James Dalton
James Dalton fell in love with criminal law during his second year of study. Now is a Criminal Prosecutor working in Auckland.
Key facts
Programme: Bachelor of Laws and Commerce conjoint student
Majors: Criminal Law
Career: Criminal Prosecutor
Jason chose to combine his love of law and finance with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce conjoint degree.
When Jason began studying law, he found himself wanting to pursue commercial law, with the prospect of making a lot of money. But in his second year, he fell in love with criminal law, deciding that his calling was to help regulate crime in society.
Jason’s BCom has added another dimension to his studies, he mentions that it has given him an advantage in cases with crime involving commercial transactions or financial instruments.
“The thing I like most about my law study is the problem solving. I really enjoy getting a set of facts and working through them to find a solution – it’s like analytical processing with a touch of creative flair.
Jason recounted that learning how to learn, a skill he developed through his Bachelor of Laws, is one of the most valuable skills he has acquired. He also found Auckland Law School to be a great help socially – he even started a band with some of his fellow university students!
Jason’s top piece of advice is to “apply for things – even if you think you’re underqualified for a job or position at the University. You would be surprised how many people are put off giving things a go by thinking the exact same way.”