Meet Xander Mains! Xander is a proud Wiradjuri man who grew up on Arakwal Bundjalung country in Byron Bay. He currently lives on Bedegal country in Sydney.
Xander is in his final year of a Bachelor Law / Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice degree at the University of New South Wales. Through the CLCNSW First Nations Cadetship Program, he did his first community legal centre placement at the Inner City Legal Centre.
In his spare time, Xander likes to hang out with friends and family, surf, play guitar, collect vinyl and enjoy some footy.
We asked Xander some questions about his experience of the First Nations Cadetship Program and his plans for the future!
How are you enjoying the Cadetship Program so far?
I have really enjoyed the Cadetship Program and would highly recommend it to any First Nation student studying law, criminology or social work.
What have you enjoyed the most?
I have enjoyed connecting and assisting with clients in a wide array of legal matters and having the opportunity to positively help people that need it.
Also, the cadetship program has given me the greatest benefit of by being on the front line, being able to more greatly understand and become more aware of different issues and challenges facing different parts of the community, especially the LGBTQIA+ and sex worker community at the Inner City Legal Centre, which I don’t believe I would have gotten at any other experience.
Do you have a particular area of interest in law?
I do not have a particular area of interest in law and want to try and dip my foot in all areas, but I have enjoyed my experiences in child protection law at previous experiences and employment law during my cadetship with CLCNSW and at the Inner City Legal Centre.
Which courts and lists have you visited so far in the Cadetship Program?
With the cadetship program I have visited the Children's Court, the Drug Court, the Supreme Court, the Local Court and NCAT.
What would you like to be doing in five years?
I would like to be a practising solicitor and be in a position where I am able to help mob and community by representing and advocating for them in the legal system. I’d also like to be in a position where I can be a role model and leader and be able to create or give pathways to other young First Nation people who want to pursue law as a career.
What do you hope to get out of your cadetship?
I hope to get a wide range of experience in different legal fields and practice areas as well as to meet and help people from all over the community and learn about the issues and challenges they face in the legal system and how is the best way I can now and in future assist with addressing those challenges.
Pictured: Xander Mains (centre) with Inner City Legal Centre solicitors Sarah Gore and Yuva Harish.