High achiever contributing to community

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High achiever contributing to community

Wednesday, 01 March 2023

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In 2019 Law student Stuart Caporn responded to a request for volunteers from Circle Green Community Legal – a not-for-profit community legal centre that assists the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.

He started volunteering in December 2019 but of course that came to a halt with the arrival of COVID early 2020 and the subsequent lockdowns. The silver lining was that Stuart was offered a part-time job with the organisation working from home.

Fast forward to 2023 and Stuart has graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours and has permanent employment at Circle Green.

Stuart said that he really enjoys his work. ‘It’s very gratifying to be able to empower clients to achieve better outcomes’, he said.

As a student Stuart was a very high achiever and was awarded the Cullen McLeod Contract Law II Prize, the Landgate Property Law Prize and College of Law Administrative Law Prize.

He was, however, surprised to realise that there wasn’t a prize for the top student in the International Human Rights Law unit; one of his favourite units.

Circle Green receives an annual grant from the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture to provide legal assistance to asylum seekers and refugees who have experienced torture.

Stuart felt that there was a good match and approached his employer about sponsoring a prize for the top student in the International Human Rights Law unit. That prize will be presented for the first time in 2023.

Stuart feels he gained so much from his time in the School of Business and Law and is keen to contribute back to the School and to current students,

‘If there is one piece of guidance I can give to students, it is to 'get involved' as much as possible. At law school, you get out of it what you put in. I took all the opportunities I was offered including as a Member of Vice Chancellor's Student Advisory Forum, a Peer Mentor, Secretary of Edith Cowan Student Law Society, Conference Competitions Officer for the Australian Student Law Society and Moot Facilitator. Volunteering in the community legal sector is a great way to learn the foundational practical skills that are critical to legal practice.’

‘In my experience, students who get great marks are well regarded, but students who can also demonstrate qualities such as investment, teamwork and participation are better regarded.’

Stuart said that he initially chose to study at ECU as the Joondalup campus is close to his home. ‘However the reason I chose to stay was the ECU culture. Studying at ECU has been one of the best decisions of my life and I couldn’t have imagined where it would take me.’

‘Whilst ECU as an institution and brand is formidable, it was the staff at SBL who really made my experience special. I've found them all to be approachable, supportive, and most importantly kind, whilst bringing the highest level of integrity and rigour that appropriately challenged me to get the most out of my undergraduate studies.’

Associate Professor Joshua Aston, Associate Dean, Law said that Stuart was one of the finest of our Law graduates. ‘His accomplishments go beyond his exceptional results, leading the Peer Mentor Program, being a member of the Vice Chancellor's Student Advisory Forum, representing law students, and volunteering. I have seen him patiently assisting students who may have been struggling. He is an exceptional person of immense determination, enthusiasm, and devotion to helping others.

School of Business and Law