to name a few) with a really supportive staff team. 

And of course, stepping behind the scenes with the Australian Pro Bono Centre was a highlight. I learnt a lot about the pro bono sector in Australia and saw the big impact lawyers can have in the community.  

Looking back, what do you wish you would have known starting law school?

This is fairly common to most university degrees, but it’s very easy to compare yourself to others and to feel deficient or behind – whether it be with regards to marks, professional experience or extracurriculars.

I wish I knew (and believed) from the start that we’re not defined by our CVs – it would have helped with much anxiety and let me make academic and professional choices with less regard for what I thought other people would think of me.

But bringing it back to internships, I think it would personally have given me great relief to know that I would find working and practically getting involved in the law a lot more enjoyable than studying law.  

What are the next steps for you post university? 

I’ve been fortunate enough to start working for a tribunal as an Associate, so I will be in that role for the next while post-graduation. I’m not sure what will happen after that, but it’s been great so far to work in roles that serve the public, so I intend to continue doing that in the future.