Two students, Sarina Petersen and Belle Lu, shared this year’s Queensland Law Society Prize for the best performance in the unit, Ethics and the Legal Profession.
The Queensland University of Technology Law School acknowledged and celebrated its top-performing students of the 2024 academic year on 1 April.
Belle is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Laws at QUT after a career change from nursing.
“For approximately 11 years, I have been practising as a Registered Nurse (operating theatre), specialising in cardiac surgery,” she said.
“During my nursing studies (2010-2012), I truly enjoyed the ethics subject and resonated with the principles that were taught. Fast forward to 2020, I decided to pursue law.
“Receiving the QLS Prize for best performance in ethics has truly solidified my passion for law and ethics. QLS have been incredibly generous and have provided me with connections that I hope to continue in my career.
“I am aiming to combine my two backgrounds in health and law in the future. At present, I am exploring areas in health law research and policy development. I am open to different pathways that will provide a long-lasting contribution to the people of Queensland.”
Sarina Petersen shared top honours.
Sarina is expecting to graduate at the end of 2026 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology).
“I am incredibly proud to receive the QLS Prize. I believe that the principles of ethics are fundamental not only to legal practice, but to all aspects of our lives,” Sarina said.
“Studying LLH302 Ethics and the Legal Profession has provided me with valuable knowledge and skills that I will draw upon for the rest of my career.
“My current plan is to continue my legal career and be admitted as a lawyer. I am particularly interested in complex, technical work and I can see myself practising in an area like dispute resolution or mergers and acquisitions.”
Sarina has already started on the path to a successful career and worked full-time in paralegal/assistant roles while studying for the past three years.
“In February this year, I was very excited to commence my current role as an executive assistant at MinterEllison,” she said.
“One of my most gratifying experiences at university so far was being chosen to give a talk at TEDxQUT 2024. I spoke idea about the brilliance of Brisbane-produced cartoon Bluey, and how it has found an audience among adults.
“Unbelievably, my talk went on to be endorsed by TED and last Wednesday, the day after the QUT Awards ceremony, it was actually published on TED.com. I am very excited to see what the future holds in my final years of study.”
The achievements of 27 students were celebrated.
QLS Director of the Ethics and Practice Centre Grace van Baarle, who presented the prizes, said: “Ethics in the legal profession are more than a set of rules and conduct guidelines.
“They underpin professionalism with your colleagues, public confidence in our profession and encapsulate our duties to the court.
“The QLS Ethics and Practice Centre supports our practitioners through these issues and assisting our next generation of solicitors as they start their careers is important to us.”
This year’s ceremony brought together more than 230 students, sponsors, staff and families to celebrate success across the Faculty of Business and Law cohorts.
Twenty-seven outstanding students were honoured with sponsored and school-based prizes. The prizes recognised the significant contributions to the QUT community.
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