Nate Cheng: From slow lectures to quick thinking
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.
Nate Cheng awarded the Davies Collison Cave Prize for Copyright and Designs, 2021 Undergraduate Law Prize Ceremony.
In the spring of 2019, Nate Cheng commenced the Professional Practice unit at Monash Law Clinics. Nearing the completion of his law degree, he was looking to develop his practical legal skills while helping the community.
Earlier that year, Cheng had participated in the Street Law program. He’d co-designed interactive workshops on community law topics, and delivered them to high school students. He developed an interest in community law and learned the importance of making the law accessible and meaningful.
After engaging with diverse audiences through community legal education, Cheng felt prepared to work with real clients. His goals were simple: to learn, to contribute and to grow.
What initially drew Cheng to law was the idea of crafting arguments and persuading others. However, the early years of law school were largely theoretical. Lectures felt passive, and tutorials were limited to fictional scenarios. Cheng wanted to apply his knowledge in real-world situations and work directly with individuals facing complex legal issues.
At Monash Law Clinics, Cheng encountered a wide range of matters from family law to infringements and fines. He was put in positions that required him to listen, empathise and act decisively. Being the person clients turned to for answers was a new experience, and the urgency of his clients’ circumstances demanded fast thinking and emotional intelligence. Ethical questions often arose, requiring him to assess client honesty, manage confidentiality and navigate conflicts between legal duties and client expectations.
Cheng took part in a group project to reduce paper use in the clinic. The work proved to be unexpectedly useful when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 and the clinic was forced to transition to an online practice.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Nate Cheng (right) on his law graduation day with Professor Jeff Giddings (left).
Cheng went on to serve as the Street Law Program Officer in 2020 and 2021. Working alongside Professor Jeff Giddings and a team of student colleagues, Cheng strengthened the student-led community legal education program, empowering community members with knowledge about their legal rights and responsibilities. The responsibility of managing client files gave Cheng confidence when he started his legal career.
Cheng works as an associate in the Hall & Wilcox Statutory Insurance Victoria team, focusing on WorkCover and personal injury litigation. He has to navigate delicate client relationships, address ethical issues and manage heavy caseloads. But none of that felt unfamiliar: Cheng says his experience at Monash Law Clinics gave him a taste of what it’s like being an associate lawyer. As in his current role, Monash Law Clinics give students the opportunity to manage real files and to call the shots under the guidance of a supervisor. His move to Hall & Wilcox wasn’t daunting for Cheng because he had already lived a version of it and learned a lot about self-discipline, empathy and courage.
Cheng is Secretary of the Monash Law Clinics Management Committee, remaining connected to a place that shaped him. ‘At the clinic, students meet people from different year levels, all pursuing different paths for different reasons, and those connections formulate a sense of collegiality,’ he says.
Cheng’s time at Monash Law Clinics confirmed that he was meant to be a lawyer. It wasn’t just a useful placement; it was the moment everything clicked into place. The clinic gave him practical skills, but more importantly, it gave him confidence, purpose and perspective. His advice to current students is simple: just do it. Take the opportunity to step outside the theory and see the law in motion. You won’t just sharpen your skills; you’ll discover who you are in a legal setting, and what kind of lawyer you want to become.
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.