Hayley Bowman was working part time and missed the intellectual stimulation of a challenging role, so she decided to enrol for her Master’s.

“I missed the mental gymnastics of looking into complex legal problems.

“I think taking a step back into the academic world when you’ve been practising for a long period of time helps sharpen your analytical skills and your ability to argue and to lead a discussion. It really helps with your confidence in that area, and your ability to handle being challenged and having to defend your argument and your position.”

Hayley’s taken a variety of different courses including administrative law, security law, and one on the judiciary. She says the diversity of courses and the flexibility of the timetable has worked well for her as she’s moved into more challenging roles in her career. She has now opted to complete her Master’s, writing a 12,000-word thesis supervised by Professor Nicole Moreham.

“The flexibility of papers really worked for me. When I’d really found an area of interest – and that was privacy—I approached a lecturer and was able to do my own thesis without coming to class to work on in my own time. That’s been really good, to fit around my family.”

The chance to try out different areas of study and discover her own passion has been a highlight for Hayley and one of the main reasons she would recommend studying for a Master’s.

“It helps you figure out where you want to go. Sometimes it is so easy to get caught on a factory line in your workplace where you’re just working in one little area of the law. I’m really interested in administrative law and privacy, and I wouldn’t necessarily have realised that had I not gone and studied.”

Kathleen Henning comes from South Africa, and was drawn to the Faculty of Law by its strong international reputation in Intellectual Property law. Since arriving she has been impressed by the quality of teaching and the attention given to individual students.

“Working under people like Professor Graeme Austin and Professor Susy Frankel has just been amazing, because they’re very knowledgeable—really the best in their field. It allows you to make some really useful connections.”

The proximity to the outdoors and the friendliness of the people are two things Kathleen rates highly about New Zealand.

“I was stunned by the nature and the scenery. Being able to look out the window and see forests, that’s amazing. The people are so friendly—that’s something I’ve really noticed—and always willing to help.”

She has also enjoyed Wellington’s diverse culture and many cafés: “It feels metropolitan but really safe and vibrant at the same time.”

Kathleen’s main piece of advice for new students would be to take advantage of everything the University has to offer—be it the clubs and societies, internships, or just engaging in Wellington’s legal community.

“A Master’s is about so much more than just the degree. You can actively engage with the staff and other professionals, and make sure you get everything out of it that you can.

“Doing your Master’s really allows you to hone in on the area of law or the area of study that you find really interesting—engage with the topics, speak with other people who know a lot about the field, pull it apart, get to know it well, write about it… and just find that part of the law that makes you tick.”