From courtroom to community: how Monash Law Clinics influenced Brett Tait’s career
Written by James Brandis, Senior Communications and Content Coordinator.
For alumnus Brett Tait, the Monash Law Clinics experience was a formative moment that shaped his career and values as a lawyer.
“The subject I enjoyed the most at uni was Prof Prac at Springvale Legal Service,” Brett recalled.
“I still remember Adrian Evans being my supervisor. I remember we had to do two supervised court appearances and I was given leave to do the plea as a law student, not even a graduate. I felt rather chuffed about that.”
Brett studied a double degree in Law and Commerce at Monash, graduating in 1995. From a young age, he aspired to be a barrister.
“I always wanted to be a lawyer. My dad was a lawyer, my uncle was a lawyer and they’re both Monash Law grads too. Specifically though, I wanted to be a barrister and aspired to be a QC,” he said.
In fact, Brett’s dad, Ron Tait, was one of the Monash Law Pioneers (the first class to start and graduate law at Monash). But it was Brett’s clinical experience that revealed the deeper purpose of legal practice.
“We dealt with people that didn’t have anywhere else to go,” he said.
After a stint in corporate tax and investment banking, Brett’s career took a turn following a motorcycle accident. He joined his father’s suburban legal practice, embracing the role of a generalist lawyer.
“I describe us as the general practitioners of the legal world,” he said.
“ One of the things I didn’t like about working in corporate was that we weren’t making a difference to the individuals that we were dealing with.”
“The work I do here - I touch people’s lives. Whether it be representing them on criminal matters or preparing their wills, it impacts them. It’s much more rewarding.”
That ethos of helping the individual was seeded during his time at Springvale Legal Service in the mid 1990s.
“What I recall from that time is that you’ve got to treat people gently. They’re going through a very difficult period in their lives, otherwise they wouldn’t be there,” Brett said.
“Be nice.”
Today, Brett is only too keen to highlight the value of clinical legal education - not just for students, but for the clients they serve.
“It introduces and teaches students how to be a real lawyer and how to be human,” he said.
“If that’s all they take away from their experience in a clinic, then it’s worthwhile.”
He also emphasised the importance of clinics as a safety net for vulnerable clients.
“It’s really an option of last resort for them and that I think is why it’s worthy of funding, because there isn’t anyone else. Legal Aid won’t fund them. These are people who don’t have the money and they have genuine legal problems,” Brett said.
For Brett, the lessons learned in Monash Law Clinics continue to resonate in his career and he’s quick to recommend the experience to today’s law students.
“It’s not an option. Just do it,” he said. “You learn how to put theory into practice. End of story.”