DYNAMIC PRACTICAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Written by Jesse Prior, Monash Law Student.
Fay Gertner, Lawyer and Legal Practice Manager and Jesse Prior, student.
As I conclude five years of my Monash Law double degree and commence my legal
career, I have come to deeply appreciate how the Clinical Legal Education Program has enriched both my studies and professional development.
My first placement was at Monash University’s flagship community legal centre, Monash Law Clinics (MLC), where I was part of a group of five placement students under the supervision of MLC’s Principal Lawyer, Fay Gertner. From the outset, I was quickly struck by the significant trust and responsibility conferred on us, along with the support, wisdom, generous snacks, and the inviting, lively environment fostered by Fay.
This experience allowed me to establish a range of practical skills for the first time through managing up to eight concurrent files under Fay’s supervision. These skills included briefing and instructing counsel for various Magistrates’ Court hearings, attending summary case conferences, drafting court documents, and developing meaningful relationships with clients, among other things. Above all, I believe no other legal environment offers an opportunity quite like this for a law student.
My second placement was at Essendon Fields (EF), a 305-hectare commercial, aviation and retail precinct housing 330+ businesses, where I provided legal support to its in-house legal team in a commercially aware manner. As the only student, I worked directly with Stacey Pettit, Essendon Fields’ General Counsel. Although the nature of
this placement was inherently different from my previous one, I continuously developed strong relationships of increasing trust and responsibility with Stacey and other EF senior executives.
These relationships led to my involvement in significant projects, including leading a review project for Essendon Fields Airport’s ‘Conditions of Use’ and drafting and amending leases for some of EF’s tenant businesses. I ultimately left EF with the unique legal experience of in-house practice at a major corporation, along with personal mentorship from Stacey, whose extensive experience in private and in-house legal practice has been instrumental in my career achievements since.
These placements have provided hands-on exposure to the law’s operation in diverse settings, from community legal work to private and in-house practice. This has
not only shaped my career ambitions but has also equipped me with unforgettable experiences and foundational skills that have significantly complemented my studies.
The practical experience, relationships with Stacey, Fay, and others, and the insights
I gained through these opportunities have been invaluable, and I am excited to bring them into my career as a 2025 Law Graduate at a global commercial law firm.
My placements are just an illustration of the dynamic practical learning experiences the program provides. Its offerings are truly diverse, and includes law firms, large public and private corporations, human rights projects, courts, legal technology, government and environment clinics. It seems to have propelled students’ practising careers not only now, but also throughout Monash Law’s history.
Already I have met many alumni, now senior practising lawyers, who gained their first real practical legal experiences at Monash Law Clinics.