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Changing Careers
UOW graduate Liz Crawford tells her story of changing from teaching to law
I have a very soft spot for UOW. I first trained as a teacher during the 1960's in buildings that are now part of the Creative Arts Faculty. When the Teachers College became the College of Advanced Education (CAE) I updated my training by obtaining a Diploma of Teaching by correspondence.
By 1993 I was dreaming of new career challenges. To explore my options I attended an Open Day at the University and discovered the newly-established Faculty of Law. This prompted me to sit for the STAT and Alset Tests. My results were good enough to allow me to enrol in a Bachelor of Creative Arts/Bachelor of Laws double degree in 1994. I should add that I was the primary carer for my seven children, ranging in age from two to 20, at the time!
I thoroughly enjoyed my studies and was accepted by my much younger colleagues. Unfortunately I was not able to take part in all the after-hours campus activities on offer because of my family responsibilities.
However I completed my undergraduate degrees and the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies in 1999. After six long but stimulating years of study I was finally admitted as a legal practitioner in December 1999. Initially I gained employment as a paralegal in the Legal Services division of the NSW Department of Education. In late 2000 I found work as a solicitor with Wesley Mission, one of Australia's largest charities.
My former lecturers will probably fall about laughing to find that I spend much of my time drafting and negotiating contracts, dealing with a variety of property matters and all manner of corporate legal matters including trusts and tax - I certainly did not excel in these areas as a student.
I love being a lawyer. It is a constant mental challenge and I love working for a charitable organisation. When I finally stagger home at night at least I feel I have made a difference.
If I had any advice for people considering a career change I would say that I have no regrets. I do wish the opportunity to make the move had arisen when I was younger so that I could fully experience my new career.
A career changer needs a lot of perseverance to complete their studies as they usually have other pressures and responsibilities that young students do not have to contend with. You also need to be gracious to your fellow students and remember what it was like to be young, impulsive inexperienced and constantly falling in and out of love.
I also believe that the experiences of your working life are cumulative. From my teaching years I have good skills in dealing with challenging people and explaining legal concepts to non lawyers.
As the Magistrate, Pat O'Shane said, "all my life's experiences are threaded through me."
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