A helping hand
The Ngarara Willim Centre is a dedicated space at RMIT that supports and encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout their studies, and helps them to stay connected after they graduate.
Darcy noted that the Centre helped him feel supported throughout his studies.
“One thing that helped was when the pandemic started, I would receive regular calls from the Ngarara Willim team checking in on me, seeing if I was okay and that I had everything I needed to continue studying and to be happy. Whilst I was fortunate to be well set up and somewhat thrive through this time, it was nice to know someone would've had my back if I was struggling.”
Beyond graduation
Once finished with his course, Darcy went searching for a position that would engage and challenge him. After a nerve-wracking interview, he found what he was looking for at Slater and Gordon, where he currently works as a Junior Legal Assistant.
“Before I was offered this position, I wanted to work for a firm that wasn't boring or stressful. I wanted to come to work and feel happy and excited for the day. I wanted every day to be different, with new challenges and surprises. I'm so glad that I found exactly what I was looking for.”
Realising he’d landed his dream job, Darcy dedicated himself to his new role with a firm resolve. And all his hard work has paid off: he’ll soon be moving into a Law Clerk role with Slater and Gordon’s Abuse Law team — an area he’s incredibly passionate about.
“I find it so rewarding being able to help some of Australia's most vulnerable people get the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve. I also enjoy the process of litigation and how raw the abuse law space is right now. It's such a new area that’s constantly developing, and being a part of that is a highlight for me.”
Issues of inequality in the legal system
Darcy says that while working in such a new space over the last few years, he’s noticed a number of changes in the legal system that aim to reduce inequality.
“I think people are becoming more aware of the faults and issues of our society, and are taking action to try and correct them. I can confidently say that in the abuse law space, the law has changed significantly, and is continuing to evolve to create better outcomes for abuse survivors and hopefully offer the reconciliation they deserve. I am optimistic that abuse law will continue to change for the better.”
Inspiring the next generation
Having landed a career he loves, in a field he’s passionate about, Darcy hopes his success will inspire other young Indigenous students to pursue their goals.
“As we’re constantly seeing in the media, there is a long way to go to improve the representation of Indigenous people [across all sectors]. One improvement I’d love to see in law — that I believe would be incredible for Indigenous people — is having specific teams or focus groups within big firms that provide First Nations clients with First Nations lawyers. I believe this would make any legal process for mob less stressful and less intimidating.”
Interested in pursuing a career in law? Discover a range of industry-led law courses at RMIT.
Story: Sophie MacGillivray
