Angela Gibbs has lived many lives, from her initial foray into commercial law and advising Traditional Owners in Central Australia to becoming a teacher in Perth and Alice Springs. After taking up a Melbourne Law Masters, she’s now returned to working for Traditional Owners and consults on a range of native title, commercial and human rights matters.
University is a place for self-discovery – at least, it has been for Angela Gibbs. During her undergraduate degree in law and commerce, she held a strong commitment to social justice but wasn’t sure what she wanted for her future, so she spent time gaining practical skills by volunteering both in Australia and abroad. Her experiences varied, including supporting children living with disabilities in classrooms in Kenya, fighting against human trafficking in India and running holiday programs for children and families experiencing adversity in Victoria. But what they all had in common was helping her connect the big-picture thinking she was learning at university with real-world issues.
Still, deciding on a path forward wasn’t easy. On the advice of trusted mentors and friends, Angela decided to start her career in commercial law, which ended up offering her a serendipitous opportunity that aligned with her values.
“I started off in a big law firm which, luckily for me, also had a strong and genuine commitment to pro bono practice. Through that, I got to do some work with a Traditional Owner group up in the Kimberley in Western Australia.”
That experience led her to working as a lawyer with the Central Land Council, a representative body for Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory. “I was still mainly doing commercial work, but on behalf of Traditional Owners,” says Angela, adding that she was grateful that her first job in commercial law helped her “see what else was out there in terms of what being a lawyer means and what sort of work is possible.”
Angela’s role with the Central Land Council allowed her to “work with great people doing really important things.” It also reinforced her passion for education and the role it plays in allowing people to create the life they want – leading her to her next career challenge: becoming a teacher.
“I spent six years teaching, first in an outer area of Perth and then in a beautiful primary school in Alice Springs,” explains Angela.
Having taken up a Melbourne Law Masters while she was teaching to “keep a connection to the law”, Angela was able to choose from plenty of subjects to tailor the course to her interests.
“I’m really interested in the issue of school funding. A lot of government funding flows towards private schools…and in one of my subjects, I was able to frame my subject assessment around school funding and whether there are any legal avenues available to shift the way that funding works in Australia. This was something that I found incredibly engaging, and it had a practical use in my professional life,” explained Angela.
Since then, Angela has come back to Melbourne and now works for a legal and consulting practice with a focus on native title, commercial agreement-making with Traditional Owner groups, and treaty and truth-telling processes, as well as select human rights and public interest matters. The networks she made through the Melbourne Law Masters have been helpful upon her return, and she continues to connect her studies with what she’s currently working on.
“I’ve broadened my network through the Melbourne Law Masters. I’ve met people who are working in all different fields, sometimes adjacent to the sort of work I’m doing, and it’s been great to develop those professional connections,” says Angela.
“I’ve also gotten to know some of my lecturers. For example, Professor John Borrows, who is an Indigenous Canadian law scholar. He is someone I’ll stay in touch with beyond my masters. He’s also inspired me to visit Canada, so I can see the Indigenous rights and policy work that’s happening over there.”
Angela further comments that the calibre of the lecturers and academics at Melbourne Law School has been outstanding.
“I've been taught by some of the best academics in their fields – incredible teachers who have such a deep understanding of the content they're teaching – and I have learnt so much from them.
“My most recent subject with Professor John Borrows was fabulous,” she continues. “I've learned from Professor Cheryl Saunders, who’s an internationally renowned constitutional law expert. I've also done subjects that have been taken by a current High Court judge and a former High Court judge. The quality of the teaching has been fantastic.”
Having started her Melbourne Law Masters by studying a single subject before enrolling, as well as drawing on the flexibility of the course to defer semesters when necessary due to her workload, Angela’s advice to anyone interested in the course is to just go for it.
“You can start off with a single subject just to see how it feels, see whether you enjoy it and how you’re able to manage it alongside work. I'm sure you'll find it a really worthwhile, rich experience.”
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