Long-held dreams come true as law graduates pass the bar

COVID-19 social distancing restrictions were unable to wipe the grins from the latest crop of Hobart’s freshly-minted law graduates to pass the bar.

• Tas Supreme Court halts jury trials amid coronavirus crisis
• Burnie’s courts will move out of CBD and into UTAS campus

MANY meet their fate in the hallowed halls and austere surrounds of Hobart’s Supreme Court.

But on Friday, those venerable courtrooms were places of dreams – not doom – for dozens of Hobart’s most freshly articled clerks who were admitted to the bar.

About 40 University of Tasmania students who completed their law degrees in 2019 and undertook their half-year legal practice this year gathered before the judiciary to be officially sworn in to their profession.

Sheryl Chng, 25, said she first decided she wanted to become a lawyer when she was in high school.

Nicholas Rheinberger and Sheryl Chng (Chng) who have been admitted to the legal profession. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“My dad said ‘you know how to argue, why don’t you become a lawyer?’,” she said.

Ms Chng said COVID-19 meant the freshly-minted lawyers weren’t able to all gather in the one courtroom on Friday.

Instead, they were divided into socially-distanced groups before swearing an oath or affirming to uphold the values of the court and faithfully administer their duties as lawyers.

Nicholas Rheinberger, 27, said Friday’s ceremony was the realisation of a long-held dream.

“It’s a bit old-fashioned, but it’s what dad does and it’s all I wanted to do, and I’ve wanted to do it since I was four,” he said.

“He’s never pushed me to do law but he’s always been very supportive.”

This year, the University of Tasmania has awarded degrees and diplomas to 3360 graduates across a range of disciplines – but the students have not been able to attend ceremonies due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Instead, their qualifications have been conferred at a special meeting of the university council.

Follow @ambervwilson