September 25, 2014
Students get an insiders view of courtroom proceedings
Law alumna Kate Austen was one of about 20 undergraduates who, over the past 12 months, spent a day with his Honour Judge Richard Cogswell SC as part of the UOW Law School’s District Court Judges Program.
While studying at UOW, Kate seized every opportunity to get some experience and insight into how law is practised in the real world and says the program provided a unique perspective.
“It’s a very different experience to be sitting on the other side of the bench,” the 23-year-old said.
The District Court Judges Program was initiated by Senior Lecturer Dr Julia Quilter in 2013 to give students an opportunity to experience the type of work undertaken by a Judge’s Associate.
“I noticed that very few UOW Law students were applying for Associateships and many were not aware of the opportunities in this area,” Dr Quilter said.
“I contacted Judge Cogswell SC, who was my boss when I worked at the Office of the Solicitor General and Crown Advocate, to see if he would take selected students for a day’s work experience. He kindly agreed and the program has grown from there,” she said, adding that two more judges -- Judge Andrew Haesler SC and Judge Paul Conlon SC -- have also now opened their doors to UOW students through the program.
Kate said that during her day with Judge Cogswell SC she gained insight into the workings of a judge’s chambers, the kind of work normally undertaken by an associate, as well as an understanding of courtroom procedure.
“I watched Judge Cogswell SC hand down a sentence for quite a serious criminal offence and got to have a chat with him afterwards about why he’d made his decision in that way. Later that day we were at the Downing Centre in Sydney and I sat in on a civil litigation matter.
“It was really interesting to hear how much a Judge thinks about the decisions they make and the impact that their decision may have on someone. I think that weighs quite heavily on a Judge's mind.”
After graduating from UOW in July, Kate worked full-time in personal injury and commercial litigation at Hansons Lawyers in ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp. However, in August successfully applied to be Judge Cogswell SC’s new Associate.
Kate has now commenced her new role and puts much of her success down to having had the opportunity to participate in the Judges Program.
John Littrich, Discipline Leader of Clinical Legal Education and Professional Engagement for the School of Law has worked with Dr Quilter to maintain and grow the program, which has now been formalised with 15 students selected annually to take part.
“This program presents to students a wonderful and extremely rare opportunity and we hope to keep it going into the future,” Dr Quilter said.