Growing up in a family of teachers in Far North Queensland, Matisse Reed understood the profound value of education early on. After making the most of the many opportunities her UQ law degree presented, this Rhodes Scholar plans to pay what she’s learned forward to enrich her community.
From law competitions to pro bono work, Matisse describes the many different opportunities she had to gain practical experience while studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at UQ. She also shares her advice for others considering a law degree.
Why law at UQ?
As a keen debater and public speaker who enjoyed analytical writing in high school, Matisse says she was naturally drawn to study law.
“I wanted to pursue a career centred on people; one that would allow me to work with and for people to create positive social change. I felt that studying law would equip me with a unique skill set that would enable me to pursue a career where I could do this," Matisse says.
“I grew up in Far North Queensland, and by the time I graduated high school, I was excited about the opportunity to expand my horizons in a new city like Brisbane.
“The law program at UQ had an excellent reputation,” she says.
“I remember spending hours in front of the computer when I should have been studying for Year 12 exams, growing excited about all the opportunities available to UQ students. From things I’d never heard of before, like mooting competitions, to volunteer opportunities, internships and study abroad experiences.”
Representing UQ in law competitions
Once starting her degree, it didn’t take Matisse long to start participating in some of these opportunities, including the Junior Negotiation Competition.
“I thought it could be a fun way to get a taste of what law in practice might look like,” she says.
“I didn’t do well in that competition, but I discovered I enjoyed it. That set in motion 6 years of keen involvement in law competitions at both a university, national and international level, not only as a competitor but later as a judge, coach and problem writer."
Matisse also had the chance to represent UQ at the international level in the ADC-ICC Asia-Pacific Mediation Competition, which gave her a practical opportunity to tackle a complex legal problem and flex her advocacy skills.
“I feel this experience was pivotal to my professional development as a lawyer,” Matisse says.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to develop those core skills so early in my career. The following year, I helped members of the UQ Law Society with an initiative to establish UQ’s own mediation competition, so that more students could share in this wonderful learning opportunity.”
Matisse also participated in mooting competitions, despite worrying early on in her degree that others involved had more experience.
“Representing UQ in the Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Moot was one of the most challenging, rewarding and enjoyable experiences of my time at university,” she says.
“My key takeaway from participating in these competitions is that a variety of experiences is the best experience.
"For me, it was never about being the best at any one thing. Rather, I focused on the skills I developed along the way, the intellectual challenge and the friendship of my teammates.
“This is what made the experience so rewarding for me, and what kept me coming back year after year.”
Finding immeasurable value in pro bono work
By her second year of study, Matisse was craving a chance to make a meaningful contribution to her community by putting her newfound legal knowledge into practice. The UQ Pro Bono Centre offered the perfect opportunity to do just that.
What does pro bono mean? Pro bono work is work performed for free, often for clients with low incomes.
"A highlight of volunteering at the UQ Pro Bono Centre was being able to work on a variety of projects, which offered valuable exposure to the breadth of work performed by community legal services in Queensland,” Matisse says. These included:
- co-developing a workshop presentation on housing options for people living with disabilities, which was presented by Disability Law Queensland to their clients and families
- working on a research project for the National Housing Consortium
- editing and updating legal factsheets for the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service.
Matisse at her graduation
Later, Matisse also volunteered with the Prisoner’s Legal Service as part of the Clinical Legal Education course taught at UQ.
The Prisoner’s Legal Service is a community legal centre whose clients have been criminally convicted and incarcerated.
“This was a profound experience for me, and a true highlight of my time at UQ. It challenged my perspectives and biases and helped me understand the shortcomings of Australia’s criminal justice system; a system that frequently sees disproportionate harm visited on particularly vulnerable demographics."
“The experience showed me that the absence of privilege and opportunity is felt not only in cycles of violence and crime but in the law and policy frameworks through which crimes are prosecuted and punished.
"Most importantly, it showed me the pivotal role of community legal centres in servicing vulnerable members of our community and the hurdles these organisations face in their pursuit to provide these essential services.
“My experiences with the UQ Pro Bono Centre and the Prisoner’s Legal Service have instilled in me a deep and long-lasting value for pro bono legal practice.
"I will carry this with me as I continue to pursue a career working to improve law and policy frameworks to address systemic gaps like this,” says Matisse.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take
“When I started law school, I didn’t know a single lawyer, and I found the reality of navigating my UQ law degree quite confronting,” Matisse says.
“The legal world was entirely foreign to me, and I felt like I was being tasked with learning a completely new language.
"In those early days, I was a devoted attendee of the Law Society’s Peer Assisted Learning Sessions, and I read every guide they published. These were such valuable resources for me, and they made an enormous difference to my first few years of study.”
By her third year, Matisse decided to give back to some of the initiatives that had helped her. She volunteered as a Peer Assisted Learning Leader, joined the UQ Law Society and led the Education Portfolio as the Vice-President (Education).
“What my time at UQ has taught me, above all, is the importance of challenging myself to try new things and embrace opportunity when it presents itself,” she says.
“You truly do miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and that is a lesson that has rung true for me over and over again throughout my undergraduate degree.
“While the benefits that come with embracing these experiences are truly countless, the memories I’ve made, the fun I’ve had and the people I’ve come to know will always be the greatest joy of my time at UQ.”
Matisse with Queensland Governor, The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM
On joining the cohort of Australian Rhodes Scholars
As a 2025 recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, Matisse joins an impressive cohort of Australian Rhodes Scholars, including former Australian prime ministers Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull. The scholarship gives Matisse the opportunity to complete postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.
“The Rhodes Scholarship has a legacy of recipients who have made truly remarkable contributions to their professions and communities. It feels both surreal and exciting to become part of that cohort,” says Matisse.
Matisse says she is driven by a profound awareness that she is deeply fortunate to be the beneficiary of such exceptional educational opportunities and that this carries a responsibility to take advantage of those opportunities.
“My Rhodes Scholarship is a gift of education I will strive to pay forward for the rest of my life. I am very grateful to my family, friends, teachers, colleagues and mentors who have walked beside me over the years, and to the Rhodes Trust for their investment in my future.”
“I plan to use my Scholarship to study a Bachelor of Civil Law followed by a Master of Public Policy. I believe a profound understanding of the intersection of law and public policy is fundamental to tackling pressing global challenges.”
Inspired by her experience working in the law, including as a Barrister’s Clerk during university and a year as an Associate in the Federal Court of Australia, Matisse’s goal is to pursue a career in the law as a Barrister. However, she’s open to the possibility that her aspirations will evolve over the coming years.
“It’s hard not to imagine how many opportunities I haven’t yet considered might present themselves after two years at Oxford. If my time at UQ is anything to go by, that will certainly be the case,” she says.
Advice for future UQ law degree students
As someone who participated in so many law degree opportunities outside the classroom, Matisse shares her advice for others considering an undergraduate law degree.
“Embrace variety, but prioritise wisely,” she says.
“Academic success does not need to come at the expense of an enjoyable life. For me, having a varied and balanced schedule is the key to a fulfilling and enjoyable life.
“Sure, I spent many a late night in the law library during my exam periods. But I also spent a great deal of my time at university travelling and studying abroad, playing social netball, gaining practical work experience, giving back to my community and developing meaningful relationships with my friends.
“At the end of the day, there should be a time and a place for hard work and focus, but also time to have fun.”
Interested in pursuing a career in law? Learn more about our Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree.
