As the University of the Sunshine Coast’s first Law graduates swap exciting career stories this week for the School’s 10-year milestone, its latest high achievers will be crossing the stage to forge their own paths to professional success.
About 340 people have graduated with a law degree from UniSC and are now working across specialties from property and family law to criminal and personal injury law.
New graduates from the School of Law and Society will receive their degrees at a 10am ceremony at UniSC Arena tomorrow, Wednesday 18 September, while alumni from the past decade will celebrate at a private event on Thursday.
UniSC Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett said it was wonderful to see so many graduates now working to help people in the same region where they studied, the Sunshine Coast, as well as those taking their skills and knowledge across Australia and the globe.
“We hope to see this emulated in the Moreton Bay region where our campus at Petrie last year introduced Law,” she said.
“In addition, UniSC next year will be offering online law studies and a new three-year program.” Professor Helen Bartlett
New graduate takes career interstate
New Laws/Arts graduate Jessica Cherry, 23, is returning from her job in Perth for tomorrow’s ceremony, where she will give an address and receive a Medal for Academic Excellence for her grade point average of 6.76 out of 7.
The 2018 dux of Mountain Creek State High School’s International Baccalaureate program is completing her practical legal training while working in workers’ compensation.
“I have worked in the legal field in Queensland since 2021 and I think my experience has set me up well, also allowing me to relocate to Perth with my partner who is in the Navy,” she said.
Jessica said highlights included her Honours thesis on legal issues relating to the experiences of refugees arriving by boat, which was supervised by Lecturer Justine Poon, and her role as director of equity and diversity with the UniSC Law Students’ Association.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to study until halfway through Year 12 when I went to the UniSC Open Day, attended a law information session and toured the Moot Court. I’ve now made lifelong friends and colleagues.” Jessica Cherry
Dean and Professor of Law Jay Sanderson said the school had progressed steadily since the first cohort was enrolled in 2014 under founding Professors Neil and Anne Rees.
“I started here in 2015 and one of most pleasing things is the evolution of the link between our program and the local legal profession, with some of our early graduates now local prominent lawyers who our students connect with,” he said.
Some of the firms employing UniSC graduates have included Pippa Colman Family Law, Travis Schultz and Partners, Sajen Legal and Greenhalgh Pickard.
Professor Sanderson said the focus on connection to community and practical experience were ongoing strengths of UniSC’s School of Law and Society.
“Our graduates are highly experienced problem-solvers, serving their communities by helping people navigate difficult circumstances,” he said.
UniSC Law academics are also involved in research in areas such as health, technology, crime, sport and culture.
Advocating for Native Title and family law
Two of the School’s first graduating cohort in 2018, David Knobel and Jessica Popple will be among 100 people attending the 10-year anniversary celebration on Thursday night, including the founding Professors.
David, 39, is a senior Native Title lawyer and director at P&E Law, based at Maroochydore, where he completed a placement while studying.
“Buying into the business and taking on a directorship was a huge step and definitely a highlight so far,” David said.
Now recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a leading native title lawyer in Australia, David is a former president of the UniSC Law Students’ Association. His graduation address remains on UniSC Facebook.
“It is so important to find a purpose in your career,” he said. “I visit some remote and special places around the country, working with groups who have worked tirelessly for decades to get their native title rights recognised. I am privileged to be a part of that fight.”
Jessica, 30, a senior associate at Maroochydore-based Pippa Colman Family Law, was honoured to be named Emerging Female Lawyer of the Year in 2022 by the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland.
The youngest, and first, UniSC Law graduate elected president of the Sunshine Coast Law Association, Jessica said she didn’t think about becoming a family lawyer until she did the UniSC Law Clinic subject at Suncoast Community Legal Service.
“We get to make a real impact,” said the former Noosa District State High School civic captain.
“We play a small role in helping people through their hardest time and we play a huge role in advocating for people who may not be able to do so.” Jessica Popple
Court work and collegiality
2023 graduate Jahna Cafe is a legal practitioner in criminal law at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS), based at Maroochydore.
“I started this position in January following the conclusion of my Judge’s Associateship with the Supreme Court of Queensland,” said Jahna, 22.
“That experience opened my eyes to the abundance of people in need of representation in the court system and inspired me to work for the community legal organisation ATSILS.
"I now represent some of the most vulnerable people in Queensland. Advocating for those who are economically vulnerable is incredibly rewarding." Jahna Cafe
Appearing as a lawyer in Maroochydore Magistrates Court is also a neat circle – Jahna competed in the finals of the 2021 mooting competition in the same courtroom as a student in 2021.
Bridie Edwards, who is an associate director at Bradley & Bray Lawyers based at Nambour, completed her degree in 2019 and chose her career path after enjoying the practical UniSC courses Legal Internship and Law Professional Practice.
She was elected by the legal profession as the youngest Queensland Law Society Councillor for two terms and named one of Australasian Lawyer’s most influential lawyers for 2024.
At 27, Bridie is the firm’s youngest and first female associate director. “I have a great sense of pride being a lawyer, especially in a regional area like the Sunshine Coast. The legal community is very supportive of each other and I think that’s a special thing.”
More than 1,350 people are graduating from UniSC at ceremonies this spring, including upcoming events at Moreton Bay and Fraser Coast campuses.
Two thousand family and friends will celebrate with 540 graduates at four ceremonies to be held on the Sunshine Coast campus tomorrow and Thursday.
In total, more than 39,000 people have graduated from UniSC since it started in 1996.
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