Tim Gough: Using legal powers for good
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
Tim Gough’s career has been defined by a deep commitment to service. Gough has practised exclusively in family law since he was admitted in 2008. He is now a partner at the family law firm Kennedy Partners. Throughout his career, Gough has handled complex and high-profile cases, including matters in the appellate courts and the High Court, and was among the youngest lawyers to achieve specialist accreditation in family law.
For all the accolades, it is not the high-profile cases that Gough finds the most rewarding. ‘The most satisfying cases are the ones where you really change someone’s life for the better,’ he says. Guided by the conviction that legal practice must serve others, Gough has built a career defined by purpose and impact.
Gough’s commitment to service was forged during his time in the Monash Law clinical program. Gough completed his clinical placement in the final semester of his law degree, and still describes it as one of the most important experiences of his legal education. In contrast to traditional subjects separated into areas of the law, the clinic presented legal problems in their complex and comprehensive form.
‘Placement was the first subject where I felt like things started to click and make sense,’ he says. Law in practice requires the integration of knowledge, empathy, communication and problem-solving. Or, as Gough says, ‘Legal problems in the real world do not fit into neat boxes.’
During his placement, Gough worked across a broad range of areas, including criminal and family law, with opportunities to appear in court and conduct client interviews. These cases were often complex and challenging to navigate, but revealed the everyday realities of legal need. In particular, Gough recalls assisting a Vietnamese client who had been charged with exceeding the legal limit on catching abalone. With the help of an interpreter, Gough effectively conveyed the criminal nature of the conduct, to the unknowing client. The matter also deepened Gough’s understanding of the cultural significance of abalone in the Asian community.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Another matter, involving a pharmacist who had a concealed room containing thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen items, taught Gough to appreciate the underlying psychological and socio-economic complexities influencing his clients’ circumstances. No two days were the same at Monash Law Clinics, and his experience cemented a belief in the value of community legal work. He also learned to approach legal issues from a place of empathy, rather than judgement.
Gough’s longstanding relationship with Monash Law Clinics extended beyond his placement. As an administrator at the Family Law Assistance Program, Gough gained valuable experience in a different client-facing role, which he credits to helping him secure an Articled Clerkship. Following the completion of his studies, Gough volunteered as a supervising solicitor for more than a decade.
‘The clinic taught me so much and did so much for me that I thought the least I could do was give some of my time back,’ says Gough, who enjoyed the opportunity to mentor and develop law students through the final years of their degrees and into their careers as lawyers.
After being named partner at Lander & Rogers, Gough still maintained an ongoing commitment to the volunteer clinic. In his view, community service keeps him grounded. ‘It is easy to lose sight of the fact that there are people at all levels of society who need legal help. As lawyers, we owe it to society to use our powers for good.’
These values remain deeply embedded in his practice. Gough continues to volunteer at the Southport Community Legal Service in Port Melbourne, near his home. According to Gough, helping those clients and giving back to the community provides an opportunity to partake in a variety of legal work, and to stay resilient and engaged throughout a professional legal career.
Additionally, he remains actively involved in education and mentorship. Gough played a pivotal role in fostering a relationship between Monash Law and Lander & Rogers, and also presents guest lectures for clinical placement students each semester.
Gough offers a crucial piece of advice to young lawyers: ‘Maintain a work-life balance and develop good habits.’ The legal profession, he notes, can be both high-pressure and emotionally taxing, which are challenges best managed by cultivating a strong personal and professional foundation. Gough is a passionate advocate for clinical education and believes it should be a core part of every law student’s experience. He argues that clinical placements provide invaluable client-facing and real-world experience that bridges the gap between legal theory and practice. ‘It should be compulsory,’ he says. ‘It was a great litmus test for working out if you actually want to be a lawyer.’
Gough’s career has been defined by professional excellence and a deep commitment to service and mentorship. His experience at Monash Law Clinics instilled values that have profoundly influenced the course of his career. Gough remains deeply grateful to the clinic, the supervisors who mentored him, and the students he has guided and supported. ‘The staff deserve as much credit and as many accolades as they can be given,’ 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.