Graduate story: Benedict Coyne

Benedict Coyne
Associate to Justice Bromberg
Federal Court of Australia, Melbourne
Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours)

2009 University medal winner; NSW Bar Associations Ethics and Philosophy Prize winner; S&J Lawyers Prize for best marks in any degree or double degree

Studying law at Southern Cross University has been instrumental in pursuing my goals. Securing a position as an Associate in the Federal Court is an incredibly competitive process and certainly having a strong academic record and an ability to work hard helped. The position will provide invaluable insight into what happens within the corridors of justice and I am looking forward to spending a lot of time in court and watching experienced advocates as well as assisting in the process of drafting judgments and conducting the mountains of legal research I will be undertaking.

There were so many things that were brilliant about my course: the substance of the fascinating and engaging units and the way they were delivered; the ability to study via correspondence in an engaging and meaningful way; the academics were brilliant and very encouraging; I had the opportunity to compete in the International American Bar Association's Louis M Brown Client Counseling Competition in Bangalore India; I also had the opportunity to attend and compete at the Australia Law Student's Association annual conference in Hobart; and I enjoyed being involved in the Southern Cross University Law Student Society.

The work experience opportunities provided by the School of Law and Justice were invaluable including: a placement at a large commercial law firm; a placement at the Australian Human Rights Commission through the Aurora Project; and volunteer opportunities at the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House, the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Environmental Defenders Office (Queensland).

Of course a big highlight of the course was the brilliant SCU Byron Bay Summer Law School - which, needless to say, I returned to many times… after all, I got to have a surf before uni!

Updated: 07 May 2012