Tessa Whale
Law Clerk, Russell McVeagh
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) & Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising Creativity
University was a time of huge growth and exploration for her, says Tessa Whale who completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising Creativity.
“When I started at AUT, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Communication Studies, and wanted to major in film and become a film director. Along the way, I also picked up a Bachelor of Laws and ended up loving that; particularly the small class sizes and personal element at the AUT Law School.”
There were plenty of highlights throughout Tessa’s time at AUT.
“One big highlight of my time at AUT was meeting people who I think will be lifelong friends. The other highlights were all the new things I had the opportunity to get involved in, including competitions, clubs and extracurricular activities.”
Tessa also won the AUT Witness Examination Competition in both 2018 and 2019, and received the award for the best Part I and the best Part II AUT Law School student and for the top law student in 11 courses.
A passion for the law
Now working at Russell McVeagh, Tessa enjoys applying everything she learned at law school.
“I work in the commercial litigation team at Russell McVeagh. So far, I’ve been learning the ropes, doing research and assisting with the preparation of legal documents. I’m really enjoying learning more about legal practice and seeing real-world situations unfold.”
She is constantly drawing on what she has learnt at AUT in her new role.
“The research and writing skills I developed at law school equipped me well for working life by giving me a solid foundation to rely on. The self-directed learning we did at university also developed my organisation skills, which is very helpful for the time management that is required in working life.”
Advice for other students
Tessa’s advice for other students is simple: make the most of university life.
“Get involved in extracurricular activities and university life. If something piques your interest, give it a go. You may be hesitant because it’s out of your comfort zone, but those opportunities often end up being the most satisfying and rewarding.”
She herself has certainly made the most of her time at AUT, says Tessa whose studies were supported by an AUT Significant Student Scholarship, an AUT Academic Undergraduate Scholarship as well as a Russell McVeagh University Scholarship.
“I found that all the opportunities at university ended up inspiring me in different ways. For example, the debates and law school competitions sparked my interest in litigation, which is the area of law I now work in.”
