Chantelle Martin is already receiving job offers after winning the 2019 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students’ Moot Competition last week.
The Bond University Law and International Relations student is weighing up her options after an impressive victory in the exclusive mooting competition at the Commonwealth Law Courts in Brisbane on July 24.
Ms Martin will get the opportunity to shadow a barrister in the field of her choice as part of her prize and has already received work proposals.
“I had an immediate offer from someone after I won, but I’m still deciding if the dates will work,” said Ms Martin.
“I was looking at my identical twin when I was announced as the winner, I just had to see her face. Her eyes lit up, I looked up over at my teachers and coaches and they were all so happy.
“It doesn’t get any better than being in that court win or lose, it is simply exhilarating.
“The room was filled with lawyers, barristers, legal professionals. It is incredibly intimidating knowing that everyone’s eyes are on you.”
The competition centred on a legal case involving an Indigenous artist and fake Indigenous artwork and the legal complexities of misleading conduct.
The Indigenous law students argued their case in front of Justice Philippides of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Chief Justice Allsop of the Federal Court and Justice Edelman of the High Court of Australia.
The Queensland Indigenous Law Student Moot in its fifth year is the only moot competition of its kind in Australia.
“Because all the mooters are Indigenous Australians, we feel an inherent connection to the respondent in this matter, because she was the one who was losing her culture, losing her inherited ability to paint and losing her income,” Ms Martin said.
“I’ve learnt a lot about myself and the actual law surrounding misleading conduct and consumer law. I hope to go into it one day.
“It was great to be in the Federal Court at the Commonwealth law courts in Brisbane. It is incredibly formal, court is in process on the same level, so it is a hub of activity. Wow, this might actually be me one day.
“I’d like to make a start in commercial law and I’m definitely considering going to the bar.”
Ms Martin attributes her victory to many late evenings spent developing her advocacy skills whilst being supported by Assistant Professor Narelle Bedford and many of her peers.