Dani Clements-Levi
Lawyer, Bell Gully
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) with First-Class Honours and Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences
She loves the variety her career as a lawyer at Bell Gully offers her, says Dani Clements-Levi who completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) with First-Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences.
“I’m a lawyer in the general litigation team at Bell Gully. My role involves working on a variety of different commercial disputes while learning from some of New Zealand’s greatest legal minds – no two days are the same!
“One of the aspects that I enjoy the most about my role is the variety of work that we are exposed to. I frequently get the opportunity to work on areas of law that I have never worked on before.”
The right choice
Deciding to study law at university was easy, says Dani who is proud of being on the dean’s list and receiving the award for the top student in local government law.
“Having pursued my studies straight from school, I chose the Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts as these degrees aligned most closely with my interests. My enjoyment for subjects like English, history and social studies, along with my passion for advocacy, led me to pursuing these degrees.
“My decision to study at AUT was in part influenced by friends who had shared their positive experiences. What stood out to me the most was the practical aspect that their studies at AUT provided them. In particular, being taught by lecturers who were also practising or had previously practised law. This was very appealing to me as they could apply the learnings that they had gained from practical experience to the relevant legal theories. I also felt assured that this would best prepare us for when we entered the profession”
It's a decision she certainly hasn’t regretted, and she says she had plenty of highlights throughout her time at university.
“Over the course of my studies at AUT, I interacted with students from different backgrounds and life experiences. This exposed me to different perspectives and often challenged my own views on issues. I’m very grateful to have experienced this as it is reflective of industry practice and has allowed me to broaden the way I think and respond to different situations in my current role.”
Advice for other students
Dani, who graduated from AUT in 2023, has some great advice for other students.
“Make the most of your time at AUT! There are so many opportunities to get involved in. Entering a competition, joining a committee, attending networking events are just some of the great ways to develop your skills, and make lasting connections with your peers and people already in the profession.”
She certainly knows what she is talking about.
“I was very involved in the student culture. Most notably, I was honoured to be elected president of the AUT Law Students’ Society. This was a very time intensive role, however, I learned so much, interacted with students from all levels and was able to make lasting connections with people that I now regularly engage with in the legal profession.”
