Scholarship recipient

A summer of learning and growth

Looking back on my clerkship at Sharp Tudhope Lawyers, I am in awe of how much I have learnt and grown — both personally and in my budding legal career.

With the vast variety of tasks and projects I was assigned to during my clerkship, no two days were the same. From attending client meetings both in and out of the office with senior colleagues, drafting and editing legal documents, attending workshops, communicating directly with clients, and researching real legal issues, I was never short of opportunities to learn something new or strengthen an existing skill. Along with the work assignments, I was also given the opportunity to attend staff Christmas functions, which were a great way to connect with the team — and I even ended up winning the staff Christmas desk decorating competition!

Supportive people and a welcoming culture
While I quickly learnt that studying law and practising law are two very different things, the welcoming nature of the team at Sharp Tudhope ensured that I never felt unprepared or unequipped to deal with whatever task was put in front of me. Right from the get-go, I learnt that the answers to my questions were only a few steps away, with every senior colleague not only willing, but wanting, to help.

Bridging university study with real-world practice
The opportunity to work at Sharp Tudhope and get a taste for the future has already proven itself to help me immensely with my studies going forward. Having exposure to the practical application of the skills I have learnt — and am still yet to learn — at university has shown me how they apply in real life.

For example, seeing how property and commercial dealings work in practice, and how the research skills I have developed while studying apply, has both solidified what I have already learnt and set up pathways for subjects I am yet to study. I can already see how knowing the basics of property, trusts and contracts before taking those papers at university has given me a head start.

More than a scholarship 
Unlike most others on offer, the Sharp Tudhope Scholarship has been far more than just financial assistance. While the Scholarship’s financial aspect significantly lightened the burden of fees and living costs, its mentorship programme and the practical experience provided through the summer clerkship carry immeasurable value.

Being the first in my family to go to university, having access to someone who had been through law school was both incredibly helpful and a great confidence boost. Having a reliable resource outside of what the university offers was especially valuable when navigating the notoriously competitive second-year law application process.

To anyone considering applying for the Sharp Tudhope Lawyers Law Scholarship — do it! When I applied, I could not have imagined how valuable the experience would be, and I can say with 100% certainty that it is not an opportunity you want to miss out on.