Marcus Bezzi: Sparking a Passion for Justice
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.
What a career Marcus Bezzi has forged for himself in law – serving as the Executive General Manager of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for several years and now in the position of Associate Commissioner for the equivalent body in Papua New Guinea. Bezzi’s ambitions in the legal field crystallised during his placement with Springvale Legal Service as part of his Professional Practice unit in the third year of his Arts/Law degree at Monash.
‘Professional Practice enlivened my interest in the law,’ Bezzi says. ‘Up until then, I had done legal process and contracts and tax and property and none of it was capturing my imagination. Then I did Prof Prac and it started to make sense. It started to seem like a career.’
Bezzi went on to volunteer with Springvale Legal Service and served as a board member for five years. Bezzi still vividly recalls his Springvale Legal Service days and considers this experience one of his most pivotal – both professionally and personally.
At the time Bezzi was on placement at Springvale Legal Service, Australia’s legal and political landscape was very different. It was the early 1980s, and the Fraser government was coming to an end, making way for the Hawke government.
Attorney-General Gareth Evans advocated strongly for the legal aid and community legal centre movement. There was a desire for people to be empowered through high-quality legal services. Unemployment was an issue. Heavy industry around Dandenong and Doveton was starting to slow down or close, and the impact of this was widely felt in south-east Melbourne.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
The Associate Commissioner Non-Resident for the ICCC in PNG (seated, left).
Springvale was increasingly becoming home to migrants and refugees from countries in crisis: Chileans fleeing the Pinochet regime, Eritreans seeking respite from a civil war, Eastern Europeans escaping communist dictators and Vietnamese people seeking a better life. Close to Springvale Legal Service was the Springvale Migrant Hostel, a transitional housing facility providing support to migrants and refugees.
The diverse demographic of Springvale was reflected in the clients Bezzi encountered at Springvale Legal Service. Some of his most memorable moments at the clinic were meeting clients who had escaped horrific circumstances in their home countries yet maintained a spirit of optimism and compassion. Bezzi helped people to incorporate various migrant associations – such as the Chilean Australia Association and the Eritrean Australian Association – dedicated to supporting and equipping migrants in Australia.
Bezzi was exposed to a lot of cases relating to cars – motor-vehicle accidents that had devastating financial impacts on uninsured people. In addition, he had a number of minor criminal cases. One that particularly stuck with him involved a young woman who was alleged to have stolen a nail-polish remover from a supermarket. It was worth approximately two dollars yet she was facing a substantial penalty. Bezzi arranged for her to be legally represented at the Magistrates’ Court, and she received a good behaviour bond – a far more appropriate and just outcome.
Bezzi’s illustrious career following Springvale Legal Service has spanned private practice in both Australia and the UK, primarily in personal injury and defamation law; administrative and trade practices law for the Australian Government Solicitor service; Head of Legal at the Australian Communications and Media Authority; and leadership roles within the ACCC and the International Competition Network.
Bezzi considers that his career has followed a ‘straight line’ which can be traced back to his days at Springvale Legal Service. Bezzi has spent his entire career acting in the public interest, in the pursuit of justice.
‘Trying to do justice has always motivated me through my career,’ says Bezzi. While he acknowledges with a smile that perhaps this sounds a bit ‘high and mighty, or at best, pretentious’, he believes that lawyers who care deeply about justice are exactly what the profession needs and what young law students need to see.
When asked whether he had any advice for the law students of today, Bezzi says without hesitation: ‘Follow your values and passions.’ After a pause, he adds, ‘Try to figure out what they are.’ For those who may find it difficult to articulate what those are, Bezzi’s experience testifies to the value of a clinical placement during university to figuring it out.
Bezzi’s story shows that the impact of a clinical placement can go even further than this. To secure one of his most formative jobs after university in the areas of personal injury law along with some crime and commercial law at Maurice Blackburn, he was recommended for the role by his Springvale Legal Service supervisor. From a personal perspective, some of Bezzi’s closest friends to this day are people that he met while on his placement. No aspect of Bezzi’s life was left untouched by his experience at Springvale.
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.