BAQ Indigenous Law Student Program strikes Advocacy Flame for Wyatt

Wyatt Cook-Revell, 21, is hopeful that he will one day pursue a career at the Queensland Bar.

Wyatt, a final year Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student at the Queensland University of Technology, is the 2020 recipient of the Bar Association of Queensland’s Indigenous Law Student Program. The Gatton-raised Law student is part of the Program that provides Indigenous students with an introduction to life at the Bar, encompassing a three-week internship with a barrister, a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and a Judge of the Supreme and/or District Court of Queensland.  

The Bar Association of Queensland launched its Indigenous Law Student Program to provide an innovative and solid foundation to support Indigenous students who are interested in pursuing a career at the Bar, with the principal objective of increasing the number of Indigenous barristers at the Queensland Bar.

Wyatt completed a rotation with Justice Collier of the Federal Court of Australia, Justice Philippides of the Queensland Court of Appeal and Mr Christopher Murdoch QC.

During his time with Justice Collier, Wyatt had the opportunity to observe the different aspects of the Federal Court of Australia, including the general processes of how court proceedings are initiated, managed and concluded; as well as the much detail and work that goes into every stage.

“I was able to observe the different advocacy style of experienced and well-respected Barristers from across the country. By watching and learning from them, I managed to pick up tips and various types of advocacy skills from learning to communicate with other parties, to reading and deciphering written submissions. This was enjoyable for me as it allowed me to further my knowledge and understanding of advocacy techniques I have learned at university and previous work experience activities.”

Wyatt also had the opportunity to join Justice Philippides, where he experienced hearings in the Queensland Court of Appeal, sittings of the Supreme Court of Queensland Trial Division, including applications, criminal sentences, a civil trial and a judge alone criminal trial, as well as a jury trial in the District Court of Queensland.

“Throughout my time at the QEII Courts of Law Complex, I had the opportunity to meet various Judges and staff of the Supreme and District Courts of Queensland. The Judges and their Honour’s Associates were incredibly open and happy for me to contribute as much as I wanted to. The opportunity to shadow numerous Judges provided me with more insight into the different styles of written and oral advocacy presented from the Bar table.”

While in Chambers with Mr Christopher Murdoch QC, Wyatt witnessed appellate advocacy in the practice areas of industrial and employment law, attended a client conference and undertook research tasks.

“I attended hearings in the Federal Court of Australia, the Industrial Court of Queensland and the Fair Work Commission. I was fortunate to meet other barristers in the Level 8 Inns of Court in the group, obtain a behind-the-scenes view of how matters are prepared for court, and attend hearings to observe how the matters were resolved. As someone considering a career at the Bar, the opportunity to visit barristers’ chambers and to shadow Mr Murdoch QC was an invaluable experience.”

Wyatt thanks the Bar Association of Queensland for the opportunity to be part of the 2020 Indigenous Law Student Program.

“The Program is a sign of just how determined the Bar is to change its make-up to more accurately reflect the community, complementing other efforts on the diversity front, including gender and culture.”

Wyatt highly encourages Indigenous students to apply for the BAQ Indigenous Law Student Program.

“I cannot speak highly enough of the experience — it has left a strong impression of the kind of legal professional that I want to be.”