Milan Gandhi is a foundation alumnus. He is currently the founder of The Legal Forecast, a not-for-profit run by early–career professionals who are passionate about disruptive thinking and access to justice. The organisation hos
ts law-focused 'hackathons' aimed at empowering members of the legal sector to think outside of the box. TLF publishes monthly updates on innovation-related hot topics in Queensland’s pre-eminent magazine for the legal profession, Proctor.
Milan maintains a keen interest in international climate change law and has published several articles on related topics including in New Internationalist (one of the world’s leading independent publishers on issues such as politics and global justice). As the winner of a Global Voices scholarship, Milan represented Australian civil society as a delegate to the United Nations Climate Talks in Lima in 2014.
Currently, Milan works as a Research Clerk at McCullough Robertson Lawyers and is in his last year of law school at the University of Queensland. In 2016, he was one of only 8 finalists Australia-wide for “Australian Law Student of the Year”, a category of the prestigious Australian Law Awards.
Beyond law, innovation and climate change, Milan maintains an interest in filmmaking. Milan won the “Best Student Entry” prize at the MTV/Optus ONE80Project and graduated from Bond University Film School with five “First in Class” awards (including for both directing units). Milan co-directed a music video for Australian blues & roots musician Ash Grunwald, which was no. 33 on the ABC Rage Top 50.
Milan has discovered that his filmmaking background, and particularly his time spent at QACI, which in Milan’s words is “an environment that is uniquely creative, team-driven, and supportive of all voices”, bolstered his value in a commercial setting where left-of-field thinking and teamwork are highly valued.
Newsflash – September 2017
Great news for Milan Gandhi, 2008 QACI Foundation Alumnus today. Milan was announced winner of Lawyers Weekly’s Australian Law Awards – Prestigious Australian Law Student of the Year category. QACI is thrilled for Milan – his acknowledgement below speaks volumes about QACI as a nurturing environment in which he developed as an IB Learner, and the critical and creative thinking attributes that he developed through his study of IB Film. These critical and creative thinking attributes he now uses to challenge the traditions of the legal world through The Legal Forecast.
Read more about Milan's win on the University of Queensland website.
I was reluctant to let my head hit the pillow last night just in case, as Biggie says, “it was all a dream”. I’m up now, and pinching myself, and able to report that I won 2017 Australian Law Student of the Year. As I said last night, my own efforts to get here pale in comparison to the support I have received from friends, mentors and, above all, my family. I’m brimming with love for you people. I cannot thank you enough.
It was particularly special to be in attendance with fellow finalists Sophie Tversky and Adrian Agius, both equally deserving of 1st prize, and both critical to The Legal Forecast’s successes to date, and Ann-Maree David, a peerless supporter of aspiring lawyers (and our motley crew of legal innovators), and the McCullough Robertson family, but particularly partner Matt Bradbury who has been a patient and generous mentor of mine since I started at McR as a “doc review monkey” in 2014.
These were just some of the people who were physically there last night – as for the people who weren’t, there are too many of you for me to attempt to list in one post but expect me to be in touch soon.
I completely dedicate this to Mum, Dad and Meera Gandhi.
The Legal Forecast, McCullough Robertson, UQ School of Law, Global Voices and Queensland Academies Creative Industries.
Milan Gandhi.