Daniel’s father was a tribal chief and advocate in his native South Sudan. His problem-solving skills were honed resolving tribal disputes and acting as counsel during disputes with other tribes. After growing up in a Kenyan refugee camp and subsequently moving to Australia, Daniel decided to develop his own problem-solving skills by pursuing a law degree at Flinders.

“I remembered all the advocacy that dad used to do in the traditional setting. Interclan disputes, tribal disputes, he was the advocate. I thought if I could combine his personal traits with a legal degree, I could go further and do better than he did”.

At Flinders, Daniel made the most of his studies, and actively pursued networking opportunities. His cohort included many older students, whose advice was invaluable and helped him keep focus. 

“Students who were older than me and had more experience helped keep me in line. I’d ask for advice and take it on board. It made me a lot more focused.“

Daniel’s network of friends, relatives and mentors helped him step into a private practice role straight out of law school. However, the opportunity to help his community drew Daniel to his current role as a defence lawyer with Victoria Legal Aid.

His understanding of the South Sudanese community and ability to speak Dinka has led to positive outcomes in a number of cases. Daniel’s linguistic skills enable him to get proper instructions as opposed to having to go through an interpreter. Many members of the South Sudanese community are eligible for legal aid as they’re not well enough established in Australia to afford private lawyers. Legal aid is their only viable option, and Daniel is in a unique position to help.

“In private practice I’m limited in what I can do, but in legal aid I can offer more help. I have the opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale.”