Angee Nicholas
Solicitor / Company Director
Bachelor of Laws
She had long been interested in politics and the law, says Angee Nicholas who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Laws and has since established a career as a solicitor, company director and political candidate.
“The law and politics always interested me growing up. When it came to making a decision as to what to study at university, I eventually decided on a law degree. I looked into a few different universities, and recall going to an open day at another university and just didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought. I didn’t feel like it was the place for me, and it was a confirmation to choose AUT.”
It's a decision she hasn’t regretted and she says she thoroughly enjoyed her time at AUT.
“I particularly liked having smaller class sizes for workshops as that provided for a more interactive classroom setting, and I appreciated the really supportive dean of the Law School, Professor Charles Rickett. I was also grateful for the invaluable support of the Oceanian Leadership Network to me as a Pacific student at AUT, the availability of the student association and the many initiatives students could participate in, including the Shadow a Leader programme.”
A sense of achievement
After graduating from AUT in 2018, Angee spent a few years working in the out-of-parliament offices for former National Party MPs. Following this, she launched a legal career as an in-house solicitor which had her overseeing cases of Pacific survivors of abuse or neglect.
“I was an in-house lawyer at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, working as a solicitor in the inquiry’s Pacific investigation. I met many talented lawyers, passionate about their work and good at what they do. There were cases very difficult to hear out or read over but you knew personally that engaging in this process through the inquiry will ultimately contribute towards the overall vision of the Royal Commission's vision, ‘transforming the way we, as a nation, care for tamariki, rangatahi and adults in our communities’.
“In addition to my career in law and politics, I’ve also done work as the owner/operator of a family security company currently operating in three stores across Auckland. Working with my family gives me a sense of personal satisfaction knowing that I’m able to support the efforts of both mum and dad. I think we should be supporting New Zealand entrepreneurs of all ages.”
Recently she has become a political candidate, being selected as the New Zealand National Party candidate in Te Atatū for the 2023 General Elections.
“I feel very honoured knowing I could potentially become the Member of Parliament for an electorate and with the National Party. The Te Atatū electorate has been home to my family and I for over twenty years. You could say that I was destined to end up where I am today and it almost seems like a natural career progression working in law and politics previously. Being a candidate involves a lot of campaigning and this is my focus for the next few months until the elections in October. I look forward to the opportunity of serving my community and country if I’m successfully elected.”
Advice for other students
Angee has some great advice for other students.
“My advice is to ask for help and use failure to push you forward.”
She certainly knows what she is talking about and says she was grateful for all the support she received throughout her studies.
“I’m someone who firmly believes that if you’re going to do something in life, make sure it's fulfilling and you make it something you feel you’re meant to be doing. Perhaps failure played a big role in sparking my passion to get to where I am today. It sucks when you fail, and that was my experience. I didn’t fly through university, but I kept my interest in law and politics. The right network of people both within and outside uni kept me there so I didn’t give up.”
