You have 0 free articles left this month.
Podcast

Protégé: Redefining the ideal law student

The traditional notion of the “ideal” law student – expected to excel at everything, all at once – has long been ingrained in the legal profession. But, as one law student argues, that model is no longer realistic, calling for a long-overdue shift to reflect the complexities and pressures of studying law in today’s environment.

April 29, 2026 • By Robyn Tongol
Share this article on:
Facebook X LinkedIn
expand image

In a recent episode of The Protégé Podcast, host Grace Robbie speaks with Lucy French, immediate past president of the Deakin Law Students’ Society and commencing law graduate at MinterEllison. She unpacks how the legal profession has traditionally defined the “ideal” law student, challenges the pressure to do everything at once, questions why these outdated standards persist, and highlights the importance of navigating a law degree at your own pace.

This content is available exclusively to Lawyers Weekly premium members.
French also challenges the traditional notion of the “ideal” law student, arguing it must be redefined to reflect the realities of today’s legal landscape, while sharing the personal benefits of taking a more measured, holistic approach to her degree, calling out the persistence of outdated expectations from firms and universities, stressing there is no single blueprint for a law student’s journey, and underscoring the need for more open, honest dialogue so students feel supported in carving out their own path.

 
 

If you have any questions about the episode or if there are any topics that you might want us to look into, please reach out — we would love to hear from you!

We’re also always open to new guests, so if you have an exciting story to tell, if you’re standing out as a student or graduate, or if you can offer some tips for our young lawyers, get in touch.

You can reach us here:

Emails: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Socials: Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter or reach out to me directly here.

Discover logo VIEW ALL

And check out some of our other episodes here:

Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Lawyers Weekly a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Lawyers Weekly as a preferred news source.

Tags