2008: Barrister dreams of a just society for all

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Tags: Indigenous, law, winter-2009

Ruth Link

Ruth Link, LLM

A responsibility to her people and their culture is the driving force behind Ruth Link’s passion for law.

Ms Link graduated in December with a Master of Laws from UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law, majoring in Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Criminal Law and Criminology.

As an Aboriginal Australian from Western Yalangi (Cape York of Queensland) and a descendant from Woppaburra (Great Keppel Island), Ms Link has witnessed first hand the effects of the justice system on Aboriginal people.

“Many people in my family are locked up in jail, so I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system to be able to seek solutions to the discrimination and overrepresentation of Aboriginal people,” she said.

“I chose to major in criminology and criminal justice to understand the system and to see if the bama (Aboriginal) perspective could influence policy in the future for the betterment of all Australians who want to live in a just, democratic society.

“UQ gave me this opportunity through the decent amount of subjects available and a deeper insight into these issues.”

Ms Link will now take the knowledge and skills learnt to the Bar where she will be one of just a handful of Indigenous people in Queensland admitted to practise as a barrister.

“I have a responsibility to myself, land, water and culture to ensure that my University studies can actually be of some assistance to the community,” she said.

“I am at the forefront of giving legal advice that incorporates bama and non-bama ways to ensure bama peoples are treated with dignity, humanity and peace.”

During her studies, Ms Link received the Richard Cooper Scholarship to assist with living expenses.

“The Richard Cooper Scholarship allowed me to just breathe and not have to work so many hours,” she said.

While studying, Ms Link lectured in Administrative Law and Introduction to Public Law and tutored in a number of law courses at various universities in south-east Queensland.

By Teola Marsh

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