Thalia Francis
Assistant Attorney General (Ag.)
Attorney General's Department, Jamaica
Master of Tax (2008)
Why did you choose to undertake a graduate degree in Law?
I thought that a Masters in Tax Law would set me on the path to achieving two personal objectives. Ever since my introduction to tax law I have had more than a passing interest in this area of the law. I have spent some time expanding my knowledge of the area and I decided that given my keen interest I should seek to develop an expertise in tax law. A Masters degree is an excellent means of shaping an expertise in an area. I also believe that tax is an important area of the law but lawyers tend to avoid it because of its complexity and perceived tedium. I would like the opportunity to teach the subject to law students and young lawyers in a way that inspires them to take a greater interest in the subject. A Masters degree will give me the knowledge and the qualifications to make that contribution to academia.
Why did you choose Melbourne Law School?
Once I had made the decision to do a specialised Law Masters I started researching the best Universities in the Commonwealth with a Tax Law Masters programme, since my own country did not have one. The United Kingdom and Canada were obvious choices given their long academic association with my country. However, my research showed that the Tax Law Masters programme offered by the Melbourne Law School was amongst the best in the world. What gave Melbourne Law School the edge for me was the wide range of subjects offered and the fact that eight subjects were required to complete the Masters degree. Most other programmes only required four subjects to be completed. It seemed to me to be the perfect programme for someone who wants to develop an expertise in an area, because it offers the greatest scope for a comprehensive study of a specialised area of law. In addition, I wanted a full time programme in which I would be able to have maximum quality contact hours with lecturers and other like-minded students. Again, the Melbourne Law School was at the top of the list in this regard.
Describe your career pathway - what is your current role and how did you get to where you are?
I started my legal career in the Legal Services Division of the Tax Administration of Jamaica, where I practised tax law exclusively for almost four years. During that time I prepared legal opinions and represented the Tax Administration before the several Courts of Jamaica, first in my capacity as Legal Counsel and later as Senior Legal Counsel. While with the Tax Administration I was a course lecturer for the Tax Administration sponsored Post-Graduate Diploma Programme in which Revenue Agents were trained.
I joined the litigation division of the Attorney General's Department in late 2003 as a Crown Counsel and have remained a part of that division to date. The Attorney General's Department has exposed me to a wide civil litigation practice but I have specialised in tax law. I have maintained close ties with the Tax Administration, continuing to function in the role of legal advisor while also providing representation before the Supreme Court, the Revenue Court and the Court of Appeal. In late 2006, I had the privilege of being seconded to the Tax Administration as Deputy Commissioner of Legal Services to act as head of the Legal Services Division for three months. I was approved for an acting position as an Assistant Attorney General in June 2006 and I held that position until I entered the Melbourne Law Masters programme in July 2007.
Describe your experience of studying in the Melbourne Law Masters. What have been the highlights so far?
I have been able to explore the full gamut of issues arising in taxation, from the policies that inform the choice of tax laws, through the tax reform process and the different tax types in a tax system, to the budgetary process that demonstrates how a government allocates and spends tax revenue. I have had the pleasure of being taught by local and international lecturers that are at the top of their field and who are committed to making the learning experience a stimulating one. I have also been exposed to guest lecturers who were not only experts in their field, but who genuinely enjoyed sharing their vast knowledge and experience. That was inspiring.
I have found the Legal Resources Centre to be impressive. In my experience, the search for resources and the borrowing of resources is a seamless exercise. The IT facilities are also of a very high standard. More important, however, is the high quality of the library collections and the resources to which we have access through the library online databases. To their credit I have had only one complaint about the library, and it is that there should be extended, rather than reduced, hours on a weekend.
The members of the Melbourne Law Masters administrative staff are friendly and courteous and willing to assist in any way possible. As the first voices and faces that I encountered in the Melbourne Law Masters programme, they are able to put me at ease and reassure me that our stint at the Melbourne Law School need not be a difficult and stressful time in our lives. I have been impressed with the ease with which administrative matters, such as registration, can be completed.
I was pleasantly surprised by the cultural mix of the students at the Melbourne Law School and I think it reflects the true cosmopolitan nature of the city of Melbourne. With such a strong international community, no international student is made to feel like an outsider. This is no small achievement. I have been able to make what I believe to be lifelong friends, and being so far away from my home country that has made the difference in making me feel comfortable and at home away from home.
I will never forget the lovely backdrop of the Melbourne Law School. The idyllic views of the parks and the sunsets from the Law School building give a relaxed feel to the school environment. What is more, the city of Melbourne is a beautiful place, which I think adds a lot to the experience of studying at the Melbourne Law School. It is a wonderful setting that allows for a full appreciation of the arts, the enjoyment of sports and the unique opportunity of experiencing at once the best of the traditional and the best of the contemporary.
What are you planning to do when you have completed your degree? Where do you think your degree will take you?
My immediate plan is to resume my duties at the Attorney General's Department. I will continue to deepen my knowledge of tax law and seek to meet my objective of becoming an expert in the area. As indicated, I would like to teach the subject and will be pursuing opportunities to teach on a part-time basis. Being around so many prolific tax specialists has also motivated me to write more on tax law. There are no textbooks or other comprehensive books on tax law in my country and I may just write the first one.
What advice do you have for others considering undertaking a graduate degree in Law at Melbourne?
- Have an open mind and a positive attitude to studying.
- Choose only areas of study that you enjoy because you will need that extra incentive when things get difficult.
- Try to do a mix of intensive and semester long subjects because that gives greater flexibility in the timetabling of assessments.
- It is good to read ahead with all subject modes, but when taking intensive subjects the experience is best maximized if you read ahead. It can be overwhelming to handle such a high concentration of new information in such a short time.
- Enjoy the city and the people. Any experience in life is best enjoyed if shared with good friends in a great place.