Justice starts with opportunity: Daniel’s pathway to the courts

Although he’s only in his fourth year of a UNSW Bachelor of Law and Criminology double degree, Daniel Tang is already having a tangible impact on the Australian judiciary system.

He’s helping judges make better decisions as a research intern at the Judicial Commission of NSW.

“Hundreds of different judgments are handed down every day,” Daniel explains. “I look at significant cases coming down from the High Court or the Criminal Court of Appeal, work out what's different about each of them – and why a case may have been treated differently.”

Daniel then updates the Judicial Information Research System database, helping judges stay up to date with changes and informing their decisions.

It’s a role that five years ago seemed like an impossible dream. But thanks to the UNSW Gateway Admission Pathway, Daniel is actively shaping his future.

Daniel’s pathway to success

Growing up in a low socio-economic area in an immigrant family, Daniel felt helpless watching people from his community face countless legal barriers.

“Immigrants and people with low literacy can find it difficult to understand and navigate the legal system. I’ve always wanted to help those people,” he says.

But in Daniel’s mind, a law degree was out of the question.

“If you told me in Year 10 that I'd be studying law today, I'd have said you were joking. I wasn't exactly a grade A student and I didn't think I could get into law.”

Everything changed when Daniel found out about UNSW’s Gateway Admission Pathway.

The program is UNSW’s primary pathway for students who are traditionally underrepresented at UNSW and in higher education more broadly.

“Education is still the key factor in social mobility,” explains UNSW Director of Student Equity, Mary Teague. “When a student is the first in their family to graduate with a degree, the impact is hugely positive.

“But too many students face socio-economic barriers. One of the most common barriers is how school-based disadvantage can impact students’ individual ATAR. The UNSW Gateway Admission Pathway program aims to address this.”

As a Year 12 student applicant from a low socio-economic area, Daniel received an early conditional offer into a Criminology degree with a significantly lower ATAR requirement through the program.

“It was a big safety net for me,” he says. “I went into the HSC having a target in mind, knowing if I got this number, I am set. And it helped me perform better because I wasn't so stressed. I knew doing my best was going to be good enough.”

It also gave him the stepping stone he needed to start his career in law.

“I got into Criminology at UNSW. And after achieving a Distinction average in my first year, I was able to transfer to a double degree to include Law,” Daniel says.

Support that matches ambitions

Getting into a Top 20 university wasn’t the only benefit Daniel realised going through the Gateway Admission Pathway. From workshops and revision classes to textbook subsidies, Daniel says the support he’s received over the past four years has been incredible.

He received a UNSW Equity Scholarship, designed to assist students study full time for the duration of their degree program.

“I've received the scholarship twice now. It has set me up for university – I could get a laptop and focus on my studies.”

Being part of the Gateway community at UNSW also exposed Daniel to programs that built his Employability skills, including Work Integrated Learning. This course enables students to work directly with industry and community partners for credit towards their degree.

Through the program, Daniel worked with the NSW Government, at the Department of Communities and Justice, as a Criminal Justice intern. He was already realising his childhood dream – to help people who couldn’t get help for themselves.

“We helped rehabilitate and divert people with drug and alcohol addiction from the legal system. We also helped people with intellectual disability navigate legal jargon and the processes of going through the criminal justice system.”

The skills and experience Daniel walked away with helped him secure his current role at the Judicial Commission.

Opening doors for others

Daniel has also been a Student Ambassador since 2023 – a role that means a lot to him personally.

“I want to share my story and help students realise they’re not alone – they can also take a leap and be empowered to create their own future,” he says.

Daniel runs hands-on workshops at Gateway schools, strengthening students’ knowledge, skills and confidence as they prepare for their final years of school and university. 

But he hasn’t always been a confident public speaker. His role as a Student Ambassador helped him build his presentation skills and confidence.

“I was a very quiet person. If you asked me to stand up in front of assembly, I'd be shaking. Today I speak to big crowds all the time. Those are the great skills I've learned from this role.”

And his advice to high school students?

“Say yes to every opportunity. So many doors will open in your life, whether you know it or not. You just have to take that first leap.”

Fuelling the fire for positive change

Daniel knows the power of that first leap better than most.

“Applying for the Gateway Admission Pathway changed my life in ways that will impact my next 50 years. I don't think I would be studying Law right now if it wasn’t for the program. And if I didn't do this Law degree, I wouldn't be challenging myself to find my full potential or seeing where my ambitions can take me. I might not have this fire to make change in the world.”

Right now, that fire is helping Daniel focus on finishing his studies and continuing to build his skills through his internship. After graduation he’s looking forward to a career where he can make a positive impact on society.

“I want to make sure other immigrant families and people who aren’t as fortunate as others get the same opportunities as I had. As a lawyer I can be part of the solution and create real change.”