Zoe Zhou: From sociology to criminal law
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.
Zoe Zhou is a criminal lawyer at Doogue + George Defence Lawyers. A key turning point in Zhou’s professional development came during her time at Monash Law Clinics.
Zhou’s legal journey has not been conventional. Her first degree was in sociology and she once worked for a not-for-profit focused on public policy and advocacy. It was this passion for supporting marginalised communities that motivated her to enrol in a Juris Doctor.
While studying, she sought out practical experiences. These included working on land transfers at a general practice law firm, volunteering at various community legal centres and completing a clerkship at King & Wood Mallesons. However, nothing really clicked until she encountered criminal law. She was immediately drawn to the urgency and high stakes of criminal cases. Nonetheless, she remained open to other career paths, which led to her clinical placement.
It was during that placement that Zhou realised practising law was not just about providing answers, but also about actively listening, showing empathy, thinking holistically and knowing when to ask for help. She tackled a variety of civil cases and some minor criminal regulatory ones.
Zhou learned how to interview clients with complex needs, how to balance empathy and professionalism, and how to manage client expectations. It also taught her a lot about client communication and file management. Zhou notes that the realities of placement work – navigating flawed humans and imperfect information – showed her just how different legal practice can be from theory. But she gives an unexpected answer when asked to pick the most useful skill she picked up during her time at the clinic: ‘accurate file management’, a vital part of professional practice that she believes is often overlooked in law school.
Read more about 50 years of Monash Law Clinics and buy 50 Years / 50 Voices here
Zoe Zhou, admitted to practice as an Australian lawyer, Supreme Court of Victoria, July 2024.
Zhou is also grateful that her time at the clinic strengthened her belief that civil law wasn’t for her and that she was much better suited to criminal law. But she’s quick to point out the skills she learned dealing with civil cases have proved transferable.
Zhou’s current role involves interacting with a wide variety of clients. The ability to manage people with a wide range of personalities, to set professional boundaries and to communicate clearly – skills she first started developing at the clinic – are vital.
Looking back on her experiences at Monash Law Clinics, Zhou says it gave her a clearer understanding of what it means to be a lawyer on a day-to-day basis. She also values the enduring professional and personal relationships that began during her time there, and is delighted to still be in contact with her supervisor and members of her cohort.
‘The program was a formative, realistic and eye-opening step into the legal profession,’ she 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.