Trish Prentice
Research Assistant
Centre for Islamic Law and Society (CILS)
The University of Melbourne
Masters of Public and International Law
Why did you choose to undertake a graduate degree in Law?
I had worked in a variety of legal fields - administrative law (immigration), human rights law and Islamic law but without an undergraduate law degree. I felt the graduate program would help give me a conceptual framework to understand the various fields of law I had worked in and to provide me with a solid basis for future work.
Why did you choose Melbourne Law School?
I chose the Melbourne Law School because I felt it had the greatest amount of subject choices and specialities in comparison to other graduate programs. I was also excited about the calibre of the lecturers teaching in the program and the chance to learn from experts from all over the world who had significant and current experience in law.
Describe your career pathway - what is your current role and how did you get to where you are?
At the moment I'm at home with a young baby but working as a research assistant gives me the opportunity to keep abreast of current developments in Islamic law and key areas of policy development. Prior to returning to Australia I was working in an Islamic country for a news agency and with an Islamic organisation and both these roles stimulated my interest in Islamic law and my desire to work with Muslim communities.
Describe your experience of studying in the Melbourne Law Masters. What have been the highlights so far?
I've learnt a lot in my course so far. It has given me the framework to understand several fields of law and has improved my reasoning and writing skills. I've also had the chance to meet really interesting people from a variety of countries, many of whom have done amazing legal work or had really interesting life experiences. Some of the highlights have been chats over coffee with other students or the chance to interact with lecturers outside of the structured course time - it has been great to hear their stories.
What are you planning to do when you have completed your degree? Where do you think your degree will take you?
Since I lack an undergraduate law degree there are limitations as to where I can go with my law masters but I've considered working in academia or government after I graduate.
What advice do you have for others considering undertaking a graduate degree in Law at Melbourne?
I would really recommend the course. Even if its not clear where the postgraduate course could take you in terms of career path, the opportunity to study in the program will really open up your thinking in terms of what is happening in the world and what people in the law school are doing and this is really beneficial on a person level, if nothing else.