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While many law students race to finish their degrees and jumpstart their careers, one law student has discovered the power of taking the scenic route and not rushing through one’s studies.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, Charlotte Carles, a young ambassador for UNICEF Australia and the founder of Gen Z Abroad, shared her story on what inspired her to slow down her law degree and what fantastic opportunities she has been able to be involved in as a result.
The catalyst for Carles’ decision to extend her law degree was the eye-opening research she conducted for the Council of Australian Law Deans, where she uncovered the alarming prevalence of mental health challenges within the legal profession.
“Last year, I did some research for the Council of Australian Law Deans into law student wellbeing. I was really concerned and shocked to read that both law students and lawyers have an increased risk of things like depression, anxiety, alcoholism, even suicide,” she said.
Carles asserted that a significant factor contributing to this concerning issue is the substantial pressure exerted within the legal profession to “work really hard” all the time.
However, she argued that the pressure to succeed in the legal profession “starts early on in law school”, stating how there is an immense pressure to “take on a full-time study load, get work experience while staying and rushing to the graduation finish line”.
“I know quite a lot of people who do five units as their normal study load, which is quite a lot to be doing while also working, not to mention for people that are financially supporting themselves, paying bills. Of course, there’s also pressure to do a lot of extracurriculars like mooting, mock trials, and all of that,” she said.
Through taking this approach, Carles shared that she was fortunate enough to participate in the New Colombo Plan Scholarship, which allowed her to complete overseas work placements that didn’t count towards her degree’s credit requirements.
While this was a remarkable opportunity, Carles revealed that her decision was met with considerable scepticism from peers, who asked her: “Is this going to delay your graduation?” or “Oh my gosh, that’s such a long time.”
However, by choosing to extend her law degree, she was able to secure a “full-time traineeship at UNESCO for five months”, which allowed her to gain practical experience mirroring the demanding five-day-a-week schedule prevalent within the legal profession.
Additionally, Carles shared that by taking on this opportunity, she feels “a lot more confident in my ability to take future jobs in the workforce as a young person and have a lot more practical knowledge now about how workplace dynamics work”.
“I highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested. Apart from that professional development, I had a lot of personal growth as well. Like, moving countries by yourself can be really scary, but ultimately, it’s so rewarding, and it’s an amazing feeling to come home with this new sense of confidence and independence in your ability to navigate tricky situations,” she said.
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