Before I studied at Victoria University I was more interested in finding ways of getting around the law than I was in working in it, but the TAFE course I chose, an Advanced Diploma in Business - Legal Practice, changed that.

After leaving school at Year 11, I went back to TAFE to finish my VCE and then looked around for a course that would lead to a rewarding career.

We had great teachers, and many were available to help me after class. That made a big difference to me because I had never been a particularly good student. Their encouragement helped me to get on top of the work and I did well.

I found a good work experience placement at a local legal practice in my first year and that gave me a lot of confidence.

My job as an administrative assistant at Robert Stary and Associates involves a lot of contact with clients, police, courts and lawyers. My course gave me a solid grounding in all aspects of the law that's been invaluable in assessing clients' needs and in assisting them and their lawyers in preparing briefs.