Career summary

Harrison Wall graduated from Monash University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Performing Arts. Currently an Associate at Stephenson Harwood LLP in London working in commercial litigation, Harrison uses the skills gained in his Bachelor of Performing Arts daily when attending conferences, negotiations and settlement meetings, developing strategy and interacting with clients and an array of other legal stakeholders. His knowledge of the law combined with the performance skills he gained at university have equipped him with the confidence and adaptability to pursue a career in an international jurisdiction.

Career pathway

2019-present – Associate (Commercial Litigation) at Stephenson Harwood, London, UK
2017 – Lawyer (Construction) at Maddocks, Melbourne
2015 – Law Graduate and Lawyer at Mills Oakley, Melbourne
2013 – Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Performing Arts, Monash University

How does your Bachelor of Performing Arts complement your Law degree?

There were two main elements to my Bachelor of Performing Arts – the performance making elements and acting technique. The performance making elements included subjects involving stage management, script writing, directing, set design, costumes and dramaturgy. There were many subjects in which we were required to be working in large groups. We needed a high level of commitment from the group as a whole to make the performance work, so I quickly learnt how to work in a team.

My two degrees have complemented one another well. In a Bachelor of Laws, you spend a lot of time studying cases and analysing the law, leaving less time to focus on the practical aspects that you learn working as a solicitor. The hands-on parts of my job require a performance in itself - the way that you project your voice and control your tone, work the audience in the room and put on a face for the client and advocate for their interests. For this, I draw heavily from the practical performing arts skills that I learnt at Monash.

In my first year of university, I studied a Bachelor of Arts before switching to Performing Arts. I did complete some subjects in politics and globalisation and the knowledge I gained from those subjects have also been very helpful in my law career. Not only do you have to understand the Australian legal system, but you also need to know what's going on around the world, especially when you're dealing with international clients and different business models.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the UK?

Early in my Bachelor’s degree, I went to a seminar at Deloitte. One of the senior partners told the room that if we ever had the opportunity to work in another country, we should take advantage of it and not miss the chance to gain that valuable experience. It was convenient timing for me when I eventually decided to come to the UK, as I was about to become a fourth-year solicitor with enough experience to land a good job. The timing felt right and so my wife and I secured visas and made the move.

What skills are required to work internationally?

You must be flexible and willing to take on any task that you otherwise might think you would never do, particularly when you first arrive overseas. Confidence is another vital skill.

You have to be confident in your own abilities, even if you feel like a fish out of water. When I feel slightly out of my depth dealing with something new for the first time, I draw on the skills gained in my performing arts training to put aside any hesitation and get on with the job at hand.

In my current role, we deal with a lot of international construction companies, including entities in Ireland, Spain, France and the Middle East. When you’re dealing with cross-border matters, you have to know and understand the different rules that apply. In the UK, the laws are different to home, despite being part of the same common law system.  Even mere formalities can be different.

Jumping between the two modes of studying required for both my degrees quickly trained me to develop alternative methods of conceptual thinking as I was continually required to switch between different mindsets.

This also allowed me to develop my time management skills and learn the value of always being prepared. This experience helped me in the early days of my career in the UK as I had to be extremely flexible and embrace new ideas and ways of doing things.

What was your favourite part of your Bachelor of Performing Arts?

The part I most enjoyed from my Bachelor of Performing Arts was the social network I developed. You spend a lot of time with your peers rehearsing and putting together live performances. It's not as simple as turning up and listening to a lecture. You really develop a bond with one other and gain a level of trust beyond that of a regular classmate.

I was based at Clayton, which is the biggest campus. It was good to be immersed in campus life. I tried to make full days out of my timetable so I could find time to catch up and interact with other students and study in the spare periods between my classes. For me, it wasn’t just about turning up to a class to get the job done – I liked the campus life.

Would you recommend also taking an Arts degree to students who wish to study a Bachelor of Laws?

Absolutely. So many people use a law degree in non-legal roles.  In fact, you would be surprised to learn how many of Australia’s famous comedians are law graduates!

While I always knew I would follow the legal career path, there are so many aspects of my Bachelor of Performing Arts that I use on a daily basis.  In the future, should I decide to go to the Bar or engage in more advocacy work, I have no doubt that I will be heavily leaning on my performing arts skills.

Studying a double degree is a fantastic way to get your brain thinking in different ways which can broaden your horizons. Lawyers not only need to know about the law, but also the way businesses operate, the social, moral and economic frameworks that govern society, the broader impact of events that take place around the world and the progression of social and technological change. My double degree also helped me to gain a wider understanding of people.  The way I interact, collaborate and work with others in my day-to-day life is heavily influenced by the things I learned outside of my law degree.

Having a double degree also provides a good talking point with others.  Every time I’ve gone to a job interview, when the interviewer sees my CV, the first thing they say is ‘Law and Performing Arts! That’s interesting!’ It’s not a very common combination but it’s always a fantastic talking point in job interviews.

Interviewed by Lilly Walsh, journalism intern, Monash Arts, 2020