Academic Careers

DR MARILYN BROMBERG

Director of Higher Degrees (Coursework), University of Western Australia

How Did you Begin Your Career? I was born and raised in Canada (so, among other things, I am a maple syrup expert and can speak French). My career is not that of a typical academic. I started freelance writing for Canada’s largest newspaper, The Toronto Star, when I was 14 years old. I wrote freelance for the newspaper for about six years. When I studied for my Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) Degree at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, I worked part-time as a television producer at Matrix Produxions and created and managed an online magazine, On The Wall. After I graduated, I moved to Perth because my boyfriend at the time was from here. I then graduated with an LLB (Dist) from the UWA Law School and commenced working as an articled clerk in a law firm that specialised in commercial litigation on the Terrace.

Why Did you Choose to Enter Academia? It was not my idea to become an academic, but I am delightfully grateful that I became one. In February 2011, when I had been a lawyer for almost a year, my mother suggested that I apply for a tutoring job at a law school. She had been an elementary school teacher for about 50 years. It never occurred to me to teach professionally previously. I applied to each law school in Perth, and I was fortunate that the Dean of the University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle Campus, offered me a position to lecture Evidence. I accepted the offer. Why Do you Stay in Academia? I have been an academic for about 11 years. I stay in academia because it never feels like work (even the marking). I love teaching and engaging in interesting debate with students and colleagues. Also, I love that the job is a hybrid of intellectual rigour and creativity. For example, in my Social Media and the Law unit, I decided to teach a lecture on celebrities, social media and the law. I ask students to dress up as a celebrity for the tutorial on the topic. It is always good fun, though admittedly I make a pretty unconvincing Kim Kardashian, notwithstanding my long, black wig and sunglasses. (Other students have dressed as Rhianna, Katy Perry, etc.) In the unit, we also review the AFL’s social media policy and I make my own memes that sometimes feature my Mini Schnauzer, Hero. I am also grateful that as an academic I can choose any legal topic that I find interesting to research. This is as opposed to my work as a lawyer, where typically I cannot choose which cases to work on, unless I run my own firm (or if I am a partner). I research legal issues that I am passionate about, like Body Image Law and social media and the law. I note that I still practice law part-time and hope to for the rest of my career. I enjoy practising law and my students find my ability to discuss relevant stories from practise useful.

What Advice Do you Have to People who Want to Enter Academia? Complete an honours undergraduate degree, if you can. You will learn valuable legal research and writing skills. You may be able to go straight from an honours undergraduate degree to a PhD program. Speaking of PhDs, I highly recommend that you obtain a PhD if you seek to become an academic. Jobs in academia are very competitive. If you would like a permanent position, it is often expected that you have one. Finally, it’s important to develop a thick skin and not take professional criticism personally (though this is an important skill, no matter your profession). In academia, we receive constructive criticism through anonymous student surveys, peer reviews about our research, etc. Try to learn from the criticism and remember that it is not reflective of who you are as a human being. What Advice Do You Have For Students? If possible, say yes to every opportunity that you can. When I started my career in academia, the offer that I received to lecture Evidence was made two weeks before the semester started. While some people may understandably have turned down this offer because of the lack of preparation time, I said yes. Of course, I consumed my weight in coffee that semester (I have since given up coffee and may be the only adult in Perth who does not consume the beverage), but it was worth it. Also, when you start your career, you often have to perform menial tasks. For example, when I was an articled clerk, the colleague that I was closest to was the photocopying machine. I spent most days photocopying documents to arrange trial bundles. Over time, tasks in your career get more interesting and you receive more responsibility. Hang in there.

I wish you the very best of luck with your career!