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The Young Justice Program, an annual event run by the Law Society of NSW, brings together dozens of Year 10 and 11 students from the state's schools in a day to learn and discuss issues of the law with renowned legal experts.

Young students from as far as Wagga Wagga attended this year’s event on Friday August 23, at the Campbelltown Campus of Western Sydney University. It was held outside of the Law Society’s premises in Sydney’s CBD for the first time.

“People may think that law is a degree and a profession, bound by books, rules, and regulation. And I cannot lie: there is plenty of that,” said the President of the Law Society of NSW, Brett McGrath, in his welcoming speech.

“But the main reason I love the law is because it is about people. I learned early that life can be fundamentally different for individuals and families, depending on their circumstances. People often come to lawyers for help because something has gone wrong.”

In his opening address, Chief Justice of NSW Andrew Bell spoke about the importance of the continuity of the rule of law. This was followed by a panel of prominent law professionals, including Anthony Gordon (Partner at Marsden’s and Regional President of the Macarthur Law Society) and Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim (Local Court of NSW), who is the first Western Sydney University graduate appointed to judicial office.

After lunch, students participated in a legal literacy workshop and a seminar on transitioning to university with the support of current top-performing students at the School of Law.

From Mohua Ahmed, Year 11 in Legal Studies, keen to learn about Family Law, to Julie Chom, who believes in the importance of a legal system accessible to all, the cultural diversity in the region, one of the state’s fastest growing, is proof that geography is no barrier to a successful career in law.

“I know firsthand the benefits of forging a career near home”, McGrath said.

“This Young Justice event has not only provided an opportunity for high school students to learn more about a career in the law but for legal figures, from the Chief Justice, local solicitors and the current crop of Western Sydney University law students, to be inspired by the dedication and enthusiasm of the next generation of lawyers.”