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Jazmine Cassidy - Law
Ngāpuhi. Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts - Graduate programme, Simpson Grierson.

A Bachelor of Laws is a great toolbox degree that can lead to a world of opportunities, says Otago graduate Jazmine Cassidy.

“You can become one of those 'courtroom lawyers', you can work in-house at Air New Zealand and get great work perks, work for your local government or a government organisation that will pay you to travel. The world is your oyster!”

Jazmine, who also has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Psychology, is now in the graduate programme at Simpson Grierson in Auckland, working in the Commercial Litigation team.

“I have a long journey ahead of me. After learning a lot about tangata whenua and reconnecting with my whānau I have three potential plans. First, working in Oranga Tamariki on their legal policies to ensure our most vulnerable are being cared for with the utmost manaakitanga and aroha. Second, working in rural Northland. Third, becoming a lecturer, then dean of a law school to give back to a new generation like Jessica Palmer, Jacinta Ruru, Ben France-Hudson and many others did for me.”

Giving back is important to Jazmine. During her Otago studies she held key roles in Te Roopū Whai Pūtake (Māori Law Students' Association) and the Te Īhaka Project: Building Māori Leaders in Law. She also worked with first-year tauira Māori in an education and mentoring role and represented Otago at an annual Matariki indigenous student conference at Queen's University in Canada.

“I feel I was part of a real shift during law school. So many Māori have been fighting for recognition, consultation and education. Mātauranga, te reo and tikanga Māori are now being used in all areas of law school. It is still a basic understanding but it is there and it has been awesome to be a part of the discussions around this.”

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