Susan Paprica: The student who entered the courtroom
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.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
A trailblazer at Monash Law Clinics, Susan Paprica was the first student to represent a client in an Australian court. Since then, Paprica has continued to make a meaningful impact in the corporate world and currently holds the position of Manager of Legal Strategic Projects at BHP.
From undertaking Professional Practice as an undergraduate law student to building a remarkable career in corporate law, Paprica has left a lasting impact every step of the way. Her time at Monash Law Clinics was groundbreaking and unprecedented.
In 1993, Paprica made history and broke centuries of legal tradition by becoming the first student to represent a client in the Family Court of Australia. She won the case, and with that helped pave the way for other law students to do the same.
‘The experience taught me that law isn’t just about rules and cases, it’s about people,’ she says. ‘That understanding has really informed every role I’ve taken on and shaped me as a person and as a professional.’
Paprica’s journey in the law began in the early 1990s. As she progressed through her degree at Monash Law, she was eager to translate her theoretical knowledge into practical experience. From December 1992 to March 1993, she undertook clinical legal education with Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service.
‘It gives you something no textbook ever can and it’s priceless,’ she says. ‘There’s a raw human element to it that simply can’t be captured or taught in a lecture theatre.
You learn how to connect, how to support and advocate in ways that changes lives, including your own.’
The program was supervised by the late Professor Susan Campbell, whose leadership exemplified a deep commitment to community and innovation.
‘Professor Campbell had made it very clear that it was a privilege to be a lawyer. It was about giving back and our responsibility as lawyers, not only from a social justice perspective, but also from an integrity perspective, and the perspective of doing the right thing and driving change. I think that flowed on to everybody as a result, but she led by example.’
Susan Paprica’s ID photo from the paperwork submitted for appearing in court.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
It was Professor Campbell’s pioneering approach to clinical legal education which brought about the opportunity for Paprica to appear in the Family Court. After numerous discussions with the Family Court and the Chief Magistrate of Victoria, it was agreed that Monash Law students working at the legal service would be permitted to appear before the court in limited matters.
Not long afterwards, a Vietnamese grandmother attended the clinic. She had been caring for her young grandson after his parents had abandoned and she needed her custody of the child formalised.
‘Professor Campbell thought it was the perfect test case,’ Paprica says. ‘And, to my great surprise and humility, she wanted me to present it before the court. I’ll never forget that moment. It was a tremendous honour, not only to support a client in need, but to also represent the program and everything it stood for.’
Paprica ultimately made a successful application on behalf of her client. A moment that was pivotal both in her own legal journey and in the evolution of the clinical legal education program.
More than 30 years later, Susan still values the experience and the impact it had on her values as a lawyer.
‘What stands out most now is that none of it was ever about me. It was about helping someone who had no one else to speak for them. And that experience reminded me exactly why I wanted to study law in the first place. It really crystallised my commitment to using the law in service for others.’
Since her time at Monash, Paprica has had an impressive and varied career with roles spanning private practice, major ASX-listed organisations and ASIC. A highlight early in her career was her time at Andersen Legal, where she worked on various highprofile litigation cases, including the liquidation of Ansett Airlines. She later went on to work in-house at GE Capital for 11 years, prior to joining ASIC, where she contributed to the Financial Services Royal Commission.
‘I usually describe myself as a senior legal, risk and compliance executive with a strong grounding in regulatory matters, investigations and corporate governance, because that’s the areas where I feel I deliver my best work.’
‘But having held General Counsel roles, I’m also very much an all-rounder. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked across a wide spectrum of commercially critical and sensitive matters, as well as complex remediations in high-stakes litigations. So really, I’m a General Counsel, in the truest sense of the words.’
Through it all, Paprica has stayed true to the values instilled in her by Professor Campbell and Monash-Oakleigh Legal Service.
‘Professor Campbell deeply believed in the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need, and that ethos stayed with me. I’ve applied it not just in my practice of the law, but in everything I do. I’ve always tried to leave things better than I found them.’
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.