In 2024, ANU College of Law alumna, Jessica Elliott, graduated top of her Master of Laws (LLM) cohort at Harvard. 

In this interview, Jessica talks about what this outstanding achievement means to her and how studying at ANU prepared her for Harvard. 

Congratulations on graduating top of your Harvard LLM cohort. What does this recognition mean to you?

I feel very fortunate to have received this recognition, and grateful for the support of the Lionel Murphy Foundation, Harvard Club of Australia and Harvard Law School, and the many ANU CoL professors, and others, without which this would not have been possible.

How would you summarise your experience studying law at Harvard?

Challenging, inspiring and eye-opening.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to study under world-leading professors and immerse myself in cutting-edge areas of the law. I was able to take advantage of the largest law library in the world to conduct research that would not otherwise have been possible, and learn from my diverse classmates from 69 countries. 

Having graduated from the CoL in 2018 and working as a lawyer since then, I knew exactly what I wanted to get out of my LLM, and Harvard offered all of that and more. 

Particular highlights were writing my thesis under the supervision Professor Catharine MacKinnon, a giant in feminist legal theory, and taking her truly inspiring Sex Equality Law course which gave me a new vocabulary and lens through which to see the world.

Other highlights were studying under Professor Philippe Sands, taking Professor Tyler Giannini’s Human Rights Litigation course and participating in Harvard's world-leading Trial Advocacy Course.

How did your LLB experience at ANU prepare you for the Harvard LLM?

Exceptionally well. The quality of ANU’s legal education holds its own, even against an institution like Harvard Law School.

The need to take a critical perspective and formulate your own views on not only what the law is, but what it should be; having rigorous legal research skills; a willingness and ability to adopt critical legal and inter-disciplinary perspectives, and being able to debate complex legal ideas with Professors and tutors placed me in excellent stead both at Harvard, and my career to date.

Were there any ANU Law scholars who were influential throughout your studies?

Most definitely. Professor Kate Ogg, who was my Honours supervisor and introduced me to feminist legal theory; Professor Jeremy Farrall; Professor Matthew Zagor; Professor Anthony Hopkins, and many more.   

What were some of the highlights studying law at ANU?

I loved my time at ANU, and the intellectual freedom and expansion it offered me. The CoL was a perfect match for me with its strength in public interest and international law, its progressive, inter-disciplinary and critical legal focus, the emphasis placed on producing high-quality research from the start of your degree, and the generosity of faculty in supporting students. 

Other highlights were my time at Burgmann College, the many close friends I made throughout my studies, and the many negotiation and mooting competitions I participated in through the CoL which took me to Japan, and India. 

I was also grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Indigenous Community Legal Clinic, which undoubtedly played a part in my time working as a Solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT in Moree.

What is next for you?

I am delighted to have started a new position as a Senior Associate at Pogust Goodhead, which draws on the expertise I gained in human rights litigation and corporate accountability at Harvard Law School.

I am working on Munícipio de Mariana and Ors v BHP Group Plc and BHP Group Ltd (ongoing), the largest opt-in class action lawsuit in English legal history arising from Brazil's worst environmental disaster.