Tommy Lopau
Tommy Lopau - Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
LAW AND SOCIETY
What I love or what I find fascinating about establishing ‘order’ is how the law puts rules on society. I like how it provides a structure for the people to live, and I know that might sound a bit weird, but I don't know, I just think it is fascinating how they design laws and ‘what the purpose’ might be for certain laws. What I love about studying law is that - knowing the law gives you the power to control your own legal affairs which is an integral part of everyone’s life. Everyone and everything is compelled by law. So knowing how the law works or being familiar with it; is really useful in everyday life and in helping others who are facing legal troubles.
I do think that the law can be over complicated and unfair sometimes, but I think the great thing is, that law is a moving, moldable and ever changing beast. It doesn't stay still. So there's always reforms going on, there's always overhauls, there's always reconsiderations of the law. For example, if there are any laws that we dislike, then we as the people have the power to propose reform and alter legislation that may be unfair or unjust to our particular situation. So, I think the great thing about any law that I might dislike or just think is unfair and unjust, if they exist, is that I have the power to change that or we as a people have the power to change that. We are not strictly subject to the Prime Minister’s or Parliament’s view on justice, we as the people have a say too.
With that in mind, I also think a "lawyer" is such an ambiguous term. There are so many types of lawyers. So I've understood and broken it down into court lawyers, advocacy lawyers and (those in the office/admin) in-house lawyers. I want to hopefully get a position in advocacy. I think I would enjoy representing clients. I see myself as a person in front of the judge every day, day in and day out; representing clients and advocating their legal arguments or positions in court. There's a thrill about being in the courtroom, and I have had that life experience myself in some law school units and at work. My passion and want for advocacy has definitely grown in uni … but I would like to be on the commercial side of things. I would love to be a commercial litigation lawyer. But you know these are just dreams and dreams are free. I hope to land in my dream job someday if not immediately after law school, later.
STUDYING LAW
I’d say I have a very safe approach to education (studying) in general. Even in high school I always thought of, you know, ‘be scared of year 11’ and then ‘be scared of year 12’ because I just thought it was a new year level, I needed to prepare myself. I can’t be cocky towards anything that comes because you don’t want to underestimate anything. Thankfully I haven’t been like that with law school. For law, I’ve always overestimated everything, but I think it is always good to play it safe. I think it is really great for first years. I had a really great first year, and that set the foundation for my second year, my third year and now on my fourth year. What I mean by that is I actually enjoy stressing over subjects because I just really don’t want it to bite me from behind. I like to never underestimate a subject because it is always good to walk away from a subject with a 7 thinking you could only get a 4. I just like to play it safe I guess.
Your work ethic really comes out in areas that you are passionate about because for example when I teach choreography, I can go three hours with no break because I’m passionate about it. I don’t see the burden, and I don’t see the struggle. I’ve only worked in two legal jobs so far. I haven’t found somewhere I’m passionate about yet, but hopefully my work ethic in study will correlate to a job that I find enjoyable or am passionate about.
I don’t want to say I’m passionate about study, but I’m passionate about growing, I’m passionate about learning, and I’m passionate about bettering myself. So that’s what I’m passionate about in terms of studying law and I hope to find ‘that’ job that allows me to transfer that work ethic over.
Law takes a toll on you mentally and physically. In terms of addressing my physical state, I have actually joined the gym last year, so that’s all good. I think there’s also a positive to your mental health that you gain from working out. So, I’ve engaged a lot more in movements and sports. I’ve reconnected with volleyball. I dance a lot now, and I go to the gym. So that’s something for my physical health. But I think it also really helps with my mental health. Law has been ‘really’ stressful, but I think for me, it's partly individual as I’ve mentioned previously, I always have that attitude of ‘being scared’ of the next subject, not being confident in myself. But I’ve learnt over the years that I am capable of anything if I put my mind and time to it.
PACIFIC ISLANDER ROOTS AND COMMUNITY
I have so much pride in my culture; I’m so proud to be Samoan. I’m so proud to be an immigrant, I’ve never looked down on other immigrants, and I’ve never thought anything less of Samoans. There are a lot of Samoan families who, just like me are a part of the first wave of immigration for their family. A lot of them fell into or can sympathise with my parents' situation - my parents came to Australia with modest English, knowing little of the processes here. I would love to help my people in that situation, when I one day become a lawyer.
I think I’m in a great situation to help them, particularly in the legal field, but also as a mentor. I love to mentor young Pasifika students, inspire them, get them to think bigger than what they limit themselves to think or perceive themselves to be capable of.
We are dominant or are well known in the sports industry, especially in rugby league but, we are not restricted to that! We too can become barristers, we too can become judges. I’ve seen the movement in New Zealand, a lot of second and third generation Samoans do this. They too can start to be politicians, they too can start to be judges. In fact, there are actually two Pasifika judges in New Zealand, one being a woman. Our people are moving up, and I’m proud of that.
I think I have a very optimistic view of Samoans in Australia, they can do just as well. I think it is good to keep in mind that this is the first wave or one of the first waves of Pasifika people. So it is understandable that we are not taking the high-skilled jobs and so in turn understandable that we are taking the low-skilled jobs. I would love to lead the second next generation, help them to achieve what’s possible in Australia.
A lot of immigrants here in Australia have achieved a lot. I kind of have the same expectation for Samoans, but not even just Samoans, everyone in the Pacific. I’m really proud of immigrant people who risk everything in pursuit for a better life. So I hope to one day use my position, my knowledge and my life experiences to help out young fellow Pasifika students or new immigrants in the country or people in general who don’t know their legal rights, statuses or those types of things. I would love to help out people in any way as much as possible as well. Everyone deserves a chance to be happy, to be safe and to be comfortable.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY
Success to me means being a provider for my family. I love my parents so much, and I hope to draw a closer relationship to God as well. There was also an inspirational man in Samoa who led the movement to independence, and for me what I’ve gained from his life stories is - to always fight for your rights. Our Samoan heritage was something that was so dear to him, and it (the movement against colonisation) taught me to never allow myself to be bullied. Never settle for anything less than you deserve and to stand up for your people, your family and for others.
My parents had been very big role models in that regard; they have always been my heroes from day one. They came over as immigrants with nothing. We stayed in bad conditions. We often went to school with no lunch. We struggled for a lot of times, but they were always adamant about giving us a good future, and that’s what has always inspired me. I want to give a better future for my parents as well as a better future for my kids and a better future for future generations of Samoans and more widely Aussies.
God gives me everything I have, and I have no doubt that I will be successful in the future. If I’m not positive or hopeful in my dreams, who else can I rely on to be positive for Tommy? Like I said, dreams are free. I would love to eventually become a barrister or a Judge. I have very high aspirations for myself.
Success for me is understanding the relationship I need to have with God. His words, His purposes, His will, and then beneath that, I think … I want to be a provider for my parents. They fought so much for me, they’ve provided so much for me, and I don’t want them to ever struggle like we did once I begin to work full time. I don’t ever want them to think of cheaper options or cheaper alternatives because there isn’t enough money. I want to give them everything. I want to serve them until they are no longer with me. But again to sum things up, success to me is being a provider for my parents, for my family, and to allow them to live in their situation comfortably and to never go back. Always move forward!
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.