Aspiring young adults choose Australia as their education destinations for various reasons. Of which, Australia’s unique geography and climate; variety of courses and degrees available; and culturally diverse learning environment are no doubt the essential hardware and software making Australia one of the most popular study destinations.

Basil Bansal who is a Partner at Diamond and Diamond Lawyers in Canada, had chosen to attend Bond University in the Gold Coast to obtain a Juris Doctor degree because of its practicality and quality, enabling him to complete a three-year course in just two years and prepare him for the future of work.

Returning home upon graduation, Basil is now offering services for commercial and individual clients in an array of litigation matters and he shared his Down Under Experience with Advance.

Interview by Tammy Lee, Marketing & Communications & Digital Manager, Advance.

Can you tells us your role and what you do.

I am a Partner at Diamond and Diamond Lawyers LLP in the Province (State) of Alberta, Canada.  We practice predominantly in the area of Persona Injury Law although offer services in many other areas of law in the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.Why did you choose to go to Australia to study?

I chose to attend Bond University in Australia because of its three-semester a year schedule, allowing me to complete a three-year law degree in two years and the electives offered in Canadian subjects allowed me for a easy transition back to Canada.

How was the experience?

I had a positive experience making friends from all corners of the globe, as well as being able to obtain a valuable degree that is obviously a valuable part of my career.

What are the challenges working as a legal profession? What’s the most rewarding moment of your career?

Some common challenges in the legal profession especially at an early part in my career is learning when to say no to too much work.  While I have been able to find an arrangement with flexible hours you do sometimes find yourself working long days and nights as well as taking work home with you.  The most rewarding part of my career is seeing my client to be successful and ensuring they get the legal guidance and result they need.  The long hours are worth it when clients are satisfied with the service and legal advice they have received.

In what way does your education in Australia help to advance your career?

Bond has a unique law program where they not only teach you the law but also the application of it in real life scenarios like mooting, client interviews and negotiations.  A good lawyer shouldn’t just know the law but also be good at applying it in real life situations bearing in mind conditions such as clients’ budget, time expectancy, and of course clients’ emotions.

What do you miss most about Australia?

Australia became a second home for me after living there for 2 years.  I miss my friends who I have not been able to see since graduating.  While modern day technology has made it possible to keep in touch with some of them it is not the same as seeing them in person and the time difference does not make it easy to maintain regular communication.  After the people there is no doubt that I miss Australia’s geography and climate.  I miss being able to walk around all year in shorts and flip flops and miss the active outdoor culture I enjoyed while living there.  I certainly plan to return to Australia and share the places I got to enjoy and travel with my family when the time is right!