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Class of 2015

Motivated by the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, John Mudge enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws at Southern Cross University, and at age 60, was proudly admitted as a lawyer. John said studying law invigorated past studies from his other disciplines (accounting, tax, corporate governance and risk management, financial planning, mortgage broking and real estate) and provided a strong foundation for further studies/specialisations. His studies have also created a plethora of career opportunities, allowing him to develop self-confidence through becoming a master of critical thinking, strong reasoning, analytics and discovering the interconnectedness of all things.

In 2019 John ran as the United Australia Party (UAP) candidate for Page in the Federal election. John has also bred angora goats and alpaca and was founder/manager of syndicated importation to Australia of genetics from Chile, Peru, Texas (USA) and South Africa. He also studied artificial breeding at Riverina Artificial Breeders and then undertook his own livestock (AI) programs.

John is currently developing a digital platform for his mortgage broking and real estate licenses. John believes you need to be the change you want to see in the world and what you do, defines you for all eternity.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 2015 (first class honours), University Medalist Zoe Hunter has been working as a solicitor in a Lismore based law firm that specialises in criminal, care and protection, succession and family law.

As a former high school teacher, (BA DipEd), teaching English and drama, Zoe continues to enjoy teaching as a casual academic with the SCU Law School, lecturing in business law, contract law, wills and estates and land law. Zoe also completed her GDLP in 2015.

Since 2017, Zoe has spent one month every year delivering the full business law subject to students in our Chinese sister university in Tianjin. She is also currently co-editing the 7th edition of the Lexis Nexis textbook, Law in Commerce that is due for publication in August 2020.

Class of 2016

After graduating in June 2016, Michael Thomas completed his PLT and was admitted as a lawyer in 2017. Michael commenced work for James Fuggle Rummery Solicitors soon after, a small regional firm based in Lismore.

Working predominatinly in criminal law, Michael also works for Legal Aid NSW on a duty basis advising clients and representing them in Court. Michael has acted for Legal Aid NSW clients in defended hearings and sentences in the Local Court and District Court. He has also acted for private clients in various criminal matters including AVOs and traffic matters, as well as conveyancing matters, Wills and Estates and probate matters. Most recently he has also provided clients with advice in employment law matters, including acting for a local employer in unfair dismissal proceedings.

Michael is also actively involved in community service work and is an adult supervisor for the Australian Air Force Cadets, his way of giving back to the community and inspiring the next generation of young people.

After graduating in 2016, Janelle Rees worked for the Department of Transport and Main Roads as a Senior Legislation Advisor and then as the Sector Sustainability Coordinator for Community Legal Centres Queensland, undertaking research and policy analysis on legal need in marginalsed communities.

Janelle currently works at the School of Law and Justice, tutoring and marking in a number of units, as well as standing as the Unit Assessor for Local Government & Planning Law, Environmental Law and Australian Legal Systems.

Based in Northern NSW, also runs a freelance business and is commencing a PhD in climate change law. She is also one of the co-founders of Lawyers for Climate Justice Australia, a peak organisation calling for law councils across the country to declare a climate emergency and advocate for better law and policy to immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions.