From Fences to Law Books: Lessons From the Bush to the City

I grew up on a property and spent my entire childhood travelling around the bush and the desert with my family. I have always been surrounded by livestock, open skies, and the kind of silence you only get in the country. My early days were filled with building fences, fixing fences and clearing room for fences. We had around 40 goats, 35 sheep, 3 alpacas, a couple of dogs and a few horses that would come visit. Working with animals, and a connection to the outdoors that still grounds me today. If you had asked younger me what I wanted to be, I’d have said a vet without hesitation.

Fast forward to now, and I’m a penultimate-year law student in Sydney. The transition from rural life to city study has been eye-opening to say the least. The pace is faster, the competition is intense, and the environment couldn’t be more different. Yet, the lessons I learned growing up continue to guide me.

Living on a property taught me responsibility and independence from a young age. Getting up early in winter and mixing and heating up milk to feed to the newborn kids and lambs. Or dealing with the strangest situations that seem to occur when everything else is going on. I remember one weekend I was so excited to sleep in and have some extra relaxation. But I heard loud and sporadic cries from one of our goats. Praying it was just a mamma trying to find its kid I drifted straight back off to sleep, only to be rudely awakened about 2 minutes later.

Rugging up as quick as I could so I could go back to sleep I marched out the door and made my way out to the back paddock. To complete surprise the temporary fencing looked a little different than usual, with a goat tangled up neck first into the fencing. The marching to the goat then turned to running as the poor thing was destressed. Then sprinting back to the shed to grab pilers to get the poor thing out. Animals don’t wait for you to feel ready — they need care, regardless of the weather or how tired you are. That sense of duty translates directly into the discipline required in law school.

Rural life also gave me perspective. Out in the country, community matters; you know your Neighbours, and everyone pitches in. In law school, it’s easy to get caught up in competition or comparison. I truly believe that comparison is the thief of joy. Everyone is at different stages, and we all have different skills. I tend to find this is something people ignore when looking at other "successful people".

Whilst working at a firm in the city I have also noticed the dynamic of people on the streets of Sydney is insanely different. When I first started working in the CBD I felt like I was constantly on alert, no one walks politely out of your way, there's random bad smells. Being able to catch trains had also brought interesting problems. I have seen the trains on strike and not been able to go to work and I have seen the trains loose signal, and everyone be unable to leave the CBD at peak traffic time. One time I walked around 5km to try and find a spot for one of my family members to pick me up because of the black out- fun fact it would not matter how far I walked the traffic would still be insane.

Finally, the outdoors gave me balance. Whenever the city feels overwhelming, I try to reconnect with that part of myself — even if it’s just a weekend away, a hike, or finding green space to reset. It reminds me why I started this journey: to build a career without losing sight of where I came from.

However, there are many positives to Sydney. Unrelated to law; any time I need to buy something or feel like something specific to eat I am able to get. Where I live the nearest shop is about half an hour away, so it is something I find very convenient. Whilst working I have been able to visits many different chambers and drop off documents and explore the Supreme Court. The CBD has provided me the opportunities to meet many different Solicitors from different backgrounds and be introduced to the social and political climate in Sydney - where it all happens!

One of my professors told me that you can learn every single legal textbook back the front and have it memorised. But you will never have the practical and social skills of working in a firm. Education does not promise success or easy transition to firms. I have found this comment to be gospel. Majority of what I have learnt in my degree so far will become irrelevant.

Looking back, I realise that both my rural roots and city experiences are shaping me into the kind of lawyer I want to become. The bush gave me resilience, responsibility, and a strong sense of community. The city has provided me opportunities, exposure, and the ability to adapt under pressure. Together, they keep me grounded and remind me that success in law isn’t just about knowing the textbooks — it’s about bringing your whole story, values, and perspective into the profession. That’s the balance I aim to carry forward as I continue this journey.

My advice to any rural or country kid is to not forget your roots and find something that grounds you. At the end of the day you have to still live your life. Ignore the noise and do what you know sets your soul on fire — because at the end of the day, that’s what will carry you through.