Curtis Wenzel
Curtis Wenzel - Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (majoring in Management)
WHY DID YOU PICK A BACHELOR OF LAWS?
There are a few reasons why I chose law; however, I'm quite passionate about social justice - which was passed onto me from the school I graduated from – they were quite ‘heavy’ on social justice issues and it’s implications. I think that to create change within our world, one of the most effective ways is via law. Advocating or petitioning for equality or equity for a particular issue for the hopeful consequence of achieving equality or equity, or the potential benefit of legislative reform for the issue advocated for is only one of the many ways available to help contribute to a better society by use of the legal system.
I unquestionably love social justice really want to use my law degree to help create change in the future. Without creating change or somewhat of a positive social impact, what have you contributed to the world? There's more to life than just going to work to make money; which a paycheque to an extent is somewhat only temporary. Why not attempt to create a positive impact that will last longer than the temporary paycheque that was slaved over for 38+ hours?
What is the point of life when you're not helping other people in any way? What is satisfying or rewarding working solely for ‘monies sake’ or ‘endless’ economic growth, especially when you're not creating change for anyone now; or in the future?
Anyone and everyone can make the world a better place; at any age.
For example, if you're in a high school, you can go to different charities and help out; e.g., St Vincent de Paul. You’re able to go there and volunteer – therefore, helping St Vincent De Paul to help others through the many services they provide. If you're in university, especially at QUT, there's multiple clubs you can sign up to volunteer with. Outside of university there's multiple charities and organizations out there that benefit the marginalised. I think it's quite amazing the changes you can make pre-university studies, during university studies, and post university studies. There's always a window of opportunity to do something to help someone - you need to take that opportunity and turn it into something.
I know for a fact that my law degree will contribute to create the changes that I want to see in the world.
ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS
The issue I'm currently passionate about is homelessness; I think it’s one of the most pressing issues.
I had never seen (first-hand) a homeless person in my life or anyone facing extreme poverty until my first Brisbane based job. When you hop off the train, there'd be people begging; everywhere - almost every corner of Brisbane there's someone begging for money. What got me was the lack of acknowledgement. Scarcely will a person look and treat them with dignity – even the simpleness of a warm smile. Majority walk past as if they're nothing; which absolutely breaks my heart. Imagine if this were you or someone you knew?
I know a lady in Queen Street mall. Her favourite coffee is a latte with two sugars - she's so lovely. She often spoke to me and vice-versa, I see her quite often when I'm getting the train. She told me that her family died; she's elderly - about in her sixties. She said her kids died - I find that tragic. She has no support; however, she tells me that there's always hope - for me witnessing this, it has pushed me to want to create some sort of change in the future. Seeing a person with so much suffering makes you quite sad; I think that what makes it sadder is that society doesn't really do much. Majority go on, ignoring them in the streets- constantly - as if they are no one. Each one has a history.
CAN YOU DEFINE WHAT HOPE IS, IN YOUR MIND?
Hope in my mind. Hope is that little bit of chance that pushes you further; through all the struggles you’re experiencing. Story time:
Let's say you’re in a room with a power outage - you can't see anywhere; however, there's one light flickering.
That one light flickering provides you with hope that you'll be able to see and get out of where you are.
Hope is about what pushes you through all the hardships in life.
Despite whatever you're going through, there's always hope that you'll be able to overcome it in some way; somehow.
Quite recently I begun to volunteer at a homeless shelter in Brisbane. It's a home for those in the margins of society. It is for those who are homeless or in some way marginalised to come in and just talk to someone. There is ample food for them and if they like, they’re able to enjoy a coffee or a cup of tea. There’s even showers and a laundry! It's simply a place for them to come and experience the exemplification of love and care –potentially setting them upon a brighter path.
MY LAW DEGREE
Previously I was studying a bachelor of secondary education, majoring in English and minoring in legal studies. I loved education but really enjoyed the law minor more so; I then applied to QUT’s combined Business and Law Degree (because I love business too!) and thought I'll try law out to see how I go - turns out I absolutely love it.
I really love QUT. It's a vibrant community. It's in the heart of Brisbane and I think that QUT is really amazing in the sense that it's so diverse with the many cultures and many personalities that are here. The lecturers are quite down to earth - all of them are approachable; as well as the tutors. The staff provide you with real world experiences by use of practical real-life examples in assessments and tutorial question and answer problems. Examples include the construction of a case note for a High Court judgement for Introduction to Law, as-well-as a whole course entitled ‘Statutory Interpretation’, which I think is essential to all LLB degrees; and, the construction of research memorandums throughout almost all the individual courses I’ve completed. They cater and foster individual learning styles which is demonstrated in the 6-step approach for their Contract Law course – which includes a cool informative vignette– I’m looking forward to using Air Gondwana! Such a modern and innovative uni.
Thus far I've for the domains of law I’ve studied which have so much potential for creating positive change are tort, family and criminal law. Those are the three that I think would create a significant amount of change in most people’s lives.
Let’s say you're injured at work or someone's done you a civil wrong - there's legislation out there to potentially assist you – however, if the legislation was interpreted a specific way a few decades ago and there’s been a significant social shift in society, you’re able to go to court and hopefully come to a resolution that is sound to expectations of society at current; therefore, positively creating a change for potential future cases of similarity.
If there's no legislation there for an unjust event that has happened to you, you’re able to potentially take that matter to court and hopefully build precedent. I guess if parliament thinks it's appropriate, they can also create superseding legislation [hopefully] to the benefit of society.
I love that Australia's legal system as inherited from England contains the separation of powers. Parliament produces legislation and the judiciary is able to somewhat interpret legislation to the best interests of the public by judicial activism. I think judges play an amazing role in providing equitable outcomes through statutory interpretation. I love that with the Australian legal system, if you have any sort of issue, no matter the size, you can go to litigation to try and come to a just outcome, which I again, is why I love law; because you can help create change through that process.
Humans of Lawbry interview conducted by Gideon Caturla
This interview was conducted in the 2020 series of Humans of Lawbry.
Humans of Lawbry was created by Helen Driscoll in the 2015 Torts Illustrated.