By the time Zac Smithers graduated from the USC Law School last month, he had already been offered a job thanks to the extensive practical experience he had gained during his degree.

Zac, 22, of Redcliffe landed a graduate law clerk position with Shine Lawyers at Maroochydore after completing a vacation clerkship with the legal firm during his final year of a Bachelor of Laws in 2017.

“During this clerkship I realised I had a real passion for helping people with personal injury claims,” said the former Southern Cross Catholic College student who was among 1,700 students to graduate from USC in April.

“You can help make a real difference in people’s lives, so it gives me quite a lot of personal satisfaction to see clients have the win they deserve.”

Zac, who now lives at Marcoola and plays for the Maroochydore-Coolum Swans Rugby League Club, was one of the foundation students of USC’s Law School when it opened in 2014.

“When I began my degree, the Law School was still growing so there was a real sense of camaraderie between the students and lecturers,” he said. “There’s always been a good community-based spirit at USC.

“The USC Law School offered a number of practical opportunities, including work experience at the Suncoast Community Legal Centre and internships at local firms and companies.

“This enabled me to develop my legal skills, including drafting court documents and communicating with clients. It also allowed me to build a professional network which I now, at the beginning of my legal career, heavily rely upon.

“The USC Law School also helped a lot with offering me practical opportunities to dabble in different areas of law that have interested me.

“I’d recommend to any law student to try as many different areas of law as possible because you never know what you’ll be interested in. And if you have a particular passion, then follow it.”

USC’s annual Open Day at its main Sunshine Coast campus will be held on Sunday 22 July and at its Caboolture campus on Sunday 5 August. Details on how to apply to study at USC can be found here.

- Tom Snowdon