Jesse Prior: Combining commercial law with pro bono
50 Years / 50 Voices: Learning law and changing lives is a commemorative volume marking the 50th anniversary of the ongoing Monash Law Clinical Program, a pioneering initiative in clinical legal education undertaken by the Faculty of Law at Monash University. 50 alumni of the Monash Law Clinical Program shared their story with 50 current students of the same program. This is an excerpt from the book.
Many law students complete their clinical experience during their final semester. In contrast, Jesse Prior was the youngest Professional Practice student in his cohort, joining as a third-year student.
‘I was eager, I was keen to get my career started,’ he explains. He also wanted to gain legal experience that would make him stand out during the competitive clerkship process.
Although excited to get some real-world experience, Prior was nonetheless anxious on his first day on the job. He recalls how he felt watching his supervisor, Fay Gertner, take client calls and being told he would be doing that the very next week. ‘You can really feel that classic imposter syndrome seep in,’ he says. But as the weeks passed, Prior’s confidence grew. This encouraged him to complete an additional clinical placement at Essendon Fields. He was entrusted with some major projects and given the opportunity to collaborate with senior lawyers. Prior appreciated the experience he got at both clinics.
‘They couldn’t be more opposite in their nature, but that’s also why I liked it,’ he says. ‘I wanted one experience to be opposite to the other.’
Prior is grateful not only to his supportive supervisors but also to the clients who left a lasting impression. He had two particularly memorable clients at Monash Law Clinics. The first was a retired immigrant who had incurred thousands of dollars in fines. The man argued it was a case of mistaken identity. Many had previously found his claims difficult to believe, yet Prior stood by his client. Ultimately, Prior was able to prove it was in fact a case of mistaken identity and the fines were reissued to the correct person.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Jesse Prior on right, with Fay Gertner at the Monash University Open Day 2024.
There was also the client of Italian heritage scarred by previous encounters with the legal system when he had not been taken seriously. Prior recognised the importance of ensuring his client felt heard and seen. Prior, the grandson of blue-collar Italian immigrants, was also able to form a meaningful connection with his client through their shared heritage.
‘It really gave me an appetite for community legal work, irrespective of where that might take me,’ he says.
In his current role as an Ashurst law graduate, Prior has rotated through various areas of practice. He still carries the passion for helping people experiencing disadvantage which drew him to his experience at Monash Law Clinics. He aspires to build on Ashurst’s longstanding partnership with Youthlaw, an organisation that provides free legal services to people under 25. He plans to continue contributing to Youthlaw’s community engagement initiatives and to undertake pro bono work.
Prior’s clinical experience gave him lots of opportunities to develop his people and communication skills while working on interesting cases. He found the experience invaluable, and encourages all current Monash Law students to get the most out of their clinical experience.
‘It’s the type of experience that you simply do not get elsewhere as a law student,’ he says.
For those hesitant about their ability to practise law in the real world, Prior recommends simply turning up and doing your best. He says it’s entirely normal to feel anxious given you will be working on real legal files that will affect real clients, but he encourages others to take the plunge, embrace the opportunities that come their way and enjoy the ride.
‘I don’t think there’s many wrong choices you can make, as long as the work resonates with you,’ he says.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Get involved with Monash Law Clinics
Monash Law Clinics combine legal education with real-world impact, supporting access to justice while equipping students with practical, ethical and professional skills.
If you are a student interested in undertaking a clinical unit as part of your studies, explore the available clinical placements and elective options.
Whether you’re an alum, practitioner or organisation keen to support the clinics through hosting placements, partnerships, volunteering or funding, there’s a way to be involved. To learn more, contact Emily Collard, Industry & Alumni Engagement Manager, at emily.collard@monash.edu.