Get to know one of our new Student Ambassadors, Bita Mahani (Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of International Relations).

Why did you choose to study law at ANU?

I chose to study law at ANU due to the University’s highly regarded reputation and proximity to the important decision-making centres of our nation. I had originally hoped to become a diplomat, hence the pairing of my law degree with international relations, but have since then leaned further into my passion for advocacy, which the College of Law helps me to pursue through supporting mine and my friends’ participation in mooting competitions both within Australia and overseas. The way law degrees are structured at ANU also ensures that students can progress through their programs at a comfortable pace that is conducive to their understanding and enables the exploration of their passions alongside their degrees.

Describe a highlight of your degree so far.

I have been very fortunate to have travelled overseas to compete on behalf of the university in mooting, and have had multiple interstate trips for the same reason. A highlight of my degree has thus been the ability to travel and explore my passion for the law outside the classroom, which ANU always encourages. I am particularly looking forward to representing Australia in the Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition in Japan this November with some of my best friends, and I have the College of Law to thank for offering up such amazing opportunities like these for students like myself.

Have there been any challenging moments?

I believe every student will agree that preparing for and getting through exam season is challenging, and of course, doing one’s readings can take (more than) a while depending on the content. But at the end of the day, I find that the challenges that many students encounter whilst studying law are typically managed well with good planning and time-management. You can truly do anything you put your mind to.

Who is your legal inspiration? 

I have many legal inspirations, but a key inspiration for me is probably Justice Loukas-Karlsson of the ACT Supreme Court. Her honour has a very refreshing approach to modern legal issues and is an incredible advocate for advancing other women in law. She is not only committed to giving back to her community but has always been keen to help ANU students in particular, and is always willing to provide others with well-considered advice and guidance. I hope to emulate her honour’s skills and passion in my future work.

What advice do you have for prospective law students?

Get involved! It can be easy to get bogged down in your work, but it is incredibly important that you branch out and enable yourself to have fun and develop other skills as well. Joining the Law Students’ Society is an excellent way to meet fellow law students and gain access to a plethora of opportunities that can help you to develop your research and advocacy skills beyond the classroom. Also do your readings, try and stay organised, and don’t be afraid to ask your lecturers for help. The College of Law can also always be contacted if you have administrative questions.