Lights, camera, legal practice!

Credits on beloved shows like Utopia, Neighbours and Blue Heelers, while featuring alongside acclaimed actors like Jane Turner and John Wood might not fit the traditional image of a seasoned lawyer and educator with over 25 years of expertise. Yet, as the passionate Course Leader for ACAP’s Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP), Adam May seamlessly blends his wealth of experience in law, education, and entertainment. Adam shared how ACAP’s practical legal training course, in partnership with the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV), is preparing more agile and skilled lawyers across the State. 

Before embarking on a law degree and becoming a successful lawyer, Adam featured as a lawyer on the police drama series, Blue Heelers. “I remember while I was still training as a lawyer, I had my very first appearance at a Magistrates’ Court,” Adam said. “I was working with my highly experienced supervising lawyer, and the client asked me to represent them as they saw me on Blue Heelers the previous evening!”

The interpersonal skills that Adam has gained while acting have transferred into his career as a lawyer and are skills he now imparts onto his students at ACAP. “It’s about putting yourself in people’s shoes and appreciating where they’ve come from,” he said. “I see that as a major strength, and from my conversations with legal employers, those skills are highly valued.”

The GDLP course at ACAP stands out for its practical and flexible approach, simulating real-life scenarios, providing 15 days of work experience, and a unique opportunity to credit engagement with the profession as part of their course completion.

“Prior to the start of the course, the teaching team will become familiar with the students and develop an understanding of where they may need to develop in certain areas, and we can then tailor the learning to suit their needs,” Adam explained.

ACAP’s partnership with the LIV has played a crucial role in shaping the GDLP course. LIV Chief Executive, Adam Awty, expressed his enthusiasm for the course and the values it imparts onto graduates.

“We are immensely proud to partner with ACAP in educating and inspiring the next generation of lawyers in Victoria,” Adam said. “This partnership reflects our commitment to identifying the broad range of skills employers are looking for, developing strong connections across the profession, and investing in the future of the legal profession.

“Our collaboration with ACAP ensures that students not only receive a comprehensive legal education, but also understand how the profession works and the opportunities that involvement in their professional association, the Law Institute of Victoria, provides to them and the vital role that the legal profession plays in the Victorian community.”

ACAP’s Adam May emphasised this point by detailing the reflection he prompts students to undertake at the beginning of the course. “I always ask students what kind of lawyer they aspire to be,” he said.

“It’s quite easy to forget why they chose to go into law in the first place. Law students can lose sight of purpose but we’re training entry level lawyers for the protection of legal consumers and the administration of justice. The better the entry level lawyer, the better it is for justice. We ask students how they’re going to make a difference and how they will define themselves as a lawyer. It sounds simple but it is everything that needs to be asked to motivate entry level lawyers at this important stage of their career journey.”

ACAP’s GDLP course, in partnership with LIV, provides comprehensive legal training for Victorian law graduates and includes a complimentary one-year LIV graduate membership providing access to mentoring, ethics support, professional resources, and networking opportunities.  Find out more.