For first-generation law students, breaking into the legal industry can feel both daunting and isolating. But Aloizio Ferreira Compart emphasised that the key to success isn’t trying to fit in – it’s embracing your authenticity, leveraging personal experiences, and transforming early challenges into distinctive advantages.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Protégé Podcast, Aloizio Ferreira Compart, a law student at Western Sydney University and a law clerk from Frank + Law Advisory, shared practical steps and advice for overcoming the unique challenges faced by first-generation law students.
In the same episode, he opened up about the personal hurdles that come with being the first in his family to pursue a law career.
Drawing on his personal journey, Compart emphasised the importance of embracing one’s unique background and valuing authenticity, rather than trying to conform to an imagined standard.
“Some of the things you have to take into consideration are what makes you different from others, and sometimes being different is great,” he said.
“You don’t have to be robotic and try to pretend to be someone else. I think the best person you can be is authentic to yourself because that way, you’re doing yourself a pleasure, not someone else.”
Compart suggested that, rather than seeing these differences as obstacles, students should actively recognise and embrace the strengths and perspectives that their unique backgrounds can bring to their lives.
“It’s being persistent, it’s great opportunities you have and the skills and stuff you learn from an early age because of your situation, that’s what makes you self-centred,” he said.
He added: “That in itself is a strong advantage because what you’ve gone through, some of the challenges you faced growing up, a lot of people can’t relate to that.”
First-generation students often shoulder significant responsibilities from a young age, whether supporting their family or balancing part-time work alongside school. Compart argued that these experiences help cultivate valuable qualities that are invaluable in law school and beyond.
“You learn so many interpersonal skills that can be applied to your work environment. You’re organised, you’ve been working since the age of 15, your time skills are great, you have to make time for you to study,” he said.
“It just shows the resilience, work ethic, and drive you have to become a successful and great person. To me, that’s what stands out the most, being authentic to yourself.”
While authenticity and skills are important, Compart emphasised that cultivating a strong mindset is equally crucial for overcoming the setbacks and self-doubt that first-generation law students often face.
“The best advice I can say is it’s normal, we’ve all been there. But don’t let that dictate how you will tackle your law degree or how you will take on your life,” he said.
“Life always throws challenges at everyone; don’t use that as a sense of weakness, use that as an opportunity.”
Compart explained that turning challenges into advantages and opportunities comes down to taking initiative and being proactive – these outcomes don’t just happen on their own and require hard work to achieve.
“If you’re being very reluctant and feeling like the world’s against you, unfortunately, you won’t be able to break into [the legal progression] as much as you want to because the reality is this is a competitive environment, and you’ve got to be taking the extra step better to some other people just to show face,” he said.
